Our Staff

Our Team

David Jackson

CEO AND DIRECTOR OF SOUTH CAMPUS

David’s passion for wildlife and desire to educate and inspire conservation worldwide is what lead him to establish Conservation Ambassadors more than three decades ago. His passion started in high school with jobs in animal care and training dogs and parrots. His unique experiences inspired him to pursue a career in the animal care field. David worked in the zoological medicine department at UC Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital where his dedication and interest in wildlife and wild places lead him to attend Moorpark college an AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums)-certified facility in California where he graduated with a degree in exotic animal training and zoological management. David has traveled around the world to assist with wildlife conservation efforts. Over his career, he has received numerous awards for animal welfare, zoo management, education and training but he will say his greatest accomplishment are his two children Samantha and Christopher who have the same love for animals and passion for conservation

Gabe Kerschner

DIRECTOR OF NORTH CAMPUS

Gabe Kerschner founded Wild Things in 1988 after graduating from the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program at Moorpark College, with the goal of not only providing a home for animals in need, but also sharing with others a respect for wildlife and an understanding of wildlife conservation. He is the king of puns and jokes, and always brings lots of smiles and laughs to his programs.

Lisa Jackson

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Lisa Jackson

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

For many, there is a moment that changes the direction of one’s life. When Lisa was 15 she found herself in the ocean completely surrounded by a huge school of brightly colored fishes. Captivated by this experience, her future would be working with marine animals.
SeaWorld was a perfect fit for Lisa to start her career. She started in 1979 caring for the penguins, fishes and sharks, and a few years later became a dolphin trainer. She performed in shows for the next several years.
In 1987, she decided to challenge her behavioral skills by working dolphins, sea lions and beluga whales in the open ocean for the Navy Marine Mammal Program. In 1991, she returned to SeaWorld and continue her career with dolphins, sea lions, walrus, river otters, false killer whales, pilot whales and killer whales. Lisa became a supervisor at Shamu Stadium caring, swimming and performing with all 10 killer whales.
Lisa moved from San Diego to start a video production company where she could utilize her animal behavior background coupled with her production and performance experience.
Lisa has traveled around the world filming and producing videos for many conservation organizations, including: The Painted Dog Conservation Project in Zimbabwe, Save the Elephants in Africa, gorilla conservation in Uganda, sea turtle conservation in Nicaragua, wildlife rescue in Cambodia, pangolin rescue and research in Vietnam, Animal Planet and BBC, as well as other conservation projects throughout the United States.

For media relations and press kits, contact Lisa.

Becki Brunelli, PhD

ASSISTANT CURATOR

Joseph Kerschner

EDUCATOR/ANIMAL KEEPER

Megan Copher

ANIMAL KEEPER

Mickayla

Mickayla Roth

ANIMAL KEEPER

My passion for wildlife started at a young age, growing up in the country I was always fascinated by the wildlife around us. I first became involved with Conservation Ambassadors when I was only 16 and started to learn how important conservation is. With my experience I obtained at the zoo, I moved on to be a wildlife trainer at Discovery Kingdom and also worked as a dog trainer for some time. Now that I have a family of my own, I want my son to grow up loving the earth and caring for it the way it should be cared for. After all these years, I am grateful to be back and to be a part of the mission that Conservation Ambassadors has set out to do. 

Cole Moore

ANIMAL KEEPER

Annie Woods

ANIMAL KEEPER

Krista Korenko

ANIMAL KEEPER

Elsa

Elsa Arriola

ANIMAL KEEPER

Kendra

Kendra Lavorico

ANIMAL KEEPR

Samantha Jackson

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Samantha Jackson

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH

It is no surprise that Samantha has a profound connection to animals and a strong passion for conservation. It was her parents, David and Anita, that founded Zoo to You before she was born. Samantha was raised with Jasmine the tiger, Maya the spider monkey, and all of the animals that have found sanctuary at her family’s rescue zoo. At age twelve, Samantha traveled to Africa with her parents and life-long mentor Jungle Jack Hanna to assist in the preservation of the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Having been surrounded by wildlife education and conservation for her entire life, carrying on the family legacy came naturally for her. As the Director of Community Outreach Samantha works hard to connect and inspire everyone she meets to respect and conserve wildlife. She has appeared on Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild, David Letterman, and many other national and local programs in a continued effort to spread the message of conservation.