Mollie Hogan - Founder and President

In high school and through my 20s I was a professional singer in numerous musical ensembles performing in rock, folk, & country/western bands in Montana and California. My interest in becoming a professional in the wild animal field began in 1980 when I toured the Moorpark College Teaching Zoo for the first time and came face-to-face with a mountain lion. I was hooked! As a student at Moorpark, I worked with that very mountain lion as well as many other wild and exotic birds, mammals, and reptiles. Upon graduation, I moved to Sedona, Arizona, where I managed an animal shelter for a year. When an employment opportunity opened up at the Los Angeles Zoo’s Cat Show, I moved back to California for my dream job. We raised and trained a wide variety of cats for the show: ocelot, bobcat, lynx, caracal, serval, clouded leopard, cheetah, and two very special mountain lions named Phoenix and Sage. During my time at the L.A. Zoo, the “Cat Show” evolved into a native animal presentation called “Wild in the City.” When the show was suddenly terminated in 1993, the animals were relocated to the Moorpark facility where, at the time, I was also a part-time instructor. I applied for the proper permits and then founded the Nature of Wildworks Wildlife Center relocating the animals to our current facility.
         Wildworks is truly a dream career, and our organization now provides lifelong care for fifty non-releasable wild animals, encompassing 17 different species, that participate with our staff and volunteers in educational outreach programs for children and adults throughout Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
In addition to Wildworks, I recently founded Cat Business, a behavioral consulting company providing specialized training and problem-solving services for felines and their humans. Check us out on the web at www.catbusiness1.com.
mollie@natureofwildworks.org

Laura Goggia - Grant Writer & Office Administrator

I was fortunate to be raised with very understanding parents! Our home was always open to a large variety of domestic animals. I remember finding a gopher snake and asking my mother if I could keep it. Her response was “as long as I never have to see it!” When I was thirteen I volunteered at a local nature center, helping clean cages, prepare food, and basically increasing my love of all animals. After too many years working in the finance and mortgage profession I took a break in 1998 and started volunteering (and eventually working) at the Los Angeles Zoo where I became a Docent. It is there that I had a life changing event…I met Mollie. I was intrigued when she told me that after the funding was lost for her wildlife show she “took the animals home.” I could not believe that the Zoo let her just take home animals… where do I sign up? Now, after so many years of watching what Mollie has to do to keep the animals fed, sheltered, and given a good quality of life, I know that taking home wild animals requires someone very special and someone with unending stamina.
         Eventually, I returned to the mortgage field only to be displaced as a result of market conditions. Who knew that becoming unemployed could have a great outcome? Fortune was smiling when I lost my job at the same time Wildworks was seeking an Office Administrator and Development Coordinator. Now I am able to help the organization by researching grants, submitting proposals, and keeping track of donations. Additionally, being around such a variety of animals and getting a loving purr from Phoenix makes my commute from Covina well worth the drive. The Nature of Wildworks has forever changed my life. These animals all have distinct personalities and all have found their way into my heart. I know that whatever the future holds, I will always make room for Wildworks.
laurag@natureofwildworks.org

Greg Hall - Animal Care Supervisor and Volunteer Coordinator

My animal career started about a year before I got out of the U.S. Navy. At that time, I started volunteering at a wildlife center in San Diego doing rehabilitation. After I got out of the Navy, I moved to Los Angeles and started attending Pierce College. While attending Pierce College in the Pre-Veterinary Medicine program I volunteered at a wildlife rehabilitation and marine mammal care center in Malibu. I was also a volunteer zookeeper at both the Santa Ana Zoo and the Los Angeles Zoo. During my time at Pierce College I kept hearing about the Exotic Animal Training and Management program (EATM) at Moorpark College so I decided to go visit their zoo. Once I saw students training a lion and a tiger I knew where I wanted to go to school. After graduating from the EATM program, I went to work for a wildlife center in Tujunga training and caring for animals ranging from lions and tigers, to exotic birds, primates, and alligators. That is when an employment opportunity with Wildworks was presented to me. I was very excited for this opportunity because I had done an internship with Wildworks during my time in school. Wildworks has a great collection of animals and it is a privilege to work with them.

Lorie Zerweck - I was born and raised in northern California into a family affectionately referred to as “The Zerweck Zoo.” Animals have always been an important part of my life. I currently work as a freelance producer/production manager in television and film, but it’s the furry, feathered and finned creatures that are my true passion. In 2005, I created a non-profit animal newspaper, The Pet Gazette, promoting animal wellness, awareness, and rescue for both domestic and wild animals. Staying true to my family’s nickname, my home is often the recipient of orphaned raccoons, kittens, and other critters for surrogate care as well as housing my own brood of furry children. Over the past several years I have volunteered with many organizations, but the animals at the Nature of Wildworks have stolen my heart. I am honored to be part of such an extraordinary group of creatures, big and small, wild and tame, two-legged and four; a place where I can share a green bean with a fox, give a raccoon a rub, or listen to a puma purr. Being at Wildworks is an incredibly exquisite experience and much more rewarding than the red carpet!

