Shelly is a lifelong friend to herps and has long had a passion for snakes and turtles. She previously worked for the Missouri Department of Conservation as their regional naturalist for 13 years. Currently she is employed as the naturalist for the Remington Nature Center located along the Missouri River in St. Joseph. In 2019 she opened a 501c3 Tortoise and Box Turtle Rescue called Tortoise Run Farm in Savannah, MO on the farm where she resides with her husband. She provides Educational Programs to community service groups, senior centers. scout groups, school classrooms and community events.  

She organizes an annual event called Herp-O-Rama that brings in hundreds of guests to learn about the amazing herps around us.