Staff and Facility
Meet the Suncoast Team
Planning a trip to Suncoast Youth Conservation Center or getting ready for an exciting week of summer camp? Meet the team ahead of time!
Callie Shaffer
Director
Callie grew up in Christmas, FL, exploring the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) and the St. Johns River. Nestled between the Kennedy Space Center and Downtown Orlando, she grew up on a farm and was fond of her rural home, the beach, and life in the city. She has always held a passion for the conservation of wildlife and our natural spaces. Callie holds a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies: Behavioral & Social Sciences: Public Affairs with a minor in Environmental Studies from the University of Central Florida. Callie began her career with FWC in 2023 as the Director of Tenoroc Youth Conservation Center in Lakeland. She has since transitioned to Director of Suncoast Youth Conservation Center which aligns with her experience with estuarine systems. Before joining FWC, Callie served as the Conservation Outreach Coordinator at Brevard Zoo, working to restore living shorelines in the IRL. She has also volunteered with FWC’s Manatee Program and Canaveral National Seashore and worked to rehabilitate sea turtles at Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center. She loves fostering connections between communities and the environment, helping people build an investment in the world around us. Outside of work, Callie can be found fishing, kayaking, and traveling to new places.
Alexis (Lexie) Kemp
Assistant Director
Lexie grew up in New York and spent her summers from ages 12-21 at a sleepaway camp in New Hampshire. It was here that Lexie discovered her love of the outdoors through kayaking, swimming, catching frogs, and hiking. Lexie went on to get a B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, an MPS in Fisheries Management and Conservation from the University of Miami. She also did a six-month stint at the University of Southampton’s National Oceanographic Centre in Southampton, U.K.! After grad school, Lexie interned with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Maryland, where she worked in public engagement and environmental education. After her internship, Lexie moved to D.C., where she worked full-time for the Smithsonian as the program manager of Earth Optimism Youth Action and Leadership (EOYAL). This program, in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), took Lexie all around the country, where she taught high schoolers about environmental science, and helped them create seed-funded action projects to implement in their schools and communities. Lexie is a passionate educator and now, at SYCC, Lexie enjoys being able to share her love for marine life with children and the general public. Lexie enjoys working with volunteers, building partnerships, and engaging with stakeholders. When Lexie’s not at work, she can be found reading, taking walks with her dog, or hanging out at the beach. Lexie’s favorite animals are sharks and frogs!
Alexandria (Alexx) Bishop
Education Specialist
Originally from Mansfield, Ohio, Alexx moved to Florida in 2014 and began volunteering in marine mammal husbandry, environmental education, and aquarium maintenance. She holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of South Florida with a concentration in tropical marine ecology and has conducted field research as a NOAA scientific diver in Curaçao. Alexx joined the Suncoast Youth Conservation Center in 2022, where she uses her creativity, scientific training, and certifications in kayaking, archery, and interpretive guidance to promote responsible recreation and conservation-focused stewardship. In addition to her career, she is a freelance mixed media artist with a particular interest in oil painting.
Julie Alberts
Education Specialist
Julie was born and raised in Tampa and has been working as an Ed Specialist at SYCC since March of 2022. She has a B.S. in Environmental Science from Florida State University and a MPS in Marine Conservation from the University of Miami. Her thesis work focused on documenting shark and ray ecology in South Africa, and she still considers living and working there to be one of the coolest experiences she’s ever had. Aside from just loving the ocean, Julie has many hobbies. She loves going to the movies, watching sports, and can typically be found either reading a book or playing board games in her free time.
Jacqueline VanEyk
Education Specialist
Jacqueline has a passion for all things marine science and conservation. She is a Tampa native but spent most of her childhood and free time in Weeki Wachee, FL, where she found her love for nature through scalloping and fishing with her family. While working on her B.S. in Marine Biology at USF, she joined SYCC in the summer of 2021 as a camp counselor. After working two summers as a counselor and completing her degree, she joined the team full-time. Through working at SYCC, she has found a passion for sharing her knowledge of Florida's natural environment with the next generation. When she's not educating, Jacqueline enjoys scuba diving, spearfishing, and spending time on the water with family and friends.
Yatska Valentin
Project WILD Coordinator
Yatska was born in Puerto Rico and has lived in Tampa for the last twenty years. Prior to joining FYCCN, she was a Park Ranger with the Florida State Parks. She joined FYCCN in 2022 as a Bilingual Education Specialist for the Suncoast Youth Conservation Center and transitioned to the Florida Project WILD coordinator as of November 2024. Yatska holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Universidad Metropolitana and a Master of Science in Environmental Education from Nova Southeastern University. Yatska loves spending time with her daughter Marah Jade and her dog Mimi. Yatska is also a certified wildland firefighter who loves to raise native plants in her garden, specifically milkweed, to attract more butterflies. Yatska is also a lover of music and stand-up comedy and takes her daughter along for concert adventures.
Jason Chilson
Facility Manager
Jason has a degree in Park Management and Conservation from Kansas State University. Prior to joining the FWC as a Facilities Manager, he worked in county parks for 14 years. Jason has a background in land management, including a certification in prescribed burning and chainsaw operations. Currently, he utilizes his various skills in a variety of trades to keep the Apollo Beach site operating safely. Outside of work, Jason enjoys paddle boarding and snorkeling. Jason and his wife have two boys that keep them busy. He has a love for traveling, especially to small walkable towns like Mt. Dora and Amelia Island.
Aaron Quitugua
Facility Services Specialist
Aaron served in the United States Air Force for 20 years then transitioned to a career in Law Enforcement. After retiring, he decided to change his career path. Aaron received an Electrical and HVAC diploma from Southern Technical College, which in turn, led him to a role in Facilities Management. Fun fact: While on a deployment mission in Sicily, Italy, Aaron once snowboarded down Mt. Etna, an active volcano.
Suncoast Youth Conservation Center
6650 Dickman Rd. | Apollo Beach, FL 33572
(813) 922-7961 | Suncoast@MyFWC.com
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