Talk on the Wild Side: Recent Episodes
Florida Wildlife Federation
Are you passionate about the environment? Exploring careers in conservation? Many students think they have to be a scientist to protect the environment. However, there are thousands of ways that you can advocate for Florida’s wildlife, protect habitats, and safeguard natural resources.
In this season, we interviewed individuals from some of Florida’s largest private and public sector leaders. You’ll learn what sparked their passion for the environment and how they are creating a more sustainable future.
Florida Wildlife Federation’s mission is to conserve Florida’s wildlife, habitats, and natural resources through education, advocacy, and science-based stewardship. Florida Wildlife Federation an affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation, is a private, statewide, non-profit citizens’ conservation education organization composed of thousands of Floridians and non-Floridians with a common interest in preserving, managing, and improving Florida’s wildlife.
Brought to you by the Florida Wildlife Federation (www.floridawildlifefederation.org)
Conservation and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) go hand-in-hand. For the past five years, Brent Setchell has been a District Design Engineer with the FDOT. However, he has been with the organization for more than 12 years. In this episode, Setchell explains how the agency is working to preserve the environment and protect animals with artificial intelligence (AI) and wildlife crossings.
Learn more at www.swflroads.com.
As the son of Zoo Founders Jungle Larry® and Safari Jane®, Tim Tetzlaff has built a life on sharing the wonders of the natural world we all depend on. He coordinates Naples Zoo’s portfolio of field conservation efforts from giraffes to giant anteaters. In this episode, Tetzlaff shares a personal story about helping rescue a snared giraffe in Uganda.
"In the long run, what’s best for wildlife and people is the same. We are called to be both good stewards of nature and to love each other. When we seek short-term solutions that neglect one over the other, both will suffer. Ultimately, conservation is not just about wildlife, it’s about all life,” said Tim Tetzlaff, Naples Zoo Director of Conservation.
Learn more at NaplesZoo.com.
In 2020, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) rescued and rehabilitated more than 5,600 animals in Southwest Florida. Rachel Taylor is the education outreach director for CROW, but animal rehabilitation wasn't Taylor's first career choice. Following a marketing internship with CROW that was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Taylor found herself working directly with the animals in the rehab hospital. She loves helping the animals and educating the community about their efforts.
Learn more at www.CROWClinic.org.
People often assume that park rangers spend most of their time dealing with plants and animals. However, Matthew Kruse explains that most of his job involves working with the people that are visiting the parks. By educating them about the environment, Kruse recognizes that park rangers are protecting both people and animals. And, while the job doesn't require a specific college degree, additional education can help an aspiring ranger stand out in an extremely competitive field.
For more information visit www.FloridaDEP.gov.
Before attending college, Savannah Nease dreamed of working in the rain forest. Her family encouraged her to dream big and pursue her passion. During her time at the University of Florida, she gained valuable experience working in the beekeeping laboratory. In this episode, Nease explains what a day-in-the-life of an Ecologist at Johnson Engineering includes. She is proud to be a part of protecting Southwest Florida's robust environment.
Learn more at www.JohnsonEngineering.com.
Jeremy Sterk has been an Environmental Consultant in Southwest Florida since 1994. His varied experience spans marine, upland, and estuarine habitats and includes extensive work with a wide variety of listed species. He is a Florida Wildlife Conservation (FWC) authorized gopher tortoise agent, FWC authorized burrowing owl Agent, FWC approved shorebird monitor, a US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) approved bald eagle monitor, and a Certified Environmental Professional. In this episode, Sterk shares insights into how consulting firms work with builders and local governments to protect the environment.
Learn more online at www.eteflorida.com.
You can also see Jeremy Sterk's photography @jsterkphoto.
Derrick Wyle is a District Conservationist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). In his career, he works with agricultural producers to manage soils to produce higher quantities of food in the most sustainable way. With advancing technologies, precision agriculture, and newer varieties of ground covers, farmers and ranchers can contribute to protecting our environment. While learning about environmental sciences is important, Wyle says it is also important to learn about real-life farm management to support agricultural partners.
For more information, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov.
How does a kid get excited about soil science? Will Elliott used to work summers on his uncle's farm, growing peaches, prunes, and rice. He decided that if he knew how the soil worked, he could grow anything he wanted. So, he pursued a degree in soil sciences. As the general manager of Collier Environmental Services, he has been working to restore wetlands in Eastern Collier County. The company has restored more than 14,000 acres to date. Elliott invites potential conservationists to reach out and learn more.
