Thomas Funke Email & Phone Number

United Arab Emirates

I am responsible for the overall, day-to-day management of education programming consisting of 50+ staff and a budget of 8.5M AED (USD 2.1M). SeaWorld Abu Dhabi opened in May of 2023 & and I have been charged with building our onsite conservation education programming and conservation outreach to schools & community. We are currently in the implementation phase. We have already launched and are now running our guest experience programs which include VIP tours, behind-the-scenes, and interpretation throughout the park. Our Yas Island Research and Rescue Center is a center for research, wildlife rescue & and rehabilitation of Arabian Gulf wildlife. I currently lead the team in the building, implementation, and delivery of dry lab and wet laboratory Marine Biology programming to upper elementary through college age. Our conservation outreach includes beach cleanups & and supporting our research, rescue, and even public relations teams in their activities out in the community.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

Seems everyone has their "Covid story"....and this is mine! Government shutdowns due to COVID caused my Trailspotters business to fold & and I took a position with Amazon until my next adventure started at SeaWorld. I started in inbound stow and was eventually entrusted to be a Process Guide and then a Learning Ambassador. I was eventually promoted to Process Assistant in my short tenure. Even before my first promotion, I was trusted to fill in and manage entire teams, of up to 175 employees. Amazon recognized my leadership talents and put me to task. Although this was admittedly a transitionary time in my career, it was an amazing experience with some amazing leaders.

Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan Area

Owner & and operator of an outfitting business serving hikers, canoers & and kayakers. Frequent travel in remote locations to serve customers with their outfitting needs. Own and operated (now delegated) vacation rental properties.At the peak of our season, I'd have 25 employees that I was managing in two regional locations (Michigan's Upper Peninsula & and Southwest Michigan). Yearly Gross Revenue was $175,000-200,000 across several platforms.Platforms (business centers) included Tahqua Trekker, a hiker and backpacker shuttle & and an outfitting service operating in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Upper Peninsula Outfitters, outfitting hikers, canoers, kayakers, and backpackers in the central Upper Peninsula. We served Pictured Rocks, sea kayakers on Lake Superior, and the North Country Trail.Pictured Rocks Lodge, own and manage two vacation rental units and small private camping experiences in Germfask. Fort Custer Outfitters, a state park concession operating at Fort Custer Recreation Area in Augusta (Battle Creek-Kalamazoo) offering canoe and kayak rentals, shuttling on the Kalamazoo River and North Country Trail, along with equipment rental, food service, and a campground store.

Paw Paw, Mi

Contract biologist. Wetland determinations & delineations, Endangered species surveys, biological determinations, & Phase I walkthroughs.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

In my off-season from my Trailspotting business, I worked for Cabela's as the retail sales lead in the Camping & Backpacking department.

Hastings, Mi

Resident Manager of a 120-acre bird sanctuary in Barry County, Michigan. Duties included community relations, habitat management, and organizing events & and programs.As the onsite manager, I coordinated with ecological services contractors like burn crews, planting crews, forestry, etc., to manage the property for bird conservation.Started the first-ever membership program for a Michigan Audubon Bird Sanctuary which led to nurturing relationships with donors & and fundraising to support the operations and capital projects of the sanctuary. I would secure grants from private donors, foundations, and government agencies for capital projects. Projects included the restoration of a Sears & Roebuck barn to be used as a small interpretive center, the rehabilitation of an early 20th-century farmhouse, and the construction of trails and wetland boardwalks.

Lansing, Michigan Area

Responsible for the management and conservation of 20 bird sanctuaries, bird monitoring, and bird conservation programs.I was hired in as the first conservation director as the organization was transitioning from a volunteer led to a staff led company. Working with the interim director, we restructured the entire organization to make it in line with a functioning chain of command, processes, systems and accountabilities. Worked closely with state and federal agencies in bird conservation, most notably the recruitment, training, and vetting of volunteers to collect data for bird conservation. Monitoring programs included Piping Plover, Kirtland Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Henslow's Sparrow, and Sandhill Cranes along with several other programs.Complied and implemented 20 Conservation Management Plans for all of Michigan Audubon's Bird Sanctuaries statewide.Hired, trained, and supervised volunteer sanctuary stewards, and sanctuary managers, monitoring volunteers, along with part-time and full-time staff in the course of their duties. Financial management of three different conservation funds totaling over USD 1M.

Battle Creek, Mi

Conservation Education Programming for an internationally recognized (WAZA) and AZA accredited zoological park. I started as an education intern coordinating special events, then progressed my way to Education Specialist (1991-1993); Head Education Specialist (1993-2002); Education Curator (2002-2003); and then Director of Conservation Education (2003-2007)As Conservation Director, I directly supervised one manager and 4-6 program managers in the course of their duties. Binder Park Zoo was the statewide leader in overnight programming and had a robust school program, outreach, and camp program. I oversaw a budget of $750,000. I frequently acted as acting Zoo Director in the absence of our CEO. I was the named successor of the CEO in case of emergency.

Battle Creek, Michigan, United States

Environmental Science, Field Biology, Introduction to Biology

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Fry daddy, driver, sous chef, taco slinger...whatever needed to be done!