KOSCIUSKO — The Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management has hired Erica Luchik as the new regional specialist for northwest Indiana.

She began work on Jan. 7 for the statewide Indiana Invasives Initiative project. The counties covered include Newton, Jasper, Pulaski, White, Cass, Starke, Marshall, Fulton, Miami and Kosciusko.

Luchik has a degree in wildlife biology from Purdue University, West Lafayette. Her past positions include land management with U.S. Fish and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy, and Wildlife Habitat Council. Her most recent experience was managing a 160-acre preserve as the stewardship manager at Coffee Creek Watershed Conservancy. Specific experiences include identifying and controlling invasive species and working with volunteers.

“I’m excited to begin my work with the Indiana Invasives Initiative and network across my 10 counties,” said Luchik. “I want partners to realize how much they can make a difference on invasive species control when everyone works together.”

Ray Chattin, chair of the Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasive Management group, which sponsors the statewide Indiana Invasives Initiative, is pleased to have Luchik on board. She is one of four regional specialists now on board across the state.

“We were impressed with the breadth of experience Erica brought to the job,” said Chattin. “She is also familiar with the area and already knew many of the partners that she would be working with.”

Chattin said the group thought she would do well building teams locally to help increase the awareness of the harm invasive species do to natural landscapes.

Luchik can be reached at [email protected] or at (219) 477-0252.