Nicole O'Brien,

Managing Director

Favorite Animal: Virginia Opossum

Favorite Plant: Sunshine Mimosa

What I Like Most About Working at ONP: The work I’m doing can make a difference in ensuring our amazing natural environment remains for future generations.

Nicole has been fascinated by the outdoors since she was little. She lived on a farm for a few years, participated in 4H and Girl Scouts. She became interested in the marine environment in high school, completing her SCUBA certification at 15 years old. After moving to central Florida, she took a more active interest in all of Florida’s natural environments, native plants and animals. She enjoys camping, hiking, and kayaking with her family and walking/biking the West Orange Trail. Nicole was the Volunteer and Wildlife Care Coordinator for the Preserve for 6 years before moving into the Managing Director position.

Nicole manages the daily operations, finances, marketing, fundraising and other general business for the Preserve.

Denise Byrne,

Grants & Fundraising Coordinator 

Favorite Animal: Panther

Favorite Flower: Passion Flower

What I Like Most About Working at ONP: The tranquility of the Preserve. 

Originally from Ireland, Denise found us as a student in the Florida Master Naturalist course held here in Fall 2015. Denise previously served as our Volunteer Coordinator, holds a degree in Marine Biology and is a certified SCUBA instructor. Before coming to the U.S., Denise spent two years working at an aquarium on the west coast of Ireland, studying the captive breeding of lobster and seahorses to replenish local decimated populations. Denise is also a feline rescue specialist and enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring both underwater and topside. She also loves photography, kayaking and hiking.

Denise helps coordinate our grants and fundraising events, manages the website and social media outlets, and is responsible for the trail cam and bird booth projects. 

Rachael Cravens,

Education & Program Coordinator

Favorite Animal: Skunk

Favorite Plant: Purple Passion Vine

What I Like Most About Working at ONP: The peace of the Preserve, and to see the wonder and joy on the faces of the families and students when they learn something new. 

Rachael was an opening cast member of Disney’s Animal Kingdom in animal programs and has also traveled the world as a corporate flight attendant. Upon discovering ONP she immediately felt at home and couldn’t wait to get involved!  Rachael’s passion is to inspire children to love and appreciate nature, and to encourage the teachable moments that children will retain and build upon. Rachael strongly believes that this younger generation will need to be leaders in preserving, restoring, and conserving our world.

Rachael has three wonderful kids with her husband, Richard. She is very involved in Girl Scouts as a troop leader.

Rachael develops curriculum and teaches our educational programs, as well as coordinates our programs, guest speakers, and workshops. Rachael is a Florida Master Naturalist Program instructor, Project Learning Tree facilitator, and USA Archery instructor.

Laura Scialabba, Educator

Favorite Animal: Alligator

Favorite Plant: Beautyberry

What I Like Most About Working at ONP: The wonderful staff, and the chance to foster a love of science and appreciation of nature in our future generations.

Laura moved back to Florida to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Florida. Following college, she worked for an engineering consulting company for 11 years. She traveled across the Eastern United States performing various environmental assessments, geologic surveys, soil and groundwater sampling, and wetlands identification and restoration. After starting a family, Laura stayed home with her children until they were both school-aged. One of her favorite parts about motherhood is observing her children’s boundless curiosity about the world around them, and taking the opportunity to explore and learn based on these interests. She returned to work when she realized she would have the opportunity to share her love of science and nature with many children, to help them explore and appreciate the natural world, and to ignite their passion to be tomorrow’s environmental stewards.

Laura develops educational curriculum and teaches our visiting classes and field trips.

Jenifer Odom, Educator

Favorite Animal: Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Favorite Plant: Indian Blanket

What I like best about working at ONP: The wonderful, family atmosphere the staff provides and the tranquility the Preserve provides.

Originally from NC, Jen landed in Florida when her husband accepted a job in Winter Garden.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from UNC- Wilmington.  She previously worked as an educator at the Jacksonville Zoo, the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, and the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.  After taking some time off from working to spend time with her daughter, she is thrilled to have landed at ONP!

Volunteering is something very important to her.  She feels that giving back, in some way, is just as valuable to the community as it is to yourself.  In college, she volunteered at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, where she quickly realized she has a love for teaching people about the natural world around them.  Over the years, Jen has also volunteered at the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter, served as a Sea Turtle volunteer and nest sitter, was a roving manatee volunteer at Blue Springs State Park, and has been a volunteer at Give Kids the World since 2015.

