CROW honored by Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau
Three Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) team members were recognized among Lee County tourism industry’s outstanding hospitality professionals at the 26th Annual Elaine McLaughlin Outstanding Hospitality Service Awards (E Awards) Aug. 20. The awards recognize exceptional service across Lee County’s tourism industry.
CROW Wildlife First Responder Chloe Manzelli received an Honorable Mention in the Attractions category, standing out among 78 nominees in that category. Fellow CROW team members Amber Strassler, CVT, CWR, Certified Veterinary Technician/Floor Manager, and Pam Stoike, Volunteer Coordinator and Gift Shop Associate, also were nominated for customer service at an attraction.
During the ceremony, one of Manzelli’s nominations was shared, recounting her efforts to return an osprey chick patient at CROW to its nest with help from the Pine Island/Matlacha Fire Department and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. The story had a fitting ending: Less than five minutes after the chick was safely back in its nest, its mother returned.
That story stood out to Paul Ben-Susan, CROW’s Board President, in addition to all the nonprofit’s nominees.
“The E Awards are such a fun way to celebrate the people who make our community and visitor experience so special,” says Ben-Susan. “It was especially exciting to see three members of the CROW team recognized. Chloe’s efforts to help an osprey in distress and get it safely back to its nest were a great example of that spirit of service, and we were equally proud to see Pam and Amber recognized for the dedication they bring to CROW and our community.”
Presented by the VCB and The News-Press Media Group, the Disco Fever-themed E Awards were held at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs. The event honored 596 individual nominees, with residents, visitors and colleagues submitting 984 total nominations.
Manzelli, a Fort Myers native and graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University, has been at CROW since June 2024.
“Being at CROW has given me a unique opportunity to gain direct knowledge about the wildlife we see here in the state, which has only strengthened my passions for protecting our ecosystems,” says Manzelli, who was excited about her award and the Key West Express tickets she received. “My favorite part of being a Wildlife First Responder is being able to educate the public about wildlife and helping people through difficult situations.”
The nominations offered a glimpse into the impact each makes at CROW, with colleagues, volunteers, visitors, and community members sharing firsthand examples of their dedication and service.
“Chloe serves as one of CROW’s dedicated First Responders, playing a critical role as the first point of contact for wildlife emergencies and public inquiries,” one of her nominators wrote. “She manages a high volume of calls related to injured wildlife, rescue efforts, patient transport, volunteer deployment, and general wildlife guidance. Chloe handles each call and interaction with professionalism and care, even in high-pressure situations.”
Strassler first came to CROW in 2015 as a veterinary technician intern before returning to the nonprofit in 2018. She works closely with CROW veterinarians to oversee the treatment and care of the most critical patients, in addition to teaching more than 50 rotating students each year.
Strassler’s nomination focused on the dedication she brings to both wildlife care and the people around her.
“(Amber) treats both the animals and her coworkers with patience, kindness, and genuine care,” says her nomination. “CROW is lucky to have someone so dedicated, hardworking, and noble on the team, and she is more than deserving of recognition as the best employee.”
Stoike began volunteering with CROW in 2017 and later joined the team in 2018. She oversees the volunteer program, manages the Visitor Education Center and gift shop, and coordinates daily activities that support the organization’s mission.
For Stoike, her impact was captured through the eyes of a CROW volunteer who has experienced her encouragement and can-do attitude firsthand.
“No matter what area of CROW I have been volunteering in, Pam has always made me feel like a worthwhile part of the team,” says Stoike’s nomination. “She gives tips on how to do better in a most positive way and has a can-do attitude that makes you think you can do anything, whether she is in the gift shop, training, working on the grounds, or rescuing. She has been a stellar example for me.”
The Attractions category winner was Mo McLaughlin of Tarpon Bay Explorers. Manzelli joined Charlie Frese of Tarpon Bay Explorers and Rachel Frieze of Everglades Day Safari as Honorable Mention recipients.
E Awards were presented in seven categories. As the finale, an Honor of Distinction award went to Bill Hammond of Endless Summer Charters, as a representative of the spirit of hospitality in Lee County.
About CROW
Founded in 1968, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the sick, injured, and orphaned native and migratory wildlife of Southwest Florida and beyond. Through veterinary care, educational programs, and a visitor center, CROW strives to improve the health of wildlife and the environment. Its state-of-the-art Harkey Sea Turtle Complex is anticipated to open in 2026. For more information, visit www.crowclinic.org. If you find a wild animal in need of help, call (239) 472-3644 ext. 222 or visit https://crowclinic.org/found-animal.