Gus Barnes selected as February 2026 Missouri Department of Natural Resources Team Me…

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, FEB. 24, 2026 - Gus Barnes, procurement supervisor with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Division of Administrative Support, is the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Team Member of the Month for February 2026. He was selected for his service to the department and for his contributions while serving in the department's General Services Program.

Barnes is responsible for managing the processes related to the procurement of goods and services needed for department operations. Examples include purchasing fleet vehicles, managing building leases and overseeing deployment and use of purchasing cards across the department's workforce.

In addition to his usual duties, Barnes has been an active collaborator during the planning and design phases of the future department office space project at the former International Shoe East End-Main Street Factory in Jefferson City. Still in its early stages, this large-scale project involves an extended timeline with many procurement-related requirements.

Barnes is known for his detailed, methodical approach to his work. He has prioritized the streamlining of processes within his team, minimizing fatigue and confusion. A self-starter, he also continually requests new challenges as he grows into his role.

"Gus is a very positive, upbeat and mild-mannered team player," said Mike Zielinski, the director of the General Services Program who nominated Barnes for the award. "He can wear many hats when needed, stays focused on the job at hand and always tries to set his team up for success."

Barnes joined the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in May 2025 and resides in Columbia.