The Center for Wildlife Education and the Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center
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Steven M. Hein - Director Steve Hein brings his passion for falconry, artistic talent, business skills and a tremendous sense of fun to his work at the Center for Wildlife Education. Steve earned a degree in Business Administration from Georgia Southern University. He holds Federal and State Licenses as a Master Falconer, and practices this ancient art with tremendous enthusiasm. As a wildlife artist, Steve received the Georgia Governor's "Artist of Excellence" award: won the 1987 and 1988 Georgia Wildlife Management Area Stamps; was chosen in 1986, 1987, and 1990 as the Georgia Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year; and worked on a national level with Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, and the National Wild Turkey Federation. Corporate patrons include Nations Bank and Coca-Cola. Steve painted Drumming Palm Cockatoo for the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) Species Survival Plan and White Oak Conservation Center. While serving as the Center's Director since its inception in 1991, Steve is also a past- president of the Statesboro Convention and Visitor's Bureau and has completed Leadership Bulloch and Leadership Southeast Georgia Programs. Steve and his Statesboro High School sweetheart, Kathy, have four children. |
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Scott Courdin - Wildlife Curator Scott Courdin supervises all the raptors of the Center for Wildlife Education's exhibits and flighted demonstrations, as well as the reptiles, amphibians, fish, mammals, and invertebrates of the Center's collection. Scott is an accomplished wildlife rehabilitator, falconer and environmental educator. Scott serves as a member of the Georgia National Guard with the 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry. He was deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom III & IV. Scott holds a A.A. in General Science from Georgia Military College, a B.A. in Anthropology from Georgia Southern University and has been employed at the Wildlife Center since 1997. |
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Pam Harley - Business Manager Pam Harley earned a BBA in Business Administration from Georgia Southern University in 1990. She handles all business affairs for The Center for Wildlife Education. Pam has been employed at Georgia Southern University since 1990 and has been on staff at the Wildlife Center since October 2005. |
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Hope Tootle - Administrative Secretary Hope Tootle serves as Administrative Secretary at the Wildlife Center where she manages the front office and gift shop. She also oversees all on-site field trip program scheduling. Hope joined the Wildlife Center in February 2008. |
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Krista Weatherford - Education Program Coordinator Krista Weatherford is originally from Dallas, TX. She graduated from Brigham Young University in 1998 with a BS degree in Conservation Biology with an emphasis in Wildlife. As an undergraduate, she completed two summer internships trapping and tagging black bear in the Book Cliffs of eastern Utah. After graduation, she completed an internship caring for black rhinoceroses at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, TX. She moved to Statesboro, GA to accept an animal keeper position with Otter Conservation, Inc. Krista was employed by The Center for Wildlife Education from September 2000 to August 2004 as the Education Coordinator. In 2006, she returned to the Center for Wildlife Education as the Education Coordinator following two years as a stay-at-home mom. Krista is married to Rick Weatherford, Georgia Southern graduate and past Wildlife Center volunteer. They have two very fun and active children, Hannah and Kaitlyn. |
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David Suttinger - Outreach Coordinator David Suttinger's home town is Martinez, GA. He is a graduate from Georgia Southern University, where he received a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. After college, David spent almost two years working as a naturalist at the Jekyll Island 4-H center. David also had the opportunity to work with loggerhead sea turtles, while working as a wildlife technician on Sea Island, GA. He has also spent summers along the Georgia salt marshes as a kayak guide. |
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Thomas Sheffield Classification: GSU Graduate Student Major: Biology Hometown: Atlanta, GA Level of Training: 5 ~ Raptor, 5 ~ Herps, and 5 ~ Education Date Employed: returned to the WLC in January 2008
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Joe Waddell Classification: GSU Senior Major: Undergraduate in Biology Hometown: Marrietta, GA Level of Training: 5 ~ Raptor, 4~ Herps, and 1 ~ Education Date Employed: April 2006 |
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Chris Smith Classification: GSU Junior Major: Undergraduate student in Nursing Hometown: Los Gatos, CA Level of Training: 5 ~ Raptor, 4 ~ Herps, and 5 ~ Education Date Employed: November 2005 |
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Brett Walden Classification: GSU Graduate Student Major: Mastering in Biology Hometown: Augusta, GA Level of Training: 4 ~ Raptor, 5 ~ Herps, and 5 ~ Education Date Employed: March 2004
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Wade Carruth Classification: Sophmore Major: Biology Hometown: St. Simons, GA Level of Training: Date Employed: October 2007 |
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Alex Mattei Classification: GSU Senior Major: Undergraduate in Broadcast Production Hometown: Cobb County Level of Training: 4 ~ Raptor, 3 ~ Herps, and 1 ~ Education Date Employed: April 2006
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Brandy Langston Classification: GSU Sophmore Major: Undergraduate in Early Childhood Education Hometown: Lithonia, GA Level of Training: Office Assistant Date Employed: May 2007 |
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Stefanie Couch Classification: Senior Major: Hometown: Level of Training: Date Employed: August 2007
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Michelle Wehner Classification: GSU Sophomore Major: Undergraduate in English Hometown: Augusta, GA Level of Training: 5 ~ Raptor, 4 ~ Herps, and 2 ~ Education Date Employed: December 2005
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Katie Henderson Classification: GSU Sophomore Major: Hometown: Claxton, GA
Level of
Training:
Date
Employed: March 2007 |
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Tiffany Saunders Classification: Major: Hometown: Level of Training: Date Employed: August 2007
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Jana Ashing Classification: Senior Major: Political Science Hometown: Crestview, FL Level of Training: 5 ~ Raptor, 5 ~ Herps, and 5 ~ Education Date Employed: October 2006
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Laura Tate Classification: GSU Freshman Major: Hometown: Level of Training: Date Employed: January 2008
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