Meet our 2025-2027 Board of Directors:
Pictured above (from L to R), the 2025-2027 FLBWG Board Members: Verity Mathis, Zoe Bryant, Jenny White, Liz Braun, Donna Bear, Shelly Johnson, Rain Ketzler.
Chair - Shelly Johnson, IFAS Extension - University of Florida (shelly.johnson-at-ufl.edu)
Past-Chair - Donna Bear, Jacksonville Zoo (beard-at-jacksonvillezoo.org)
Treasurer - Liz Braun, FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (elizabeth.braun-at-myfwc.com)
Secretary - Verity Mathis, Florida Museum of Natural History (vmathis-at-flmnh.ufl.edu)
Member-at-Large - Rain Ketzler, US Fish and Wildlife Service (lorraine_p_ketzler-at-fws.gov)
Member-at-Large - Zoe Bryant, Stantec (zoe.bryant-at-stantec.com)
Member-at-Large - Jenny White, Florida Bat Conservancy (jenniferdwhite78-at-gmail.com)
Chair - Shelly Johnson, IFAS Extension - University of Florida (shelly.johnson-at-ufl.edu)
Past-Chair - Donna Bear, Jacksonville Zoo (beard-at-jacksonvillezoo.org)
Treasurer - Liz Braun, FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (elizabeth.braun-at-myfwc.com)
Secretary - Verity Mathis, Florida Museum of Natural History (vmathis-at-flmnh.ufl.edu)
Member-at-Large - Rain Ketzler, US Fish and Wildlife Service (lorraine_p_ketzler-at-fws.gov)
Member-at-Large - Zoe Bryant, Stantec (zoe.bryant-at-stantec.com)
Member-at-Large - Jenny White, Florida Bat Conservancy (jenniferdwhite78-at-gmail.com)
Join a Florida Bat Working Group Committee
2025-2026 NEW Committees and Contacts COMING SOON!
Interagency Partnerships - Rain Ketzler (lorraine_p_ketzler-at-fws.gov)
Outreach Events - Donna Bear (beard-at-jacksonvillezoo.org)
Bat Blitz - Lisa Smith (lisa.smith-at-myfwc.com)
Hype Team (Newsletter and Social Media) - Lily Martin (Lily.Martin-at-MyFWC.com)
Bat Bling
Youth/Schools
Community Science
Consulting
Bats in Transportation Structures
Trails
2025 Meeting Planning - Shelly Johnson, Donna Bear, Natasha Warraich, Leslie Straub, Verity Mathis, and more.
Interagency Partnerships - Rain Ketzler (lorraine_p_ketzler-at-fws.gov)
Outreach Events - Donna Bear (beard-at-jacksonvillezoo.org)
Bat Blitz - Lisa Smith (lisa.smith-at-myfwc.com)
Hype Team (Newsletter and Social Media) - Lily Martin (Lily.Martin-at-MyFWC.com)
Bat Bling
Youth/Schools
Community Science
Consulting
Bats in Transportation Structures
Trails
2025 Meeting Planning - Shelly Johnson, Donna Bear, Natasha Warraich, Leslie Straub, Verity Mathis, and more.
Florida Bat Working Group Members
The Membership:
We currently have over 82 active members! Membership in the Florida Bat Working Group is available to any person interested in bat conservation in Florida and who supports the goals and objectives of the Florida Bat Working Group. Being a member is a great way to become or stay involved in bat conservation, education, and research in Florida.
Florida Bat Working Group Charter
On December 17, 2020, the FLBWG approved this Charter to provide a formal structure for the working group.
Member Benefits
Members have access to networking opportunities and resources via the members-only listserv and shared Resource Folders. Current members will receive a discounted registration at annual meetings. They are also eligible for election to the board of directors and appointment as chair of a working group committee. To be eligible for nomination to the board of directors, you should be a member at the time of nomination, which occurs prior to December every other year. Only members may participate in motions and votes presented during member meetings. New members are always welcome and we strongly encourage membership of those who attend the annual meeting and/or participate on committees. Once a member, you will receive all news and announcements via e-mail; to avoid FLBWG emails going to junk mail, please remember to add [email protected] to your spam blocking filters.
How to become a member
Per the FLBWG Charter, members are to pay a $10 fee prior to each annual meeting. Our membership cycle revolves around our annual meeting, which is generally held in March (or early April). Memberships will run from April to March. If you wish to become a member for the upcoming year, there are 2 ways:
If you plan to attend the 2025 annual meeting (April 3-4, 2025), the membership fee will be included as part of the meeting registration cost; you will NOT pay your annual membership fee separately (thus all meeting attendees will be considered FLBWG members from April 2025 through March 2026)
If you do NOT attend the 2025 annual meeting, you can join or renew at any time during the 2025 calendar year (January - December 2025) to be a considered a member starting in April 2025 (after the annual meeting) through March 2026 (through the next annual meeting). Pay the member fee through the Southeastern Bat Diversity Network portal.
