DURANGO— Cory Chick, a longtime employee of Colorado Parks and Wildlife has been named as the new regional manager for CPW’s southwest region.

Chick’s experience with CPW is varied and includes previous leadership positions. He started working for the agency in the late 1990s after serving for six years in the U.S. Marine Corps. His first job was working as a temporary employee in the aquatics section in the San Luis Valley. While working there he also earned a degree in biology with an emphasis on wildlife from Adams State University in Alamosa.

Following college graduation in 2004, he was selected for CPW’s wildlife officer academy and became a district wildlife manager. He started working as a DWM on the eastern plains in Cheyenne Wells and then Lamar. In 2010, he was named the area wildlife manager in Colorado Springs where he served for more than three years. Next he spent two years as the area wildlife manager in Brush in northeast Colorado.

Most recently, Chick was based at CPW’s Denver headquarters as the manager for the license, passes and reservation section.

“I am honored to be selected for this position and I look forward to working with the staff and all CPW’s partners and constituents in the region,” Chick said.

Chick, originally from Texas, will move to the Durango area with his wife and two young children. The previous regional manager, Patt Dorsey, retired in February.

CPW’s southwest region includes area offices in Durango, Montrose, Monte Vista and Gunnison.