George L. Heinrich (Executive Director)
Photograph by John Pendygraft
George L. Heinrich is a field biologist and environmental educator specializing in Florida reptiles. His company, Heinrich Ecological Services, is based in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA and conducts wildlife surveys and research, natural history programming, and nature-based tours. A graduate of Memphis State University, his interests include southeastern upland and brackish wetland ecosystems, conservation challenges facing Florida’s non-marine turtles, and the role of education in conserving herpetofauna. Current collaborative research projects focus on three imperiled species: the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), and Suwannee cooter (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis). George is an invited member of the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, served twice as co-chair of the Gopher Tortoise Council, and is a co-founder of the Florida Turtle Conservation Trust.
Timothy J. Walsh (Assistant Director)
Photograph by George L. Heinrich
From the age of ten, Tim has been actively involved in herpetology and has maintained an obsession ever since. At age twelve, he was mentored by Dr. Jim Layne of the Archbold Biological Station. He went on to receive a degree in Zoo Animal Technology and has worked in the zoo/aquaria/museum field for twenty-three years. Tim has been involved in a variety of field projects with such species as Suwannee cooters, Carolina diamondback terrapins, and spotted turtles, and is a member of the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Tim is an avid outdoorsman, accomplished photographer, and book collector. Tim recently earned a Master's Degree in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester, England. His current position is Manager of Natural History Collections and Citizen Science with the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT.