With experience in Marine Animal Rehab., Rescue and Research coupled with a nerdy love of data, data science and all things technology, my data collection software company, WatchSpotter is the cumulation of my life’s work. From the hallways of the Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center at the University of New England, my affinity for caring for marine animals was fostered and grew. Being tasked with the center’s life support systems and flow thru animal pools further opened my eyes to water quality, fecal coliforms, and bio-loads.  I was the primary research technician in a multiphase study: Protecting the Saco River: Tracking non-point fecal pollution to its species source. Upon leaving UNE, I traveled to the Southern Great Barrier Reef Australia to work on an international research team focusing on population dynamics for three cetacean species. Once back stateside, I sharpened my Software UX skills working as a software consultant for Centersoft Technologies. After a brief stint volunteering for the Dolphin Photo ID program at Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, I was hired to join the team. I split time the first years at FAU HBOI between the Harmful Algal Bloom lab and the Dolphin Population and Assessment Lab. Settling in as a Research Assistant for the latter as well as a first responder for the Marine Mammal Rescue Team. In working with the Dolphin Population and Assessment Primary Researcher, along with other industry collaborators, I soon became the PIs data analyst and was paramount in the creation and development of the programs state of the art cloud-based SQL database platform. I worked as a liaison between the research program and software architects to assure ease of use, maximum data output and advanced analytics. The software is still used by the newly formed team today.  At the end of 2019 it was time for me to branch out on my own.  In the spring of 2022, WatchSpotter was born. My idea was to create a customizable SaaS application that could be used by researchers worldwide. Data is data- scientific questions need to be answered. My contingency was that no matter what the research topic- if the research brings people into the field-whether scientists, volunteers, or citizens, they are there to gather data-to answer questions. I knew that the two biggest challenges facing many environmental research groups were time and money. It would not be feasible for most nonprofits or other environmental institutions to pay for custom software- which often runs in excess of $150K nor do they have the time to wait for such programs to be complete.  These known challenges fueled the customization and simple UX that make up the WatchSpotter platform. When I’m working with Environmental Science or software, I enjoy being outside in the woods or at the beach, volunteering and hanging with family and friends.

Good Afternoon I an A South African Working in Angola a a Game Ranger. I started my Conservation Career Working in the Durban Museum in Ornithological and Small Mammal Research. I then left and joined the Natal Parks Board as a Ranger, working first in the Natal Drakensberg ( Afro Alpine) then Hluhluwe -Umfolozi Complex ( African Big Five Savannah ) then Coastal Region ( Rocky Shores Estuaries Mangrove Woodlands ,Sandy Beaches and Coral Reefs) Left the NPB and took over from Dr. Ian Player as Director of the Wilderness Leadership School father of the Wild Foundation. As part of the Wilderness Foundation SA founded Msinsi Holdings a private Conservation Management Organisation, from there to Angola as Director of Kissama National Park, a National Park on the Atlantic Coast of 10,000 Sq Kms. 120 Kms of Coast with two major river systems with Sea Turtles, Mangroves and Manatee in the River System. Was involved with the then biggest Aerial Translocation of Big Game from SA. to Angola.Then to Luingui-Luina- Mavinga National Parks 94,000 Sq Kms as a Technical Advisor to the Minister of Environment current delayed currently in Durban SA because of the Covid lock down!

I am a conservation biologist with experience working in zimbabwe and Nigeria. My areas of interest are: ornithology, conservation technology, conservation communications and Community Based Natural Resource Management. I am currently working at a cattle and wildlife ranch deploying the Holistic management framework to ensure coexistence between people, planet and profit.