{"id":2234943,"date":"2024-05-01T19:33:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-01T23:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pa-game-commission-head-resigns-after-business-relationships-revealed\/"},"modified":"2024-05-01T19:35:08","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T23:35:08","slug":"pa-game-commission-head-resigns-after-business-relationships-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pa-game-commission-head-resigns-after-business-relationships-revealed\/","title":{"rendered":"Head of PA Game Commission Resigns Due to Exposed &#8216;Business Relationships"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpa-game-commission-head-resigns-after-business-relationships-revealed%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2234943&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Pennsylvania Game Commission&#8217;s \u200dexecutive director,\u200c Bryan Burhans, resigned following concerns about &#8220;business relationships&#8221; with employees. The board \u200bappointed Stephen Smith \u200cas the new\u200d leader. Burhans faced scrutiny for\u2064 his wellness coaching and consulting\u2063 work. The PGC also faced\u200b criticism for hiring \u2064a \u2062lobbyist.\u200b Smith plans to review the commission&#8217;s supplement employment policies. After facing\u200d scrutiny \u200bover &#8220;business relationships,&#8221; Bryan Burhans resigned \u200cas the executive\u200d director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The board has\u200b named\u200d Stephen\u200c Smith as the new leader. Burhans&#8217; wellness coaching and consulting work raised concerns, alongside criticism for hiring a lobbyist. Smith aims\u200b to review the commission&#8217;s supplement employment policies.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"RFK Jr. challenges Biden to take a \u2018no-spoiler pledge\u2019 determining who will drop out\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cFynKbuUEZY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>(The Center Square) \u2014 The Pennsylvania Game Commission has a new leader after its top official resigned due to moonlighting as a wellness coach \u2014 and engaging in a \u201cbusiness relationship\u201d with several commission workers.<\/p>\n<p>Bryan Burhans, PGC executive director, stepped down on Monday after the Board of Game Commissioners raised concerns unrelated to his leadership capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe board became aware of circumstances beyond job performance that caused us to raise questions about whether a change in leadership would be appropriate,\u201d Commissioner Scott Foradora said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-biden-defector-emails-pipeline-to-obama-admin-seen-as-currency\/\" title=\"Hunter Biden Defector Emails: 'Pipeline' to Obama Admin Seen as 'Currency'\">press release<\/a>. \u201cIt recently came to light (that) Bryan had a business relationship with several Game Commission employees and received income through that relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Foradora, who is also the board president, noted that they did not accuse Burhans of any ethical violations, but only questioned the \u201cappropriateness of those business relationships.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Replacing Burhans is Pennsylvania native Stephen Smith, the commission\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-administration-walks-back-regulation-protecting-single-sex-homeless-shelters\/\" title=\"Biden Administration Walks Back Regulation Protecting Single-Sex Homeless Shelters\">deputy executive director<\/a> since February. Smith has been with the PGC since 2008 and said he would call for an independent third-party review of the commission\u2019s supplement employment policies.<\/p>\n<p>PGC Spokesman Travis Lau clarified that Burhans was a wellness coach through <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optavia.com\/us\/en\/\">Optavia<\/a><\/strong>, a \u201chealth and wellness community\u201d that pairs <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnet.com\/health\/nutrition\/optavia-diet-review\/\">a diet program<\/a><\/strong> with coaches. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour Coach will guide you through the Habits of Health Transformational System and help you develop healthy new habits and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/obese-stroke-survivor-john-fetterman-thinks-he-knows-whats-best-for-your-health\/\" title=\"Obese Stroke Survivor John Fetterman Thinks He Knows What\u2019s Best for Your Health\">make healthy choices<\/a> that can lead to lifelong transformation,\u201d its website <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optavia.com\/us\/en\/about-us\/who-is-optavia\">noted<\/a><\/strong>. \u201cYour Coach guides and helps you celebrate the little victories that add up to the big ones.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In March, Burhans was criticized during a House committee hearing for a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lancasterfarming.com\/country-life\/outdoors\/pennsylvania-game-commission-head-questioned-about-running-side-business-on-state-time\/article_ea31f256-99fc-535e-bf99-8bd2b5278a3f.html\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ig-equity-official-used-gov-job-to-boost-her-entirely-duplicative-for-profit-firm\/\" title=\"IG: \u2018Equity\u2019 Official Used Gov Job To Boost Her \u2018Entirely Duplicative\u2019 For-Profit Firm\">personal consulting business<\/a><\/a><\/strong>. His website Rep. David Maloney, R-Berks, argued, showed a conflict with his personal business and his responsibilities as the PGC\u2019s leader. \u201cThere\u2019s no business right now,\u201d Burhans said, and denied doing consulting work on PGC time.<\/p>\n<p>Burhans has received media attention for losing 110 pounds in recent years; he noted <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goerie.com\/story\/sports\/outdoors\/2022\/10\/13\/pennsylvania-game-commission-top-official-bryan-burhans-shares-health-wellness-journey-for-hunters\/69552232007\/\">the importance of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/7-types-of-facial-wrinkles-and-what-they-say-about-your-internal-health\/\" title=\"7 Types of Facial Wrinkles and What They Say About Your Internal Health\">healthy eating habits<\/a><\/a><\/strong> and maintaining a healthy lifestyle in an interview with the <em>Erie Times-News<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond Burhans\u2019 consulting business, legislators have been critical of the PGC\u2019s lobbying activities. In February, they learned that the PGC hired a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/pennsylvania\/article_48fe2010-d595-11ee-a8b9-bb778ba91386.html\">$10,000 per-month lobbyist<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 the only state agency to do so since 2007.<\/p>\n<p>The resignation of Burhans won\u2019t satisfy legislators, either.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have been aware and as evidenced publicly in a couple recent hearings, there are some issues with the Game Commission\u2019s management,\u201d said Sen. Cris Dush, R-Brookville. \u201cWithout knowing the whole story, I am not able to comment directly, but I don\u2019t anticipate this being the end of the discussion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other agencies may serve as a model for the PGC, Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-Jacobus, argued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis move comes as no surprise as we continue to see a significant contrast by how our two key sportsmen agencies are run: The Fish and Boat Commission, which is responsible, respectful, and reactive to the anglers and boaters they support; and the Game Commission, which has spent hunting fees in ways that are unfathomable, like hiring outside lobbyists,\u201d she said. \u201cI hope this move is the start of many overdue reforms at the Game Commission to uphold and build upon our proud hunting traditions across our state.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>PGC Spokesman Travis Lau noted it was \u201cundetermined\u201d whether the employees in a business relationship with Burhans would be subject to disciplinary action. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause we are going to have a third party review of our supplemental employment policies, I\u2019m not sure what the result will be,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p> The PGC\u2019s press release announcing Burhans resignation was amiable. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot every hunter will agree on every issue or every change that affects them, but with Bryan, and the decisions he had a hand in, you always knew his heart was in the right place,\u201d Board President Foradora said.<\/p>\n<p>Burhans left on a note of gratitude.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery wildlife agency director has a lifespan, with the national average about three years of service,\u201d he said. \u201cMy seven-year tenure is longer than many. I learned from so many great leaders that you must recognize when it\u2019s time to go. Now is my time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Pennsylvania Game Commission sees a leadership change as its top official steps down for working as a wellness coach and having &#8220;business relationships&#8221; with employees. Bryan Burhans, the executive director, resigned following the Board of Game Commissioners&#8217; concerns, not linked to his work as a wellness coach<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2234944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP23320565916100-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2234943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP23320565916100-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2234943","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2234943"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2234943\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2234944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2234943"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2234943"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2234943"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}