Instructors and Contributing Experts
NATA workshops are led by expert instructors who donate their time to share their extensive knowledge and experiences. The depth of knowledge of our instructors, their enthusiasm for conservation work, and their skills in sharing information with others are key components to the effectiveness of the NATA training program.
Current Workshop Leaders
The below instructors have recently served as lead instructors for our various workshops:
Michael Andreu
Current Instructor
Position and Workplace
Associate Professor & Extension Specialist
School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences - University of Florida
Workshops Taught
Donald V. Forgione
Recent Instructor
Position and Workplace
Ecotourism consultant and keynote speaker
Tailgate Talks
Workshops Taught
Shelly Johnson
Current Instructor
Position and Workplace
State Specialized Extension Agent
IFAS Extension - Wildlife Ecology & Conservation - University of Florida
Rafael Montalvo
Current Instructor
Position and Workplace
Associate Director
Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium
Workshops Taught
Jeremy Olson
Position and Workplace
Land Manager
St. Johns River Water Management District
Workshops Taught
Geoff Parks
Position and Workplace
Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI)
Zach Prusak
Current Instructor
Position and Workplace
Wildland Fire Training Specialist
Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy
Andy Rappe
Position and Workplace
Assistant Director
Ordway-Swisher Biological Station
Deborah Shelley
Position and Workplace
Vice President
The Aquatic Preserve Alliance of Central Florida
Workshops Taught
Jodi Slater
Current Instructor
Position and Workplace
Environmental Scientist IV
St. Johns River Water Management District
Taylor Stein
Current Instructor
Position and Workplace
Professor
School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences - University of Florida
Deb Stone
Position and Workplace
Senior Management Analyst Supervisor
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Former Workshop Leaders
The following individuals have contributed to the development of the NATA program content and previously served as lead instructors for our various workshops. Many have provided video lecture materials which are still used in the online portion of the trainings:
Holly Ober
Position and Workplace
Associate Dean for Science Outreach and Program Leader for Forestry and Natural Resources Extension
Oregon State University
Dana Bryan
Position and Workplace
Former Environmental Policy Coordinator
Florida Park Service
Workshops Taught
Monica Folk
Position and Workplace
Wild Folk, LLC.
Former The Nature Conservancy
Doria Gordon
Position and Workplace
Environmental Defense Fund
Former The Nature Conservancy
Ryan Kennelly
Current Instructor
Position and Workplace
Senior Environmental Specialist
Alachua County
Workshops Taught
Nels Parson
Position and Workplace
Land Manager
St. Johns River Water Management District
Workshops Taught
Jim Stevenson
Position and Workplace
Former Senior Biologist
Former Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Workshops Taught
Parker Titus
Position and Workplace
Former Northeast Florida Fire and Land Manager Specialist
The Nature Conservancy