Teton Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (TWRC), organized in 2014, was established as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in 2015 and incorporated in May of that year. Accordingly, TWRC possesses all necessary wildlife rehabilitation permits from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.
To date TWRC has engaged with other local organizations and participated in public events to raise public awareness of our mission and emphasize its importance. TWRC has raised money from state and federal grants and private donors. |
Meet Our Board!
Tom Combs - Board ChairTom's involvement with TWRC started in 2017 as a volunteer who helped with some of the initial construction of the waterfowl and small mammal pond rehabilitation areas. He was trained by the
wildlife rehabilitation specialists the organization had to assist in the rehabilitation of small mammals and birds, continuing that volunteer work today. In early 2022, Tom became the Chair of the Board of Directors to create a new trajectory for the organization and to bring the vision of its founders to reality. "We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, with some of the most amazing wildlife earth has to offer. I feel we have a duty to help those wild creatures who are orphaned, injured, or ill due to human causes which is why TWRC's mission is so important to our community," Tom says. Tom brings his experience as a board member Emeritus from the Community Resource Center of Teton Valley, and a volunteer with many other local non-profit organizations in Teton Valley. Tom has been in Teton Valley with his wife, Kristin (also a wildlife rehabber!) since 2005. They live here with their two beautiful children and Corgi. Sylvia MedinaMs. Sylvia Medina is the President and CEO of Green Kids Club, Inc. Green Kids Club specializes in writing children’s books related to Environmental Stewardship and learning concepts for children (www.greenkidsclub.com). Green Kids has won several book awards from various groups including Dr. Toy, Parents Choice, Tillywig and the 2021 Book Excellence Award for Grizzly 399 and A Tail of Three Lions, Maincrest Media Book Award 2023 for Gorilla’s Roar, and Skipping Stones award for Hope for Kareem the Brave Chimp (2023).
Ms. Medina was also past president and owner of North Wind, Inc. an Environmental engineering, and construction company. The company grew to over 450 employees, 16 offices around the country, with a revenue of over $123M per year. In 2009, Ms. Medina sold North Wind to Cook Inlet Regional Incorporation (CIRI). She is also heading Emerald Springs Consulting where she supports other entrepreneurs sell their businesses. In addition to her work in the environmental industry, she is co-chairman at White Pine Charter School in Idaho Falls, past board member and chairman of Holy Rosary Elementary School, Founder of the Snake River Animal Shelter in Idaho Falls, past Board Member of The Art Museum, and the Montana Outdoor Legacy Foundation, and is member of several organizations including: Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women. In 2016 she also received Idaho’s Hometown Hero Medal given to 9 individuals per year throughout the state of Idaho and in 2022 Women of Influence Award (Idaho). She is also an accomplished Jewelry Artisan (Sylvia Medina Jewelry). She supports various NGO’s including Elephants without Borders (EWB), based in Botswana, Africa, Saving the Survivor, Orang Utan Republik Foundation, Save Elephant Foundation, the Rhino Orphanage, Blood Lions, Project Chimps, Cougar Fund as some examples. She writes books with the organizations dealing with issues related to environmental habitat or animal stories. Sylvia is currently writing a book with Save Elephant Foundation and Lek Chailert a significant champion of captive Asian Elephants, Elephants Without Borders dealing with reducing Human Elephant Conflict, Learning About Grizzlies, and a book on Global Warming. Future projects include a book on a Yellowstone Wolf, and Saving Skali – a captive orca. In 2020, Sylvia wrote a book, Grizzly 399, where she worked with Thomas Mangelsen a world renowned Wildlife photographer detailing the life of Grizzly 399 and her 3 cubs (book came out before it was known she was coming out with 4 cubs). She also wrote a book with Grizzly 399 and the fun of being in a den with 5 cubs during the winter. A follow-on book is highlighted 399 and her 4 cubs and the issues surrounding impacts of man on grizzly bears. Sylvia is also launching animations through her company, Code Green, LLC. She currently has 3 animations under consideration by major production companies and is also working with writers for a Middle-School book series. She has also started a non-profit, Love the Wild Foundation, the non-profit arm to Green Kids Club. Here environmental educational initiatives are the focus to children and their families. To date, she has been able to sponsor a class to the Teton Science School – where children from various ethnicities have been able to enjoy the wild in the National Park. She has donated books to several organizations and schools. On a personal note, Sylvia is the mother of 16 year old twins and an 13 year old boy. She is married and both her husband and her enjoy going on international travel together as they can. Sylvia loves to hike, wildlife photography (she is just learning), and also go looking for grizzly bears in the greater Yellowstone Ecosystem! |
