Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Beth Hirschfeld, DVM, CVA – President
Owner of Hirschfeld Veterinary Consulting, Inc. Certified in acupuncture and cold laser therapy, providing in home therapy, nutritional counseling and euthanasia services in the south Florida area since 2000. Has served as a veterinary medical officer and disaster responder for VMAT and NVRT 3. Works as a per diem surgeon for non profits, shelters, private practices and wildlife facilities. Works as a consultant for FWS, shelters, wildlife hospitals and centers across the country. Veterinarian for Flamingo Gardens and privately owned, permitted captive wildlife. Board member of HDEC & Miami-Dade Community College Veterinary Technology Program.
Margaret “Noni” Beck – Vice President
Director, Goose Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, Tallahassee, FL Retired from Florida Department of Health; USFWS & FFWCC Possession Permits, volunteers with Florida Wild Mammal Association. Head of the FWRA Education committee.
Sue Small – Treasurer/Secretary
Involved in wildlife rehabilitation since 1997, formerly director of the Florida Wildlife Hospital in Melbourne for 18 years.
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.
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.
Advisory Board
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.
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.
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.
Fairl Thomas
Fairl Thomas is a long time wildlife rescuer and licensed rehabilitator with a career in the Florida Park Service. Fairl graduated from Eckerd College with degrees in Environmental Studies and Animal Studies with a focus in biology. She enjoys working with an array of native Florida species both in rescue/rehab settings, as well as managed care of those deemed non-releasable.
Sandra Lezcano
Sandra Lezcano is the Wildlife Care Coordinator and a licensed wildlife rehabilitator at Flamingo Gardens in South Florida. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Florida Atlantic University and has worked professionally with animals since 2014. Sandra became actively involved in wildlife rehabilitation in 2020.
Jenny White
Jenny White has worked with Florida’s wildlife for more than 12 years, from sea turtles, manatees, and shorebirds to beach mice and bats. A board member of both the Florida Bat Working Group and the Florida Bat Conservancy she has dedicated the past six years to rehabilitating native bats. She is currently PhD in Conservation Biology at the University of Central Florida, where her research explores host–pathogen interactions in Brazilian free-tailed bats. She is passionate about fostering coexistence with wildlife through science, education, and community engagement.