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There’s a new man on the NRC and he’s coming to the UP. Or should that read coming back to the UP?

John Matonich has been selected to replace the outgoing and longstanding Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) Chairman Keith Charters.

Mr. Charters was first appointed to the NRC in 1994 and was reappointed several times, currently serving a term set to expire in 2013. He also served on the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board of Directors and represented the NRC on the board during this last term.

While on the NRC, Keith Charters received the prestigious “Traverse City Chamber of Commerce 2003 Distinguished Services Award”, received the Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) Conservationist of the Year Award in 2005, and the UP Whitetails Association, Inc. Special Recognition Award that same year. Keith also received the 2007 Conservationist of the Year Award from the Michigan Senate. All these attributes for his long standing position as a conservationist (hunter and angler) and steward of the land.

I have known Mr. Charters for many years and have grown to respect him both personally and professionally. His absence will create a void on the NRC that will be hard to fill.

John Matonich resides in the Flint area and is the Chairman and CEO of Rowe Incorporated, a leading professional consulting firm, driving infrastructure and development projects for public, private, government, tribal and not-for-profit clients. Rowe’s service specialties include civil engineering, surveying, aerial photography and mapping, landscape architecture, planning and land development.

Rowe, Inc. Has received trade awards in excellence for work done on road and highway construction, engineering, wastewater collection, bridge replacement, pipeline mapping, quality of life and exceptional contributions.

That’s the business side of John Matonich.

Matonich was born in 1959 in Bessemer, here in the western UP. As a young boy of 10, Matonich started tagging along with his father’s surveying crew, and it wasn’t long before his dad showed him how to set up and instrument.

Growing up, Matonich wanted to become a mining engineer, but while growing up the entire region (commonly referred to as the “Gogebic Range”) was in a recession. In 1978 Matonich entered Michigan Tech in Houghton, and began pursuing a degree in civil engineering with a minor in forestry. He took a freshmen surveying course under the civil curriculum, and rose quickly among the foreign grad student instructors, in spite of his advisor discouraging him from pursuing surveying as a career. He started a study group and within two years was teaching the survey lab. He even took a course in nuclear engineering and graduated in 1981 with a four year degree in surveying. That’s what led him to the Lower Peninsula and Rowe, Inc.

In a story published by The American Surveyor in 2006, as a professional, Matonich believes in goal setting. He tells his managers, “Don’t be the bad guy. Blame it on me. Don’t be the ceiling, be the door. Be a champion for your people.”

John’s first love in life goes back to the UP where his hunting and fishing experiences are legendary. He enjoys the camp life and as far as fishing goes, in 1989 he held the record for catching the second largest steelhead in Michigan. Matonich also owns a home on Lake Gogebic and travels back to the UP often for his relaxation and recreation.

Matonich has ties to the NRC as well.

He attended Michigan Tech the same time as Commissioners Frank Wheatlake and JR Richardson. He played high school football against JR’s team from Ontonagon. He didn’t say how well he did but believes he and his players left some lasting intimidation on Richardson teammates.

I think he is probably one of the best things that could happen to the UP as far as natural resources management. His life long background as a Yooper, living and loving the natural resources and recreational opportunities we have to offer combined with a strong professional background, will be sure to enhance the representation we now have from the UP with JR Richard and John Madigan. He is used to transition which is taking place in regionalizing the MDNRE, with a deep appreciation of the outdoors and heritage so strongly held here.

Matonich is also a long standing member of the Flint Chapter of Safari Club International and the UP’s Northwoods Chapter of SCI.

John Matonich will preside at his first Natural Resources Commission meeting in Escanaba on August 11^th. The NRC will be holding a joint session with the Michigan Department of Agriculture on that day in the Escanaba Middle School (formerly known as the Junior High School) on Ludington Street.

The meeting is open to the public and will be a great opportunity to greet Matonich as he begins his tenure as a commissioner. We should also say thanks to outgoing commissioner and NRC Chairman Keith Charters for the many years of top level service he provided.