Ohio Wildlife Center Welcomes New Board Member and Thanks Outgoing Members for Service
Two trustees of the Ohio Wildlife Center Board have concluded their service and a new member has joined the board. Aaron Ansari, who has served for six years, and Beth Lenoble, one of the Center’s longest serving trustees, have completed terms of service. Lenoble, an avid traveler and birder, volunteers for raptor care at the Center, and also volunteers each week at the Wildlife Hospital. Prior to joining the board, Ansari donated many years of in-kind support for IT infrastructure and computer operations to the Center. He worked closely with management to set technology priorities and through personal connections and professional resources he acquired significant donated IT equipment and tech support.
“I saw the good work the organization was doing and knew I had a skill I could offer,” Ansari said. “I had no idea they did so much with so little – every tech asset they have is on its second or third life. I didn’t reach my ultimate goal, but I did help the diehard staff worry about one less thing.”
New board member Al Vivo, owner of Cnti, LLC, brings expertise in IT and data network infrastructures to the Center’s board. Vivo, who has a degree in zoology from Ohio State University, has had a life-long interest in conservation and rehabilitation.
“Taking graduate level classes at Ohio State University’s Stone Laboratory on Gibraltar Island in Lake Erie was where my lifelong respect for wildlife was married with the knowledge of field work, labs and research,” Vivo said.
The staff and volunteers of Ohio Wildlife Center extend thanks and gratitude to Lenoble and Ansari for their dedicated service and their contributions of time, talents and treasure to the mission.
New Staff Members Join Ohio Wildlife Center
Ohio Wildlife Center welcomes four new team members this year working in development, SCRAM!, the Wildlife Hospital and operations.
Christopher Shirring (Field Technician, SCRAM!) is originally from northeast Ohio and relocated to the Columbus area nearly ten years ago after five years in North Carolina. He has a Wildlife Management degree from Hocking College, a Natural Sciences degree from Shawnee State University and a Parks and Recreation Management degree from Clemson University. He spent the past 15 years in municipal recreation and is excited to get back to his original passion of wildlife management.
Donnelle Rodriguez (Rehabilitation Technician, Wildlife Hospital) rejoined Ohio Wildlife Center staff recently. As a registered veterinary technician (RVT), Rodriguez specializes in rehabilitation of injured wild animals.
Laura Winstel (Business Manager, Operations) joined our team to oversee the core functions of the Center, including HR and accounting. Winstel spent several years at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Laura is happy to be working behind the scenes at another animal organization.
Rebecca Rose (Conservation Liaison, Development) recently joined the development department as the conservation liaison. She comes to Ohio Wildlife Center after working at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium as an environmental education specialist and, most recently, as the Zoo’s field conservation manager. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance, Friends of Bonobos, and the Center for Conservation Peacebuilding. In her new role at the Wildlife Center she will be building awareness of the Center’s work in conservation in the community through presentations and outreach.
Amberlynn Maxwell (Service Coordinator, Operations/SCRAM!) has moved from a seasonal position at the Center to a full-time role. She works with both the Education Department and SCRAM! in client services and outreach. A recent graduate of Otterbein University, Maxwell has worked as a summer camp counselor at the center and in Education internships.
Create Your Own Spring Surprise: Sponsor a Bunny
Every year the Wildlife Hospital cares for more than 958 Eastern cottontail rabbits, and many of them are infants and orphans. Baby bunnies require special formulas to survive and protected nesting to grow and thrive. They arrive at the Wildlife Hospital at all stages of development.
Spring is the baby season for wildlife and you can help by sponsoring a bunny to support the costs of care and food for these animals. A special certificate will be sent to sponsors, and sponsorships can be done to honor a special person or celebrate a special day such as Mother’s Day or a birthday.
To find out more and set up your sponsorship today, click here.
Cocoa & Canvas Event Highlights Animal Ambassadors
The Cook Road Education Center Bonner Barn was the site of a second Cocoa & Canvas Event on January 27, 2019. Staff and volunteers on the cold but sunny day welcomed visitors who attended tours of the new Bald Eagle Exhibit, presentations about new Animal Ambassadors and an animal painting session with woodland box turtles and aquatic turtles. Here are some photos of the event:
Upcoming Events
The new Critters and Canvas event will be held on March 30, 2019 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Education Center Bonner Barn. This event is geared for adults and features Locke, the screech owl, and guest artist John Buffington, who will help participants complete their own owl painting. Wine will be served along with fun facts about owls and raptors. Click here to register.
Save the date for the annual Red Tail Run 5k in Powell on September 29, 2019. This popular run and walk through scenic Shawnee Hill departs from the Bonner Barn and features an animal release after the award ceremony. Registration details to come soon. 
Shop, eat and support Ohio Wildlife Center at two upcoming retail events. On April 23, a portion of all sales at Dewey’s Pizza on Perimeter Drive in Dublin will be donated back to Ohio Wildlife Center. On May 4, the Michael Kors store at Easton will also donate a portion of all day sales to the Center.
Conservation Liaison Attends Conferences
Ohio Wildlife Center recently expanded our reach by adding a new staff member, Becky Rose. As our Conservation Liasion, Becky is tasked with expanding our reach into the community by attending conferences and community events where she can speak about our work and our role within larger conservation initiatives.
Recently, Becky attended the Zoos and Aquariums Committing to Conservation (ZACC) Great Lakes Regional Conference, with Education staff member Stevie Cisek. Becky’s presentation was entitled “Rescue, Rehabilitation and Why It Matters.”
Becky, intern Kyle Turner, and Education staff member Caitlin all attended the Finding Your Voice conference, where Becky gave a presentation entitled “Circle of Compassion.”
