Meet Our Team
John “Bo” Baxter
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Bo (he/him) had worked with Conservation Fisheries on and off from 1989 to 1999 and, after a “brief” diversion with the Tennessee Valley Authority, returned for good in 2020.
He started his career in the endangered fish propagation business while working in the back room at Aquatic Specialists, the aquarium store where J.R. and Pat maintained a few tanks of madtoms, which would later become Conservation Fisheries. Bo earned a B.S. in Zoology in 1993 and an M.S. in Zoology in 1996, both from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville while studying under renowned ichthyologist Dr. David Etnier. For his Master’s thesis, he cataloged fish species in the Upper Cumberland River system in Tennessee.
Bo can usually be found coordinating work with our partners, creating plans to improve our efficiency, or discovering systems that allow us to more easily collect and record significant data. Bo has been a catalyst for change in our organization, pushing us to modernize and reach for new heights.
In addition to his work at Conservation Fisheries, Bo serves of the Editorial Board of Hellbender Press hellbenderpress.org and is a member of the Steering Committee for the Tennessee River Basin Network trbn.org
Photo by Evan Poellinger.
Missy Petty
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Missy (she/her) began working with Conservation Fisheries as an undergrad from 1998-2001, and as a full-time biologist in 2008.
After being inspired by her work with Conservation Fisheries on imperiled native fishes, she decided to switch her major from Environmental Law to a B.S in Wildlife and Fisheries Science. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee in 2001. Missy then went on to Virginia Tech to earn her M.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Science in 2005 with her thesis work about the life history of the James Spinymussel. She worked for four years as a Research Assistant at the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Center in Blacksburg, VA prior to rejoining Conservation Fisheries in 2008.
Missy can usually be found expertly managing all of our contracts and grants, as well as communicating with our partners about the ways in which Conservation Fisheries is achieving the goals laid out in our contracts. Her organization skills and love for environmental policy make her the perfect person to keep us connected with those who trust us to perform the hands-on aspects of species recovery and extinction prevention.
Photo by Joel Sartore.
Crystal Ruble
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Crystal (she/her) has been working with Conservation Fisheries since 2004.
She has a diverse interest in all animals and nature, but started culturing her “wet thumb” in high school while owning and working with fish. Crystal earned a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, in addition to a B.S. in Psychology, from the University of Tennessee in 2003, and an M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Management from the University of West Virginia in 2013 while still working at Conservation Fisheries. Her graduate work consisted of a comparative study of the early life histories of three darters in the Etheostoma maculatum species complex and a description of the life history of the Diamond Darter.
You can usually find Crystal working around the facility and carefully testing new methods for rearing our most difficult larvae. Her long career at Conservation Fisheries makes her extremely knowledgeable about our temperature regimes in the facility and the specific spawning periods of many different species.
Rebecca Xiques
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Rebecca (she/her) has been working with Conservation Fisheries since 2009.
She has unparalleled enthusiasm for learning about southeastern imperiled fishes. Rebecca received her B.S. in Marine Science from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL in 2007. She soon went on to Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC to receive her M.S. in Coastal Marine and Wetland Biology in 2009 studying nest thermal stratification and survivorship of Leatherback Sea Turtles for her thesis.
Rebecca can usually be found completing various projects around the facility. These include everything from constructing our recirculating systems to meticulous care for our larval rearing enclosures. Her can-do attitude makes her a go-to co-worker anytime one may have a question or need a hand around the facility.
Derek Wheaton
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Derek (he/him) has been working with Conservation Fisheries since 2017.
He has been a lover of fish and aquatic animals since he was tall enough to see into the family aquarium, eventually keeping his own aquariums and becoming an active member (and eventual Board Member and Tennessee Regional Representative) in the North American Native Fishes Association. In 2010 Derek received his B.S. in Biology at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. Prior to joining the team at Conservation Fisheries, he worked for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fishes, focusing primarily with rare and non-game species.
