Brett Mapes
Bend
Summary
Dedicated professional with extensive hands-on experience in animal care and plant cultivation. Demonstrates strong attention to detail and innovative strategies to enhance plant growth and animal welfare, fostering a safe and educational environment. Committed to maintaining high standards of care and compliance in all operations.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Composite Layup Technician
Epic Aircraft
Bend
10.2025 - Current
- Fabricated composite parts for aircraft, ensuring compliance with engineering specifications to meet quality standards.
- Applied vacuum bagging techniques, enhancing adhesion of composite plies for improved structural integrity.
- Positioned composite material layers in molds, following prescribed sequence and methods to optimize layup accuracy.
- Executed precise reading and interpretation of blueprints and schematics.
- Adhered to standard operating procedures during daily layup operations.
Lead Grower
Green Corner
Fairbanks
01.2021 - 09.2025
- Managed facility for several hundred plants, ensuring optimal conditions across all growth stages.
- Monitored and diagnosed health of various cannabis strains, implementing treatments to enhance vitality.
- Experimented with and evaluated innovative growth strategies, contributing to improved yield.
- Researched and applied remedies to enhance plant growth.
- Scheduled and adjusted cannabis events, including harvests and transplantations.
- Coordinated training on standard operating procedures for new employees.
- Familiar with METRC protocols for compliant cannabis cultivation.
- Assisted in product transfers from cultivation to retail locations.
Budtender
Nature’s Releaf
Fairbanks
01.2020 - 01.2021
- Educated customers on product selection and effects of cannabis strains to support informed purchasing decisions.
- Facilitated daily customer interactions to improve overall satisfaction and loyalty.
- Managed cash and product operations to ensure accuracy and foster trust with customers.
- Operated point-of-sale systems to streamline transactions and maintain records.
- Executed opening and closing procedures as key holder for shop security.
- Ensured adherence to state regulations and company policies during sales activities.
- Captured high-quality photographs of products for marketing purposes.
Lead Keeper
In-Sync Exotics
Wylie
09.2018 - 08.2020
- Operated daily care and maintenance for 80 animals on property
- Prepare meals and feed, clean up after them, maintain enclosures and maintain the overall health of every animal on site
- Shifting large and small cats for cleaning/transport
- Training new behaviors to assist in safe conduct with the animals
- Assist with medical procedures including laser therapy
- Provided support during animal rescue operations to ensure safe recovery
- Operated large truck and trailer to transport animals safely to various locations
- Ensuring safety of the animals, caretakers and public
- Managed volunteers, keepers, and interns to ensure effective team operations
- Ensure safety protocols are adhered to for quality care for the cats
- Educated visitors and volunteers about animal care and sanctuary mission
- Trained staff, interns, and volunteers on animal care procedures.
- Help create a fun and educational experience for visitors to learn and appreciate these amazing creatures and the hardships they have faced
Animal Care Intern
The Wildcat Sanctuary
Sandstone
03.2018 - 08.2018
- Conducted daily behavioral and health status observations, contributing to overall animal welfare.
- Provide daily care and maintenance of the wildcats
- Prepared daily meals for wildcats, ensuring nutritional balance.
- Enclosure building, repair and cleaning
- Experience using a multitude of hand and power tools
- Gained extensive knowledge through hands-on experience with captive wildcats.
- Ensured compliance with safety protocols to protect staff and animals.
Mule Deer/Elk Field Technician
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Cañon City
05.2017 - 06.2017
- Track collared Mule Deer doe via telemetry and GPS
- Utilized telemetry to track movements in rugged mountainous terrain, enhancing understanding of mule deer behavior
- Working in backcountry areas with mountain lions, black bears and coyotes
- Collared fawns and calves using radio transmitters in the field
- Taking accurate measurements and samples for lab
- Conducted field necropsies on non-predated fawns and does to assess health and mortality causes, contributing to wildlife management insights
- Collected biological samples for laboratory analysis during field studies to support conservation efforts and population monitoring
Canada Jay Field Technician
Denali National Park and Preserve
Denali National Park and Preserve
02.2017 - 04.2017
- Tracked Canada Jays by sight and sound to find nesting locations
- Monitored nesting condition and nest building progress after locating nests
- Captured and banded new nestlings and juvenile birds in the study site
- Tracked mating pairs of banded birds at each site to gather data on breeding patterns
- Assisted in eagle capturing (2 ½ weeks) to place radio transmitters
- Assisted in setup of net launcher and trapping mechanisms to facilitate eagle capturing
- Observed eagle behaviors in wild
Rehabilitation Intern
Rocky Mountain Raptor Program
Fort Collins
05.2016 - 08.2016
- Catching and assessing raptors to monitor recovery progress of injuries
- Caught injured raptors and released them into the wild after recovery
- Cleaning the raptors’ enclosures without causing significant stress to the wild birds and keeping tabs on their health and behaviors
- Built and repaired A-frames and perches to enhance habitat quality for birds
- Maintained clean warehouse to minimize disease transmission between enclosures and birds
- Assist in prepping the specific food items and feeding the different raptors
- Maintain and organize the food storage and cataloging of the food
- Ensuring the birds are safe and do not become used to human presence and will not rely on humans to survive once released
- Performed detailed necropsies to determine causes of death
Animal Caretaker
Indian Peaks Veterinary Hospital
Boulder
10.2014 - 08.2016
- Cared for boarded animals, ensuring proper nutrition, exercise, and comfort
- Ensure the animals take necessary medications
- Maintained clean, safe, and welcoming environment for animals and owners
- Supported veterinarians in delivering high-quality care to animals
- Cleaned kennels to uphold hygiene standards and enhance animal welfare
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Public Health Certificate
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO05-2016
High School Degree -
Ralston Valley High School
Arvada, CO01-2012
Skills
- Composite material handling
- Quality assurance
- Process improvement
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Cannabis cultivation
- Wildlife monitoring
- Radio telemetry
- Plant health assessment
- Cultivation management
- Animal handling and care
- Animal transportation
- Habitat rehabilitation
- Behavioral observation
References
- Colin Hennessey, Head Manager of Nature’s Releaf and Green Corner, 920-342-9552
- Barbara Paschall, Owner of Nature’s Releaf, 907-460-2128, paschallb@hotmail.com
- Vicky Keahey, President and CEO of In-Sync Exotics, insyncexotics-aol.com@shared1.ccsend.com
Timeline
Composite Layup Technician
Epic Aircraft
10.2025 - Current
Lead Grower
Green Corner
01.2021 - 09.2025
Budtender
Nature’s Releaf
01.2020 - 01.2021
Lead Keeper
In-Sync Exotics
09.2018 - 08.2020
Animal Care Intern
The Wildcat Sanctuary
03.2018 - 08.2018
Mule Deer/Elk Field Technician
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
05.2017 - 06.2017
Canada Jay Field Technician
Denali National Park and Preserve
02.2017 - 04.2017
Rehabilitation Intern
Rocky Mountain Raptor Program
05.2016 - 08.2016
Animal Caretaker
Indian Peaks Veterinary Hospital
10.2014 - 08.2016
Bachelor of Arts - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Public Health Certificate
University of Colorado
High School Degree -
Ralston Valley High School