Connect with Conservationists
Have a question for the Restore Our Shores team? Email restoreourshores@brevardzoo.org.
Restore Our Shores is one of the many conservation projects at Brevard Zoo. You can read more about the Zoo’s conservation efforts here.
Ashley Rearden
Director of Conservation
arearden@brevardzoo.org, ext. 284
Originally from the Midwest, Florida was always a favorite vacation spot where I could soak in sun, enjoy the beaches and watch the wildlife. I was thrilled when a position opened at Brevard Zoo that would allow me to use my previous work experience, directing education and operation teams, to help manage the Zoo’s Restore Our Shores program. Over time my position here has expanded to include overseeing all aspects of the conservation team, giving me the opportunity to use my experience to guide a very passionate group of individuals toward meaningful conservation action. I really enjoy spending my time focused on making positive change in our community and in my free time I love being able to experience all that Florida has to offer with my family.
Olivia Escandell
Senior Conservation Manager
(Contact Olivia for Restore Our Shores projects and Shuck and Share partner management)
oescandell@brevardzoo.org, ext. 431
As a Brevard county native, I spent much of my childhood exploring the Indian River Lagoon and local beaches. A fascination with marine life lead me to study Marine Affairs at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science where I learned about the importance of conserving our natural resources for future generations. I first spent time working with oyster populations in North Florida but found my way back home after wanting to conserve the natural resources of our backyard. I’m excited to be a part of the Restore Our Shores team working to bring native shoreline habitats back to the Indian River Lagoon. I love sea turtles, native plants, cooking healthy meals, and enjoying Florida’s wild spaces with my German shepherd Nyla!
Tyler Provoncha
Conservation Manager
(Contact Tyler for Oyster Reef Project Designs and Permitting)
tprovoncha@brevardzoo.org, ext. 464
Born and raised in Brevard County, I have always enjoyed kayaking and exploring the lagoon. This passion for being outside and my desire to understand how to preserve the natural beauty around me led me to pursue an Environmental Science degree at Florida Tech. During my time there I worked with muck, oxygen dynamics, and other abiotic factors and how they relate to lagoon restoration. I am proud to use that knowledge to help our conservation team, as well as to direct our permitting and monitoring efforts. When I’m not in the field, I enjoy gardening or visiting parks and trails around Florida.
Hope Leonard
Conservation Restoration Coordinator
hleonard@brevardzoo.org , ext. 1012
Growing up in Melbourne, FL I was always outside; whether I was at the beach, on a spoil island or playing soccer, I have always loved being out in the Florida sun. As a kid I was fascinated watching Jeff Corwin and Steve Irwin on animal planet; my love for animals only grew when my dad brought me on a turtle walk for my eighth birthday. Every summer of my childhood was spent either at Brevard Zoo Camp or hiking up in Idaho with my grandmother. These experiences made choosing my undergraduate degree simple: zoology. During my time at the University of Florida, I took a specialty class in sea turtle biology which inspired me skipping my college graduation to move to Greece and accept a job in loggerhead sea turtle conservation. While I was there, I was convinced by some of my colleagues to pursue a masters in Global Ecology & Conservation based out of Cardiff, Wales, UK. When covid hit I felt the lagoon calling me home, so I finished my masters and pursued a position in Brevard. I am so happy to now be a part of the Restore Our Shores team and am ecstatic that I now get to work to make my home a better place for generations to come.
Vonn Schneider
Conservation Restoration Coordinator
kschneider@brevardzoo.org, ext 492
Hello! I’m Vonn and I oversee the seagrass and clam projects. As a Space Coast Native, I have always been around water. From playing with snails at the sandbars of the Indian River Lagoon to jumping off waterfalls in North Carolina, I naturally bond with all bodies of water. Growing up in Satellite Beach, I have developed a special bond with the Indian River Lagoon. I am an avid catch-and-release angler and have spent many hours on the water enjoying the beauty of our areas precious resource. Having received my Bachelor’s Degree in General Biology and Master’s Degree in Biotechnology from Florida Institute of Technology, I have followed in both my parents’ footsteps of becoming a Panther Alumni. Specializing in plant physiology, I have gained three years research experience studying kin recognition in Arbidopsis thaliana seedlings contributing to multiple peer-reviewed journals. I am excited to start my conservation career by joining the Restore Our Shores team.