Suzi WoodwardSuzi Woodward is CEO and founder of The Hole Shebang Inc. and owns and operates SUBA Piercing and Fine Jewelry in Driggs, Idaho. She came to Victor, Idaho from NYC in 1987 and lived on her parents ranch, The Painted Apple. Her job was to take care of the animals: horses, goats, ducks, cats and dogs. “I've always loved animals but as a city kid this was my first close contact with farm animals. The experience solidified my love for our fur bearing and feathered friends.” she says. Suzi moved over the pass to Wyoming a year later. While in Jackson, she worked various service industry jobs. During that time, she began as a night shift Radio DJ at KMTM and eventually landed her own weekly Friday night prime time show where she chose the programming. Her show “The Core” ran for 4 years. During her time there she also provided voice over work for many of the stations advertising commercials. Suzi began working at Mountunes record store in 1994 and eventually purchased it from the previous owner six years later. At the time, we were all still advertising in print. Due to necessity, Suzi became proficient in Photoshop, Video editing and graphic design. Over time Suzi saw the need, and expanded adding an espresso and internet cafe.
In 1995 she and a few friends, bored with the nightlife in Jackson, created a production company which put on night club events for the next 6 years at various locations in Jackson. Suzi provided coordination of the events, securing locations, negotiating contracts, obtaining the necessary permits, theme design and creation as well as advertising and promotion. After getting married in 1999, she became a special events coordinator, began her own LLC and organized many local events, conferences and weddings. Suzi and her husband moved to Victor in 2003 and in 2009, closed their Jackson business (as record stores and internet cafe's had quickly become a thing of the past) and began the retail location of SUBA Body Arts, Boutique and Espresso Cafe in Victor. During 13 yrs in business there, they sponsored, through donations, many local fund raising events. In 2021 she downsized and morphed her business, once again. She sold her old building moved to a private studio and SUBA became a luxury, appointment only, fine jewelry and piercing studio and added an online store which ships nationwide and to Canada. Mamma always said...“work smarter, not harder” Suzi joked. “I always felt it was important to give back to, support, and be a part of the community in a meaningful way. I feel our community is a compassionate one, full of people who are ready to lend a hand and willing to help out a good cause. I see so much potential for the services and education a wildlife rehab facility provides our community and beyond. I feel an organization such as this is so needed in this area. It benefits humans as well as wildlife. I love being of service and helping move TWRC forward as it grows is a great way to express that. Thanks for letting me be a part of it." Andrew PerezAndrew grew up in the Boston suburbs. A curiosity and passion for learning drove him to biochemistry and computational analytics in school. After a brief stint scaling bio-manufacturing processes, Andrew dove into the world of consulting.
A job offer at a boutique management consulting firm in the Northeast brought Andrew into the world of business and finance. Within a year at the firm Andrew was managing a team of consultants & analysts, in addition to a separate team of software engineers catering to a clientele of Fortune 100 companies, investment banks, start-ups and venture capital firms. |
One of our major goals is to create a grassroots movement that appreciates “wild Idaho” at its very door.
We have a burgeoning local volunteer workforce of friends of TWRC who donate their time and expertise for the benefit of the center. This cadre of amazing volunteers helps with animal care, construction of new facilities as well as the organization of TWRC related events and fundraising. Without their help, TWRC would not have the ability to accomplish its goals.
We have a burgeoning local volunteer workforce of friends of TWRC who donate their time and expertise for the benefit of the center. This cadre of amazing volunteers helps with animal care, construction of new facilities as well as the organization of TWRC related events and fundraising. Without their help, TWRC would not have the ability to accomplish its goals.