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Gail has worked extensively with architects and zoo exhibit designers, providing animal care and display criteria and input to all phases of the design process. She also conducts facility and animal management assessments and provides recommendations to address institutional objectives and problem situations.

Throughout Gail’s career as founder of AE, she has been a passionate advocate for animals. Gail has personally worked with over 100 elephants in zoos, sanctuaries, rescue centers, and elephant camps, converting traditional systems to protected contact. Gail’s dedication to enhancing animal welfare has led to collaborations with a wide spectrum of organizations including animal welfare groups in multiple countries. She joined with these groups in actively speaking out against abusive traditional training practices, the use of the bull hook, and the cruel realities of circus life for elephants and other animals.

Gail was an active member of the International Marine Animal Trainers Association for many years. She then joined the American Zoo Association and co-developed and taught the first Principles of Elephant Management course. She served as an advisor to the Elephant Taxon Advisory Group and the AZA Animal Welfare Group, and as a member of the Behavior Husbandry Advisory Group and Bear Taxon Advisory Group.

Gail is a co-founder of Ocean Adventure, an open-water marine park in Subic Bay. She is also president of Wildlife in Need, a US-based non-profit and sister organization to AE that operates the WIN Rescue Center in the Subic Bay Forest Reserve. She is currently Vice President of Animal Presentations at Wildlife Reserves Singapore where she oversees an array of animal programs and presentations in all four parks and leads the development of an organization-wide behavior management program for all animals.

Together they have developed and provided training on a broad level with Training and Enrichment for Zoo and Aquarium Animals as well as more specifically focused workshops that center around the needs of taxonomic groups such as elephants and primates. Margaret has worked extensively with elephants providing for their daily care using Protected Contact management, assisting facilities with all facets of PC program development and implementation, and teaching workshops on topics including PC management, facility design, foot care, geriatric care and transports. In addition to her consulting business, Margaret serves as the Behavioral Management Coordinator for the Oakland Zoo, and has recently taken on an exciting new role as Executive Director for Wild Welfare US, a non-profit charity focused on improving animal welfare. Wild Welfare US works internationally to form partnerships and build capacity with the focus of creating positive welfare change through improved practices and a deepening understanding of what animals need to thrive.

Valerie served on the International Conference on Environmental Enrichment Committee since 1997 and was a founding Director of the Bear Care Group, serving on the Board for several years. Valerie holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology (Zoology emphasis) from San Diego State University and an Associate Degree as a Veterinary Technician from State University of New York—Delhi.

Valerie has been working with AE in the development and presentation of training and enrichment workshops for many years. It is the mutual personal and professional dedication to enhancing animal welfare that brought Gail, Margaret, and Valerie together. It is that synergy that motivates their continuing efforts and expands and sustains the successes they achieve.