Meet the Division Directors

Brian V. Blank - Director of Marketing

Brian V. Blank, Public Affairs Director 
 
 

Brian came to the Department from the industry side of fish, wildlife and boating. Brian served in several marketing capacities previously, spanning over 20 years, most notably with Dick's Sporting Goods, Medalist Apparel, and Emotion Kayaks. He also served as the membership and m​​arketing director for the American Sportfishing Association. Brian has extensive experience in social networking, community based marketing, customer tracking, product evaluation, and customer recruitment and retention. His skills in developing grass roots efforts to reach new license buyers and stakeholders, and evaluating how to retain existing customers are among his most valued assets.

Brian is an avid hunter and angler, and enjoys stream fishing from a kayak, as well as deer, dove, predator and turkey hunting. He was born and raised outside of Baltimore, MD, where he learned to appreciate and enjoy the waters around the Chesapeake Bay. He earned a BA in History from Messiah College, Grantham, PA and both played and coached in collegiate sports. Brian understands the needs of anglers, hunters, trappers, and boaters, and helps to develop and implement solutions to better serve them. Brian and his family reside in Mercer County.


Lisa Cox - Director of Administrative Services

Lisa Cox, Administrative Services Director 
 
 

Lisa Cox joined the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources as its Administrative Services Director in the summer of 2018.

A Frankfort native, Cox has a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Kentucky and brings more than three decades of government experience to her role with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Cox has served as an auditor on the state and county levels, as a cabinet fiscal officer, financial analyst, budget analyst, division director and executive advisor.

Administrative Services provides the support required to ensure Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is a good steward of public funds. Under Cox's leadership, Administrative Services strives to:​

  • Develop a strong workforce through recruiting, safety, training and resources
  • Properly account for and report receipts of licenses, registration fees, grants, contributions and assets
  • Ensure efficient procurement of goods and services that document the necessity of those goods and services for the department to fulfill its mission and meet strategic goals
  • Provide centralized administrative functions, such as mail/delivery, when more efficient
  • Provide public reporting to enhance transparency and build trust

Cox and her husband, Mark, live on a Mercer County cattle farm with their son, Reese. Working for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is special for Cox because hunting and fishing have always been an important part of her life. Now, that love and respect for the outdoors continues with her son.


Dave Dreves - Director of Fisheries

  
 
 

Dave Dreves is a veteran employee with Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and a Certified Fisheries Professional. He previously served as an assistant director in KDFWR’s Fisheries Division, supervising the two state fish hatcheries and the Streams Investigations and Urban Fisheries sections.

Prior to that, he was a research biologist and program coordinator with KDFWR, where he directed trout research on the Cumberland Tailwater and managed many other research projects. Dave is originally from northern Kentucky and is a proud graduate of Covington Catholic High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Northern Kentucky University and a Master of Science degree from Murray State University with a concentration in Fisheries Biology.

He is married to Beth and they have two sons. Spencer is at Bellarmine University studying computer science and Blaise is an elementary school student who loves snakes, dinosaurs, and Minecraft. Dave’s hobbies and interests include spending time with family, fishing, hunting, golf, and other outdoor activities as well as DIY projects at home. He is also an avid Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and UK basketball fan.


Vacant - Director of Law Enforcement

 
 
 



Gabe Jenkins - Director of Information and Education

Gabe Jenkins 
 
 

Gabe Jenkins joined the Information and Education Division as its acting director in November 2019 after 12 years in the Wildlife Division.

Jenkins served as the department’s Deer and Elk Program coordinator for five years after seven years as a biologist in the Deer and Elk Program.

In his time with the department, Jenkins has worked across divisions to help promote the state’s deer and elk herds and worked with the Information and Education Division on its many different aspects, including “Kentucky Afield” magazine and TV, hunter education, hunter recruitment, retention and reactivation, and social media promotions.

Jenkins holds a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management and a master’s degree in Fisheries from Eastern Kentucky University. He currently lives in Anderson County with his wife, Brook, and their two children.


Ben Robinson - Director of Wildlife 

Ben Robinson_portrait_Jan 2022.JPG 
 
 

Ben Robinson was named Wildlife Division Director in January 2022.

A central Kentucky native, he brings more than 17 years of experience and diverse work history to the role. Most recently, Robinson served as Assistant Director of the Wildlife Division where his primary focus was overseeing the division’s federal grants program and budgetary needs.

He earned a degree in Wildlife Management from Eastern Kentucky University and spent time as a college student working at the Salato Wildlife Education Center. Following graduation, Robinson worked for Tall Timbers Research Station in Georgia. He returned to Kentucky in 2005 and started his career with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, initially focused on private lands management through the Landowner Incentive Program. He later gained public lands management experience working at Taylorsville Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) before becoming the agency’s small game biologist.

Robinson and his wife, Megan, live on a small farm in Mercer County with their two daughters. In his spare time, Robinson enjoys live music and anything outdoors, including hunting, golf, kayaking, and canoeing, as well as managing his property for wildlife, and more.


Michael Scott - Director of Engineering, Infrastructure, and Technology

Michael Scott 
 
 

Michael Scott became director of the Engineering, Infrastructure and Technology Division in October 2019.

A Frankfort native, Scott joined the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources in 2015. Previous roles with the department included Engineer in Training, Engineer and Program Manager. In each of these capacities, Scott designed and managed department construction projects.

He worked on site development and water resource projects for a private engineering firm in Lexington before coming to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.

Scott earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Kentucky in 2011. He also holds a Professional Engineering (PE) license and is a Land Surveyor in Training (LSIT).

Scott currently lives in Franklin County with his wife, Cara, and their daughter.

​​