Speakers

Sam Jaffe is a New England-based naturalist, photographer, and educator who is an advocate of insects. In 2013 he founded The Caterpillar Lab a non-profit educational outreach organization in Marlborough NH. From this hub, he travels across the country working with universities, museums, botanic gardens, nature centers, and schools, sharing insect stories and nourishing public appreciation - taking the educational message on the road. He is also writing and illustrating a very in-depth book on the identification and natural history of native caterpillars. When he is not behind the camera or tending his zoo of caterpillars, Sam is outdoors, waist-deep in vegetation. 

Emma Jonas found her way to Lepidopterology while studying moths as prey resources for owls during her undergraduate degree. As a proud “crazy cat(erpillar) lady” she specializes in pupation behavior and physiology of burrowing species. Having recently completed her master’s degree in Entomology at the University of Delaware, Emma is devoted to science communication and environmental justice. Her work aims to dissolve anthropogenic boundaries by reviving the use of native plants as habitat and food sources for both humans and non-human species. She uses research and advocacy to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical, equity-focused community action.

Mary Posatko is an LA-based filmmaker and professor originally from Delaware. Mary has directed and produced award-winning films including TARGET ZERO, ALL FALL DOWN, and AIN’T IN IT FOR MY HEALTH:  A FILM ABOUT LEVON HELM.  Her most recent documentary, IN A WINTRY SEASON, had its world premiere at the Krakow Film Festival in May, 2024. Mary’s films have been screened theatrically and in US and international film festivals including SXSW, CPH:DOX, Maryland, Nashville, IDFA, and Gothenburg.  She is an alumna of IFP Spotlight on Documentaries, Good Pitch, and the Chicken & Egg Labs, and her films have received support from the San Diego State University Research Foundation, the IDA Pare Lorentz Award, Chicken & Egg, the San Francisco Film Society, and the Abell Foundation, among others. Mary moved to Los Angeles as an Americorps volunteer, working as a homeless intake counselor on LA’s Skid Row, before becoming a producer on KCRW and PRI’s TO THE POINT, WHICH WAY, LA?, and KCRW’s beloved GOOD FOOD. She received her BA in history from Brown University and her MFA from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. She is currently an Assistant Professor and the head of documentary film at San Diego State University.

Danae Wolfe is an award-winning conservation photographer, writer, educator, and TEDx speaker focused on fostering appreciation and stewardship of backyard bugs and wildlife. Ever the pragmatic, she believes that everyone has the power to make a difference in combating climate change and biodiversity loss. Through her community conservation initiative, Chasing Bugs, she has reached global audiences with science-based education about the importance of gardening for biodiversity and has inspired gardeners to appreciate the beauty of our natural world and embrace their role in its protection. Danae’s new book, Grass Isn’t Greener, will be published by Timber Press in May 2025.

Mary Lawrence and Ann Wegman are cousins who have been raising native silk moths together since 2009. Mary is a Licensed Massage Therapist and small business owner. She also teaches in her church’s children’s ministry, where her caterpillars and moths are frequent visitors to her classroom. Ann studied Zoology at Miami University and is the Animal Resources Coordinator at Cincinnati Museum Center. She raises caterpillars each summer, on display at the museum where visitors can observe and learn about native moths.

Leaders - Our 2025 leaders will continue to be added!

Kim Banks is a Mothapalooza veteran, helping with the event since its inception. She loves all animals, but she has two special passions – moths and bunnies!!  Spending summers deep in the Ozarks with no radio or television meant the insects drawn to the porch light was major entertainment, thus sparking a lifelong interest in moths.  As for bunnies…Kim cares for abandoned pet rabbits through the nonprofit Ohio House Rabbit Rescue.

Kelly Capuzzi is a fisheries biologist and water quality specialist with 30 years of experience in sampling lakes, streams, rivers and wetlands throughout the state of Ohio. Kelly has a BS in Zoology from The Ohio State University and is also an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist (OCVN) for the Hocking Hills region - volunteering for a number of nonprofit education and conservation nonprofits. Kelly’s latest obsession is learning about native bees and growing native plants for pollinators. 

Brent Charette was trained in forest resource management at Hocking Technical College. His first career was with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, working as a state-wide naturalist for the Division of Parks and Recreation. He eventually went on to serve as Park Manager at Malabar Farm State Park. Brent now works for the Arc of Appalachia in landscape care and restoration. As Nancy’s partner, the two of them enjoy hosting natural history events and courses at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary and, in their personal time, caring for one of the Sanctuary’s tracts of land known as Ridgeview Restoration Farm. Brent is one of those guys who seems to be able to do just about anything, but his greatest passions include nature interpretation, permaculture & forest gardening, native tree propagation, subsistence gardening, and hosting education programs for the Arc of Appalachia. He loves anything to do with trees, including growing edible mushrooms, carpentry, studying mycorrhizal associations, and teaching others how to learn and appreciate our native trees.

