Speakers

Home
Speakers

Meet the Core Training Team

The Invasive Species Ambassador Training Workshop aims to provide students learning opportunities and professional experience from leaders in the industry. The Core Training Team is part of the success of the Wild Spotter Ambassador program.

Class of 2025
Capstone Speaker

Thursday, February 6
8:00 - 9:00 am

Dr. Fran Mainella

16th Director of the National Park Service and current Visiting Scholar, Clemson University, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management

Woman in National Park Service ranger uniform

Dr. Fran Mainella

16th Director of the National Park Service and current Visiting Scholar, Clemson University, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management

Dr. Fran Mainella is a Visiting Scholar at Clemson University Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. She is also President of Fran Mainella Consulting, LLC. Previously, Director Mainella served nearly six years as the 16th Director and the first woman to lead the National Park Service. Fran served twelve years as Director of Florida’s State Parks(first woman), which received the Gold Medal Award, recognizing Florida as the best state park system in the country. She has also served as executive director of the Florida Recreation and Park Association and as president of both the National Recreation and Park Association and the National Association of State Park Directors.

In 2022, Fran was recognized as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Business Leaders in Collier County by Naples Illustrated. Also, she is the recipient of the Marquis “Who’s Who Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award” for her achieved career longevity and unwavering excellence. Clemson University also has named an award in her honor, encouraging women to pursue conservation careers. The American Recreation Coalition also presented her with the Sheldon Coleman Great Outdoors Award. She has received the William Penn Mott, Jr. Award for Excellence by the NSPR and she is one of the few that have been a two-time winner of the Pugsley Award, the highest award given by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. She has also been selected as the Metcalf Lecturer for SUNY- Cortland, the first ever Ralph Steele Lecturer for East Carolina University, and the Calhoun Lecturer for Clemson University. For four consecutive years, the Clemson University Board of Trustees presented her with an award for faculty excellence. In addition, Mainella received the Outstanding Alumni of the Year from the University of Connecticut School of Education. Additionally, she has written many articles and book publications including the introduction to National Geographic’s 10 Best of Everything National Parks and an acknowledgement to Richard Louv’s new book: The Nature Principle. Also in 2022 she wrote the introduction for “Hola Ranger” by David Vela, former Deputy Director(first Hispanic) of Operations for NPS.

Fran is currently the West Coast Committee Chair of the Alliance for Florida National Parks; Consultant to Guest Services Inc; co-chair with Richard Louv of the Children and Nature Network Founder’s Council ; Chair Emeritus of the US Play Coalition; Member of the Clemson Institute for Parks; Environment Chair for the new Bonita -Estero Women’s Club; Fellow of the American Academy of Park and Recreation Administrators; Member of the Foundation for Sustainable Parks and Recreation; and a National Speaker on Women in Leadership, Nature Deficit Disorder, Play, and Parks and Recreation. Director Mainella holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut, a master’s degree, and an honorary doctorate from Central Connecticut State College.

Keynote Speakers

Dale Walker, CFRE

Vice President for Advancement, Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University

"Financial Capacity Building and “Friend-raising” Fundamentals"

Dale Walker, CFRE

Vice President for Advancement, Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University

Dale Walker has worked in educational advancement for over 25 years, building resources for facilities, personnel, research, and scholarships. He has secured more than $100 million dollars in support for schools, libraries, and museums, including a $10 million gift to support biodiversity. As a consultant, he has provided strategic advice for arts organizations. His success and learning has earned him the professional designation of Certified Fund Raising Professional. At present he is Vice President for Advancement at Brite Divinity School on the campus of Texas Christian University; previous employers include the University of Chicago, University of Wyoming, Illinois Tech, and the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. He is also a student of Roman history, having earned a Ph.D. in the history and literature of early Christianity, on which he has published two scholarly books. Dr. Walker loves the outdoors. Nothing is better than strolling through mountain meadows, enjoying the flowers, watching wildlife, and quaffing glacial runoff, though having his Black Lab sprawl across him while snoozing is a close second.

