KRISTI SICKELS
Chicago,United States
Summary
My goal is to improve the lives of the animals I work with. Conservation is essential to help raise awareness so the animal population as a whole has the best chance at increasing their numbers in the wild. With my leadership skills, I hope to work in a zoo setting so I can inspire the guests to care about the animals they see.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Animal Care Specialist, Keeper Aide Marine Mammals
Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield, United States
11.2025 - Current
- Executed positive reinforcement techniques to enhance animal behavioral conditioning.
- Implemented enrichment activities to stimulate cognitive and physical well-being of marine mammals.
- Implemented a rat training program.
- Executed public presentations to educate visitors and promote conversation.
- Mentored interns and seasonals, guiding them in their professional development.
- Collaborated closely with veterinarians on health assessments
- Completed daily operations of animal care, including animal records, animal welfare, training, animal behavior, behavioral enrichment, animal nutrition, husbandry, animal observations, cleaning, maintenance tasks and more.
Seasonal Animal Care Specialist, Marine Mammals
Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield, United States
03.2024 - 07.2024
- Gained a deeper understanding of animal behavior through training sessions with California sea lions, gray seals, and common bottlenose dolphins.
- Assisted in maintaining animal records.
- Learned valuable operant conditioning skills.
- Experienced diet prep, including administering of vitamins and medications
- Contributed in training sessions and presentations with California sea
lions, gray seals, and common bottlenose dolphins. - Learned valuable operant conditioning skills.
- Led diet prep, including administering of medications.
- Completed daily operations of animal care, including animal records,
animal welfare, training, animal behavior, behavioral enrichment,
animal nutrition, husbandry, animal observations, cleaning,
maintenance tasks and more. - Contributed in making enrichment
Seasonal Animal Care Specialist, Ungulates
Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield, United States
12.2022 - 04.2023
- Execute daily animal care specialist duties, such as preparing diets, training techniques, behavioral enrichment, animal nutrition, monitoring animal behavior, maintenance tasks, valuable operant conditioning skills, capture and restraint skills, and administering of vitamins and medications.
Giraffe Feeding Encounter Seasonal
Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield, United States
05.2022 - 10.2022
- Gained deeper understanding while working closely with each individual giraffe, assisting in cleaning and maintenance tasks, daily food and browse preparation, as well as monitoring animal behavior.
- Developed and executed great interpersonal and communication skills.
Education
Associate of Science - Science Education
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
Chicago, ILHigh School Diploma -
Disney II Magnet High School
Chicago, ILSkills
- Detail-oriented
- Zoo monitor
- Strong work ethic
- Customer service skills
- Able to manage multiple priorities at once
- Capture and restraint
- Operant conditioning
Certification
- CPR Certification
- PADI Open Water Scuba Diver Certification
- Hose2Habitat Workshop
- Ken Ramirez- Choice And Control seminar
Volunteer Experience
- Animal Care Specialist Intern, Seven Seas, Brookfield Zoo, 5 months
- Animal Care Specialist Intern, WE/AA/HFPZ, Brookfield Zoo, 3 months
- King Conservation Science Scholar, Brookfield Zoo
- High School Marine Biology Program, Shedd Aquarium, The program allows students to go to the Bahamas for a week and learn about marine life.
Timeline
Animal Care Specialist, Keeper Aide Marine Mammals
Brookfield Zoo
11.2025 - Current
Seasonal Animal Care Specialist, Marine Mammals
Brookfield Zoo
03.2024 - 07.2024
Seasonal Animal Care Specialist, Ungulates
Brookfield Zoo
12.2022 - 04.2023
Giraffe Feeding Encounter Seasonal
Brookfield Zoo
05.2022 - 10.2022
Associate of Science - Science Education
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
High School Diploma -
Disney II Magnet High School