Board Member Bios

Amy is the retired Director of Sweetbriar Nature Center. She began her love of animals while working for a veterinarian during high school and college. This interest continued throughout Amy's career. She is among the early members of NYSWRC and assisted in writing the first state licensing exam questions. Amy is pleased to continue assisting other rehabilitators through her work with NYSWRC. Amy holds a state and federal license and works with RVS species and raptors. She is a volunteer for the Newcomb Adirondack Visitor's Center and active in Northern New York Audubon.

Steve Freiman

Steven Freiman is a retired teacher. He is the current Board of Education President at Newcomb Central School. He was an active volunteer at the Sweetbriar Nature Center. He is currently the Vice-President of the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, where his prime responsibility is to oversee the annual statewide training classes. Steve is an assistant rehabilitator, and enjoys helping his wife Amy care for wildlife.

Barbara Hollands
Barbara Hollands, LVT, has been a state and federally licensed Class II wildlife rehabilitator since 1988. Barb specializes in mammals, concentrating on the higher mammals: coyote, fox, and rabies vector species. Barb also has a nuisance wildlife license, is certified for Chemical Immobilization, Oil Spill Training, Rabies Vector Species, EARS (emergency animal rescue service- Red Cross Rescue for Animal Disaster Victims). Barb currently has a Public Relations and Marketing internship at the Seneca Park Zoo, in Rochester, New York. Barb is currently enrolled at St. John Fisher College pursuing her Masters Degree and was recently inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society.

Beverly Jones
Beverly Jones has been involved with rehabilitation for 15 years. Bev was volunteer at the Ross Park Zoo and the Southern Tier Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Bev attended SUNY Buffalo and obtained a BS degree in Environmental Science. She spent a year and a half at The Conservancy Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Naples, Florida and worked with a wide array of subtropical wildlife. Later, she had the privilege to work during three summers as a hack site attendant for the Peregrine Fund. Bev graduated from Medaille College's Veterinary Technician program and has taken a full time position at the Erie County SPCA as a wildlife rehabilitation assistant/veterinary technician. (elected to the board Oct 2000)

Pat Bogan
Pat Bogan has been a volunteer in the Erie County SPCA's Wildlife Dept. since 1996 and became a NYS licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator in 1997. In 2002, she was certified in Oil Spill Response Training and in 2000 completed Rabies Vector Species Training; both courses were sponsored by the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. In 2001 she completed the Banders' Training Course from the Braddock Bay Bird Observatory. Additionally, in 2002 she volunteered at the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center in Sitka, Alaska. May, 2003 she received an Associate in Science Degree from Empire State College in Wildlife Studies and plans to continue her education towards a Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Wildlife Biology. She is a member of various local nature/environmental organizations and enjoys participating in the Buffalo Ornithological Society's birding events.

Jean Alden
Jean Alden has been a volunteer with the Wildlife Department of the Erie Co. SPCA since 1998 and has been state licensed since 1999. Jean's involvement with wildlife rehabilitation began twelve years ago when she became a volunteer at the Buffalo Zoo working in the Rare and Nocturnal Mammal Department. In 2001 she completed the Bander's Training Course from the Braddock Bay Bird Observatory and in 2002 received her oil spill training certification. Jean has a BS degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina. Prior to her involvement in wildlife rehabilitation she was a teacher and assistant principal. Jean has a special interest in small mammals and waterfowl.

Sue Heighling
Sue’s appreciation for nature attracted her to the Erie County SPCA’s wildlife department nearly three years ago. Since that time, Sue has attended several NYSWRC seminars and has become a New York State Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator. Sue works several shifts per week at the SPCA Wildlife Department as a shift supervisor who assists and teaches other volunteers about wildlife care. Sue cares for a large variety of wild creatures but is particularly fond of small mammals. She has a knack for raising tiny mice that most find to be so challenging. Sue has recently completed a successful career in the real estate business so she can focus her time and energies on her family and wildlife work. Sue’s passions outside of wildlife rehab include nature photography and birding. Sue and her husband, Bob, are currently constructing their dream “home away from home” in northern Canada where they will be able to spend even more time communing with mother nature and all things wild.

Veronica Serwacki
Veronica Serwacki developed her love for animals, wild and domestic, in the country of her birthplace, Kenya, on the eastern coast of Africa, often spending her summer vacations on a coffee farm in Tanzania. She met Matthew Serwacki in Kenya after he served in the Peace Corps, Sierra Leone, West Africa. In 1976 they left Africa bound for the USA, arriving in Buffalo, New York, where Veronica was all excited about seeing snow for the very first time. She was, however, completely cured of her desire during the Blizzard of 1977!

Veronica currently works full time as Assistant to the Dean of Arts and Sciences at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. After obtaining her Class I Wildlife Rehabilitation license she joined the SPCA’s Wildlife department in 2003 as a Volunteer. Prior to that, in 1999, she joined Messinger Woods Wildlife Care and Education Center, as a volunteer for injured and recuperating wildlife. She is now a shift leader at both organizations, the SPCA and Messenger Woods, as well as a member of the Messenger Woods’ Management Team that collaborates on the operations for the Messinger Woods’ Wildlife Hospital in Holland, New York. She is also the editor and a writer for the Wildlife Messenger Newsletter.