Stephen Enloe

Professor & Extension Specialist, University of Florida

"Core Concepts About Invasive Species Everyone Needs To Know"

Stephen Enloe

Professor & Extension Specialist, University of Florida

Dr. Enloe is a professor and extension specialist at the IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants at the University of Florida. He has been involved with invasive plant research and extension for the past two decades and has worked throughout the western and southeastern United States on developing innovative management strategies for many of the worst invasive tree, shrub, vine, and herbaceous species in the US. Dr. Enloe earned his Ph.D at UC Davis in Plant Biology, a Master’s degree in weed science from Colorado State University and an undergraduate degree in Agronomy from N.C. State. His hobbies include competitive disc golf and extreme gardening.

Anthony Boxshall

Principal & Founder, Science Into Action

"Co-Design: Community Stakeholder Engagement Principles, Practices & Mindset"

Anthony Boxshall

Principal & Founder, Science Into Action

Dr. Anthony Boxshall is a marine ecologist by trade who has worked in Australia and the USA across Government, academia and industry. He is the Founder and Principal of Science into Action Pty Ltd, a science impact company, turning great science into greater actions in areas including environment, climate adaptation, community, conservation, pollution, agriculture and sustainability. He is a Board Director of Parks Victoria, and was the inaugural Chair of the Victorian Marine & Coastal Council. A former National President of the Australian Marine Sciences Association, and head of the Science part of EPA Victoria, he has worked at UC Santa Cruz USA, Deakin University, and has been on several innovation Boards. He is a co-founder of Authentic Co-design, a way to solve complex challenges with broad stakeholder groups. He is a current Melbourne Enterprise Fellow (Associate Professor) in the School of Biosciences at the University of Melbourne.

Dan Tompkins

Science Director, Predator Free 2050 Limited, New Zealand

"Building Community Commitment and Support"

Dan Tompkins

Science Director, Predator Free 2050 Limited, New Zealand

Dan is the Science Director at Predator Free 2050 Limited, helping to drive Aotearoa New Zealand’s ‘Predator Free 2050’ mission to eradicate invasive mammal pests impacting native biodiversity from the country by 2050. Originally from the United Kingdom, with degrees from Cambridge University and the University of Oxford, he holds an honorary professorship in Zoology at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Although now focusing on science strategy for conservation outcome impact, Dan maintains research interests in wildlife disease ecology, co-editing the Cambridge University Press book ‘Wildlife Disease Ecology: Linking Theory to Data and Application’ in 2019. Past research also includes understanding pest mammal community dynamics; demonstrating the efficacy of vaccination against TB in wildlife; exploring novel high-tech approaches to pest control; and showing how shared diseases contribute to native species declines.

Expert Instructors

Sim Barrow

Director of Community Conservation, Arkansas Wildlife Federation

Sim Barrow

Director of Community Conservation, Arkansas Wildlife Federation

"How to Build a Strong Volunteer Community: Case Studies from Community Conservation Initiatives"

Sim joined the Arkansas Wildlife Federation (AWF) with 10 years of experience in community outreach and environmental education. Sim has a background in wildlife biology and entomology. He is a lifelong Arkansan, having spent his childhood in the Boston Mountains and River Valley before moving to Northwest Arkansas in 2012. Prior to joining AWF, he worked at Fayetteville (AR) Public Schools as the environmental science coordinator. He also previously worked as the outreach and development coordinator for the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust. Sim is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hiking, paddling, birding, and cycling – particularly in the Arkansas Ozarks. Sim lives in Springdale, AR with his wife and two young daughters.

