Melanie started her career as an intern at a nature center in southwest Florida where she cared for and educated the public on over 300 native animal species. Following that, she became a head zookeeper and was in charge of a small zoo and the employees. From there, she moved to central Florida where she became a biologist at Wekiwa Springs State Park. This is where she began her land management career 16 years ago. She participated in many land management activities, including prescribed fire, invasive species control, and flora and fauna monitoring. Following her time with the Florida Park Service, she went on to work with the Orange County Environmental Protection Division's Land Management Division. She began in this sector approximately 15 years ago as an intern and is now a Senior Environmental Specialist with them. 

Melanie obtained her Master of Science degree in Biology with an emphasis on wildlife while working full-time for Orange County in 2010. During the last 12 years, she has had the opportunity to work with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Volusia County Land Management Program, and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Base working with listed species including the Florida Scrub-Jay and the Red-cockaded woodpecker. She is very thrilled and appreciative to still be working with Orange County--one day she is in the office creating management plans and monitoring reports, and the next day she is out in the rain getting poured on in the middle of the woods amongst 12-feet shrub, stepping over snakes and loving every minute of it!

Melanie just graduated from the Natural Areas Training Academy in April of 2019, and she said that she is so excited to be certified in the program!