Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
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Susan Gerros

Lakewood,CA

Summary

Skilled and experienced team member with proven background of animal care for aquariums and zoos with diverse animal collections. Manage balance of animal and staff needs with care and compassion on a daily basis. Flexible, hardworking, and with good communication and multitasking abilities. Extensive experience in specialty care of mammals, reptiles, and birds, exhibitory development, basic construction, and training of staff, volunteers, and animals in all areas of expertise willing to take on added responsibilities to meet common goals.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Senior Aviculturist - Birds and Mammals

Aquarium Of The Pacific
03.2013 - Current
  • Ensure the health and well-being of a vaired collection while striving to improve animal welfare. Providing exceptional customer service to internal/external customers and promoting a positive work environment with team members.
  • Mentored over 100 new full time and volunteer staff for daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly tasks. Ensure they have the necessary critical thinking skills to care for the animals, on and off exhibit upkeep per AZA standards, and enrichment knowledge specific for their assigned animals.
  • Partner and maintain positive and productive rapport with internal/external customers: ~Veterinarian Services to clarify animals history and illness to develop processes that will work for all animals and people involved. ~Media stations to entertain and share our conservation efforts. ~Make-A-Wish foundation and Ronald McDonald House to connect and help our community.
  • Collaborate with Education and Guest Services to have clear communication of animals off exhibit, current shows. Willingness to sharing AOP's message with programming of on/off site of education, conservation, and the Aquariums mission goals.
  • Volunteer Liaison for 10 years for the Lorikeet and Animal Ambassador team. This includes being a key part of the inception of the successful volunteer program switching from a separate individual exhibit learning style to one team exhibit learning style. Increased our flexibility to handle changes in schedules and responsibilities within our staff as well as volunteers to prioritize competing tasks and fostered a culture of continuous learning. Integrate our seasoned and new volunteers into a more united culture creating schedules for 35-40 volunteers per week incorporating staff in their training progression, annual feedback, and communicated updates of staff and animal changes.
  • Safety Committee Representative communicating safety concerns of the Bird, Mammal, and Herp team to our Safety Officer. ~ Shared cooperation with other departments I have: ~Added bumpers to otter holding so team members heads were safer. ~Added a safety chain across the entrance leading to below otters so no accidental falls would happen. ~Roughing up concrete in lorikeet forest so slips would be minimal. ~Communicate the monthly safety talks through verbal and email with staff to create situational awareness.
  • Actively participated in professional development opportunities such as site visits to other aquariums/zoos and conferences to further my animal training skills, knowledge of best practices to share with my team and also attend leadership workshops to absorb new skills to better empathize and adapt with staff and guests.

Biologist II

The Florida Aquarium
07.2005 - 10.2012
  • Lead Animal Trainer and Biologist of the Animal Programs (AP) department responsible for the health and welfare of the varied collection.
  • Interim Senior Manager for the AP department, 12+ months, that included drafting and delivering performance reviews, department hiring, scheduling, ass well as responsibility for day to day operations.
  • Primary Coordinator of the Enrichment Fund Raising Team (EFRT) leading over 16 successful fundraising events in 3 years procure over $11,000 for animal enrichment.
  • Oversaw ordering and optimization of all fresh and pelleted food while maintaining food nutritional standards when creating diets for the AP department.
  • Managed research and design teams for new and existing indoor/outdoor enclosures.
  • Created and implemented a volunteer animal handling program.
  • Created and performed multi-species shows, presentation, and facility tours to the public and VIP's. Hosted onsite/offsite live and recorded media presentations for commercials, voiceovers, and news stations with animal ambassadors.
  • Developed and implemented with input from all animal departments an animal enrichment program to ensure the health and well-being of our different collections and to continue to strive to improve animal welfare.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Biology

Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ

Skills

  • Habitat Maintenance
  • Conservation Awareness
  • Exhibit Design
  • Animal Handling
  • Animal Care Expertise
  • Organizational Skills
  • Animal Enrichment
  • Teamwork and Collaboration
  • Public Education
  • Attention to Detail
  • Physical Stamina
  • Critical Thinking
  • Facilities Maintenance
  • Dependable and Responsible
  • Human and Animal Safety

Certification

Certified Professional Bird Trainer - Knowledge Assessed (CPBT-KA) through International Avian Trainers Certification Board (IATCB)

SCUBA Certified

CPR and First Aid Certified

International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (IAATE) Professional Affiliate


Timeline

Senior Aviculturist - Birds and Mammals

Aquarium Of The Pacific
03.2013 - Current

Biologist II

The Florida Aquarium
07.2005 - 10.2012

Bachelor of Science - Biology

Arizona State University

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Susan Gerros