Our People

CO-FOUNDER

OPERATIONS MANAGER
K9 HANDLER

Background:

Heidi is an ecologist with 13 years of experience spanning multiple countries and diverse taxa. Her work has broadly centered on the intersection between wildlife and anthropogenic landscapes, including carnivore-roadway interactions, human-wildlife conflict, and developing innovative approaches to assess the vulnerability of wildlife relative to land management decisions.

In recent years, she has focused on training and handling conservation detection dogs - primarily in the context of post-construction monitoring at wind energy facilities. She has six years of experience in environmental consulting, and has worked on renewable energy projects across the US and the Caribbean.

Heidi has worked closely with state, federal, and private agencies to conduct compliance work, including biological assessments for sensitive species in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

She has authored several open-file reports, data releases, and journal articles that have been featured in leading peer-reviewed journals, including Scientific Reports and the Journal for Nature Conservation.

Education:

Heidi received an M.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Ohio University. She also hold a B.S. in Environmental Science with a Biology concentration from Cleveland State University.

CO-FOUNDER

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
K9 HANDLER

Background:

Sara is a field biologist and professional dog trainer specializing in canine-assisted wildlife monitoring. Her detection experience spans a wide range of targets, including bat and bird fatalities at wind energy facilities, live clams in coastal environments, and illegal contraband in urban settings. A strong commitment to working dog safety and welfare has guided her professional focus toward canine conditioning and canine first aid.

She brings over ten years of professional experience in canine training and handling including obedience, scent detection, therapy dog training, agility, trick dog training, and physical conditioning. Sara’s interdisciplinary background bridges applied field biology and canine behavior, and she has collaborated with biologists and detection dog teams internationally to implement and refine effective, ethical, and repeatable survey methodologies.

In addition to her technical expertise, Sara specializes in community outreach and conservation education. She has presented to universities, schools, and local conservation organizations to build public understanding and support for conservation detection dogs.

Education:

Sara received an M.S. in Biology from Miami University. She also holds a Master of Opera Performance from Richard Wagner Conservatory, and a Bachelor of Music from DePauw University.

CO-FOUNDER

PRINCIPAL ECOLOGIST
K9 HANDLER

Background:

A California native with 17 years of experience, Jacqueline is an Ecologist specializing in California wetland and grassland ecosystems.

She holds several certifications including invasive bullfrog control, wetland delineation, and data analysis. She is currently completing her certification in rangeland management. Jacqueline has extensive experience working with western burrowing owls and several other Northern California special-status species, including red-legged frogs and California tiger salamanders.

Jacqueline has a decade of experience in private-sector consulting, has lectured at San Jose State, and is a founding member of a restoration-focused NGO. She brings a wealth of experience conducting biological surveys, construction monitoring, restoration work, and ensuring environmental compliance for projects across diverse landscapes throughout the state.

Jacqueline holds an FAA drone license and is particularly interested in utilizing modern technology and quantitative data analysis to support science-driven project outcomes.

Education:

Jacqueline received an M.S. in Environmental Studies from San Jose State University. She also holds a B.S. in Biology with a Zoology concentration from San Diego State University.

CO-FOUNDER

PRINCIPAL WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST

Background:

Austin is a wildlife biologist with 15 years of experience researching and managing wildlife. Specializing in bats, Austin has worked with species across North America and three additional continents. Having led research for major federal agencies - including the U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service - Austin is an expert in study design, data collection, and statistical analysis. Currently, he leads the Big Wall Bat Program in Yosemite National Park, combining radio-telemetry and technical climbing to understand roosting strategies and inform disease management. He excels in developing custom analytical frameworks using Python, R, and SQL, such as his pioneering zero-truncated Poisson mark-resight analysis for Yellowstone National Park, which established the first-ever superpopulation estimates for a local bat species. His findings have been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Ecology and Evolution, Journal of Mammalogy, and North American Bat Research.

Austin also has extensive experience creating and managing grant-funded budgets. As a licensed financial advisor, he helps bridge the gap between understanding data needs and project cost requirements.

Education:

Austin received an M.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Ohio University. He also holds a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from University of Florida.