Because we believe that the health and sustainability of North America’s natural resources rests in the hands of the individuals and 
organizations who manage them, the Management Assistance Team (MAT) aspires to further the conservation goals of state fish and wildlife agencies through organizational and leadership development of agency staff at all levels. With the support of our world-class leadership development programs, and through the inter-organizational partnerships we help to forge, state fish and wildlife agencies will be able to navigate change successfully, and respond immediately and effectively to shifting natural, political, and economic conditions.
who we are
The Management Assistance Team (MAT) is part of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. We provide leadership and organizational development to state fish and wildlife agencies and other AFWA member organizations.
Our National Faculty staff members are integral to our training program. They hail from diverse geographical and organizational backgrounds.
This Project was funded by a Multistate Conservation Grant F25AP00154-00, a program funded from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, and jointly managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
What we do
- Online Courses
- Webinars
- Conservation Leaders Confluence
- Leadership Launchpad
- AMA Courses
- Face-to-Face Workshops
- On-Demand Products
- Coaching
- Accelerating Reasoning and Judgment Skills
- Commission Guidebook Resources
- Consulting
- MAT Year in Review
- National Conservation Leadership Institute
Spotlight:
Transforming Archery, Transforming Systems: Adaptive Leadership in Action
11/5/25 from 1:00–3:00 pm ET
How do you shift a sport from niche to mainstream, from back-forty tradition to community staple? This interactive session uses the Alabama Community Archery Strategy as a real-world case study to explore how adaptive leadership can foster systemic change.
Participants will gain a foundational understanding of adaptive leadership and apply its core principles—framing challenges, engaging stakeholders, orchestrating conflict, and managing loss—to a statewide transformation effort that now boasts over 20 archery parks and a thriving ecosystem of programs.
Through stories, breakout reflections, and discussion, we’ll examine what worked, what didn’t, and what it means to lead through uncertainty.
register now for:
- AI for Conservation Leaders on 10/30/25
- Transforming Archery, Transforming Systems: AL in Action on 11/5/25
- Chaordic Leadership: Leading in the Space Between Chaos and Order on 11/12/25
- Beyond Resolution: Conflict Transformation for Collaborative Teams on 11/18/25
- Your Leadership Story: Discover It. Shape It. Share It. on 12/2/25
- Using AI Tools for Conservation Outreach series on 1/20/26, 1/27/26, and 2/3/26
- AMA On-Demand courses
View descriptions of current registration openings here.
The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation: Seven Tenets and the Contemporary Context
Presenters: Lane Kisonak and Gordon Batcheller
Nov 13, 2024 1:00-2:30 PM Eastern Time
Join our mailing list to receive registration announcements:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/cbKf3kF/matsubscribe
Questions?
Email matinfo@fishwildlife.org.