Derek can usually be found in the Live Cultures Room, caring for our worms and microorganisms that we feed to fishes throughout the facility. His lifelong interest in entomology makes him the perfect fit as our resident culturist, a role he fulfills by constantly experimenting with new food sources and finding ways to fill in potential nutritional gaps to best nourish our species.
Photo by Evan Poellinger.
Shannon Murphy-Harty
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Shannon (she/her) has been working with Conservation Fisheries since 2020.
She received her B.S. in both Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences and Environmental Biology from Tennessee Technological University. While in college, Shannon served as President and Undergraduate Representative in the Student Fisheries Association (TNAFS sub-unit) and conducted undergraduate research looking at the diel migration of small stream fishes between riffle and pool habitats. During the summer before graduation, she worked as an Aquaculture Assistant at the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute, sparking a passion for reintroduction aquaculture and working with rare and endangered species.
Shannon can usually be found caring for some of Conservation Fisheries’ longest-term resident species and working with our volunteers. Her passion for outreach and science communication make her a great fit for creating and implementing our Volunteer Program.
Curt Brewer
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Curt (he/him) has been working with Conservation Fisheries since 2022, and was a longtime facility volunteer prior.
He received his B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 2022. While in college he conducted undergraduate research on the passage of small stream fishes across different types of culverts.
Curt can usually be found around the facility harvesting live food cultures or feeding our fish. He plans and performs the bulk of our feeding program and has a keen interest in fish nutrition after maintaining his own home aquaria for several years.
Aster Treat
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Aster (they/them) has been with Conservation Fisheries since April 2023.
Aster’s interest in biology and conservation goes back as far as they can remember. From crappie fishing with their grandfather to learning obscure facts about rare crocodilians, understanding overlooked wildlife has always been a driving force in their life. After assisting with several species releases, it became clear that they wanted to find a lasting role within Conservation Fisheries and help connect more people to the hidden biodiversity of Appalachia and beyond.
In addition to managing Conservation Fisheries’ digital presence, Aster uses art, design, and narrative-driven communication to make complex conservation issues more accessible and emotionally resonant. Their background in social media management, creative production, and visual communication has helped develop a distinctive voice for the organization. One that emphasizes curiosity, stewardship, and hope for imperiled aquatic species.
Over the past several years, Aster has helped shape a new era of outreach and public engagement for Conservation Fisheries. Through social media strategy, visual storytelling, merchandise design, community events, and educational outreach, they have played a major role in expanding the organization’s public presence and connecting new audiences to freshwater conservation. Their work has helped modernize the organization’s branding, grow its online reach, and create new opportunities for community involvement and donor engagement.
You can reliably find Aster drawing fish, recording content for socials, or carrying a bucket during fieldwork.
Andrew Zimmerman
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Andrew (he/him) has been working for Conservation Fisheries since 2023.
He received his B.S. in Biology with Specialization in Marine and Aquatic Biology from Bowling Green State University in 2012. His focus was initially on marine ecosystems but quickly changed after working on graduate student research projects which focused on freshwater ecosystems where he developed a love for native freshwater fish. After graduating, he worked for EnviroScience, Inc. for 10 years where he specialized in stream assessments, fisheries-based projects, and other assorted environmental surveys.
Andrew is rarely found at Conservation Fisheries facility since he is most often leading field efforts to collect broodstock individuals for the facility and monitor reintroduction efforts. He spends much of his free time snorkeling as an underwater photographer, capturing stunning imagery of many of the species we’ve worked with.
Photo by Derek Wheaton.
Gary Williams
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Gary has been working with Conservation Fisheries since August 2023.
For over 40 years he has served in various disciplines within the Earth Sciences and Water Resource Management fields. He has worked for agencies such as the Tennessee Valley Authority, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and The U.S. Forest Service. During tenures with these agencies, his contributions have focused on missions and mandates that included biological assessments of fish, macroinvertebrates, water quality and habitat, in addition to restoration efforts. Many of these initiatives involved important collaborations with federal, state, and NGO partners. In both the past and present he’s had the privilege of working with specialists such as Environmental Engineers, Environmental Scientists, Aquatic Biologists, Entomologists, and other experts in their respective fields. Gary attributes his experience to their mentoring and willingness to share knowledge.
