About Us
Meet the Staff
James R. (Richard) Gilbreth
Executive Director
Richard has served as Executive Director of the Sanctuary since January 3, 1997. He holds a degree in Animal Science with a Vocational Agriculture Teaching Certificate. He has worked with and assisted numerous veterinarians in day-to-day operations, as well as being proficient in artificial insemination and embryo transplanting.
He also has broad experience in animal nutrition for exotic wildlife, having worked at several wildlife sanctuaries with various types of animals in residence. His experience encompasses raising exotic animals, caring for adult animals, working with wildlife, and extensive knowledge of exotic sanctuary rules and regulations from the USDA, USDI, and EPA. He has worked with several wildlife agencies in New Mexico, Colorado and Texas.
When Richard first arrived at the Sanctuary, he had a vision of what he wanted to accomplish. He started out improving the habitats for all the animals, making them safer for both the staff and the animals. He improved their quality of life in just a few months by giving them a better diet, offering enrichment, and offering environmental enrichment.
His top goal was to become part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). After hard work and determination, he reached that goal in 2001 when IEAS became the first and only Sanctuary to be certified by the AZA! After reaching that goal, Richard kept moving to try and achieve yet another goal, starting an Intern Program. The first group of interns arrived at IEAS in 2002. Since it's beginning, the Intern Program has become one of the leading programs in the animal world.
Richard continues to make IEAS the best haven for all exotic animals. Not only that, but he continues to teach staff, interns and volunteers what it takes to run a facility as great as IEAS. He has been a great asset to the Sanctuary and the animal residents. He has turned this Sanctuary around, making it an example for other sanctuaries to follow.
Louis Dorfman
Animal Behaviorist
Louis has spent his life working with wild predators, particularly large exotic cats. He utilizes a method of working with these beings through positive reinforcement, getting the animal to trust him and wish to please him. He interacts and conducts behavioral enrichment programs with at least twenty-five grown lions, leopards, tigers, and cougars at least three days a week at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary, where he has been the resident animal behaviorist for the last several years. At the request of the Sanctuary, he will be teaching classes monthly to professionals in the animal field across the country in methods of reading exotic cats' moods and the proper response to indicated characteristics.
Rodger Schlickeisen, President of Defenders Of Wildlife, the organization that was responsible for reintroducing wolves into Yellowstone Park and Idaho, said of Louis Dorfman, "Frankly, even in my line of work, I was unaware that a human could establish such positive relationships with so many kinds of wild animals. Very impressive."
He has done many television and radio shows as a representative of the wildlife community, speaking as an expert on the personalities and characteristics of wild predators.
Dr. Greg Moore
Veterinarian
The Sanctuary is thankful to have Dr. Greg Moore as the felinesī veterinarian. Dr. Moore graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1981 from Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine. He has been Chief of avian and exotic animal medicine and surgery at Metroplex Veterinary (Animal Medical and Surgical Hospital) from 1983 to 1990. Presently, he is the owner of Southlake Animal Hospital, P.C., a small animal and exotic animal practice in Southlake, Texas. He is state and federally licensed. Dr. Moore is also a Master Falconer and Raptor Propagator breeding Peregrine falcons and Harris hawks. He is a State and Federal permitted Wildlife Rehabilitator. Christi Gilbreth
Curator/Asst. Animal Behaviorist
Christi graduated from Texas A&M University with a BS in Wildlife Ecology and Management. After graduating,
she worked at the rehab center where she previously completed a three month internship. She worked at Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Kendalia, TX for a year rehabilitating native wildlife then releasing them back into the wild. She also cared for the resident animals which included bears, jaguars, cougars, and a variety of primates. Her education and experience gained at WRR helped her obtain an internship at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary. Christi began the three month internship in December 2003. She was asked to stay on as a keeper. Since that time, she has earned the titles Curator and Assistant Animal Behaviorist.