Dena Souriall - I was born in Hollywood, California, and I think I'm here to stay. For the past 11 years, my family and I have lived in Simi Valley. I'm married and have three boys. I'm on my third profession: cosmetologist, production accountant, and last but not least, animal trainer. You know what they say, "three's a charm," "save the best for last," etc. Since childhood, I've had a great love for animals. At 16 I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I realized the job came with too much heartache for me to endure. I've had uncountable experiences with various exotic and domestic animals throughout my life. The instructional portion of my animal training was obtained through America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark's Exotic Animal Training and Management Program, and my "hands on" training was obtained through Hollywood Animals' Exotic Animal Training School working with lions and tigers and bears, oh my! I've also had various private training sessions with several exotic animal trainers. A couple of years ago I heard about Nature of Wildworks, so here I am, and here I'll stay, where my story continues...

Patrick Hogan - I’m Mollie’s brother’s son, Patrick Hogan, which, I suppose, would make me her nephew. I began volunteering here at the very young age of ten and have been doing it ever since in my spare time. I am now fourteen and I live up by Yosemite and travel by train to do my volunteer work. I’ve always had cats and dogs, and I have a snake named Bob, but when I came to Wildworks I got the chance to raise a baby bobcat (Thunder) and coyotes (Trickster and Mesa). I helped my aunt Mollie with the shows and was the narrator in a cat training video. Now I help Mollie on the computer by doing typing for her and organizing her pictures. I don’t have a favorite animal here, since they are all great. I also play drums in a band known as Bleeding Vanity. You can check it out at: myspace.com/xbleedingxvanityx.

Hi, I’m Charles Romero. I’m a 17 years old in my senior year at Thousand Oaks High School and my plans for the future are to enter the EATM program at Moorpark College and then go on for a formal degree and some type of work with animals. I have a great love for all living creatures, so when I was required to volunteer for 30 hours at a place of my choosing by my school’s Academy Program, I instantly jumped at the chance to work with animals. After getting hooked on The Nature of Wildworks, I don’t think I will stop volunteering upon finishing my project.
        I was born and raised here in California and have traveled on vacation to multiple places from Alaska to Michigan. I took my first steps in Hawaii. I also have a love for photography and playing music. I play guitar and love to just hang out with friends and take random pictures of all kinds of stuff, especially animals.

Damien Walton - I was born in Torrance California in July, but my mom is from Belize. Currently I live in Lakewood.

For as long as I can remember I have always had a special passion for animals, and I have been a ‘feline person’ since childhood. Basically, I prefer felines over any other species although I like all animals. With this lifelong love of cats I have been actively pursuing a career with wildlife and see working with Exotic (big) Cats in the future.

I will be transferring to Moorpark College in the Spring of 2009 to join the Exotic Animal Training and Management (EATM) program. With this training I hope to fulfill my dream by securing a career with wild animals.

In order to keep myself around animals I have worked in small animal facilities such as animal hospitals, pet stores, and grooming facilities; but domestic animals are not my passion. My hobbies are video games, playing sports, and playing guitar. I'm self taught when it comes to guitar, piano, and drums, and I received formal vocal training. When I contacted Wildworks and started volunteering it appeared that everything was falling into place for my career. I couldn't be happier and I cherish every day I get to spend at the facility. =^_^= Rawr

Erin Bukofsky - I have been volunteering at the Nature of Wildworks since February 2008. I graduated from Skidmore College in 2007 with a major in Environmental Studies. A fascination with animals has been a constant throughout my life so I decided to gain some experience working with them. The summer before my senior year I became an intern at the California Wildlife Center where I was able to care for ill and injured native wildlife. Then during one of my last semesters in college I studied abroad in Australia and entered into an internship working at a koala rehabilitation center. Both experiences were amazing and helped me realize that I wanted to pursue a career with animals. In September 2008 I was accepted into an internship at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC. During my three months at the zoo I studied the social and reproductive behaviors, activity patterns and effects of environmental noise on the Giant Anteaters on exhibit. I am currently seeking zookeeper positions at zoos across California and hope to eventually focus on environmental enrichment techniques for animals in captivity. Volunteering at the Nature of Wildworks has been a wonderful experience. I have learned a great deal about animal management and have become very attached to all of the animals at the facility.

Amanda Cousins - Growing up in California I've always been captivated with wildlife and exotic animals. Going to Sea World or to a zoo inspired me to be an animal trainer as well as watching Jack Hanna and Steve Irwin. I grew up in Lancaster, CA and when I was 16 years old I started volunteering at the Antelope Valley Dog and Cat Rescue. I was there for 4 years and loved being there. I left there to go to Moorpark College and to apply to the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program. I've earned my AA degree in General Liberal Arts and Sciences and am hoping to get my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. I've always wanted to work with animals in some capacity and knew this was the right career path for me. I wanted to get more exotic animal experience and came across The Nature of Wildworks. I've only been here for a short while but I absolutely love it. When I hear the coyotes barking and the wolf howling I get goose bumps. It's amazing to hear in the morning. I'm really enjoying my volunteer time at Wildworks and hope to pursue my dream and to someday become a marine mammal trainer and to hopefully be a killer whale trainer.