Amy Creekmur joined Tropical Audubon Society in 2013, and quickly secured and implemented the 2013-2014 Toyota TogetherGreen Innovation Grant awarded to TAS for its significant South Florida conservation work. In addition to orchestrating monthly Steinberg Nature Center Volunteer Gardening Days and coordinating outreach events, Amy is presently shepherding the milestone 3-Phase restoration of our historic Doc Thomas House headquarters and facilitating the Steinberg Nature Center Master Plan.

From 2020 through present-day, Amy has been deeply engaged with the installation and upkeep of a suite of Bird-friendly Pollinator Demonstration Gardens that frame the 1932 cottage and border Sunset Drive. Oversight of the Pine Rockland and Hardwood Hammock Demonstration Forests also falls under her purview.

From fall through spring, Amy stewards an annual calendar of on-campus community events, including BEE-cause Flea, BIRD Day, Conservation Concerts, Movie Nite, the Go-Native Plant Sale and Walk in the Woods with Wine & Whisk. She additionally oversees onsite private events such as weddings, memorials and anniversary parties. The accredited Master Gardener finds the most joy, however, in nurturing the organization's diverse corps of grounds volunteers.

Prior to joining TAS, Amy was program coordinator for TREEmendous Miami, a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to building community pride via planting, protecting and preserving trees in Miami-Dade County. During her tenure there, she developed a lasting relationship with TAS and an abiding appreciation for its conservation Mission.

In addition to her TAS role, she often teaches as an adjunct professor at Miami International University of Art & Design where she graduated with an AA in Fashion Merchandising & Design when the university was known as International Fine Arts College.

Stephanie Clements, Ph.D., joined Tropical Audubon Society as Education & Advocacy Director in May 2022. She has been passionate about conservation of our natural world from a young age, and brings expertise in conservation biology, interpretive programming and environmental advocacy to our organization.

In her Education & Advocacy role, Stephanie stewards the flagship Tropical Audubon Ambassador Program, which transforms conservation-curious Miamians into pro-active environmental advocates. She also leads our youth education programming via our new Chirp! initiative, focused on providing  hands-on environmental learning opportunities to children from underserved communities. 

Stephanie strongly believes in connecting kids with nature from a young age, and enjoys developing interactive learning opportunities for South Florida families, including our society’s annual Bird Day.  

Stephanie received her Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Miami where her dissertation focused on conservation of reptiles and amphibians in human-modified landscapes in Miami and Costa Rica. She has authored ten scientific publications with more in the works. As part of her doctorate, Stephanie conducted extensive field work in local ecosystems, including Pine Rocklands, Hardwood Hammocks and the Everglades.

Originally from Pennsylvania, she received her B.S. in environmental science from Roanoke College in Virginia before moving to Miami for graduate school, where she was invested in scientific outreach programs with local youth. She also previously enjoyed tenures as an interpretive park ranger with the National Park Service, as a field manager with an environmental advocacy group, and multiple roles curating and facilitating educational materials for young learners.

Stephanie personally enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, spending time with friends and playing with her indoor cat.

Lauren Jonaitis joined Tropical Audubon Society in 2022 as Senior Conservation Director, and has been called on to focus her environmental expertise on expanding and amplifying the organization’s role and reach across South Florida. Her background includes science communication, environmental permitting/policy, land use planning and coastal ecology.

Previously, Lauren worked to reduce artificial light pollution impacts to sea turtles and their nesting habitat while employed with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in the Imperiled Species Management Section. She then moved to the private sector where she was an Environmental/Coastal Scientist, focusing on environmental permitting and dune restoration/maintenance efforts. Lauren currently serves as the Vice President of Policy of the Society of Conservation Biology North America (SCBNA), where she leverages the research and scientific expertise of the Society’s members to ensure that critical knowledge relating to the conservation of biological diversity is used by decision makers when shaping policies that affect the planet’s biodiversity. She also serves as the Communications Chair of SCBNA, where she focuses on broadening outreach to underrepresented groups in conservation, and actively works to engage groups that have been historically marginalized. She also serves as a Board Member for the Everglades Coalition, an alliance of nearly sixty local, state, and national conservation and environmental organizations dedicated to full restoration of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. Furthermore, she is a Steering Committee Member of the Biscayne Bay Marine Health Coalition, a coalition of volunteers working collaboratively with government agencies, academic institutions, businesses, nonprofits and individuals dedicated to advocating solutions for a healthy and resilient Biscayne Bay watershed.

Lauren received her bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the State University of New York at Oswego and an M.S. in Biology with a focus in Conservation Biology and Population Ecology from Bowling Green State University.

She enjoys anything to do with nature and wildlife, traveling, art, meditation, horseback riding, and currently resides in Downtown Miami, Florida.

Ana Lima formally landed in the Tropical Audubon Society nest in 2018, joining the staff as Communications Director. The Coconut Grove resident, birder and mother of two brings more than 20 years of communications field experience to the TAS table, along with a passion for environmental conservation.

Ana takes great joy in elevating the TAS profile across social and traditional media platforms. Her day-to-day duties include communications strategy, social media content, digital marketing, graphic design, event marketing, brand partnerships and creative content. Prior to accepting a staff role, the New Jersey native volunteered for 8 years in various capacities, including as an editor of the since sidelined print newsletter, as electronic content editor and as a Doc Thomas House docent.

Her extensive media background includes 12 years as a reporter at The Star-Ledger, New Jersey’s largest newspaper, and stints as a freelance journalist and public relations consultant. Ana's byline has appeared in the New York Post, Miami Herald, Ocean Drive Magazine and University of Miami Magazine. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Ramapo College and a master’s degree in Public Affairs Journalism from the University of Maryland.

Ana is a founding member of the Phoebes, an all-female South Florida birding group. In her spare time, she enjoys birding, kayaking and exploring Florida’s natural treasures with her family.

Banner photo: Anhinga by Leslie Stokes