Connecting Children to Nature, One Board Member at a Time
Suzanne Moss
President/Founder
Suzanne is the Owner and Operator of The Nature Bus and the founder/president of Nature Matters LLC, a 501c3 nonprofit. In addition to being a Certified Master Naturalist, she is also a Licensed elementary school teacher (Pre-K–6; Gifted endorsement in the State of Virginia), a Certified Yoga Instructor, a Water Safety Instructor, Wilderness First Aid Certified and she also holds a CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) to operate the bus. Suzanne is also CPR and First Aid Certified by the American Red Cross for Adults and Pediatrics.
Born in Ohio, raised in Toronto, Canada, Suzanne returned to the USA to attend college. She received her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education in NY State. Suzanne and her husband, Gary, have three children who all are nature enthusiasts! They have two infant/toddler grandchildren.
Wanting to offer Nature Experiences to the public at large, Suzanne along with her daughter Mariah, formed The Nature Bus and Nature Matters LLC by expanding on a 12-year Nature Club for Children that Mariah created at a young age. Having such a diverse background to host and guide outdoor experiences, along with her love of all things nature, these paths all led to the formation of The Nature Bus and Nature Matters LLC. Suzanne runs The Nature Bus business with her entire family. For her, The Nature Bus and Nature Matters LLC are truly is a labor of love!
Dr. Marina Saitgalina
Vice President
Dr. Marina Saitgalina is an Associate Professor of Nonprofit Management at the School of Public Service in the Strome College of Business at Old Dominion University. Her areas of research interests include nonprofit organizations and management, nonprofit-government collaborations and volunteerism. She is passionate about helping local nonprofits using her extensive knowledge and expertise in nonprofit management. She joined the board of Nature Matters in 2019 after connecting with the Executive Director of Nature Matters, Suzanne Moss, at one of the local nonprofit networking events.
Gary Moss
Treasurer
Dr. Gary B. Moss grew up in Norfolk, Virginia and attended Norfolk Academy. He received a BA in Biology from the University of Chicago and an MS in Human Physiology from Georgetown University.
He graduated from the Medical College of Virginia, where he also completed his Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine. He served as a Fellow of Allergy and Immunology at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University at the St. Louis School of Medicine. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and in Allergy and Immunology.
Dr. Moss is on staff at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Sentara Leigh Memorial Hospital, Bon Secours De Paul Hospital, Chesapeake General Hospital and Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters.
He served as President of the Asthma and Allergy Society of Virginia from 2008-2010. In 2012 and 2014, he was selected by his peers in a Hampton Roads Magazine survey (now called Coastal Virginia) as a “TOP DOC” in his field.
Alaurah Jordan
Secretary
Alaurah holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Maryland and a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from Duke University. With over eight years of experience as a project manager at an engineering firm, she has led the development and implementation of nature-based solutions—such as living shorelines—throughout the Hampton Roads region. Alaurah is passionate about helping communities recognize and embrace the essential benefits that nature brings to our lives and local ecosystems. Through her work and current ventures, she remains dedicated to fostering resilient, environmentally connected communities
Roxanne Baer
Marketing Chair
Roxanne is a Forest School, Tinkergarten Teacher in Virginia Beach. Through her business, Baerfoot by Nature, she offers nature-based classes and events for all ages, yoga, and has a massage therapy practice. Originally from the Shenandoah Valley, she spent her early years wandering around the mountains and caving with the Virginia Highlands Grotto and has always held a love for nature as well as working with kids. In 2013 she graduated from VCU with a Bachelor of Arts and a Minor in World Music. For a few years she worked as a climbing instructor and homeschool coach for Peak Experiences Indoor Rock Climbing gym in Richmond, VA, receiving her PCGI Top Rope Guide certification in 2018. Also a certified EMT-B, she was an active volunteer with Chesterfield Fire and EMS. In 2025, she received her Forest School Teacher and Director certification through the Forest School Training Institute and is a Certified Yoga Teacher and Social Emotional Learning Facilitator through Breathe For Change. She currently works part-time for Chesapeake Parks and Recreation, co-leading their outdoor summer camps and teaching Tinkergarten classes. She joined Nature Matters in 2025, eager to make more of a difference in getting families outside and to fall in love with nature.