Gary can usually be found with his colleagues and partners conducting field activities. These include sensitive and target fish species sampling and monitoring, physical habitat surveys and enhancement, collecting and processing macroinvertebrate samples, and assisting with surveys focused on locating Hellbender nest rocks and den masters.
Gary provides aquatic resource project assistance to the U.S. Forest Service under a cooperative agreement with Conservation Fisheries.
Ayana Montaque
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Ayana (she/her) has been working with Conservation Fisheries since March 2024, and was a longtime facility volunteer prior.
She received her Bachelors in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Having grown up in a lake town going on boat rides and swimming on her grandparent’s dock, Ayana has always loved being in or near the water. After beginning college, her passion for fish flourished after taking an Ichthyology class, and getting hands on experience in the field during other classes and while volunteering with Conservation Fisheries.
Ayana can usually be seen feeding our fish around the facility and doing maintenance on our recirculating water systems.
Mike Etnier
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Mike Etnier (He/Him) returned to Conservation Fisheries in January 2024 few-decade hiatus, having been one of our earliest employees.
He received his B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He then then moved to Washington to receive his M.A. and PhD. in Anthropology at the University of Washington.
Mike started back up with grant writing remotely at the start of 2024 and moved back to Knoxville for full time work in August. He’s a bit rusty with the fish IDs but feels equally at home snorkeling in the local creeks and rivers, having grown up in East Tennessee.
At Conservation Fisheries, Mike can usually be found puttering around the facility, joining a variety of field work days, or grant writing.
Jackson Booth
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Jackson (He/Him) has been working with Conservation Fisheries since 2025.
He received his B.S. in Environmental Geoscience with a concentration in Freshwater and the Environment from the University at Buffalo in 2021. After his undergraduate, he began his M.S. in Aquatic and Fisheries Science at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, which he finished in early 2025. His research was focused on an apparent gap in Walleye spawning range in the St. Lawrence River and used an experimental egg stocking to both assess if one of the tributaries could support Walleye eggs and larvae while potentially reintroducing a spawning population to the area. During his time at ESF, he worked at the Thousand Islands Biological Station where he conducted his research, helped run surveys, and assisted with the propagation of Northern Pike, Muskellunge, and Walleye. While working with these species, Jackson realized he had a passion for raising early life stages of fish and aquaculture and wanted to focus this on rare and imperiled species.
Jackson is located at the Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery working on helping the federal hatchery establish their threatened and endangered species building and program. He loves taking picture of fish, has maintained his own aquaria for several years, and recently has founded the Fundulid Working Group. When not in the facility, he can typically be found stomping around in a creek, backpacking, or camping.
Grace Cope
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Grace has been working at Conservation Fisheries since January 2026, and was a longtime facility volunteer prior.
Growing up on a farm, Grace developed a passion for wildlife and aquatic critters early on. She spent most of her time playing outside and looking for animals in the forest which led to a passion for wildlife and conservation. Grace graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2024 with a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management and a minor in both watershed and forestry. Her passion for native fish began during her fisheries coursework and independent study creating a snorkel trail on Little River.
She’s worked with both marine and freshwater species through Ripley’s Aquarium and the US Forest Service. Grace worked as a Fisheries Technician for Cherokee National Forest through Southeast Conservation Corps gaining extensive experience in fieldwork and data collection and worked up close with rare species such as the Tennessee Dace and Eastern Hellbender.
Rebecca and Chance gravel washing in search of Roanoke Logperch eggs. Photo credit: Aster
Curt and Andrew chatting in the hatchery. Photo by Aster.
River's Gaze: An Art Showcase of Freshwater Ecologies panel. From left to right: Winston Clark, Andrew Zimmerman, Derek Wheaton, and Evan Poellinger. Photo by Jesse Myers.
