Get to Know the Team

Mother & Son Duo 

Meet Michele and Christopher, Owners.

 

Christopher started at Exotic Pet Center (then Family Pet Center) in 2024. When the previous owners announced their intent to sell, the next step seemed obvious. 

 

Michele is the brains in the background! She has a full time job by day, and comes into play at the pet store at night. She also volunteers with Mote Marine. While she began this journey with an understanding of domestic animal care, she has learned a great deal of knowledge about exotic pet care as well. 

 

Michele’s home is naturally filled with critters: 

Jude, an 18 year old Palomino Quarter Horse

Gertie Rue,  a 5 year old great dane 

Master Ogway (Ogie) and Pistachio, 2 ½ year old sulcata tortoises

Princess Puff, a 5 year old bearded dragon

Sulley and Yuzu, 3 and 1 year old Panther chameleons.

 

Christopher runs the daily operation of Exotic Pet Center. If he is not working directly on the floor with the team, he finds himself fulfilling other pet store needs such as product restocking and animal transportations.

 

He also cares for over 150 breeder snakes, which was a surprise to Michele when she acquired so many new roommates! 

 

Often by his side, his trusty sidekick and assistant, Isabella. She is a 13 year old blue throat macaw. 

 

Christopher had an early love for animals and as a child wanted to train the whales at Sea World.

 

Their first reptile was a Bearded Dragon, Princess Puffs, and she is the reason they began their exotic pet journey. They owe it all to her.

 

Owning Exotic Pet Center has been the coolest experience for them. They are both excited to continue carrying the store into the future and have lots of exciting things planned. 

Kasey

General Manager

Kasey has been a part of the team for 5 years. 

 

Kasey is well versed in fresh and salt water tanks, birds, small animals, and most reptiles. 

 

Her favorite product in the store is Harrison’s Bird Food. Her favorite animals in the store are any of the babies we get in! 

 

When she is not in the store, she has lots of critters at home that she takes care of:

Dixie the Papillon

Zoey the rottie/shepherd mix

Kye the orange tabby cat

Reinie the red rump parrot

Pepper the marble cockatiel

Rio the green cheek conure

Peaches the peach face love bird

Zazu the pineapple conure 

Willow the parrotlet

Forest the mourning gecko

Bubba the neon day gecko

6 reed frogs

3 newts

A yellow head gecko

3 freshwater tanks

Tim

Team Associate

Tim has been at the pet shop since 2015.

 

Tim doesn’t like being on camera, but can talk for days about his favorite spiders, invertebrates and all things on 2, 4 or 100 legs

 

He is our resident bug expert, designs Exotic Pet Center’s custom reptile tanks, and cultures all the insect feeders we have available in the store. 

 

At home, he takes care of a myriad of spiders and snakes. 

Andrew

Team Associate

 

Andrew has worked at the pet store for about 2 years now. He knows the most about the arachnids we bring into the store. His favorite product is the ExoTerra Stone Desert Substrate because it’s the perfect product for one of his favorite animals from the store, the scorpion! 

 

In his spare time, he takes care of lots of animals, but his most popular ambassador is Rocky Balboa the 13 year old Boa Constrictor. If you stop by while Andrew is in the shop, you just might catch him sporting Rocky as an accessory!

James

Team Associate

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James is our newest addition, and he’s brought a wealth of knowledge in with him! Ask him about his time as a Wild Life Ranager.

 

He knows the most about reptiles and amphibians. His favorite product is the cork bark, often used as decoration and enrichment for tank environments. His favorite animal from the store is the Leachie Gecko, aka New Caledonian giant gecko.

 

At home, James cares for: 

Rango the veiled chameleon

Bagel Bite the chameleon gecko,

Quasimodo the gargoyle gecko and most recently joined the bird gang with a Kakariki parrot named Nugget.

Isabella

Store Mascot​

The Blue Throat Macaw