S k e g e m o g
Raptor Center
Rehabilitation, Education, and Research
Our Team
Our team has over 80 years of combined raptor rehabilitation experience and holds rehabilitation permits from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
We are also permitted to possess non-releasable raptors for use in educational programs.
James Manley
Executive Director
Chris Johnson
Assistant Director
James began his work with raptors in 2006 volunteering and training at Wings of Wonder under the close supervision of founder Rebecca Lessard. He has been involved in education programs, rehabilitation work, and various building projects throughout the years. He has held his own state and federal rehabilitation permits since 2009.
James is a falconer and enjoys many other outdoor activities the area has to offer including hiking, canoeing, kayaking, biking, and camping.
Shortly after retiring from the National Park Service in 2013, Chris began volunteering at Wings of Wonder. He received his Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation certificate. For the next 6 years, Chris gained outstanding instruction and invaluable experience caring for and rehabilitating raptors under the tutelage of mentor Rebecca Lessard. Chris earned his own Federal and State permits allowing him to assume the care of two WOW education raptors (Pearl a red-tailed hawk and Jaeda, an American Kestrel). When Rebecca retired from raptor rehabilitation, Chris joined James Manley to help create SRC.
Our Board
Jamie Trost
Jamie Trost is co-owner, Senior Captain, and Manager of Traverse Tall Ship Company. An keen nature observer, he is inspired by the recent increase in raptor sightings in the Lower West Arm of Grand Traverse Bay, particularly the mated pair of bald eagles near Discovery Pier.
A life-long outdoor enthusiast, Jamie hails from the South Shore of Lake Erie, where is spent countless hours exploring the woods and waters of Northwestern Pennsylvania. He obtained a degree in Professional and Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and taught English for two years in a small Japanese farming town, freelancing for Time Asia, E-The Environmental Magazine, and other publications when school wasn’t in session.
Over the past quarter-century, Jamie has held leadership positions with eight Tall Ship organizations. Seven of those organizations were non-profits at which Jamie was heavily involved in grant writing, strategic planning, and education curriculum development.
In addition to his upper level roles in the merchant marine sector, Jamie served for three years as a board member for Wild Virginia, an environmental advocacy organization focused on wildlife habitat connectivity and water quality protection throughout Virginia.
Jamie is deeply invested in the nature of the Grand Traverse and is constantly looking for ways to enable locals and visitors alike to engage with it. His first involvement with Skegemog Raptor Center was when he brought in a starving juvenile red-tailed hawk in August of 2022. Though the hawk did not survive, Jamie was deeply impressed by Jim’s professionalism and the mission of SRC and has wanted to become more involved ever since. To that end, he has collaborated with SRC to create “Wings on the Water,” an underway program aboard the Schooner Manitou to raise awareness about raptors and their importance to a healthy environment.
Jim Dulzo
Jim Dulzo is the owner of J Dulzo Tax and Accounting and has provided 20 plus years of professional accounting services experience in both the private and public sectors. Professionally, Jim enjoys all aspects of the accounting practice and is known for his willingness to go beyond the expected while serving clients. His skills and knowledge were obtained, not only from his working career, but also from his college education, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and a Master’s Degree in Finance through Baker College.
Jim is married, with a beautiful wife named Cindy and they have been blessed with six children. During his free time Jim is devoted to spending time with family and attending his children’s sporting events. He is very active in his church where he serves in a leadership role with the youth group and has held many positions in service to his community. He is well known for his willingness to serve with a big smile.
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Claire Wood
Claire is a nonprofit leader with over a decade of experience working with top environmental organizations in the Great Lakes region. She currently works as the Communications Director for the Leelanau Conservancy.
Claire graduated from Michigan State University and began her career as an editor for McGraw-Hill Publishing in Chicago. But her deep love of the natural world prompted her to leave the city and move north to work in conservation. She completed two terms of AmeriCorps service conducting field research and telling the stories of the Au Sable River with Michigan's founding Trout Unlimited Chapter.
In 2015, Claire moved to Traverse City and joined the Great Lakes water policy center For Love of Water (FLOW). By 2017, she found her way to the Leelanau Conservancy, where she now leads their engagement efforts. Claire also consults with nonprofits and impact-driven companies on strategy, communications, and fundraising.
Claire has a special connection to raptors and is thrilled to serve on the SRC board to help care for them. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, yoga, paddling, hiking, and skiing.
Board Members Emeritus
Rebecca Lessard
Susan Stamy
Rebecca is an internationally respected expert in the field of raptor rehabilitation and education with over 30 years of experience. She obtained a B.S. degree in Biology from Bemidji State University in Northern Minnesota and worked a variety of mammal research jobs.
Rebecca founded Wings of Wonder, a state and federally permitted 501c3 non-profit raptor center. She is legendary for her educational programming and introduced over 10,000 people each year to the wonders of raptors.
In 2021, she started working with the Little Bay Bands of Odawa Indians to design and create the first tribal eagle aviary East of the Mississippi.
Susan founded the Braveheart Raptor Center near Twin Lakes, MI in 1991. She specialized in caring for birds of prey, or raptors, and is licensed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“It’s a miracle that these birds are even alive,” she says. “It goes to show just how strong they are ... how strong their will to live is.”