Amanda, Founder / Animal Educator

Three themes have continued throughout Amanda's life: continued dedication to learning and teaching, passion for conservation, and a never-ending love for all animals! As the Founder of Zovargo, she crafted an organization that is a combination of these themes resulting in a powerful community-based group of dedicated people and animals that help foster conservation stewardship to make the world a better place!

Ms. Plante is dedicated to a life of service and serves in a few different roles. When she is not managing the operations at Zovargo, she is working in her other full-time career as a digital transformation leader for the Navy. In what little spare time exists, she can be found working as a volunteer raptor rehabilitator; or attending training courses to build on her skills as an educator, zoo manager, and organizational leader. She is an awarded Navy Veteran and has remained dedicated to wildlife having served for the same wildlife rehabilitation facility for the last decade.

Amanda has an MBA and a Bachelor of Science. Additionally, she is a Certified Interpretive Guide Trainer (CIGT), Certified as a Knowledge Management (KM) professional; has completed many professional training courses through the Association for Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). She also holds a certificate in Non-Profit Management from the University of San Diego. In 2016 she completed the AZA's comprehensive professional development program, earning a certificate in Education & Interpretation.

Larry, Co-Founder / Stewardship Guide

Coming from a family that would go out of their way for any stray animal; the concepts of care, rescue, and rehabilitation for all animals was instilled within Larry’s core values as a young child. As a way to connect with the world and give back to the planet he is an advocate for conservation.

Larry studied Microbiology at the University of California Santa Barbara before pursuing a career in the IT field. Having held numerous Information Technology (IT) support roles throughout his profession; interacting and mentoring individuals are common daily tasks. He is also an active volunteer for multiple wildlife organizations.

When not implementing new technologies, Larry spends his free time tending to wildlife rehabilitation patients, volunteering at booth events, giving presentations, speeches and talks for various audiences. You’ll find him researching and studying in an effort to support the continuous development of new education programs. Zovargo is the ideal platform that allows him to combine his skills and devotion to conservation awareness. 

Heather, Senior Animal Educator / Animal Care Specialist

Growing up in Moreno Valley, California, Heather has always been a lover of animals, living with multiple dogs her whole life. Currently, Heather lives with two Great Danes and two Chihuahua Terriers, and absolutely loves the chaos of a dog-filled house and could play with them all day long. In addition to working at Zovargo, Heather works as a substitute teacher and comes from a big family of educators and so she has always loved working with kids. Recently, she graduated with her Master’s in Fisheries and Wildlife Administration where she was able to discover Zovargo and complete her research within conservation education with Zovargo’s help. Her research focused on the importance of positive programs like Zovargo that engage young minds within conservation and has experienced first hand the positive impact that Zovargo can have!

One fun fact about Heather is that she has been going on road trips since she was a baby and so she has visited 47 out of 50 states (and still loves traveling on the road)! 

Jasmine, Lead Animal Care Specialist

Jasmine began her journey with Zovargo as intern from 2020-2021. After her internship, Jasmine completed her B.S. from UC San Diego in Environmental Systems: Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution. In 2023, she returned to Zovargo as an Animal Care Specialist. Jasmine enjoys working with the animal ambassadors at Zovargo because she loves to ensure that they are all staying happy and healthy. She especially enjoys working with the tortoises and loves to watch them run around and eat salads.

Outside of Zovargo, Jasmine works for the County of San Diego, as well as serves in the Army National Guard as an Engineer Officer. Zovargo has been a great opportunity for Jasmine to get work with exotic animals and she enjoys every second of it.

Maya, Animal Educator / Animal Care Specialist

Maya is a dedicated individual with a passion for wildlife conservation. Hailing from San Diego, she was nurtured by an adventurous, outdoorsy family, fostering her love for nature. Her childhood menagerie, featuring snakes, birds, tarantulas, and lizards, attests to her lifelong fascination with animals. Maya's journey towards wildlife conservation started early, culminating in a transformative volunteer program in Zimbabwe, where she worked with critically endangered Black Rhinos. This experience solidified her desire for a career in wildlife. Beginning with dogs at a daycare and training facility, Maya honed her animal care skills before delving into wildlife conservation at The California Wolf Center in Julian. There, she immersed herself in the care and education of the critically endangered Mexican Grey Wolves. Joining Zovargo in January 2023, Maya's volunteer work blossomed into a deep connection with the organization's mission and community impact. Her commitment to conservation through education reflects her aspiration to grow alongside the organization, embodying a dedication to learning and making a difference.

One fun fact about Maya is that she is an avid fantasy/fiction reader and hopes to write her own novel one day!