Our Team

Owner David Mifsud

David Mifsud “Turtle Dave” is a certified professional wetland scientist through the International Society of Wetland Scientists, a certified professional ecologist through the Ecological Society of America, and Certified professional Wildlife Biologist through the Wildlife Society. He has worked for over 20 years in wildlife biology, wetland ecology, and habitat conservation and management, with an emphasis on herpetofauna. He is an authority in Michigan on conservation and management of amphibians and reptiles.

Learn More About Dave

Melissa Sano

Melissa has been a part of HRM’s team since 2018. She is HRM’s Senior Manager and Human Resources Specialist  she assists with general operations, animals care, and field surveys. She is formally a zookeeper at Potter Park Zoo, and  Supervisor at Emergent Biosolutions. She has a Bachelors in Zoology from Michigan State University and a Masters in Conservation Biology from Prescott University.

Kotaro Seguchi

­­­Kotaro is a recent graduate of the University of Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology and minors in Forestry and Zoology. He has previously worked for the Applied Forest and Wildlife Ecology Laboratory at Michigan State University assisting a graduate project that investigated eastern massasauga rattlesnake detection and space use near roads in the Southern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. His interest in Michigan’s herpetofauna began at an early age and quickly progressed into a passion for herpetological species conservation. Beyond work, Kotaro enjoys playing hockey, fishing/hunting, and taking care of his snakes.