Plot your locationIAWF STAFF
Michelle Ekstrom, Exhibitor/Fundraising Coordinator
Michelle Ekstrom has been with IAWF since 2005 as the Exhibit & Fundraising Coordinator. She has also worked for the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation for the last 21 years. She has worked in a variety of fire capacities over the years including dispatch and finance, but mostly enjoys fire operations. She has been working as a Division Supervisor on a Type II team since 2005, but still enjoys taking single resource assignments and visiting different parts of the country. In her spare time Michelle enjoys hiking, biking and spending time with her teenage daughter. Michelle has a passion for cooking and is a certified Culinarian working as a caterer and professional chef. Contact Michelle
Paula Nelson, Public Affairs Officer
Paula's 31 year US Forest Service career included fire management work on three California forests including prevention, detection, dispatching, fuels management and suppression. Fire assignments throughout the US included suppression, planning, information and dispatching roles. She developed interagency communication tools for the National Fire Plan in Washington, DC and retired after five years as the USFS Northern Region Media Officer. She was a firefighter for the American River Volunteer Fire Department and a Foresthill Volunteer Fire Department Board member. BA in Organizational Leadership, Chapman University, and fire management studies at American River College and the Washington Institute. Contact Paula
Mikel Robinson, Executive Director
Mikel Robinson has been the Executive Director of the IAWF since January 2011. Prior to being selected as Executive Director she worked at the University of Montana (UM) for seven years as Division Manager of the Health Management Programs within Continuing Education. During her time at the University, Mikel worked with the IAWF as a conference coordinator. Prior to working at UM she worked at the Department of Homeland Security, on various cruise ship lines and a trust company. She received her B.S. in accounting from the University of Montana. Contact Mikel
