Board of Directors
John Simcox, CPBT-KA
President | Executive Director
John attended Coastal Carolina University where he cultivated his love and passion for marine wildlife and conservation initiatives. For the past 10 years, John has worked within the zoo and aquarium industry gaining valuable experience in wildlife education, husbandry/management, operant conditioning & positive reinforcement training, and behavioral enrichment. John has spent the last few years working exclusively with raptors and birds of prey, and has become a Certified Professional Bird Trainer (CPBT-KA). In 2024, John founded Talon Ridge Raptor Institute to further avian conservation through key initiatives such as research, education, conservation, and mutual aid. His goal is to bridge the gap between culture and conservation by connecting humans with raptors and teaching how we can coexist. Lastly, John is a Professional Member of the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (IAATE) where he serves on the Enrichment, Conservation, and International committees.
Alex Roberts
Vice President
Originally from East Tennessee, Alex Roberts is a proud first-generation college graduate from George Washington University. He has multiple cycles of campaign, organized labor, and nonprofit experience. He is a passionate advocate of environmental conservation, economic equity, and social justice, inspiring his political and philanthropic endeavors. He joins the Talon Ridge Raptor Institute’s Board of Directors to give back to his beloved home region, and help preserve and protect its natural lands, species, and people.
Jill Smith
Secretary
Jill, a native of southwest Virginia and a first-generation college student, attended the University of Virginia. Since UVa, she has worked in project and campaign management at EAB Global, a higher ed research, tech, and marketing firm. While her background does not include a STEM degree or wild animal care experience, Jill was a Girl Scout from K-12 and spent much of her spare time outdoors, especially with her father who taught her conservation techniques and identification of local animal and plant species and who fostered her love for nature. As an adult, Jill is a birder and avid hiker and has a goal to visit as many US national parks as possible. Her hope in joining the Talon Ridge Board is to contribute however she can to the preservation and continuity of species which play such important roles in our ecosystems.
Sabrina Morris, MBA
Treasurer
Sabrina is a Northeast Tennessee native, and first-generation college student completing both undergraduate and graduate degrees. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, Advertising and Public Relations with minors in Marketing and Business Administration from Carson-Newman University. She later went on to pursue a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Marketing from King University. She is adept in the purview of various areas within marketing and general and managerial business operations with an immense interest in using those skills to make a positive impact on the world at large. Outside of marketing, she has held positions in finance, accounting and customer service, as well as started her own consulting and coaching business. She has a passion for connecting individuals with the common goal of seeing everyone succeed. This is the same passion that led her to joining the Board of Directors of the Talon Ridge Raptors Institute, knowing she would get the opportunity to make a long-term impact on her home region with hopes of inspiring others to become advocates in research, education, conservation and mutual aid.
Dr. Robyn D. Miller
Dr. Robyn D. Miller is the Director of the Auburn University Raptor Center, where she leads initiatives in raptor rehabilitation, education, and conservation. With over a decade of experience in bird of prey training, rehabilitation, and education, Robyn has experience in the husbandry of diverse raptor species and the development of STEM-based conservation outreach programs. She serves on the Education and Marketing Committees for the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (IAATE). Robyn’s professional journey began with a PhD in literature, but her boundless passion for wildlife led her to a career working with birds of prey. A licensed falconer and Tennessee Naturalist, she draws inspiration from her hands-on experiences with wildlife and the natural world, which she incorporates into her educational and conservation work. As a member of the Talon Ridge Raptor Institute Board of Directors, Robyn aims to elevate its mission of research, education, conservation, and mutual aid by applying her passion and experience to inspire meaningful connections between people and their local ecosystems.
Kristin Forquer
Kristin is an Animal Management Supervisor at the North Carolina Zoo where she oversees the zoo’s Cypress Swamp collection. Kristin started her professional wildlife journey by obtaining a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Marine Science from Coastal Carolina University where her primary focus was in shark research. Since earning her degree, Kristin has worked with various wildlife species such as mountain lions, penguins, hyenas, crocodiles, and, of course, raptors! Kristin joins our Board with over a decade of experience in animal care and management. Kristin has been around wildlife since she was a child. She enjoys nature and the outdoors, and she finds time to hike any chance she gets, especially in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Kristin is excited to join the Talon Ridge Raptor Institute’s Board of Directors to not only work with an amazing group of people dedicated to TRRI’s mission, but also to continue to support and advise her lifelong friend and TRRI’s Founder, John, whom she had mentored and supported throughout his entire career. Kristin joins the Board of Directors with excitement and vigor to uphold TRRI’s Mission and Core Values of research, education, conservation, and mutual aid, and she hopes her contributions will leave a lasting impact on raptor conservation.