Fieldwork. Photo by Aster.
Pat bringing a net to the bank to show Aster a cool fish. Photo by Aster.
Derek floating around in the Little River during Blotchside Logperch collection. Photo by Aster.
Crystal performing the "Darter Shuffle". Photo by Aster.
Christo Bradstock, our 2022-2023 international exchange student, posing with a Tangerine Darter.
Andrew and a little Musk Turtle. Photo by Aster.
Andrew snorkeling during the Buffalo Run. Photo by Aster.
Shannon navigating acoss a shallow creek. Photo by Aster.
Staff with Joel Sartore. Photo by Aster Treat.
Derek helping Joel Sartore. Photo by Aster Treat.
Volunteers
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Izabella joined CF as an intern in May 2025 and since remained on as a volunteer since August 2025.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
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Noah has been a CF volunteer since February 2025.
Maryville College
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Izzy has been a CF volunteer since May 2025.
Maryville College
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Liv (she/her) has been a CFI volunteer since October 2024.
Hardin Valley Academy
Board of Directors
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J.R. (he/him) is Semi-Retired;
Co-Founder of Conservation Fisheries
M.S. Zoology; University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Thesis: Systematic evaluation of the Waccamaw darter, Etheostoma perlongum (Hubbs and Raney), with comments on relationships within the subgenus Boleosoma (Percidae: Etheostomatini)
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John(he/him) is the award-winning author of more than 20 books on orchids, aquariums,
gardening and sustainable living.
Co-Founding Member, Board of Directors
M.S., Zoology; University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Thesis: Endosymbiotic Bacteria in Amoeba proteus strain xD: Characterization and
Comparison of Organisms Associated with Symbiotic and Non-Symbiotic Amoebae
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Catey McClary, she/her
President and CEO at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
B.S. Ecology, Appalachian State University, 2004
Fisheries Biologist Intern, GSMNP 2004
Board President of Appalachian Mountain Biking Club
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Pat (he/him) is Semi-Retired;
Co-Founder of Conservation Fisheries
M.S. Zoology; University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Thesis: Life History and Ecology of the Barrens Topminnow, Fundulus julisia Williams and Etnier (Pisces, Fundulidae)
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Steve (he/him) is Retired;
Vice President (U.S) Dagger Canoe; Board of Directors at American Canoe Association; Design Engineer at Confluence Watersports; Chairman of Tennessee Conservation Commission
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Adam (he/him) is a journalist-turned-YouTuber who makes videos mostly about cooking, food science and food systems.
After a career in public radio, he was teaching journalism at Mercer University in Georgia when a pizza recipe he made went viral in 2019. Now he lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he spends his YouTube earnings on aquariums, container ponds and other fishy misadventures. His work has been published by NPR, Slate, Time, and most recently, the journal of the Aquatic Gardeners Association.
A composer by training, he still writes and releases music, though his fish seem indifferent to it.
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Peggy (she/her) is Retired;
Manager, Biological Permitting & Compliance, and Endangered Species Act Compliance Officer at TVA; Assistant Field Supervisor at USFWS TN Ecological Services Field Office
M.S. Zoology; University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Thesis: Ecology of the rare yellowfin madtom, Noturus flavipinnis (Taylor), in Citico Creek, Tennessee.
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Liz (she/her) is Retired;
Regulatory Analyst at Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Author of Day Hikers Guide to all the Trails in the Smoky Mountains
M.A. Biology; University of Minnesota
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Jay (he/him) is the Board Chair for Conservation Fisheries and Director of Environmental & Sustainability Initiatives at Maryville College;
M.S. Wildlife & Fisheries Science, University of Tennessee-Knoxville (1999)
Thesis: Capture and on-site release of nuisance black bears and survival of orphaned black bears released in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Ph.D. Wildlife Ecology, Oklahoma State University (2003)
Dissertation: Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and nitrogen cycling: links to the small-mammal community
Jay is also a singer-songwriter and has released 5 records.