Shayla Scott
Shayla joined the Chimps, Inc team in March, 2010 as one of the primary caregivers, and also serves as Public Outreach Coordinator for the education program. Her desire to work with great apes stemmed from her deep appreciation for nature, which she acquired at the early age of 4. She's spent nearly all of her life studying the animal kingdom and remains passionate about educating others in wildlife conservation. Shayla earned her B.S. in Environmental Science/Wildlife Conservation & Resources from the University of Maryland and gained expertise by working with a wide array of native and exotic species. She began her career by volunteering at an exotic animal refuge in Pennsylvania, where she worked with spider monkeys, macaques, lions, tigers, bears, and exotic birds. While finishing her last 2 years in college, she worked as the Animal Care Coordinator for a nonprofit environmental group in Washington, D.C. There, she learned a great deal on how to create healthy habitats for a large variety of species outside of primates. In addition, Shayla also volunteered at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC as a Behavioral Monitor for the Free Range Golden Lion Tamerin Program. She completed her internship with the Great Ape Unit, where she assisted zookeepers with the daily care of Gorilla, Orangutan, Lemurs, Macaques, Siamangs, and Gibbons. Working alongside great apes at the National Zoo helped Shayla discover her niche: providing care for captive primates and also educating the public about the plights they face in the wild and captivity. Prior to Chimps, Inc, Shayla worked as a preschool teacher for children ages 2.5-5yrs. She is very grateful that her dreams have led her all the way across the country to a place where she can demonstrate her love and passion for chimpanzees. Originally a Midwestern native, Shayla graduated high school in Pennsylvania where her parents still live. In her spare time, she is an adventurous mountain climber and enjoys backpacking in the wilderness.
Andrea Menashe
Andrea Menashe began her career working with chimps at seventeen years old. She enrolled with Chimps Inc. as an intern, where her passion and love for chimpanzees would continue to grow over the years as a dedicated intern and volunteer. She graduated with a Bachelor in Psychology from Colorado State University. Continuing to pursue her career in animal behavior Andrea worked for a year at Guide Dogs for the Blind. Andrea continued to follow her passion for primates moving to Kentucky to work as a caretaker for the Primate Rescue Center, home to over 40 monkeys and 11 chimpanzees. Finding her way back to Oregon, Andrea continues to care for her oldest chimpanzee friends at Chimps Incorporated. Andrea is currently working on developing enrichment protocols for the sanctuary and an enrichment idea notebook for volunteers.
Allison Morgan
Allison graduated from Vassar College (in New York) with a degree in Neuroscience and Behavior in May 2011, eager to find a job working with animals. She has been a life long animal lover, initially limited to caring for gerbils (as many as 15 at once) growing up in New Hampshire. Primates have always been her primary fascination within the animal kingdom. She traveled to the Costa Rican rainforest in the summer of 2010 to attend a field primatology course and study capuchins, spider monkeys, and howler monkeys. This helped convince her to pursue a career in primatology, while also left her yearning to learn more about the primates that are our closest living relatives, chimpanzees. She first came to Chimps Inc as an intern in the fall of 2011 and never left, being hired as a caretaker in January 2012.
Marci Leitz - Administrative Assistant
Attended Oregon State University where she received a Bachelors of Art in Business Marketing. She began her career with the Walt Disney Corporation in marketing in Anaheim, which led her to an opportunity to work in Germany for a high tech company in International Marketing for the next eight years. Since returning from Germany she spent 7 years at Nike Inc where she learned her passion for community service. Marci moved her family to Central Oregon in 2009 and joined Chimps Inc. in February 2011 where she feels she truly can make a difference.
Chelsea Johnson
Chelsea Johnson began volunteering at Chimps Inc. when she was a senior in high school. Nearly 13 years later, she has been involved as a volunteer, caretaker and behaviorist with the chimpanzees, cats and other small animals that have been part of the sanctuary over the years. Her early experience with the chimps helped her gain admittance to Moorpark College's Exotic Animal Training and Management Program. There she learned every aspect of animal care and worked alongside a diverse group of animals including primates, exotic birds, big cats, canines, reptiles and hoofstock. After graduation she worked as a behavioral trainer with dolphins and birds of prey. After returning to Bend in 2004 to finish her Bachelor's degree, there hasn't been more than 2 weeks that have gone by without her being at the sanctuary to visit with her chimpanzee family. Last year she developed an animal husbandry training program for Chimps Inc. She and the other caretakers teach the chimpanzees to cooperatively participate in routine physicals and other valuable behaviors.
Marla O'Donnell
Born and raised in the Midwest, Marla has always been an advocate to abused and abandoned animals. Rescuing horses, dogs, cats, birds and whatever else needed a safe, loving home over the years. After graduating high school in Nevada, Marla pursued an academic career in Business and Marketing and later moved into Information Technology and Computer Services. She relocated to Central Oregon in 1999 with her husband, three children and family pets. Marla has worked with Chimps Inc since Feb 2005, first as a volunteer and later as an interim caregiver, fund raising committee member and events volunteer coordinator. She has personal and professional experience in Construction Management, Business Management, Computer Services, Real Estate and Marketing. "I believe that a true 'animal lover' is one who respects the animal in their natural environment. Extinct is forever; Endangered means there's still time. We must promote conservation through education."