Please allow at least 2 weeks after submitting payment to receive a welcome email with information to join our member list. IF you do not receive an email within 2-3 weeks, please email [email protected].
We currently have over 82 active members! Membership in the Florida Bat Working Group is available to any person interested in bat conservation in Florida and who supports the goals and objectives of the Florida Bat Working Group. Being a member is a great way to become or stay involved in bat conservation, education, and research in Florida.
Florida Bat Working Group Charter
On December 17, 2020, the FLBWG approved this Charter to provide a formal structure for the working group.
Member Benefits
Members have access to networking opportunities and resources via the members-only listserv and shared Resource Folders. Current members will receive a discounted registration at annual meetings. They are also eligible for election to the board of directors and appointment as chair of a working group committee. To be eligible for nomination to the board of directors, you should be a member at the time of nomination, which occurs prior to December every other year. Only members may participate in motions and votes presented during member meetings. New members are always welcome and we strongly encourage membership of those who attend the annual meeting and/or participate on committees. Once a member, you will receive all news and announcements via e-mail; to avoid FLBWG emails going to junk mail, please remember to add [email protected] to your spam blocking filters.
How to become a member
Per the FLBWG Charter, members are to pay a $10 fee prior to each annual meeting. Our membership cycle revolves around our annual meeting, which is generally held in March (or early April). Memberships will run from April to March. If you wish to become a member for the upcoming year, there are 2 ways:
If you plan to attend the 2025 annual meeting (April 3-4, 2025), the membership fee will be included as part of the meeting registration cost; you will NOT pay your annual membership fee separately (thus all meeting attendees will be considered FLBWG members from April 2025 through March 2026)
If you do NOT attend the 2025 annual meeting, you can join or renew at any time during the 2025 calendar year (January - December 2025) to be a considered a member starting in April 2025 (after the annual meeting) through March 2026 (through the next annual meeting). Pay the member fee through the Southeastern Bat Diversity Network portal.
Please allow at least 2 weeks after submitting payment to receive a welcome email with information to join our member list. IF you do not receive an email within 2-3 weeks, please email [email protected].
Members are from a variety of organizations, agencies, and institutions, including:
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
University of Florida, Wildlife Ecology & Conservation
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Extension
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
UF Florida Museum of Natural History
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Bacardi Bottling Corporation
Bat Conservation and Management, Inc.
Bat Conservation International
Bat Soundz Services
Big Cypress National Preserve
Broward County Parks and Recreation
Camp Blanding Joint Training Center-Florida Army National Guard
Cherokee Federal
Ecological Associates, Inc.
Environmental Resources Management
Environmental Science Associates
Environmental Solutions & Innovations, Inc.
Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida
Florida Bat Conservancy
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Florida Department of Health
Florida Department of Transportation
Florida Forest Service
Florida State Parks
Florida Wildlife Care
Fly By Night, Inc
Friends of Bats
Inwood Consulting Engineers
Kimley-Horn
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Miami-Dade County
Nonie's Ark Animal Encounters
NSS, SCCi, Flint River Grotto
Seminole Tribe of Florida
South Florida Water Management District
Tennessee Valley Authority
Turrell, Hall, & Associates, Inc.
US Air Force
White Oak Conservation
Zoo Miami
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
University of Florida, Wildlife Ecology & Conservation
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Extension
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
UF Florida Museum of Natural History
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Bacardi Bottling Corporation
Bat Conservation and Management, Inc.
Bat Conservation International
Bat Soundz Services
Big Cypress National Preserve
Broward County Parks and Recreation
Camp Blanding Joint Training Center-Florida Army National Guard
Cherokee Federal
Ecological Associates, Inc.
Environmental Resources Management
Environmental Science Associates
Environmental Solutions & Innovations, Inc.
Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida
Florida Bat Conservancy
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Florida Department of Health
Florida Department of Transportation
Florida Forest Service
Florida State Parks
Florida Wildlife Care
Fly By Night, Inc
Friends of Bats
Inwood Consulting Engineers
Kimley-Horn
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Miami-Dade County
Nonie's Ark Animal Encounters
NSS, SCCi, Flint River Grotto
Seminole Tribe of Florida
South Florida Water Management District
Tennessee Valley Authority
Turrell, Hall, & Associates, Inc.
US Air Force
White Oak Conservation
Zoo Miami
