Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife

As Executive Director, Alison Charney Hussey works with the Board of Directors, the Hospital and Visitor Education Staff, the wonderful volunteers, and the community in an effort to further CROW’s mission. Overseeing the day-to-day operations of the CROW campus as well as involving herself in community outreach, she works to create a sense of collaboration and attitude of teamwork throughout the organization, the donors, and community partners.

A lifelong resident of Lee County, Alison brings her professional and legal background with her to CROW. Prior to her career at CROW, Alison was a partner at Pavese Law Firm serving in the LaBelle and Cape Coral offices. She is also a Supreme Court Certified Circuit and Family Mediator and has helped resolve disputes for more than a decade. She earned her law degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University and her undergraduate degree from Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. Alison brings enthusiasm to her role as a teambuilder, manager, fundraiser, and animal lover. She is proud to both lead and serve with the professionals at CROW to promote and educate the local and global communities in order to protect, heal, and conserve wildlife.

Michelle Menendez joined the CROW team in May of 2021. As the Director of Operations and Human Resources, Michelle is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the daily administrative and HR functions of the CROW organization. Michelle earned her undergraduate  degree in Business Administration from the University of North Florida and is an active member of SHRM, the Society of Human Resource Management. Michelle’s diverse experience and global sourcing background as a former product designer in the home textiles industry brings a creative and unique perspective to her role here at CROW.

Michelle is a native Floridian and is also a Sanibel Island resident. Her childhood was spent locally on the beaches of Ft Myers, Sanibel, and Captiva. Michelle is an avid tourist and local attractions advocate. Her love for our barrier island embraces our tropical environment as well as our native wildlife. Her passion for our local community is undeniably her first and foremost priority.

Grace Murphy joined the CROW team in January 2024 as the Director of Development and oversees fundraising efforts for the organization. Grace recently moved from Atlanta, GA where she was born and raised – only leaving to go to college in Alabama. She has over 20 years in non-profit, mainly in the animal rescue industry, and she’s excited to learn more about wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.

Grace grew up visiting Sanibel in the summers since she was 6 years old, and is now not only an employee of CROW, but is also active in the community including being a member of the Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club. Grace is passionate about animal welfare and has three rescue dogs and a retired service dog. When she is not working hard to save wildlife, you can find Grace spending time and shelling with her husband and daughter on the beach, walking her furry children  – Macy, Franklin, Roch and Barrett or cheering for the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Atlanta Falcons.

Brittnay Laster joined the CROW team in September of 2023. As the Education and Outreach Coordinator, Brittnay is responsible for program development, the Education Center, and the planning of offsite/onsite programming. Brittnay also works closely with the Hospital staff to train the ambassador animals for programs, so they are comfortable in front of groups of people. Brittnay earned her undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture where she was on track for Veterinary School. However, after an internship in the field of wildlife education, Brittnay changed tracks and became a Wildlife Educator. In 2020, Brittnay started her Master at the University of Bristol with a focus in Global Wildlife Health and Conservation.

Upon returning to the US, Brittnay started her career with Alaska Geographic in Denali National Park and continued to work seasonally in several states before deciding to find a more permanent position here at CROW. Brittnay is from Florence, Alabama and has visited Florida, but never visited Sanibel Island or the Fort Myers area. However, with a self-confessed love of marine life, she is very excited to join the team

Sarah Rinne joined the CROW team in August of 2025 after a 7-month term as the Education and Marketing Intern. In her current role as the Social Media Coordinator, she is responsible for the digital side of outreach and education.

Sarah graduated from Covenant College in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, concentrating in English, Art, and Biology. Though unconventional, this diverse blend of disciplines suits her work at CROW and provides a wide range of skills to draw from.

Before coming to CROW, Sarah worked multiple summers as a hiking guide in New England’s White Mountains, leading overnight and multi-day backpacking trips.

Outside of work, Sarah enjoys rock climbing, birding, and playing video games. Her love of the outdoors began in childhood and continues to inspire her personal and professional pursuits.

Meredith Darnell serves as the Communications Manager at CROW, where she shapes the organization’s voice and visual identity through integrated public relations, marketing, and digital strategy.

An award-winning marketer, journalist, and photographer, she brings an authentic, brand-forward approach to storytelling — elevating CROW’s presence and connecting people more deeply to its wildlife rescue and rehabilitation mission.

She graduated from Indiana University and furthered her studies in Colorado and South Australia, experiences that broadened her perspective and deepened her interest in environmental and wildlife storytelling.

Now based in Southwest Florida, Meredith enjoys traveling, SCUBA diving, fossil hunting, and keeping up with her orange opinionated rescue cat. She is a former Rotarian and currently volunteers with local homeless outreach initiatives, reflecting her ongoing commitment to both community and cause.

Sunny Whitmore joined the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) in March of 2026. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University–Idaho and grew up in Star Valley, Wyoming. After graduating, she relocated to Southwest Florida.

At CROW, Sunny primarily supports the Visitor Education Center and oversees a variety of administrative responsibilities, including bookkeeping, managing donor records and gift shop management. When she’s not at CROW, Sunny enjoys birdwatching, painting, and spending time with her two cats. In fact, Faye and Daisy are her favorite purr-sonal assistants.

Jordan Bryant joined CROW in January 2026 and will be with the organization through December. She studied Marine Biology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, before transferring to the University of Arkansas, where she completed her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. At CROW, she works alongside Education Coordinator Brittnay Laster to lead community outreach programs focused on Southwest Florida’s wildlife and conservation, while also overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Visitor Education Center. A Master Scuba Diver since age 17, Jordan is passionate about environmental and wildlife conservation, with a particular enthusiasm for sharks. In her free time, she enjoys exploring nature, reading, photography, shark tooth hunting, and birdwatching.