During her time here, Christi has helped care for the 67 resident felines and bears while instructing interns on how to care for these animals and about the daily operations. She also co-founded SWAVA, an organization designed to share information with other sanctuary workers and volunteers to help improve the lives of captive animals in sanctuaries. The past six years, Christi has been working along side our Animal Behaviorist, Louis Dorfman. She has helped raise two cheetah cubs, five white tiger cubs, two baby bobcats and six black bear cubs. While working with Louis, she has learned a lot on feline behavior and about each animal's personality. She has learned a great deal in the past six years and continues to learn something new every day.
she worked at the rehab center where she previously completed a three month internship. She worked at Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Kendalia, TX for a year rehabilitating native wildlife then releasing them back into the wild. She also cared for the resident animals which included bears, jaguars, cougars, and a variety of primates. Her education and experience gained at WRR helped her obtain an internship at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary. Christi began the three month internship in December 2003. She was asked to stay on as a keeper. Since that time, she has earned the titles Curator and Assistant Animal Behaviorist. During her time here, Christi has helped care for the 67 resident felines and bears while instructing interns on how to care for these animals and about the daily operations. She also co-founded SWAVA, an organization designed to share information with other sanctuary workers and volunteers to help improve the lives of captive animals in sanctuaries. The past six years, Christi has been working along side our Animal Behaviorist, Louis Dorfman. She has helped raise two cheetah cubs, five white tiger cubs, two baby bobcats and six black bear cubs. While working with Louis, she has learned a lot on feline behavior and about each animal's personality. She has learned a great deal in the past six years and continues to learn something new every day.
TRISH LANG
Lead Keeper/Education Coordinator
Trish graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in May 2004 with a BS in Animal Bioscience and a minor in Animal Science. While in school, she worked at The Pennsylvania State Deer Research Center where she gained experience working with white-tailed deer. She also volunteered and interned at Centre Wildlife Care, a wildlife center in Lemont, PA. Here she cared for orphaned and injured wildlife for the purpose of releasing them
back into the wild.
back into the wild. Trish had always known that she wanted to work with animals. After her first day at the rehab center, she knew that she wanted to work with wild animals. In December 2004, she was offered an internship position at IEAS. Shortly after completing the internship, Trish returned to IEAS to work as a full-time keeper. Working here has taught her so much about the care and management of exotic animals, as well as all of the aspects involved in running a Sanctuary. She now educates the interns about the proper care of exotic animals. She also instructs our Grant and Proposal Writing Course in which she teaches interns about certain fundraising techniques used by nonprofit organizations. Trish has taken on the role of Assistant Editor of the Sanctuary Workers and Volunteers Association (SWAVA), an organization created by the staff and volunteers of IEAS.
Each new day at IEAS provides a new experience and an opportunity to learn. Trish has discovered that surviving in the animal world requires lots of hard work and dedication...and with this, the rewards can be endless.
Erica SMith
Erica SMith
Keeper
Erica graduated from the University of New York at Oswego in May 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology. After graduating she immediately began working with domestic cats ad dogs. Although she hound this position rewarding, Erica has always aspired to work with large exotic mammals and it was then that she decided to apply for the 3-month animal care internship position at the Sanctuary. Erica began her internship here at IEAS in December of 2010 and upon completing a 6-month internship was asked to stay on as a full-time keeper. As an Animal Care Intern, Erica learned how to care for the animals of IEAS and learned the basics of how the Sanctuary is run. In the coming years she hopes to expand this knowledge.George Talbot
Volunteer Coordinator
I took a tour at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary with my daughters and soon therafter they both suggested that I begin volunteering. "Just think how much fun it would be to have to mow someone else's grass as well as ours, " Monica said. And the youngest one, Gwennie, figured that I'd extend the battery life on the television remote control if I used it less on weekends. That was over six years ago, and I almost feel guilty admitting that volunteering at IEAS has consistently given me so much more than anything I've ever contributed to the facility.
It's a magical atmosphere with a very unique population of cats and humans alike. It made Monday morning's fun; everyone else in the office was complaining about limited parking when they went to the mall for the better part of their weekend, and I was happy to just discreetly scratch my fire ant bites. Witnessing the commitment and dedication of the IEAS staff and the other volunteers consistently energizes me more than three cups of even the most exotic and frothy latte-double-pump coffee taken three-times-daily.
Volunteering at IEAS isn't the best medicine for everyone, but we all encourage any of you to give it a try. And Gwennie was right; volunteering at the Sanctuary has made saving the life of the batteries in my television remote control a very, very rewarding experience.