Advisory Board
Jody Ullmann
Jody joined the Associate Board of Nature Matters because she believes that the way to have environmentally literate people is to immerse them in outdoor experiences and nurture that love for all that nature gives to us. And the children reached in these ways will be the environmental stewards of our future. She has been a Certified Virginia Master Naturalist since 2007 as well as a Past President. Working in Environmental Education for more than 30 years, she has seen the results of some of the programs that she started with pre-K students. In 2017 she received the 2017 Environmental Educator of the Year from the VA Garden Clubs and in 2025 the Mary Reid Barrow Award for Wildlife Advocacy. She is also a member of Hampton Roads Association of Environmental Educators and Owner/ Educator of Mud Puddle Science LLC. She has designed and ran, with Suzanne Moss, the Junior Master Naturalist Program where they received an award for the Best New Project for the VA Master Naturalists. In 2025, she joined Nature Matters, working on Events and Community Development. She loves that Nature Matters conducts free programs that are open to all.
Maurice Cullen
Maurice A. Cullen is a distinguished naturalist, renowned for his extensive collection of insects and his significant contributions to environmental education. Recently retired after 25 years of teaching, Maurice has been recognized twice as a VBCPS Teacher of the Year, received the Garden Club of America Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award for environmental education, and the 2024 Mary Reid Barrow Wildlife Advocate Award. Maurice is actively involved in mentorship programs and community initiatives, demonstrating his commitment to fostering environmental awareness and education with an emphasis on biodiversity. He maintains the VBMS Pollinator Garden and is a past president of the Butterfly Society of Virginia. Maurice resides in Virginia Beach, with his wife Kay.
Allen Carter
Allen Carter received his Bachelors degree in wildlife science from the University of Maine and his Masters degree in Forest Management from Duke University. In 1980 he began work at Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge as refuge forester, and later became fire management officer for the Northeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. After retiring in 2011, Allen worked as a horticulturist for Norfolk Botanical Gardens from 2016 to 2021. He has most recently worked as a seasonal park ranger at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Allen is a certified arborist and Virginia Master Naturalist. He enjoys nature study, hiking, reading, gardening, family time, and travel to interesting places.
A board member of Nature Matters since 2025, Allen has always enjoyed sharing his knowledge of nature (particularly plants and birds) with people of all ages, and enjoys being a board member as it provides great opportunities to continue sharing his interests.
Stacey Shiflet
Stacey is a lifelong resident of Virginia Beach. A graduate of First Colonial High School, she also holds a Bachelors of Science in Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism Administration from the University of South Carolina - Go Gamecocks! Stacey’s career has been focused in the field of hospitality, where she has worked a variety of jobs including: Children’s Activities Director, General Manager, adjunct faculty member at TCC, Brock Center Coordinator for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Vice President of Client Relations and Business Development Coordinator for AdImpact Marketing for the JYI account. In addition, she is an independent contractor with Charrette Agency and has worked with IMGoing/Beach Events on the She Crab Soup Classic, coordinating restaurant participation and supporting sponsorship activities. Stacey currently serves on the Board of Directors for Ping Pong for Charity, President of the Virginia Beach Travel and Tourism Foundation, Tidewater Community College Hospitality Advisory Board, Virginia Green Board Member, Lorraine Bethea, Give Back 2 Da Block Board Member, Mayor's Commission for Offshore Wind and is the Vice President of the Virginia Oyster Trail. Stacey also volunteers with other non-profit organizations, helping out with donations, volunteering at events, event locations and connections in the community. She also has past service with many local advisory boards.
Stacey enjoys meeting new people and finding interests that bring people together to achieve common goals. She strives to learn something new everyday. When there is time, you can find Stacey on the tennis court. She has 3 boys, the best 3 things that have happened in her life!