Elijah Crabtree is Land Manager for the Arc’s Tremper Mound Preserve in Scioto County. Elijah was born and raised in Ross County – the epicenter of Hopewell architecture – where he developed a passion for local cultural history, natural sciences and conservation work. He has a special interest in connecting people to the natural world and promoting historically significant sites as protected public domains for education and inspiration. Elijah is an excellent all-around naturalist and has a special passion, particularly for geology.

Ann Geise, a Cincinnati -based artist, has been drawing and studying nature her entire life. Her artistry leans toward the ecological - how local plants, animals, geology are all deeply inter-connected. After working in pharmaceutical research for several years, Ann's love of both nature and art converged and blossomed into full expression when she took a job at the Cincinnati Nature Center as Artist & Exhibits Manager. She stayed for 19 years - producing what is now Ann's signature art, Ann Geise Art

John Howard is a southern Ohio naturalist and biological field researcher. Exploring the treasures of Adams and Scioto Counties near his home, he has learned nearly all of the resident dragonflies, butterflies, vascular plants, birds, amphibians and reptiles in the region, and has a good understanding of just about everything else. John has a particular fondness for insects and herps. He is currently researching and working for the improved protection of Ohio's endangered timber rattlesnakes. 

Andrea Jaeger began working for the Arc in 2016 after moving back to Ohio from Chattanooga, TN where she first gained experience in nonprofit administration. She works alongside Arc director Nancy Stranahan on land acquisition, grant writing, and donor cultivation, and supports the Arc office team in providing educational opportunities and visitor services. In addition to their regular work responsibilities, Andrea and her husband Brit are caretakers of the Arc’s Tobacco Barn Hollow Preserve region.

Dave McShaffrey is a Professor of Biology, Environmental Science, and Leadership at Marietta College. He has worked extensively with the Ohio Odonata Society performing field work, museum research, and authoring 5 chapters for the 2002 book “Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ohio” (published by the Ohio Biological Survey) for which he served as co-editor. Dave's photographs are widely published, and he is currently working on a field guide to Ohio's Odonata.

Austin Newton is the Quiverheart Land Stewardship Manager with the Arc of Appalachia and is dedicated to preserving natural spaces and fostering sustainable practices. Raised in southern Ohio, his connection to the land drives both his work and personal life. Before this role, Austin served as a naturalist, connecting people to nature through education and exploration. A published poet and filmmaker, he uses art to share his love for the natural world in creative and offbeat ways. Austin’s approach to land stewardship combines practical care with a sense of wonder, making him both a protector and explorer of the landscapes he cherishes.

Shaun Pogacnik is a senior at Ohio University studying Plant Biology. Field botanists sometimes seem like a state-endangered species in Ohio, and Shaun's rising star in the botanical field is noticed by fellow conservationists and deeply valued. Shaun currently works part-time as a Field Botanist for the Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. Although Shaun holds broad interests in botany and general natural history, he specializes in the identification and ecology of mosses and lichens.

Tim Pohlar is a Regional Land Manager with the Arc of Appalachia and resides in the larger Sanctuary region on private land with his wife, Miriam, and two daughters, Rose and Quinn. Tim has been with the Arc since 2004, where he started as an intern, learning his trees and nature studies from the many great naturalists who were happy to mentor him. Tim took leave from the Arc for many years, when he moved with Miriam, to her parents’ organic dairy farm in Wisconsin, where he learned a boatload of practical skills. We are thrilled to have him back here with the Arc. Tim has a passion for sharing the beauty of nature with others and stewarding our natural lands.

Nora Steele is an artist and naturalist in the Hocking Hills area of Ohio. Her childhood curiosity about mythology led her to explore the outdoors, hoping to encounter the magical fairy folk. Instead, she discovered the captivating magic of nature itself, which she now brings to life through her digital illustrations. Nora's goal is to create art that educates and inspires others to appreciate the beauty of nature, emphasizing the importance of preserving our natural resources for future generations. Her work celebrates the region's flora and fauna, promoting both education and preservation while connecting people with nature through the power of Art.

Nancy Stranahan is the Director of the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System and was one of the non-profit’s founders back in 1995. Since that time, Nancy has organized the Arc’s expansion from zero acres to over 7000, founding over 20 new preserve regions in southern Ohio. Nancy previously worked for ODNR for ten years with Ohio State Parks as Chief Naturalist, and twenty years running a bakery, a soup & cafe, and international gift store in downtown Columbus known as Benevolence, promoting healthy and intentional food choices. Nancy not only loves preserving land, but she also has a passion for habitat restoration, and native plant propagation and re-introduction. Nancy LOVES teaching, learning, networking, and helping organize educational events such as Mothapalooza. 

Brit Wood grew up on the west side of Cincinnati constantly playing in nature. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the Ohio State University in the field of Astronomy. After college, he worked various jobs in Columbus and a wood shop in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 2016, Brit and his wife Andrea returned to Ohio and began working together at the Arc. He has used the opportunity to live and work in South Central Ohio to learn and love the diverse flora and fauna of its unique biome.