Shayla joined the Chimps, Inc team in March, 2010 as one of the primary caregivers, and also serves as Public Outreach Coordinator for the education program. Her desire to work with great apes stemmed from her deep appreciation for nature, which she acquired at the early age of 4. She's spent nearly all of her life studying the animal kingdom and remains passionate about educating others in wildlife conservation. Shayla earned her B.S. in Environmental Science/Wildlife Conservation & Resources from the University of Maryland and gained expertise by working with a wide array of native and exotic species. She began her career by volunteering at an exotic animal refuge in Pennsylvania, where she worked with spider monkeys, macaques, lions, tigers, bears, and exotic birds. While finishing her last 2 years in college, she worked as the Animal Care Coordinator for a nonprofit environmental group in Washington, D.C. There, she learned a great deal on how to create healthy habitats for a large variety of species outside of primates. In addition, Shayla also volunteered at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC as a Behavioral Monitor for the Free Range Golden Lion Tamerin Program. She completed her internship with the Great Ape Unit, where she assisted zookeepers with the daily care of Gorilla, Orangutan, Lemurs, Macaques, Siamangs, and Gibbons. Working alongside great apes at the National Zoo helped Shayla discover her niche: providing care for captive primates and also educating the public about the plights they face in the wild and captivity. Prior to Chimps, Inc, Shayla worked as a preschool teacher for children ages 2.5-5yrs. She is very grateful that her dreams have led her all the way across the country to a place where she can demonstrate her love and passion for chimpanzees. Originally a Midwestern native, Shayla graduated high school in Pennsylvania where her parents still live. In her spare time, she is an adventurous mountain climber and enjoys backpacking in the wilderness.
Andrea Menashe began her career working with chimps at seventeen years old. She enrolled with Chimps Inc. as an intern, where her passion and love for chimpanzees would continue to grow over the years as a dedicated intern and volunteer. She graduated with a Bachelor in Psychology from Colorado State University. Continuing to pursue her career in animal behavior Andrea worked for a year at Guide Dogs for the Blind. Andrea continued to follow her passion for primates moving to Kentucky to work as a caretaker for the Primate Rescue Center, home to over 40 monkeys and 11 chimpanzees. Finding her way back to Oregon, Andrea continues to care for her oldest chimpanzee friends at Chimps Incorporated. Andrea is currently working on developing enrichment protocols for the sanctuary and an enrichment idea notebook for volunteers.
Allison graduated from Vassar College (in New York) with a degree in Neuroscience and Behavior in May 2011, eager to find a job working with animals. She has been a life long animal lover, initially limited to caring for gerbils (as many as 15 at once) growing up in New Hampshire. Primates have always been her primary fascination within the animal kingdom. She traveled to the Costa Rican rainforest in the summer of 2010 to attend a field primatology course and study capuchins, spider monkeys, and howler monkeys. This helped convince her to pursue a career in primatology, while also left her yearning to learn more about the primates that are our closest living relatives, chimpanzees. She first came to Chimps Inc as an intern in the fall of 2011 and never left, being hired as a caretaker in January 2012.
Marci Leitz - Administrative Assistant
Attended Oregon State University where she received a Bachelors of Art in Business Marketing. She began her career with the Walt Disney Corporation in marketing in Anaheim, which led her to an opportunity to work in Germany for a high tech company in International Marketing for the next eight years. Since returning from Germany she spent 7 years at Nike Inc where she learned her passion for community service. Marci moved her family to Central Oregon in 2009 and joined Chimps Inc. in February 2011 where she feels she truly can make a difference.
Chelsea Johnson
Chelsea Johnson began volunteering at Chimps Inc. when she was a senior in high school. Nearly 13 years later, she has been involved as a volunteer, caretaker and behaviorist with the chimpanzees, cats and other small animals that have been part of the sanctuary over the years. Her early experience with the chimps helped her gain admittance to Moorpark College's Exotic Animal Training and Management Program. There she learned every aspect of animal care and worked alongside a diverse group of animals including primates, exotic birds, big cats, canines, reptiles and hoofstock. After graduation she worked as a behavioral trainer with dolphins and birds of prey. After returning to Bend in 2004 to finish her Bachelor's degree, there hasn't been more than 2 weeks that have gone by without her being at the sanctuary to visit with her chimpanzee family. Last year she developed an animal husbandry training program for Chimps Inc. She and the other caretakers teach the chimpanzees to cooperatively participate in routine physicals and other valuable behaviors.
Born and raised in the Midwest, Marla has always been an advocate to abused and abandoned animals. Rescuing horses, dogs, cats, birds and whatever else needed a safe, loving home over the years. After graduating high school in Nevada, Marla pursued an academic career in Business and Marketing and later moved into Information Technology and Computer Services. She relocated to Central Oregon in 1999 with her husband, three children and family pets. Marla has worked with Chimps Inc since Feb 2005, first as a volunteer and later as an interim caregiver, fund raising committee member and events volunteer coordinator. She has personal and professional experience in Construction Management, Business Management, Computer Services, Real Estate and Marketing. "I believe that a true 'animal lover' is one who respects the animal in their natural environment. Extinct is forever; Endangered means there's still time. We must promote conservation through education."
