Meet the Board of Directors

Olivia LoBalbo

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

In 2013, Olivia founded the nonprofit Animal Education and Rescue Organization (A.E.R.O.) to help rescue, rehabilitate, and release native wildlife who are sick, injured, or orphaned.  Her efforts were driven by a lifetime love of wildlife and a dream of creating her own wildlife rescue group.  After years of working in vet clinics to learn the medical side; volunteering for other organizations to learn the non-profit side;  working for her dad’s business and as an inventory manager at a vet clinic to learn the business side; she realized it was time to move forward and start A.E.R.O Animal Education and Rescue Organization.

Olivia is a licensed with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources as a Category IIB organization and as such, is considered a wildlife facility and can sponsor up to 20 apprentices.  That designation has allowed A.E.R.O. to grow exponentially as an organization.  As a result, Olivia balances her time between hands-on rehabilitating and hands-on running our organization.

Today, A.E.R.O. is a recognized leader in the Northern Virginia wildlife community.  The interviews and articles below reflect Olivia’s dedication to educating the public on our Virginia wildlife:

Jennifer Kurtz

Vice President

Jennifer Kurtz, is an educator living in Houston, Texas. From a young age, she enjoyed being around animals, learning about them, and helping whenever possible. She is originally from Manassas, Virginia but moved to Houston in 2003. She still has many friends and family members in the Northern Virginia area so she come to visit whenever she can. Jennifer is looking forward to working more with the community and continuing to spread the A.E.R.O. mission. 

Molly Jepsen

Treasurer

Molly Jepsen was born and raised in Virginia.  She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and with her Master’s degree from American University.  Molly began teaching high school math in 2009 in Washington, DC and has been teaching ever since.  She has taught in Washington, DC schools and at a boarding school in England, but is currently teaching in the Fairfax County Public Schools system.  Molly is an enthusiast of both animals and mathematics and is excited to be serving as the treasurer for AERO!

Anthony LoBalbo

Officer and Secretary

Anthony LoBalbo was born and raised in upstate NY where he grew up playing in the woods and always had pets in the home. He graduated from University of Albany with a degree in finance and a concentration in business and shortly thereafter moved to D.C.  He met and married Olivia LoBalbo, joined her in a love for wildlife, supported her in launching A.E.R.O. and continues to participate in hands-on rehabilitation as a licensed VDWR care provider.  Anthony currently works for Charles Schwab and his financial background has helped A.E.R.O grow into a successful non-profit charity.