The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has recently spotlighted one of its own, Shaili Pfeiffer, with the 2024 Rebecca Wallace Award during the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board meeting yesterday. Pfeiffer, serving as a Natural Resources Staff Specialist in the Water Use Section, was recognized for her efforts that align closely with the guiding spirit of the accolade – improving relationships with external partners and honoring environmental quality issues or staff mentoring, the DNR stated yesterday. The award, a tribute to the late DNR employee Rebecca Wallace, and her husband, symbolizes dedication and problem-solving amidst tragic loss.
Since her start in 2004, Pfeiffer’s professional journey reflects a deep cultivation of expertise and leadership, particularly evident in her involvement in the implementation of the Great Lakes Compact and aiding the city of Waukesha in a groundbreaking move to a Great Lakes water supply. Her systematic work and stakeholder engagement have fortified her reputation not just within the DNR but broadly in the circle of environment conservationists. Adam Freihoefer, Water Use Section Manager, revealed in a statement obtained by Wisconsin's DNR that Pfeiffer’s work "has been instrumental in shaping Wisconsin's water resource policies," and her inclusive approach to problem-solving is a distinguished quality worthy of the award.
Apart from her professional landscape, Pfeiffer's commitment to mentoring peers is equally notable. She champions a supportive environment offering guidance to burgeoning water use professionals. This aspect of her role embodies the same spirit of nurturing and growth Rebecca Wallace was known for. Not content with only stewarding Wisconsin's water policies, Pfeiffer takes her mission into her home, intimately weaving her environmental passion with personal life by spearheading outdoor activities like camping and paddling with family and peers.