Victoria Wilcock
Conservation Restoration Coordinator
vwilcock@brevardzoo.org, ext 376
Hi, I’m Tori! I am a Conservation Restoration Coordinator for Restore Our Shores and I am responsible for the Oyster Gardening program and the Buffer Zone Project. You may also see me out doing outreach, workshops, and other events sharing my experience and passion for Conservation and all the projects that we do. Originally from the UK, I have travelled the world working and volunteering in several different careers which have given me the transferable skills, experience, and amazing opportunity to live and work in this beautiful county I now call home and doing a career I have always dreamed of. I am incredibly grateful for the team, volunteers and community that I get to spend each day with, as well as this unbelievable opportunity to give back to nature and be a part of Restoring Our Shores.
Yagen Gutierrez
Conservation Specialist
Hi, I’m Yagen! I was born in Cuba and migrated to the United States (Miami) when I was 7. I have always loved the ocean and exploring the outdoors. Like many kids, my dream was to be a dolphin trainer. However, I immediately changed my mind when I started working with manatees and sea turtles doing rescue and rehabilitation while doing my undergraduate. I have a Masters Degree from NOVA Southeastern University in Marine and Coastal Studies. Over the course of my career, I’ve developed extensive international experience and exposure which has enabled me to connect people from multiple backgrounds with conservation and educational efforts. I joined Brevard Zoo as we become more involved with our local populations of manatees and the efforts to stabilize the species. I have also been working very close with the Restore our Shores team and all their efforts. I’m the happiest when I’m surrounded by other planet lovers like myself and everybody at the Zoo is just that! In my free time I enjoy camping with my family in our travel trailer, I’m the leader of my daughters Girl Scout Troop, race in endurance events (triathlons & ultra marathons) and I am section backpacking the Appalachian Trail and any other trail I can run off to!
Liam Corcoran
Field Technician (Construction)
Hi, I’m Liam. Born and raised in Northern Virginia, I moved to Melbourne to study Marine Biology at the Florida Institute of Technology. After moving to the area, I quickly fell in love with the Indian River Lagoon and the surrounding wildlife. Growing up, I spent my free time learning about and exploring my local forests, streams, and ponds. I still take that wonder into my daily life, I enjoy camping, hiking, and spending time in the water. My passion for the water doesn’t stop in the field, I am an avid aquarist with a mix of freshwater and marine aquariums. Now, working in conservation to protect our local ecosystems, things have come full circle.
Hosanna Gattle
Field Technician
hgattle@brevardzoo.org, ext. 376
Hi, I’m Hosanna! Being a Brevard County native, I have enjoyed being outside and in the environment, especially with the Indian River Lagoon and local beaches so close by. My love of the environment was largely influenced by the Brevard Zoo, as I attended camps, zoo events, and had the opportunity to be a Zoo Teen during middle school and high school and intern in college. This led me to pursue a degree in Environmental Science at Nova Southeastern University. Throughout my schooling, my love for the environment only grew through fieldwork and volunteering. I am extremely passionate about the environmental restoration occurring throughout this county and beyond! I am so excited about the opportunity to be a part of this amazing team. When I am not working, I enjoy going to the beach, exploring natural areas, and learning more about Florida’s environment!
Madeline Padgett
Field Technician
Hi, I’m Madeline! I am originally from Tennessee, which is where I first fell in love with nature and the outdoors from a very young age. This love led me to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science/Ecology from Lee University, where I was involved in research projects involving brook trout and hellbenders. After graduating, I went on to be a marine conservation intern with a group called A Rocha, spending six months in the Titusville area and then three months in Austin, Texas. While in Florida, I had the opportunity to volunteer with Restore Our Shores and immediately knew that this was a group I wanted to work with. It felt like this was a group that was really making a difference for the Indian River Lagoon. Luckily when I moved back to the area, they had an opening and now here I am! I’m very excited to see where this position takes me.
Maggie Rice
Conservation Office Administrator
(Contact Maggie for any questions regarding the Restore Our Shores programs)
maggier@brevardzoo.org, ext. 381
Hi, I’m Maggie! As a lifelong resident of Melbourne, I grew up on the Space Coast, where I spent a lot of time on the water, whether it was on the beach or kayaking through the Indian River Lagoon. This nurtured a profound appreciation for Florida’s natural beauty and resources. With a passion for marine life, I still enjoy spending time in the water whenever I can. In my spare time, I love to paint, watch movies, and love all things football (SKOL Vikings!). I have a diverse career background including experiences at Walt Disney World, nursing homes, and teaching in the classroom. I am thrilled to be part of the Restore Our Shores team, and I am so excited to be making a positive impact both in the office and in the field whenever I can!