Board of Directors
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Dr. Kerry M. Kriger -- President
Santa Cruz, California, USA
Dr. Kriger is the Founder & Executive Director of SAVE THE FROGS!, America's first and only public charity dedicated to protecting amphibians. He conceived and coordinates Save The Frogs Day, the world's largest day of amphibian education and conservation action. Dr. Kriger holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Griffith University in Gold Coast, Australia, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. He is a recognized expert on the amphibian disease chytridiomycosis, a topic on which he has published 15 articles in peer-reviewed international scientific journals. Dr. Kriger's research into amphibian declines has been supported by the National Geographic Society and various philanthropic organizations throughout the world, and he has presented the results of his research at scientific conferences in several countries. He has previously done research on endangered Hawaiian birds, and on the biophysical properties of amino acids involved in cystic fibrosis. He has taught university courses in Ecology, Vertebrate Biology, Applied Mathematics and Chemistry, has written and edited chapters for encyclopedias, and is fluent in Spanish. He has climbed mountains in the Himalayas, Alps, Alaska Range, Southern Alps and the Andes, and is an avid photographer whose photographs have been featured on CNN and in airports and magazines worldwide. You can learn more about Dr. Kriger here or view his CV here.
Dr. Jean-Marc Hero
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Dr. Hero is an ecologist and associate professor at Griffith University in Gold Coast, Australia. He serves as Secretary General Elect of the World Congress of Herpetology, former President and current Committee Member of the Australian Society of Herpetologists, Project Leader of PPBio - Australasia, and Deputy Director of the Centre for Innovative Conservation Strategies. His expertise in ecology stems from his extensive experience with amphibians, spanning over twenty years and across several continents. Dr. Hero has conducted fieldwork in Australia, Brazil, Fiji and Nepal. He has been on the forefront of global amphibian declines since they were first detected and has published three books, six book chapters, one monograph, forty-eight refereed journal articles, twenty-two non-refereed reports/articles, two posters, and one audiocassette. His current research focuses on detecting the impacts of climate change on Australian frog species. During his 14 years as an academic, he has supervised numerous graduate and undergraduate students who have successful completed their degrees; he currently supervises five PhD students, and two Masters students. You can view his CV here.
David Speiser - Vice President
New York, NY, USA
Mr. Speiser has an expertise in organizational and strategic planning, having spent over 15 years as a management and operations consultant and project manager for global financial institutions. Mr. Speiser is also a wildlife photographer and nature enthusiast who is committed to conservation. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the New York City Audubon Society.
He has “birded” in nearly every state in the U.S. and on six continents, where he has seen (and in many cases photographed) over 4,000 birds. Mr. Speiser has led bird walks for environmental educators, ornithological researchers, and NYC public elementary school groups. A series of his photographs of North American birds was recently used for an educational talk and poster on bird migration for the Central Park Zoo, where he has served as a volunteer guide in the education department since 2003. He received his bachelor of science from Cornell University in 1991, and currently lives in Manhattan with his wife and daughter. You can see his bird photos (and photos of his beautiful daughter Liliana) here.
Tai Stills - Treasurer & Secretary
Santa Cruz, California
Talitha "Tai" Stills has over 40 years experience working on environmental causes, advocacy and environmental education in Northern California. Tai has worked for a diverse array of groups, including the Sierra Club and the Valley Women's Club. In addition to researching and writing on complex environmental subjects, Tai has used her skills to write grant proposals, conduct direct mail fundraising campaigns, produce events and build coalitions. In addition to providing fiscal consultation to the Executive Director and Board, Tai also coordinated the 2012 Save The Frogs Art Fundraiser (for which she framed over 60 pieces of art). Tai is currently employed as the Finance Manager at the Health Projects Center in Santa Cruz County.
Are you interested in serving on the Board?
SAVE THE FROGS! is currently seeking board members to assist with our worldwide amphibian conservation efforts. If you feel you have expertise that would contribute to our Board, please email us your resume and include your responses to the following questions:
(1) What do you see as being your main role within Save The Frogs? How would Save The Frogs benefit by having your active involvement?
(2) How many hours per month do you envision putting into Save The Frogs?
(3) Do you expect to be able to donate to or fundraise for Save The Frogs, and if so, to what extent? Please be as specific as possible.
(4) Are there any steps Save The Frogs should take in the near future to improve our organization and thereby further our mission?
Thanks for your interest!
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Board of Directors