Chris was born in Raleigh,West Virginia, into a family of wildlife conservationists and outdoorsmen. His grandfather and uncle introduced him to the outdoors, taking him hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, wildlife-viewing, and photography as well as many other outdoor activities which shaped and influence his life and view of the natural world.
Since his boyhood, Chris’ ambition and passion for the outdoors has resulted in his adopting an active lifestyle, including martial arts, weight-lifting, general fitness and body conditioning. Having earned black belts in Jiu-Jitsu, Shotokan Kenpo and Krav Maga, along with training in boxing and Muay Thai, Chris won the “Land of Legends” Martial arts tournament in 2002 in Cleveland, Ohio and originally considered a career as a martial arts instructor. However, as the computer job market was booming, he chose to attend DeVry University and studied computer engineering and network design/security instead. For two years, he operated his own business as an on-site computer technician and network technician. During this phase of his life, he also served as a technician for Apple Computer, learned some graphic design, and designed websites.
Even with an occupation in technical fields, his desire to work with wildlife continued unabated. Growing up, Chris was surrounded by animals, ranging from the domestic, dogs and cats to the more exotic, such as fish, and snakes. He discovered a love for snakes during outdoor adventures, encountering black ratsnakes, water snakes, garter snakes and other native species. Despite the fear that he noticed others had of snakes, Chris became only more intrigued by them. At the age of 16, he learned that he had a profound affinity for crocodilians because of a close, personal encounter with an American alligator. That alligator inspired him to found and develop the Ohio Reptile Service Reptile Rescue. Herpetology and herpetoculture have changed and influenced Chris’ life, ever since. Chris has worked hand-in-hand with state law enforcement and other agencies to help secure homes for released or illegal pets. Owners left with few options sought his help frequently to provide their animals with a new home, when they became incapable of caring for their pet. Chris has appeared on local and international news media and other interviews regarding problems with released “pet” alligators and various other reptiles that concern the general public.
Chris’ passion for his work has led him to pursue degrees in Biology and Biochemistry. In his studies and observations growing up, Chris has been mesmerized by the complexity of life on our planet, and the value of life on every scale.
Currently, Chris is partnered with Naturalist Israel Dupont on the crocodilian resource website; Crocodopolis: World of Crocodilians, and as coordinator of the Croc Rescue Network, which places and rescues crocodilians and other reptiles in qualified facilities. This experience has served to inspire new ideas and initiatives for him.
The successful launch of Crocodopolis and its popularity among crocodilian enthusiasts provided Chris with ideas of a new project, Earth’s Challenges. His ideas and plans for Earth’s Challenges remain under consideration. The future 501(c)3 non-profit organization is intended to educate and provide outreach to the general public regarding the value of wildlife conservation, the importance of biological diversity in our everyday lives, and to provide eye-opening videos, photos, and documentation upon many of the practices that threaten wildlife populations and the protection and sustainability of biological diversity across the world.
Chris’ efforts are aided by an extensive network of biologists, conservationists, and other professionals. Keeping a close connection to some of the top experts in various relevant fields has helped him to stay abreast of new or impending attacks on conservation initiatives, and the strategies that the conservation community intends to employ in defense of them.
Some of Chris’ primary goals are:
- Work to aid legislators in understanding how their choices can impact biological diversity
- Educate the public on practices that are more environmentally friendly, of benefit both now and for the future.
- Research new and more energy efficient practices to present to companies that can save them money, and allow them to be more environmentally friendly.
- Educate the public on the plight of many endangered species of fauna and flora, the chain reactions that their species loss might cause, and to inspire and encourage the public to help save these species.
- Work to get environmental studies an earlier in-road into primary education, so that students can be raised with an understanding of how the choices they make, can impact the environment
- Seek assistance for abused and neglected animals, and improve the captive welfare of many species of animals, domestic and exotic.
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