Greta Wengert
Executive Director and Co-Founder
B.S. Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
M.S. Humboldt State University, College of Natural Resources, Wildlife Ecology
Ph.D. University of California at Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ecology
Dr. Greta Wengert co-founded the organization and leads on many projects, including IERC’s bobcat/ fisher spatial ecology, forensic identification of predators, and yellow-legged frog projects. Dr. Wengert also serves as IERC’s Public Information Officer and primary media contact.
Ivan Medel
Program Manager
B.A. University of California Los Angeles, College of Letters and Sciences
M.S. Humboldt State University, College of Natural Resources, Watershed Management
Ivan works as a Program Manager with IERC joining the team in November 2017. Ivan leads multiple projects within our Cannabis and Environmental Science program. Prior to IERC, he worked as the Watershed Programs Manager for the Santa Monica Bay National Estuary Program managing environmental monitoring, data analysis, and technical reporting efforts for numerous southern California restoration projects. In his free time, Ivan likes to go on runs, listen to music, and cook.
Vitek Jirinec
Research Scientist
B.S. Humboldt State University, College of Natural Resources & Sciences, Wildlife Ecology
M.S. College of William & Mary, School of Arts & Sciences, Biology
Ph.D. Louisiana State University, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Vitek Jirinec is an ecologist specializing in movement ecology, habitat use, and how species respond to environmental change. He has worked extensively in the Amazon, where his research has shown that even pristine rainforests are not immune to climate change, with birds adapting through shifts in body size and community composition. He has also studied bird migration, urban raptor ecology, and tracking methods for small birds. Since joining IERC in 2021, he has led research on a range of topics, including the effects of Barred Owls on the ecosystems of northwestern California. When he’s not in the field or behind a computer, Vitek can usually be found mountain biking, jogging, or backpacking—preferably somewhere off the grid.
Christina Varian
Research Scientist
B.S. Humboldt State University, Wildlife Biology and Vertebrate Ecology
Ph.D. University of Georgia, School of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Biomedical Science.
Christina is a disease ecologist, her latest research focused on multi-host vector-borne disease ecology using Chagas disease in central Panama as a study system. While in Panama, she also specialized in invertebrate taxonomy and studied changes in food web dynamics and community interactions in response to gradients of deforestation. Her current research interests include general disease ecology questions and wildlife health across a variety of taxa. In her spare time, Christina enjoys playing soccer, acrobatic pole dancing, fishing, and adventurous eating.
Jenna Hatfield
Environmental Project Specialist
B.S. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, College of Science and Mathematics
Jenna received her B.S. degree with a concentration in Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation. For the past few years Jenna has been participating in wildlife research throughout the US ranging from South Texas raptors to Catalina Island foxes. She is inherently interested in landscape scale conservation, interspecies relationships, and behavioral ecology. In Jenna’s free time she enjoys cooking, birding, building community, backpacking and anything in the sun.
Jon Tenberge
Ecological Project Specialist
B.S. Humboldt State University, Wildlife – Conservation Biology and Applied Vertebrate Ecology
Jon Tenberge is a versatile professional with a B.S. in Conservation Biology from Humboldt State University. His expertise spans the field of ornithology. This includes the study of birds in montane wilderness areas, working at bird banding labs, and exploring remote sensing methods with drone technology. Jon brings a diverse skill set to his work. His professional background also includes careers in automotive technology and finish carpentry. Outside the office, he enjoys mountain biking, fishing, hunting, and woodworking.
Dan Giovanelli B.S.
Field Ecologist
Dan received his B.S. in Biology from Humboldt State University. His interests lie mainly in the field of herpetology, but he enjoys the entire tangled web of life and the interconnectedness of it all. He also has a B.F.A in photography from the San Francisco Art Institute and is a passionate film photographer. When not working in the field, Dan enjoys hiking with his dog, camping, exploring, stargazing, thinking about the universe, and photographing plants
Finn Younger B.S.
Barred Owl Field Intern
Finn Younger, a recipient of IERC’s Gateway Science Internship Program, is a recent graduate from Cal Poly Humboldt with a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation Management. They have a professional background in childcare, child development, teaching, and assisting with mammalogy lab review preparation. They couldn’t be more excited about the work they are doing with Barred Owl research and all the knowledge and skills they are gaining from this internship. Outside of IERC, Finn spends their time juggling, fire dancing, hiking, biking, and slacklining.
Paul Rinzler B.S.
Ecological Technician
Paul is originally from New York and received a B.A. in Biology from Hamilton College. He has spent the past couple years working on various wildlife projects throughout the west, including prairie dog management in Utah and avian research in Nevada. At IERC, he primarily works on the recovery monitoring project but is excited to be helping out with a variety of field efforts. In Paul’s free time, he enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and wildlife photography.
Emily Mora
Barred Owl Field Intern
Emily is currently attending Cal Poly Humboldt and will graduate in the Spring of 2025 with a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation and Management. She has a background in law enforcement and public outreach and is thrilled to be gaining wildlife field experience. Emily has a special interest in herpetofauna and in her free time she enjoys herping, roller skating, and wildlife photography.
Pamela Conn M.B.A
Bookkeeper
Pam recently joined the IERC to assist with accounting and grant management. She is a graduate from Humboldt State University and holds a BS in Wildlife with an emphasis in Conservation Biology and Applied Vertebrate Ecology, and an MBA coupled with a Certificate of Study in Natural Resource Policy & Administration. Over the past ten years, she has worked for several non-profit organizations within Humboldt County and has experience managing large government contracts and private grants. Guilty of raptor rapture, Pam has participated in various research projects on birds of prey within northern CA. In her free time, she enjoys boxing, drag racing, fishing, kayaking, and is interested in pursuing the sport of falconry and therapy dog certification.
Brittany Foster
Office Manager
Brittany joined our team to handle the day-to-day operations of the business. She graduated from Walla Walla Community College with an AAAS in accounting and a certificate of business management. Born and raised in northern Oregon, she has a deep appreciation for our forests and wildlife, and is proud to play a small part in the preservation and conservation of California’s unique ecosystems. Brittany’s hobbies include cooking, house-plant rescue, and being an active new mom.