Decatur County man to direct nature preserves

Ronald Hellmich; Photo courtesy of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

A Decatur County man has been promoted to director of Nature Preserves. Ronald Hellmich, who has worked in the DNR Division of Nature Preserves for more than 32 years, was promoted to the position of division director this week.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says that the Greensburg resident has served as coordinator of the Indiana Natural Heritage Data Center of DNR Nature Preserves for the past four years. Before that, he served as data manager for the center for 20 years.

Hellmich holds a J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, a master’s degree from the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in natural resources from Ball State University.

Hellmich replaces John Bacone, who retired in January.