For more information, visit www.collierenviro.com.
Katie Laakkonen, Environmental Specialist with the City of Naples, always knew that she wanted to work in marine sciences. Her love of the ocean grew during annual family vacations to Delaware. In this episode, Laakkonen shares how her department is working to monitor water quality levels and rebuild oyster reefs off of Naples' shoreline. She also advises future conservationists to take advantage of internships and unique learning opportunities. Skills such as knowing how to drive a boat can be a real asset.
Learn more at www.NaplesGov.com.
Molly Duval is a Senior Environmental Specialist with the Collier County Conservation Collier Program. She is one of three land managers and oversees 21 nature preserves in the community. She developed her passion for the wild after spending a year in South Africa, where she lived inside a nature preserve during her graduate studies. She says that the best part of her job is creating a project idea and seeing it through implementation.
Learn more at https://www.colliercountyfl.gov/your-government/divisions-a-e/conservation-collier.
With more than 110,000 acres, the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve represents 40% of Collier County's shoreline. In her job, Jessica McIntosh, coastal training program coordinator, helps educate law enforcement officers, municipal staff, and key stakeholders about the state of the environment. She transitioned from a researcher to a trainer to connect people to the important scientific information they need to make important decisions on a local level. Learn more online at www.RookeryBay.org.
Growing up in a military family, Christian Spilker moved around frequently and often retreated to books during the transition. After a move to the midwest during the sixth grade, Spilker read Jacques Cousteau's first book and decided that he wanted to be a marine biologist. Now, he is the CEO of Land for Collier Enterprises. He manages a broad range of businesses engaged in real estate investment and development, agriculture, and private equity investments.
Learn more at www.CollierEnterprises.com.
Eric Foht is the Natural Resources Director at Naples Botanical Garden. He developed a love for the environment as a child when he played outdoors and traveled with his family. He credits his deep connection with the environment for his passion to protect the environment. Foht believes that the beauty of the Naples Botanical Garden brings people in to learn more about the environment and cultivate their passions as well.
Learn more at www.NaplesGarden.org.
In this episode, we explore careers in conservation from the team at Waste Management (WM).
- Dawn McCormick, Director of Communications and Government Affairs at WM of Florida
- Liz Foeller, Area Environmental Protection Manager at WM
- Ryan Fowler, Senior Scientist at Atkins Global
With a shared passion for the environment, each of the panelists serves a unique role to help protect our natural world. Fowler says that if you are thinking about a career in conservation, take the time to explore the details and appreciate the environment around you.
Learn more at www.WM.com.
There is so much more than "farming" going on at Lipman Family Farms. According to Louis DeMaso, Soil Scientists are needed now more than ever. During his time studying environmental sciences at the University of Maryland, DeMaso realized there were many opportunities to support the environment through modernized agriculture practices. His career began as an intern with Lipman Family Farms and he now manages environmental sustainability on a national level.
Learn more at www.lipmanfamilyfarms.com.
Inspired by her father's work as a biologist, Kristin Eaton always knew that she wanted to do something in nature. She earned a degree in biology and joined the Environmental Services and Wildlife division at Florida Power & Light. Eaton manages projects throughout the state and is most excited about working to protect the state's manatees.
Learn more at https://www.fpl.com/environment.html.
From an early age, Charlette Roman grew to love the outdoors while she spent time with her mother in parks. In 2001, Roman retired from the U.S. Army as a Colonel and relocated to Marco Island, Florida.
In 2019, she was appointed by Governor DeSantis to The South Florida Water Management District, which encompasses two major watershed basins, the Okeechobee Basin and the Big Cypress Basin. Roman serves as the chair of the Big Cypress Basin Board.
Learn more at: www.SFWMD.gov
Follow Charlette Roman at: www.facebook.com/Charlette.Roman.Council
Brad Cornell is the Southwest Florida Policy Associate for Audubon Florida and the Policy Director for Audubon of the Western Everglades. He works on land use, wetlands, coastal habitats, and Western Everglades restoration issues to protect and recover imperiled species, especially the Florida Panther, nesting shorebirds, Corkscrew’s Wood Storks, and Marco Island’s Burrowing Owls. Cornell has degrees from Oberlin College and the University of Texas at Austin and played trombone for the Naples Philharmonic for ten years prior to joining Audubon.
Learn more at www.fl.audubon.org or www.audubonwe.org.