Board Members

Board Members at Large 

Dianna Flynt – Nomination Committee, Newsletter

A professional avian rehabilitator in Florida since 1974; Dianna started her career at Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores, Florida. She was responsible for the husbandry of all the birds, including those in rehab as well as 500 non-releasable (over 70 species). Dianna joined Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland, Florida in 1989 and retired in 2021. She was the Rehabilitation Supervisor and permittee at the Center, which receives some 700 to 800 raptor patients annually and maintains 50 resident raptors for education.  She has been a member of Florida Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (FWRA) since it’s inception in 1988 and joined the Board in 1999.

Wyn “Winnie” Varcoe Burns – Membership and Symposium Committee

Director, Creature Safe Place, Fort Pierce, FL USFWS & FFWCC wildlife Rehab & possession Permit St. Lucie County SART.
Involved in wildlife rehabilitation since 1992

Debbie Helsel – Membership and Symposium Committee

Executive Director, Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge and Education Center, Orlando. USFWS & FFWCC Wildlife Rehab & Possession/Education Permit, FWC Class I, II, III License, Scientific Collection Education Permit, USDA License, Reverend & Energy healing medicine practitioner, Doctorate-Metaphysical Studies and Spirituality

Samantha Little, CVT

Raptor Veterinary Technician. Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, Maitland, FL. Involved with wildlife rehabilitation since 2001.

Beth Lott

Raptor Clinic Technician/Volunteer & Intern Coordinator. Audubon Center for Birds of Prey. B.S. in Environmental Studies. Wildlife Education permit. Involved in wildlife rehab since 1999.

Advisory Board

Phyllis Benton

USFWS Migratory Bird Rehabilitation Permit; US Virgin Islands DPNR Bat Rehabilitation and Possession Permit; Virgin Islands Audubon Society Board Member. Other activities: Amateur Radio Emergency Services; St. John Amateur Radio Club; Virgin Islands Amateur Radio Weather Net.

Sandra Renne

FFWCC Wildlife Possession and Rehabilitation Permit located Naples, FL. Trained OSHA Instructor, Florida Healthcare Risk Manager, Certified Physician Assistant, State Certified Paramedic. Involved in wildlife rehabilitation since 2010.

Emily Holden

Supervisor of Animal Care, Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, Inc., Pensacola, Fl.  BS in psychology. Involved in wildlife rehabilitation since 2011.

Maryann Vanciel, CVT

Maryann is a Certified Veterinary Technologist with a bachelor’s in Veterinary Clinical and Hospital Management. She worked at the Florida Wildlife Hospital (FWH) in Palm Shores as their full-time lead certified veterinary technician for 6 years. She was also a contract trainer at Holistic Veterinary Care of Central Florida.  She currently works at Eastern Florida State College as a full-time faculty instructor for their veterinary technology and assistant programs. She teaches a variety of classes including exotic animal medicine, introduction to anesthesia, surgery and radiology, clinical pathology, animal anatomy, and introduction to exam room. She has accumulated over 8000 hours working with native Florida wildlife through FWH and over 300 hours working with Sea Turtles through the Brevard Zoo. Maryann has had clinical rotations at both small and exotic animal locations including Parkway Animal Hospital, the Animal Emergency and Critical Care Center of Brevard, and the Brevard Zoo.

Lea Peshock

My name is Lea Peshock and I live in Boulder, Colorado.  I spent most of my childhood in Delray Beach, Florida.  I was the Animal Care Supervisor and Animal Care Technician for 13 years at a wildlife facility in Colorado.  I decided to leave and start my own wildlife consulting business.  It is called Woodland Wildlife Consulting.  I want to be a resource for all wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians, volunteers, and animal care technicians all over the United States and other countries.  I am a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in the state of Colorado, I hold a BA in Interior Design, and have an Associate’s Degree in Radiology and I am a registered radiologic technologist.  I am crazy about my Border Collie Lily, I am married to a very patient man, have two amazing daughters that are married to awesome men.  I love to work out and run/jog in half marathons.

Kim Titterington

Kim Titterington was born and raised in Kissimmee Florida. I am a licensed wildlife rehabilitator specializing in reptile rehabilitation. I began presenting educational programs about reptiles and amphibians to local schools at the age of 14. Over the years I developed many skills while working in zoos and as a veterinary assistant.  In 2009 I started Swamp Girl Adventures Reptile Rehab with the mission to educate others about Florida Wildlife and habitats, conservation, and provide care and rehabilitation for reptiles. I also run project RRRCORA , Rescue, Rehabilitation, Research, Conservation Of Reptiles & Amphibians. I currently work with several research groups to aid in conservation of reptiles and disease surveillance.

Paula Woodside

Paula Woodside grew up in New Zealand and spent her adult working career sailing the world in the US Merchant Marine. She currently holds a Master Unlimited – Oceans License. When she “came ashore” in 2016, she began rehabbing wildlife and by 2019 had formed, “Woodside Wildlife Rescue” – focusing on raccoons, otters & beavers. She lives in Pass Christian, MS with her Husband Jerry and animals too numerous to mention.

Kavya Parsa

Kavya Parsa has been rehabilitating since 2017 when she began as an intern at Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary in Virginia.  Since then, she has worked with wildlife from tortoises to bobcats in Iowa, Texas, and Florida. Coming full circle, Kavya will be working in Virginia as a wildlife rehabilitator at the Wildlife Center of Virginia. Kavya is happy to assist with questions about bat rehabilitation or wildlife advocacy. She shares her home with a blind dog, Lua, and one-eyed cat Rikash.