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.
Jody Cassell
Director of Conservation
I’ve developed a passion for conservation at a very young age and always knew I wanted to help ‘Save the World.’ Raised along the coast, the water has become second nature to me and made marine and estuarine conservation an important part of my life. I enjoy overseeing a dynamic team of ambitious community-minded conservationists who are dedicated to the preservation and restoration of our natural resources and promoting a sustainable community. I also value the dedication of our extended team—our volunteers, their contribution is invaluable. My background in environmental education and animal behavior makes it easy to share conservation and sustainability messages to our community. I also find it exciting to help people incorporate eco-friendly choices that can make a real difference to the future of Florida.
Ashley Rearden
Assistant 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
(Contact Hope for Clam Restoration Projects and Oyster Gardening site visits)
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.
Amber Santoso
Conservation Seagrass Coordinator
(Contact Amber for any seagrass questions)
asantoso@brevardzoo.org, ext. 492
As a Florida native, I have always had an appreciation for the outdoors and the beauty of the natural environment, especially when it comes to animals. My passion has been focused on marine life for as long as I can remember, encouraged by many trips to the Brevard Zoo and SeaWorld, and it has always been a dream of mine to be a Marine Biologist. I earned my BS in Biology at the University of Central Florida with a focus on marine aquatics. During my time there, I had the opportunity to intern with the UCF Marine Turtle Research Group and continued on as a field researcher for 3 years. It is an absolute pleasure to combine my knowledge of fieldwork and my love for the planet to put that energy towards the conservation efforts of the Restore Our Shores program. I am excited to see what the future holds on our mission to preserve the Indian River Lagoon!
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.
Virginia Wine
Field Technician
vwine@brevardzoo.org, ext. 376
Hi! I’m Virginia from Virginia! Since I was a kid, I’ve been very passionate about wanting to educate people about environmental and wildlife conservation. Specifically, I wanted to help people build a positive relationship with the outdoors. Following this call, I earned my BA in Conservation and MS in Sport and Recreation Administration from George Mason University. During college, I volunteered with the Martin County Parks and Recreation Department doing mangrove restoration on the Indian River Lagoon. I remember that being the moment I fell in love with Florida and telling myself that I would move here one day! After college, my career shifted from conservation research and education to outdoor leadership and challenge course development with George Mason University, and later with Florida Tech after moving to Florida in 2016. These programs encompassed the design, installation, and maintenance of large obstacles; all while also focusing on program administration and facilitation. Through the pandemic I found myself missing the environmental fieldwork I fell in love with as a child and in college. In March of 2022, I was able to put my kids back into school and began volunteering at the Brevard Zoo. I’ve had the honor of volunteering with the Wild Florida Tail Loop, Manatee Provision project, and Restore Our Shores! When the opportunity arose to work with Restore Our Shores, I dived right in! I have particularly found my happy place in Restore Our Shores as it brings me to my first love; water conservation and education. l found renewed vigor in the programs I support and I’m proud to bring my environmental experiences and knowledge to share with zoo patrons and the programs I’m asked to support. When I am not working, I am with my family backpacking the Appalachian Trail, helping with my daughter’s Girls Scout and son’s Cub Scouts troops, and taking care of my pets (mutt mix, ball pythons, savannah monitor, bearded dragon, tarantulas, discoid roaches, and isopods).
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!
Vonn Schneider
Field Technician
kschneider@brevardzoo.org, ext 376
Hello! I’m Vonn. 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.
Kimberly Rudolph
Conservation Office Administrator
(Contact Kimberly for any questions regarding the Restore Our Shores programs)
krudolph@brevardzoo.org, ext. 381
After working with the State of New Jersey for 29 years, it was time to retire and relocate to the beautiful State of Florida. It wasn’t long after settling in that I began volunteering at Brevard Zoo. Being a new resident to Brevard County and hearing about the perils of lagoon conditions, I wanted to learn more and see what I can do to help. This led me to my current position with the Conservation Department. It’s rewarding knowing that my small part can help in the larger picture of restoring the lagoon! If I’m not at my desk assisting homeowners, and the opportunity arises, I’m out in the field assisting the team.