Jen teaches education programs for school groups and homeschoolers as well as develop programming for Saturdays at the Preserve.

Alecia Spence, Accountant

Favorite Animal: Cardinal

Favorite Flower: Azaleas

What I Like Most About Working at ONP: The amazing staff who all have a heart for preserving a bit of our natural habitat and educating the public, especially children, about the importance of understanding nature. 

Alecia was born in Orlando and has lived in West Orange County all of her life. She graduated from West Orange High School, received her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Florida Southern College and is a Certified Public Accountant. She has worked as an accountant for 31 years, 17 years as a Public Accountant. She has been married to her high school sweetheart, Rick, for 30 years, and they have been blessed with twins, Caleb and Cassandra. Alecia enjoys traveling, reading, movies and spending time with family and friends.

Alecia manages all aspects of ONP’s day-to-day bookkeeping and accounting processes, and maintains accounting procedures, policies and systems of internal controls to ensure the integrity of all financial systems.

Jackie Kaucher,

Volunteer Coordinator

Favorite Animal: Peregrine Falcon

Favorite Flower: Water Lily

What I Like Most About Working at ONP: Collaborating with the awesome staff and volunteers to educate locals and tourists alike about the importance of protecting Florida’s unique natural environments.

Born and raised in the Chicagoland suburbs, Jackie spent her childhood in nature preserves, kayaking, and foraging for wild berries. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Lewis University in Illinois. Early in her marriage, Jackie and her husband moved to Orlando where she worked at The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique as a Fairy Godmother in Training.  A few years later, her husband’s career moved them back to Illinois where Jackie spent 7 years in physical therapy administration.

Fate brought Jackie back to Central Florida in 2023 by way of her husband’s career once again. She quit her job and searched for a new career path. Sparked by her lifelong love of the natural world, she started taking Florida Master Naturalist classes and volunteering at Oakland Nature Preserve on the restoration team. She is currently a Florida Master Naturalist Land Steward and loves exploring every nook and cranny of Florida. When she’s not fighting the war on invasive plants, Jackie enjoys hiking, taking care of her carnivorous plants, and traveling the world.

Eric Rivera,

Wildlife and Outreach Specialist

Favorite Animal: 

Mustang

Favorite Flower: Stone Pine

What I Like Most About Working at ONP: It's a very welcoming place, and I love being able to help educate people about the world around them.

Since early childhood, Eric has always had an enthusiastic love for wildlife. Hailing from Orlando, FL, he was never far away from a good zoo and strived to have a career working with and educating about animals. His passion grew into a hobby, and from a young age Eric began keeping exotic animals, and has kept over 30 different species of reptiles amphibians, and invertebrates over the past 12 years, and currently breeds a handful of species as well. He also volunteered at the Central Florida Zoo during his middle and high school years, which introduced him to the educational side of wildlife, only furthering his passion.

Throughout his time keeping animals, Eric learned the ins and outs of captive husbandry of common and niche species. His knowledge led him to work at an exotic reptile shop for some time, gaining more experience learning about animal behavior, nutrition, and socialization training with advanced species of reptiles.

Favorite Animal: Nurse Shark

Favorite Plant: Pitcher Plant

What I like most about working at ONP: I love the property and wildlife that anyone can come and visit and see a glimpse into the beauty of wild Florida. Everyone at the preserve is very welcoming and knowledgeable and we all share a goal for promoting conservation and education.

Margaret grew up in the Orlando area and has always had a passion for learning about and protecting the natural world. She grew up kayaking, hiking, and exploring nature. Margaret obtained her Bachelors of Science in Marine and Aquatic Biology at the University of Central Florida. She spent a year conducting research in the UCF Electric Knifefish Lab studying the effects of salinity on electric organ discharge. She went on to capture and tag sharks and rays in the Gulf of Mexico to promote conservation efforts of imperiled species.

Margaret started her love for educating the public on ways they can help protect our world’s flora and fauna at her local Wilderness Preserve. She assisted with eco camps and outreach events while caring for the ambassador animals comprising over 25 species of reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. She also recently obtained her SSI Open Water Diving Certification. Before finding ONP Margaret also worked at Disney’s Animal Kingdom as a Wilderness Explorer educating and inspiring over 1000 guests a day. She finds working with groups of students and showcasing our native animals to be very rewarding.