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Natural Areas Training Academy logo

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

NATA instructor Michael Andreu.

Position and Workplace

Associate Professor & Extension Specialist

School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences - University of Florida

Donald V. Forgione

Recent Instructor

NATA instructor Donald Forgione.

Position and Workplace

Ecotourism consultant and keynote speaker

Tailgate Talks

Shelly Johnson

Current Instructor

 

 

Position and Workplace

State Specialized Extension Agent

IFAS Extension - Wildlife Ecology & Conservation - University of Florida

Rafael Montalvo

Current Instructor

NATA instructor Rafael Montalvo.

Position and Workplace

Associate Director

Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium

Jeremy Olson

NATA instructor Jeremy Olson.

 

Position and Workplace

Land Manager

St. Johns River Water Management District 

Geoff Parks

NATA instructor Geoff Parks.

 

 

Position and Workplace

Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI)

Zach Prusak

Current Instructor

NATA instructor Zach Prusak.

Position and Workplace

Wildland Fire Training Specialist

Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy

Andy Rappe

Fire instructor Andy Rappe.

 

 

Position and Workplace

Assistant Director

Ordway-Swisher Biological Station

Deborah Shelley

NATA instructor Deborah Shelley.

Position and Workplace

Vice President

The Aquatic Preserve Alliance of Central Florida

Jodi Slater

Current Instructor

NATA instructor Jodi Slater.

Position and Workplace

Environmental Scientist IV

St. Johns River Water Management District

Taylor Stein

Current Instructor

NATA instructor Taylor Stein.

Position and Workplace

Professor

School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences - University of Florida

Deb Stone

NATA instructor 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

NATA director Holly Ober.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Position and Workplace

Associate Dean for Science Outreach and Program Leader for Forestry and Natural Resources Extension

Oregon State University

Dana Bryan

NATA instructor Dana Bryan.

 

 

Position and Workplace

Former Environmental Policy Coordinator

Florida Park Service

Monica Folk

NATA instructor Monica Folk.

 

 

Position and Workplace

Wild Folk, LLC.

Former The Nature Conservancy

Doria Gordon

NATA instructor Doria Gordon.

 

 

Position and Workplace

Environmental Defense Fund

Former The Nature Conservancy

Workshops Taught

Managing for Diversity Across Florida's Unique Landscapes

Vegetation Monitoring

Ryan Kennelly

Current Instructor

Fire instructor Ryan Kennelly.

 

Position and Workplace

Senior Environmental Specialist

Alachua County

Nels Parson

NATA instructor Nels Parson.

 

Position and Workplace

Land Manager

St. Johns River Water Management District

Jim Stevenson

NATA instructor Jim Stevenson.

 

Position and Workplace

Former Senior Biologist

Former Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Parker Titus

NATA instructor Parker Titus.

 

Position and Workplace

Former Northeast Florida Fire and Land Manager Specialist

The Nature Conservancy