Lesley Beckworth

Landowner Programs Coordinator, Teton County Weed & Pest District

Lesley Beckworth

Landowner Programs Coordinator, Teton County Weed & Pest District

Lesley Beckworth is the Landowner Programs Coordinator at Teton County Weed and Pest District in Jackson, Wyoming. Lesley has served as co-chair of the Terrestrial Invasive Species Subcommittee of the Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee since 2019. Through these roles, Lesley has worked to coordinate cross-boundary invasive species management, to keep invasive species management at the forefront of decision making, and to educate visitors and residents on the risk of invasive species to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Dave Coyle

Associate Professor, Department of Forestry & Environmental Conservation, Clemson University

Dave Coyle

Associate Professor, Department of Forestry & Environmental Conservation, Clemson University

Dr. David Coyle is an Associate Professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation at Clemson University. His extension and research program focuses on forest and tree health and invasive species management in natural and managed landscapes across the Southeast, and he creates educational materials for professionals and non-professionals on everything from invasive plants to native and invasive arthropods. Dave is active on several social media platforms as @drdavecoyle where he regularly posts about topics related to forest and tree health and invasive species.

He also uses more traditional communication and education methods such as written fact sheets and handouts, and in-person and online programs, and he is a frequent guest on television, radio, and various podcasts.

Dave is Past-President of the North American Invasive Species Management Association and has won national awards from the North American Invasive Species Management Association, Society of American Foresters, Forest Landowner Association, and Entomological Society of America. He grew up on a farm in southeastern Minnesota and completed his B.A. in Biology at Luther College, M.S. in Entomology and Forestry at Iowa State University, and PhD in Entomology at the University of Wisconsin.

Mona Dominguez

Director & 4-H Alabama Water Watch Program Coordinator

Mona Dominguez

Director & 4-H Alabama Water Watch Program Coordinator

Mona Dominguez joined AWW in 2009 and has served as the Program Director since 2017. She has a B.A. in Anthropology from Sewanee: The University of the South and a Masters of Community Planning from Auburn University. In addition to overseeing the operations of AWW, she develops training materials, facilitates workshops, and seeks out opportunities for collaboration and growth. She also works internationally with the Global Water Watch Program to develop and implement community-based water monitoring programs.

Stephen Enloe

Professor & Extension Specialist, University of Florida

Stephen Enloe

Professor & Extension Specialist, University of Florida

Ken Donnelly

Owner & President, Beyond Attitude Consulting, Canada

Ken Donnelly

Owner & President, Beyond Attitude Consulting, Canada

"Marketing Awareness for Invasive Species Issues"

Ken Donnelly owns and operates Beyond Attitude Consulting, a Canadian firm that employs behavioral psychology to nurture positive behaviors. For 30 years, he has worked to improve actions in health, environment, transportation, and safety. For the past decade, he has focused on invasive species globally, developing strategies, conducting research and providing community engagement training.

Mike Ielmini

Certified Wildlife Biologist, Virginia

Mike Ielmini

Certified Wildlife Biologist, Virginia

"Where We've Been and A Paradigm Shift"

"The Roles of Wild Spotter Invasive Species Ambassadors for Invasives Free USA"

Angela Gupta

Professor of Forestry, University of Minnesota Extension

Angela Gupta

Professor of Forestry, University of Minnesota Extension

Angela Gupta is a University of Minnesota Extension Professor of Forestry who specializes in terrestrial invasive species. She’s done invasive species early detection education and outreach including participatory science, from crowdsourcing to community science, since about 2008. Angie’s been a key leader of the UMN Extension’s Invasive Species Community of Practice since its inception in 2016. Angie co-created the EmpowerU course to engage decision makers about invasive species. Angie earned a MA in Organizational Management from Spring Arbor University and a BS in Forestry from the University of Kentucky. Prior to joining Extension, Angie was an industrial forester working with private landowners in Michigan and a US Peace Corps Agroforestry Extensionist in Kenya, East Africa.

Jon Martin

Director, Native American Forest & Rangeland Management Program, Ecological Restoration Institute, Northern Arizona University

Jon Martin

Director, Native American Forest & Rangeland Management Program, Ecological Restoration Institute, Northern Arizona University

I have spent the last 30+ years in the resource management field on tribal lands throughout the Southwest. Starting out as a seasonal forester, I have gradually assumed positions of increasing complexity and responsibility that provided experience in the full range of issues that confront resource managers in the Southwest. Having served as a regional level manager I am familiar with the federal mandates and requirements of program planning and implementation. I have interacted with most federal resource management agencies within the region and know the challenges of pursing sound management of tribal resources. I have served on numerous inter-agency teams, as an agency representative, and have always advocated on behalf of tribal resources.

