Ventana Wildlife Society

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	Research VWS Staff Board Members Consultation Services Newsletter Membership Employment Pressroom In the News Contact Us	Kelly Sorenson - Executive Director Kelly first began working for VWS in 1991 while completing his B.S. degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management from West Virginia University. He has focused on wildlife conservation his entire career working with many raptor and vulture species including Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles, and California Condors. Kelly was the lead biologist for VWS during the initial phase of the condor program in Big Sur and played a key role in the establishment of the Pinnacles National Monument release site. Kelly is now a member of the California Condor Recovery Team. In 1992, he participated in the development of the Big Sur Ornithology Lab and the Education programs of Ventana Wilderness Society. In an interest to diversify his background, he completed a Masters in Public Administration from Golden Gate University in 2001. He has many years experience in fiscal management, program management, fundraising and human resources. Mailing Address: VWS Administrative Office 19045 Portola Drive, Suite F1 Salinas, California 93908 Phone: (831) 455-9514 In July 2005 Monterey County Weekly recognized Kelly Sorenson as one of 12 local heroes who make Monterey County a better place. Read the article. Alena Porte - Education Coordinator Alena first began working with VWS in May 2004 as the Assistant Education Coordinator and instructor for Ventana's Natural Science Discovery Camp. She came to the program with seven years experience in outdoor science education. Alena received a bachelor's degree in Recreation and Outdoor Education, focusing on natural interpretation, from State University of New York at Cortland (SUNY Cortland) in 1997. Her teaching experiences include working with children with special needs, underserved populations, and the general public in formal and informal settings. She has several years experience in program development and management. Alena has an extensive background in natural sciences including aquatic and terrestrial systems and is first aid and CPR trained as well as holds a class B drivers license. Alena is the main point of contact for questions. Mailing Address: VWS Administrative Office 19045 Portola Drive, Suite F1 Salinas, California 93908 Phone: (831) 455-9514 Joe Burnett - Senior Wildlife Biologist Joe first began working with VWS in May 1993 as a Field Assistant for Ventana's Bald Eagle Restoration Program in Big Sur, CA. In 1996, Joe became Field Supervisor for Ventana's Condor Restoration Program and coordinated the first seven releases of condors in central California, six in Big Sur and one at Pinnacles National Monument. Joe left Ventana in 2003 to start up Oregon Zoo's Captive Breeding Program for condors. His experiences with captive condors vastly broadened his knowledge base of the species. In 2005, Joe returned to Ventana to coordinate the release effort once again. Joe received a bachelor's degree in Wildlife and Fisheries, focusing on birds, from West Virginia University in 1994. He began his field studies of birds as an undergraduate in 1992 and now has over 14 years experience working with a variety of bird species. Mailing Address: VWS Administrative Office 19045 Portola Drive, Suite F1 Salinas, California 93908 Phone: (831) 455-9514 Nellie Thorngate - Wildlife Biologist Nellie began working with the Ventana Wildlife Society as a volunteer in November 2002, and completed a year-long internship and a stint as the interim Assistant Coordinator of the Big Sur Ornithology Lab before taking up her current role as a Wildlife Biologist. Nellie received her BS in Wildlife from Humboldt State University in 1999, and completed her MS in Biology through San Jose State University in 2006, where she studied Evolution and Conservation Biology, and taught classes in Ecology and Human Biology. Her graduate research focused on songbird diversity, abundance and bird-habitat relationships in Monterey pine forests. She has been practicing field biology for over five years, focusing particularly on avian ecology and conservation. She has authored and coauthored numerous technical reports and journal manuscripts, as well as two Partners in Flight species accounts, and has presented VWS original research at regional, national and international scientific conferences including western section Wildlife Society meetings and the sixth North American Ornithological Conference. While working at VWS, Nellie has led multiple research projects assessing avian population biology, ecology and conservation issues in central coastal California, including power structure risk assessment, evaluating effects of cowbird trapping on riparian bird populations, and monitoring neotropical migratory bird populations along Monterey County watersheds. Nellie is certified as an Associate Wildlife Biologist by The Wildlife Society and as a Bird Banding Trainer by the North American Banding Council. Mailing Address: VWS Research and Education Center HC 67 Box 99 Monterey, California 93940 Phone: (831) 624-1202 Jessica Griffiths - Wildlife Biologist Jessica began working with Ventana Wildlife Society in December 2002, two years after graduating with a B.A. in Biology from Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA. Before joining VWS, she worked as a field biologist for both government and private organizations in seven states from coast to coast, from New Hampshire to North Dakota to Mississippi to California. Jessica first started working for VWS as a bird banding intern, since then has worked as crew leader, assistant coordinator, and interim coordinator. She is now responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Big Sur Ornithology Lab. She also oversees VWS's Monarch Butterfly monitoring and microclimate monitoring projects, organizes annual training workshops, presents research findings at national and international scientific conferences, and leads interpretive walks and talks for the public. Mailing Address: VWS Research and Education Center HC 67 Box 99 Monterey, California 93940 Phone: (831) 624-1202 Sayre Flannagan - Wildlife Biologist Sayre began working with wildlife while earning her bachelor's degree at Ohio State University. While working on her degree in Wildlife Management, she began caring for Big Brown bats as a lab assistant and continued to work with bats for three years. She also spent time a the Coumbus Zoo, were she cared for a variety of North American wildlife, but her true passion is working in the field. Sayre has experience in the field with Spotted Owls, Goshawks, and California Condors. She is currently working for Ventana Wildlife Society's Species Recovery department, focusing on California Condor management. Mailing Address: VWS Research and Education Center HC 67 Box 99 Monterey, California 93940 Phone: (831) 455-9514 Cathy Keeran - Executive Assistant Cathy began working with Ventana in January 2004. Cathy attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on a soccer scholarship with an interest in marketing. She has a rich background in administration and personnel development and has over 18 years experience in Retail/Management. Cathy volunteered with the Phoenix Symphony from 1990 to 1992 and was a docent at Point Lobos State Reserve from 1997 - 2003. She is the proud mother of a beautiful young son named Dylan. Mailing Address: VWS Administrative Office 19045 Portola Drive, Suite F1 Salinas, California 93908 Phone: (831) 455-9514 Mailing Address: VWS Administrative Office 19045 Portola Drive, Suite F1 Salinas, California 93908 Phone: (831) 455-9514

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