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:
- For the Love of Animals InsideNoVA, January 2022,
- Community saves wounded snapping turtle from Penrose window well ARLNow, June 2021,
- To the rescue: The Wildlife Rescue League Alexandria Living, March 2021
- What to Do if You Come Across an Injured Turtle ABC Channel 7 News, The Pet Show with Dr. Katy, September 2019
- What to Do if You Find Injured Wildlife ABC Channel 7 News, The Pet Show with Dr. Katy, May 2019
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!