Kim Morris-Zarneke

Program Manager, Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center

Kim Morris-Zarneke

Program Manager, Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center

Kim is the Program Manager of the Wildlife Resource Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center where she oversees the day-to-day operation of the facility including education programs, professional development, CEWC staff, and Charlie Elliott Conference Center. In addition Kim is the state coordinator for Georgia’s Project WILD program, a national K-12 curriculum focusing on natural resources. Kim has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Minor in Environmental Science from State University of New York at Geneseo and Masters of Science in Biology-Aquarium Science from the University of Maryland. In addition, she has taken continuing education courses in conservation education and has received Certificates in Distance Learning and Environmental Education. Prior to joining the DNR, Kim worked with the Georgia Aquarium for 11.5 year as their Manager of Education Programs. Kim also worked with the Department of Natural Resources – Environmental Protection Division’s Adopt-A-Stream program, Zoo Atlanta as their Distance Learning Manager, and the National Aquarium in Baltimore as their Conservation Coordinator. For fifteen years Kim has served on the Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia’s Board and Advisory Board guiding this professional organization as a leader in environmental education for the State of Georgia. Kim also served as Co-chair and instructor for the Advanced Training for Environmental Education in Georgia Certification Project. She also served as Board Member and officer for Georgia Association of Marine Education, a chapter of National Marine Educator Association 14 years. Kim currently serves on the Georgia Sea Grant and Marine Extension Advisory Board.

Tasha Simon

Natural Resource Section Chief, Alabama State Parks

Tasha Simon

Natural Resource Section Chief, Alabama State Parks

Tasha Simon serves as the Natural Resource Section Chief for Alabama State Parks, where she oversees the management of 50,000 acres of diverse parkland, including forests, wetlands and grasslands. With a bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of West Florida and certification as a Prescribed Burn Manager, Tasha brings over 25 years of experience in environmental compliance and natural resource management to her role.

Her responsibilities involve directing large-scale conservation initiatives such as invasive species control, habitat restoration, and prescribed fire programs. Instrumental in integrating science-based management practices to enhance biodiversity, improve forest health, and protect critical wildlife habitats across the state, Tasha collaborates closely with state and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and local communities to address complex environmental challenges and foster sustainable stewardship of public lands. Her leadership ensures that Alabama’s parks not only preserve their ecological integrity but also provide meaningful recreational and educational opportunities for visitors of all ages.

Beyond her professional contributions, Tasha is an avid birdwatcher and a passionate gardener, dedicating her free time to vegetable gardening and cultivating native habitats. She also enjoys traveling with friends, exploring new landscapes, and experiencing the natural world.

Dawn Slack

Project Coordinator, Indiana Invasives Initiative

A woman sitting on a chair at a table at a meeting.

Dawn Slack

Project Coordinator, Indiana Invasives Initiative

Dawn Slack has been studying natural resources for over 25 years and realized that a single species view was unlikely to save even one, so she began to share research with residents to empower them and garner support for system level changes. She has worked for our military and state governments, as well as for-profit and not-for-profit entities. Her work and military lifestyle has led her coast to coast in the U.S. and to Europe where she has been privileged to study natural resources alongside many professionals and laymen. She currently resides in Nashville, Indiana where she works to share biological research, inspire others to tackle invasive species issues and build collaboration for healthy lands, water, wildlife, and people.

Dale Walker, CFRE

Vice President for Advancement, Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University

Dale Walker, CFRE

Vice President for Advancement, Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University

Invasive Species Ambassador Staff Team

The Staff Team is composed of personnel from Invasive Plant Control, Inc. and the UGA Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. Their combined expertise in the fields of invasive species management, computer science application, and event management, coordination and promotion is strong. These are people powering invasive species management and driving a shift to a community-based approach.