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Gregory Mertz – Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Mertz has been at the Center since 1988. Author of twenty some popular and technical articles on natural history and medicine; designer of the center’s educational and medical programs, fundraiser, veterinarian, and naturalist who can spout the identifications, lore and uses of over 400 woodland plants, visionary of the new “Thomas E. Curtis Wildlife Hospital and Education Center”, created the Center’s Wildlife Medicine Internship Program, Sevens and As Clear As Mud educational curricula.

Katrina Bergman-Banagis –Executive Director

Katrina has worked at the center since 1993 as the principal strategist of the center’s mission implementation, has raised over $10 million for the center, coach to board members and staff in business and gift decisions, designer and implementer of the capital campaign to build the Thomas E. Curtis Wildlife Hospital and Education Center. Designer of house parties, corporate events, principal contact with politicians in Massachusetts, New England and Washington, D.C.

Elaine Mahoney – Hospital Manager

Elaine has been working at the Center since 1989. She has run the day-to-day functions of the Center throughout its evolution, and currently manages all technology, equipment, and logistical issues for our 22,500 square foot, 20-staff member facility. Creator and author of the New England Wildlife Center Cookbook. Created and maintained the Center’s first ever electronic donor database. Creator and co-author of www.newildlife.org web site. Coordinator of multiple walkathons, children’s fairs and creator of our first ever virtual walkathon. Principal camp coordinator. In 2008 Elaine took over the maintenance and updating of our wildlife patient database tracking all information related to each of our 2,500 patients per year. Starting in 2008 she became the caretaker and overseer of the office of the Odd Pet Vet , the Center’s new exotic animal practice. Elaine is also responsible for the herculean task of maintaining and ordering office, food and medical supplies for every aspect of the Center including the Business Office, Wildlife Hospital and Odd Pet Vet exotic practice.

Joanne Sanders – Director of Finance and Systems

Joanne has been at the Center since 2002 oversees the center in both money and program quality, principal personnel manager, leader of green technologies at the center, she became accredited in Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) by the Green Building Council in order to oversee construction, architect and technology companies in the implementations of our new landmark facility. She manages all of our budgets, and expense policies, is principal manager of constructing our new 22,500 sq. ft. veterinary hospital and education center. She is the manager of the business part of the veterinary clinic and risk management overseer.

Kelly Mahoney – Director of Individual Giving

Kelly has been working at the Center since 2000. She began assisting with clerical tasks in the clinic office eventually being placed in charge of the wildlife medicine internship program at the center, During her time in the clinic she also managed the medical records for each patient as well as the application and maintenance of all medical, technology, and wildlife licenses and permits. Shortly after joining the Center Kelly began assisting in the Development department and was recently promoted to Director of Individual Giving. As part of her new job responsibilities she is launching the Center’s first online community. She also oversees all grants, proposals, direct mail campaigns, newsletters and beginning in December 2009 will be responsible for re-launching www.newildlife.org and all future website content.

Joseph Martinez – Director of Education

Dr. Martinez has been working at the center since 1999 as the principal educator and evaluator of education programs at the center. Has conducted thousands of ed programs and projects for students of all levels. Dr. Martinez is also a herpetologist, treks around the world at least once every 25 years, is recognized in many “acknowledgements” of natural history books, and believes strongly in empowering classroom teachers to be first-hand authorities of natural history information. Joe is well-spoken and knowledgeable about animals and the natural world. Curates reptiles for the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Author of several technical articles on herpetology.

Elizabeth Lewiecki – Development Assistant

Libby began working at the Center in the Fall of 2008. She first came to the Center as an animal care volunteer with her two young sons. Her dedication to the Center did not go unnoticed by the staff and when a position in our development department became available she was at the top of the list. In September 2008 she came on board to assist with donor database maintenance, bulk mailings, donor correspondence and all the general clerical duties our development department is charged with.

Steve Martin – Special Projects Coordinator

Steve has been working at the Center since 2006. He began as an animal caretaker and was quickly promoted to Special Projects. Steve oversees the training of all volunteers Steve also acts as our resident tour guide “Safari Steve” providing fun, educational tours to children and adults alike.

Megan Kirchgessner – Wildlife Veterinarian

Dr. Kirchgessner has been at the Center since 2007. She is a graduate of Cornell University Veterinary School. Dr. Kirchgessner also brings knowledge and experience in environmental science including an undergraduate degree from Syracuse University School of Environmental Science in Forestry. She is the Center’s wildlife veterinarian and is responsible for the oversight and care of 2,500 patients annually. Beginning in 2008 she took over management of the Center’s Wildlife Medicine Internship Program. She handles not only the recruiting, interviewing and scheduling of 45 interns per year, she is also responsible for the education and oversight of each intern during their rotation. She manages a staff of five veterinary technicians and animal caretakers.

Marco Venturoli – Animal Caretaker

Marco has been at the Center since 2006. He assists the veterinarians in the medical care of our patients, and is our expert fox wrangler. Marco works part-time at the Center, and also works at V.C.A. Roberts Animal Hospital as a small animal emergency technician. Marco originates from Bologna, Italy, and has a love for all animals, most especially dogs.

Carrie Thistle – Veterinary Technician

Carrie began at the Center in 2007. She works in the hospital assisting the veterinarians in the medical care of our patients. She is a full-time, pre-vet college student that has a passion for emergency medicine and opossums. Carrie also works per diem at Angell Memorial Hospital as a small animal emergency technician.

Katie Sommer – Animal Caretaker

Katie has been working at the Center since 2007. Katie began working at the center as an intern and impressed the staff so much she was offered a part-time animal technician position. Katie assists the veterinarians in the medical care of our patients and just recently graduated from Principia College in Illinois with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in biology. Katie is working towards attending veterinary school.

Cole Prediger – Animal Caretaker

Cole has been working at the Center since 2007. He began working at the Center helping to maintain the sanitation of the wildlife hospital. He has since been promoted and now assists the veterinarians in the medical care of our patients. Cole graduated from South Shore Charter Public School in 2007 and recently began working toward obtaining his C.V.T. at Quincy College.

1. The Center was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 1983

2. Since opening we have treated over 70,000 native and naturalized wild animals representing over 200 species.

3. In 1992 we launched our Wildlife Medicine Internship Program. Over the last 17 years 500 undergraduate and graduate interns from over 100 colleges and universities nationwide and internationally have participated. They have gone on to become veterinarians, veterinary technicians, wildlife rehabilitators, shelter managers and science teachers.

4. Using our hands-on environmental education programs we have educated over 100,000 elementary and middle school students from 25 towns and school departments in Massachusetts.

5. The Center has served as a public health information responder in over a quarter million phone calls about problem wildlife and zoonotic diseases.

6. The Center has accomplished all of this without $1 of tax money!

]]> http://newenglandwildlifecenter.wordpress.com/2009/02/05/did-you-know/feed/ 0 The Center http://newenglandwildlifecenter.wordpress.com/2009/01/22/welcome/ http://newenglandwildlifecenter.wordpress.com/2009/01/22/welcome/#comments Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:33:42 +0000 newildlifecenter http://newenglandwildlifecenter.wordpress.com/?p=9 ]]> Welcome to the New England Wildlife Center’s official blog page! Here you can learn about all the exciting things that are happening around the Center. Over the next few months we will be launching many new exciting online ventures and you can read about them all here! To learn more about the Center and our mission click above on “About the Center” or visit our website www.newildlife.org. Check back often for more new exciting content.

Gregory A. Mertz, D.V.M – Chief Executive Officer