Our Leadership

A Strong Foundation

The success of the NWTF is made possible due to its strong foundation, a volunteer-led board of directors and an executive staff with decades of experience in the world of wildlife conservation. Together, they guide the conservation organization and help direct the NWTF mission related efforts.

 

Meet the President of the Board

Dalton (Dal) Wayne Dyches, Jr., is a custom builder with Dyches Construction Company located in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Dyches is a Diamond Life member of the NWTF and has served more than 25 years as president of the local Dutch Fork NWTF Chapter in Chapin. He also has served 20 years on the South Carolina NWTF State Board of Directors.

During his time on the state board, he served as secretary, vice president and, most recently, as president. Dyches has dedicated himself to the mission of the NWTF having organized many Wheelin’ Sportsmen turkey and deer hunts, Women in the Outdoors and JAKES events on both local and state levels. He has also spent countless hours organizing and hosting Hunt of a Lifetime events for youth.

Dyches serves as an effective advocate for the wild turkey and its conservation. He attended and spoke at numerous committee hearings and assembly meetings to lobby for the new South Carolina turkey hunting laws passed in 2019 by the South Carolina General Assembly.

He and his wife of 30+ years, Mary Jo, have two daughters, Mary Margaret and Joanna.

Meet Our Co-CEOs

Jason Burckhalter

Jason Burckhalter is co-CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). Founded in 1973, the NWTF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to conserve the American wild turkey and preserve the country’s hunting heritage.

Appointed to his co-CEO role in May 2022, Burckhalter leads the NWTF’s membership and fundraising-related duties, including field operations and development, marketing and communications, membership, information technology, and facility management.

Burckhalter previously was NWTF’s chief information officer for three years and before that held positions as vice president of finance and controller with the organization.

Before joining NWTF in 2013, Burckhalter held various executive capacities with for-profit entities including CIO/COO of a national multi-site operation.

An experienced senior level professional in for-profit and nonprofit habitat conservation delivery, Burckhalter has a proven record of successful staff and program management throughout his career. A skilled leader of multi-disciplinary teams, Burckhalter has developed both national and regional level partnerships with public, private, and governmental partners.

Committed to lifelong learning, Burckhalter holds multiple degrees. He is a graduate of Lander University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance/Economics. Burckhalter earned a Master of Business Administration from Augusta University. He also has an accounting degree from Auburn University.

Burckhalter grew up fishing and enjoying the woods from an early age. An avid outdoorsman and sports enthusiast, Burckhalter can be found on the water, angling both in-shore and freshwater, or enjoying the woods when he is not coaching his sons’ sports teams. After spending many years in the for-profit space, Burckhalter truly found a home with the National Wild Turkey Federation that allows him to find fulfillment helping preserve the outdoor lifestyle for generations to come.

Burckhalter resides in North Augusta, S.C., with his wife and two children.

Kurt Dyroff

Kurt Dyroff is co-CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). Founded in 1973, the NWTF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to conserve the American wild turkey and preserve the country’s hunting heritage.

Appointed to his co-CEO role in May 2022, Dyroff leads mission-related duties for the NWTF, including conservation and government affairs, finance and accounting, and general business support (legal, human resources and land holdings).

Dyroff previously was NWTF’s chief business and finance officer for three years and held positions as director of business development, acting chief of conservation and western director of conservation operations at the organization.

Before joining NWTF in 2014, Dyroff served in various executive conservation capacities at Ducks Unlimited for 10 years.

An experienced senior level professional in nonprofit habitat conservation delivery for nearly 20 years, Dyroff has a proven record of successful staff and program management across the country. This includes the development of both national and regional level partnerships with public, private, and non-governmental partners as well as with private landowners.

Dyroff is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in environmental engineering. Dyroff also is a fellow of the National Conservation Leadership Institute and a member of the Boone and Crockett Club.

Dyroff was born and raised in the mountains of north-central Pennsylvania where he was introduced to the turkey woods at an early age. An avid hunter and fisherman, Dyroff currently resides in northern Idaho with his wife and their two children.