It's a magical atmosphere with a very unique population of cats and humans alike. It made Monday morning's fun; everyone else in the office was complaining about limited parking when they went to the mall for the better part of their weekend, and I was happy to just discreetly scratch my fire ant bites. Witnessing the commitment and dedication of the IEAS staff and the other volunteers consistently energizes me more than three cups of even the most exotic and frothy latte-double-pump coffee taken three-times-daily.
Volunteering at IEAS isn't the best medicine for everyone, but we all encourage any of you to give it a try. And Gwennie was right; volunteering at the Sanctuary has made saving the life of the batteries in my television remote control a very, very rewarding experience.
ROY MARLEY
Maintenance Supervisor
Roy Marley began working at the Sanctuary back in January 2005 as our part time Assistant Maintenance man. He has made the IEAS somewhat of a family affair; his daughter, who was a keeper at the Sanctuary, is now working for one of the most respected AZA accredited zoos in the United States as a Carnivore Keeper.
Plumbing was his expertise when he arrived, and Roy was able to help out with many important tasks such as building the intern house and installing pumps for tiger pools. Since then, Roy has spent hours upon hours working with Richard and learning the art of welding. On any given day you may find Roy doing a wide variety of jobs: constructing a new habitat for the animals or repairing an existing habitat, mowing grass and other landscaping work, building a new trailer, repairing one of the vehicles, or fixing something that breaks in the intern house.
Plumbing was his expertise when he arrived, and Roy was able to help out with many important tasks such as building the intern house and installing pumps for tiger pools. Since then, Roy has spent hours upon hours working with Richard and learning the art of welding. On any given day you may find Roy doing a wide variety of jobs: constructing a new habitat for the animals or repairing an existing habitat, mowing grass and other landscaping work, building a new trailer, repairing one of the vehicles, or fixing something that breaks in the intern house. Not a day goes by that we don't hear over the radio, "Roy, can you come over here?". Whether it's a flat tire, a stubborn weed-eater, a leaky pipe, or a broken pump...you name it, Roy can fix it. There aren't too many people in this world who have the patience and demeanor to consistenly help and help and help again. Roy is one of those people. Not only does he fix anything that breaks, but he also takes the time to teach both the interns and keepers how to do it themselves. We are thankful to Roy for all of his hard work and dedication.
I came to IEAS 3 years ago expecting a simple bookkeeping position and have had the opportunity to do so much more. In addition to managing the books and assisting the Director, I am the receptionist, gift shop manager, sales and customer service representative. I have always worked with the public either in customer service or nursing, but have found life here at IEAS to be the most rewarding because the people that come to the Sanctuary are happy and excited to be here which means I never have to deal with the angry or unhappy. I have also learned a little about graphic art and have had a chance to express my creativity by designing new logos, a letterhead, brochures,
business cards and our new signs.
Overall, working here is something I look forward to everyday. Where else can you go to work, take a break and walk thru the park and be greeted by so many incredible animals! It is hard some days to stay inside at my desk, so I give tours as often as I can so I can convey our mission to the public and help foster new advocates to the Sanctuary and it's animals.
I am proud to be a part of this exceptional organization!
Hootie, my dog, has also taken over the job of official "greeter" for the gift shop, although his position is strictly volunteer!
Trish Jemison
Administrative Assistant / Office Manager
I came to IEAS 3 years ago expecting a simple bookkeeping position and have had the opportunity to do so much more. In addition to managing the books and assisting the Director, I am the receptionist, gift shop manager, sales and customer service representative. I have always worked with the public either in customer service or nursing, but have found life here at IEAS to be the most rewarding because the people that come to the Sanctuary are happy and excited to be here which means I never have to deal with the angry or unhappy. I have also learned a little about graphic art and have had a chance to express my creativity by designing new logos, a letterhead, brochures,
business cards and our new signs.
Overall, working here is something I look forward to everyday. Where else can you go to work, take a break and walk thru the park and be greeted by so many incredible animals! It is hard some days to stay inside at my desk, so I give tours as often as I can so I can convey our mission to the public and help foster new advocates to the Sanctuary and it's animals.
I am proud to be a part of this exceptional organization!
Hootie, my dog, has also taken over the job of official "greeter" for the gift shop, although his position is strictly volunteer!
