Ventana Wildlife Society

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	Research VWS Staff Board Members Corporate Sponsors Consultation Services Newsletter Membership Employment Pressroom In the News Contact Us	Kelly Sorenson - Executive Director Kelly first began working for Ventana Wildlife Society in 1991 while completing his B.S. degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management from West Virginia University. In 1992, he participated in the development of the bird banding lab and the education programs of VWS. He has focused on wildlife conservation his entire career working with many raptor and vulture species including Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles, and California Condors. Kelly was the lead biologist for VWS during the initial phase of the condor program in Big Sur and played a key role in the establishment of the Pinnacles National Monument release site. Kelly is now a member of the California Condor Recovery Team. In an interest to diversify his background, he completed a Masters in Public Administration from Golden Gate University in 2001. He has many years experience in fiscal management, program management, fundraising and human resources. Mailing Address: VWS Administrative Office 19045 Portola Drive, Suite F1 Salinas, California 93908 Phone: (831) 455-9514 In July 2005 Monterey County Weekly recognized Kelly Sorenson as one of 12 local heroes who make Monterey County a better place. Read the article. Alena Porte - Education Coordinator Alena first began working with VWS in May 2004 as the Assistant Education Coordinator and instructor for Ventana's Natural Science Discovery Camp. She came to the program with seven years experience in outdoor science education. Alena received a bachelor's degree in Recreation and Outdoor Education, focusing on natural interpretation, from State University of New York at Cortland (SUNY Cortland) in 1997. Her teaching experiences include working with children with special needs, underserved populations, and the general public in formal and informal settings. She has several years experience in program development and management. Alena has an extensive background in natural sciences and is first aid and CPR trained as well as holds a class B drivers license. Mailing Address: VWS Administrative Office 19045 Portola Drive, Suite F1 Salinas, California 93908 Phone: (831) 455-9514 Joe Burnett - Senior Wildlife Biologist Joe first began working with VWS in May 1993 as a Field Assistant for Ventana's Bald Eagle Restoration Program in Big Sur, CA. In 1996, Joe became Field Supervisor for Ventana's Condor Restoration Program and coordinated the first seven releases of condors in central California, six in Big Sur and one at Pinnacles National Monument. Joe left Ventana in 2003 to start up Oregon Zoo's Captive Breeding Program for condors. His experiences with captive condors vastly broadened his knowledge base of the species. In 2005, Joe returned to Ventana to coordinate the release effort once again. Joe received a bachelor's degree in Wildlife and Fisheries, focusing on birds, from West Virginia University in 1994. He began his field studies of birds as an undergraduate in 1992 and now has over 14 years experience working with a variety of bird species. Mailing Address: VWS Administrative Office 19045 Portola Drive, Suite F1 Salinas, California 93908 Phone: (831) 455-9514 Mike Stake - Senior Wildlife Biologist Mike is a San Francisco Bay Area native, returning home to the west coast in 2009 to work with Ventana Wildlife Society. Mike left California in 1988 to attend the University of Nebraska, opting for a stunning change of scenery, Husker football tickets, and a few eastern birds for the life list. After graduation, he spent several years with The Nature Conservancy at Fort Hood, Texas monitoring endangered Black-capped Vireos and Golden-cheeked Warblers. He later assisted with research projects in the Bahamas, Australia, Peru and Ecuador, and also taught English classes in Russia. After completing his Master’s Degree at the University of Missouri in 2003, Mike spent five years coordinating avian research projects with Hawks Aloft, a non-profit organization in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His work there included Gray Vireo monitoring, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher surveys, and working with power companies and agencies to help resolve avian issues associated with power lines. Mailing Address: VWS Administrative Office 19045 Portola Drive, Suite F1 Salinas, California 93908 Phone: (831) 455-9514 Sayre Flannagan - Wildlife Biologist Sayre began working with wildlife while earning her bachelor's degree at Ohio State University. While working on her degree in Wildlife Management, she began caring for Big Brown bats as a lab assistant and continued to work with bats for three years. She also spent time a the Coumbus Zoo, were she cared for a variety of North American wildlife, but her true passion is working in the field. Sayre has experience in the field with Spotted Owls, Goshawks, and California Condors. She is currently working for Ventana Wildlife Society's Species Recovery department, focusing on California Condor management. Mailing Address: VWS Research and Education Center HC 67 Box 99 Monterey, California 93940 Phone: (831) 455-9514 Mike Tyner - Wildlife Biologist Currently Mike is serving as Field Supervisor for our California Condor Recovery Program. Mike first began working together with Ventana Wildlife Society biologists in 2002 studying songbirds along the Carmel River. From there Mike went on to volunteer with our California Condor Recovery Program and also completed an internship with the bird banding lab. Since then he has worked as a biologist with our Conservation Ecology and Species Recovery Programs working on numerous projects in Central California. Aside from working with VWS Mike has worked with the Bureau of Land Management studying rare and endangered plants in the Algodones Dunes of Southeast California, worked as a Condor Nest Technician for the Santa Barbara Zoo, and interned and volunteered with the Hi Mountain Condor Lookout Project where he first got his start with condors. Mike is a graduate of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology and Systematic Biology. He is a field biologist by trade and an avid birder and naturalist. Mailing Address: VWS Administrative Office 19045 Portola Drive, Suite F1 Salinas, California 93908 Phone: (831) 455-9514 Cathy Hamilton - Executive Assistant Cathy began working with Ventana in January 2004. Cathy attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on a soccer scholarship with an interest in marketing. She has a rich background in administration and personnel development and has over 18 years experience in Retail/Management. Cathy volunteered with the Phoenix Symphony from 1990 to 1992 and was a docent at Point Lobos State Reserve from 1997 - 2003. She is the proud mother of a beautiful young son named Dylan. Cathy Hamilton will be out on maternity leave from May 15 through August 31, 2009. Katie Lannon, Administrative Assistant Katie will be filling in for Cathy during this time. For the past two summers, Katie has worked for VWS as an Education Instructor for the Natural Science Discovery Programs. She is currently working toward her bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Education at CSU Monterey Bay. Since moving to the central coast in 2006, Katie has taken great interest in learning about community-based conservation and restoration efforts through non-profit organizations. Mailing Address: VWS Administrative Office 19045 Portola Drive, Suite F1 Salinas, California 93908 Phone: (831) 455-9514

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