Staff

Executive Director

Patrick Rose is Save the Manatee Club’s (SMC) Executive Director. Pat has over 45 years’ experience working with manatees and is an Aquatic Biologist and Certified Public Manager. He is considered to be one of the world’s leading experts on the Florida manatee. From 1996 to 2006, Pat was SMC’s Director of Government Relations in Tallahassee, Florida. In the state’s capitol, Pat advocated on the manatee’s behalf before the Florida Legislature and Governor and Cabinet. Before joining SMC’s staff, he was the first federal Manatee Recovery Activities Coordinator and Florida’s first Manatee and Marine Mammal Coordinator for the Florida Department of Natural Resources. He was also the Environmental Program Administrator for the Bureau of Protected Species Management, Division of Marine Resources, for the Department of Environmental Protection in Tallahassee. In addition, he provided overall policy guidance and direction for statewide recovery efforts for endangered and protected marine species.

Pat has served as a member of every federal Manatee Recovery Team, presently serving on the Team’s Steering Committee, and is a former member of the I.U.C.N. World Conservation Union/Sirenia Specialist Group. His many professional awards include the prestigious “National Conservation Achievement Award” from the National Wildlife Federation and the “Award of Recognition” presented to him at the First International Manatee and Dugong Research Conference. Pat was also nominated for the esteemed Indianapolis Prize, which honors the world’s leading animal conservationists. Pat has a Master’s degree in aquatic biology from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He is also an avid boater, pilot, and is a certified scuba instructor.

Staff

A photo of Kerry Azzarello in a field in front of a mountain range.

Kerry Azzarello

Bookkeeper
A photo of Cora Berchem on a rock formation overlooking mountains, holding a manatee plush toy.

Cora Berchem

Director of Multimedia and Manatee Research Associate
A photo of Judy Bower in Save the Manatee Club's mailroom.

Judy Bower

Administrative Assistant
A portrait of Beth Brady

Beth Brady, PhD

Director of Science and Conservation
A selfie of Cheyenne Canon

Cheyenne Canon

Program Project Coordinator
A selfie of Tiare Fridrich

Tiare 'TJ' Fridrich

Manatee Biologist
A photo of Wayne Hartley on the researcher canoe wearing a dark green lifejacket.

Wayne Hartley

Manatee Specialist
A portrait of Lisa Hauk

Lisa Hauk

Membership Specialist
A portrait of Tonya Higgins.

Tonya Higgins

Director of Development and Operations
Angie Smc

Angie Irvin

Membership Representative
Hannah Smc

Hannah Lynn

Ecommerce Specialist
A photo of Gina McClain staffing a Save the Manatee Club booth at an event.

Gina McClain

Volunteer Specialist
A photo of Eric Merrell on a staircase

Eric Merrell

Program Logistics Representative
A photo of Alexandria Russell at Blue Spring State Park.

Alexandria Russell

Director of Education and Online Communications
NT Staff Photo

Natalie Thompson

Multimedia Assistant