Shelby Ferrell Email and Phone Number

In my role as an Engagement Specialist at Foundation Center Midwest, I was in charge of managing various aspects of how our organization engages with the public - including our donors, our board, and our community. My duties included managing various social media accounts for the organization, creating and disseminating our regional newsletter, coordinating quarterly board meetings, collecting and submitting monthly/yearly data and statistics, and supporting programs and trainings.

In this position, I functioned as both a receptionist and an assistant. My receptionist duties included answering phones, scheduling appointments, greeting clients, and checking in/out patients. As an assistant, I utilized my animal care background to help vets and technicians in drawing blood, holding patients, dispensing medications, and answering client questions.

In this role, I worked in various animal contact areas to ensure both animal and guest safety, while delivering the Future For Wildlife mission message to our visitors. This position required me to utilize and improve my informal teaching, and public speaking skills. I also gained more experience in animal care, and animal handling. Examples of animal contact areas included : kangaroo/wallaby walk-about, giraffe feeding deck, seals and sea lions show, elephant crossing, and the lorikeet feeding area.

I recently completed a year of service with AmeriCorps, stationed at the American Red Cross. In my position, I supported the Regional Training Manager in developing programs aimed at improving community preparedness and education. My two programs of focus were the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign and the Pillowcase Project. Both programs required me to be involved in educating the community, both adults and children. It was also important for me to build relationships with community organizations such as schools and fire departments, as my position involved a lot of event planning with/for these community organizations. In addition to working with fellow Red Cross employees and the members of these community organizations, I also gained a lot of experience working with, and managing, a large volunteer workforce.

I recently completed a term of service as an AmeriCorps member at the American Red Cross. During this term of service, I assisted the Disaster Cycle Services team at the Northeastern Ohio Red Cross with growing their community preparedness and education programs.

During my time at Panera Bread, I held many positions including associate, certified trainer, certified store opener, catering assistant, and shift supervisor. In all of my roles, customer service was key. As I moved into roles with more responsibilities, I also became concerned with training and managing employees, hiring/interviewing, scheduling, and food costs.

At the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, I worked in various animal contact areas to ensure both animal and guest safety, while delivering conservation education messages to the visitors. This position encouraged me to utilize and improve my informal teaching, and public speaking skills. I also gained experience in animal care, and animal handling. Examples of animal contact areas included : giraffe feeding deck, reptile lab handling area, manatee coast, and the aquarium touch pool.