About Dino Buddies
"Inspiring curiosity through unforgettable wildlife experiences."
CEO and Founder
Tiffany Johnson
Dino Buddies is an award-winning wildlife outreach company based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since 2020, we've been bringing unforgettable educational experiences to schools, libraries, birthday parties, camps, museums, festivals, and community events throughout Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
We believe the best way to inspire a love of science is to experience it firsthand. Whether that means meeting a snake, examining a fossil, or coming face-to-face with a dinosaur, our goal is always the same—to spark curiosity and create memories that last long after the program ends.
What Makes Dino Buddies Different?
At Dino Buddies, we believe an unforgettable program starts long before we arrive at your event. Here's what sets us apart:
🧬 Science Comes First
Our programs are developed by educators with backgrounds in zoology, wildlife education, and animal care, ensuring every encounter is accurate, engaging, and age-appropriate.
🌿 Active in Conservation
We're proud to partner with conservation organizations and participate in professional training, field research, and wildlife projects that help us bring real-world science into every program.
❤️ Animal Welfare is Our Priority
The health and well-being of our ambassador animals always comes first. We continually study natural history and animal behavior to create enrichment, training, and educational experiences that benefit both our animals and our guests.
🎓 Educators at Heart
We don't just introduce animals—we create experiences that encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
🦖 One-of-a-Kind Dinosaur Experiences
From our lifelike dinosaur puppets to our interactive paleontology displays featuring fossils, replicas, casts, and skulls, our dinosaur programs are designed exclusively by the Dino Buddies team.
🏆 Trusted Throughout the Tri-State
Each year, we present hundreds of educational programs for schools, libraries, birthday parties, museums, camps, festivals, and community events across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
🌎 Learning for Everyone
We strive to create welcoming, inclusive experiences where every guest feels comfortable asking questions, making discoveries, and participating at their own level.
📚 Always Learning
Our education doesn't stop when the program ends. We regularly participate in workshops, professional development, conservation training, and field experiences so we can continue bringing the very best to our audiences.
💡 Did You Know?
Dino Buddies is proudly women-owned and led by an all-women leadership team whose passion for education, conservation, and animal welfare shapes every program we offer.
In fields like wildlife education and animal science, leadership doesn’t always reflect the diversity of those passionate about the work. That’s why founder Tiffany Johnson, a zoologist with over 15 years of experience, started Dino Buddies—to create a space where science, representation, and education come together in meaningful ways.
Our mission is simple: to make learning wild, inclusive, and unforgettable. From classrooms to community events, we’re proud to inspire curiosity and confidence through hands-on encounters—led by a team of women who care deeply about animals, conservation, and the people we serve.
🐍💪🦖 Black-owned. Women-led. Science-fueled. Always wild.
Keep Scrolling to Meet the Team!
🐍 Meet the Heart Behind the Roar
Tiffany Johnson, CEO and Founder
Meet Our Founder
Hi there! My name is Tiffany Johnson, and I'm the CEO and Founder of Dino Buddies.
My story didn't start in 2020 when I launched Dino Buddies. It started much earlier—as an eight-year-old in the third grade who spent recess helping my science teacher clean the classroom animal enclosures instead of playing outside.
That was the moment I realized I had a deep love—and what would become a lifelong curiosity—for the animal world.
From there, my passion only grew. I spent ten years riding horses, volunteered at a local educational farm, became the Livestock Coordinator at Gorman Heritage Farm, and eventually earned a degree in Zoology from the University of Cincinnati. While in college, I had the opportunity to work in several animal departments at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, including the Reptile House, where I gained hands-on experience caring for and educating the public about a wide variety of species.
In 2020, while still finishing my degree, I decided to take a chance and start Dino Buddies.
I wasn't trying to build the biggest wildlife outreach company. I simply wanted to create the kind of experience I would have loved as a kid—one where people could get up close with amazing animals, ask questions, and discover just how incredible the natural world really is.
Over the years, Dino Buddies has grown far beyond what I ever imagined. We've traveled throughout Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, presented hundreds of educational programs each year, and been honored with several awards along the way. In 2025, we expanded our programs to include lifelike dinosaurs, creating another exciting way to inspire curiosity about science, paleontology, and wildlife.
But even as we've grown, the reason we do this hasn't changed.
I started Dino Buddies for the kids who are just like I was—the ones who are fascinated by snakes, dinosaurs, turtles, bugs, and everything in between. The kids who ask a hundred questions, want to know how everything works, and maybe don't always fit in because they're a little obsessed with animals.
If one of our programs inspires a child to pick up a field guide, visit a nature center, pursue a career in science, or simply look at wildlife with a little more appreciation, then we've done exactly what we set out to do.
After all, that's how my own journey began—with one curious kid, a science teacher, and a few classroom animals.
Tiffany FAQ’s
Q: Why reptiles?
A: I could give you a long scientific answer but the truth is, I just think they’re really super duper cool!
Q: How did you get started in this?
A:I’ve always loved animals. In third grade, my teacher, Mrs. Quill, had animals in her classroom, and I would skip recess to help care for them. Not long after, my dad let me start riding horses, and that passion carried into college, where I studied horses. While in school, a friend of mine who owned a snake named Morris (now 26 years old!) asked if I wanted him. I said yes—and the rest is history.
Q: Have you ever worked with dangerous animals?
A: Absolutely! I've had the privilege of working with alligators, venomous snakes, crocodiles, Komodo dragons, and large pythons. Surprisingly, though, the most dangerous animals I’ve ever worked with are horses and cows.
Q: What’s one animal I hope to work with in the future?
A: My favorite animal and the largest reptile in the world…the saltwater crocodile!
Q: What’s one thing I want people to get out of a Dino Buddies encounter?
A: My goal is for our guests to leave feeling like they’ve learned something new. I want kids to walk away feeling empowered, knowing the world is theirs to explore if they’re willing to be creative and work hard. Most importantly, I want everyone to see how incredible these animals are and to understand that they deserve love, respect, and kindness—no matter how intimidating they might seem.
🦎 Meet Kassandra Whittington
Director of Education & Research
Kassandra Whittington
I bring science and adventure together at Dino Buddies! I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Northern Kentucky University and play a key role in developing engaging, hands-on programs for learners of all ages.
I lead herpetological surveys at Gorman Heritage Farm, where I monitor ponds, flip tin, and search for Ohio’s native reptiles and amphibians. I also serve as an Animal Ambassador Keeper at the Cincinnati Zoo, expanding my passion for wildlife education even further.
Whether I’m designing a new program, finding a salamander in the field, or teaching kids why reptiles deserve our protection, my mission is clear: spark curiosity, share knowledge, and inspire a love for the wild.
🐍 Fun Facts About Kassandra:
🐟 What animal would you love to work with one day?
I would love to work with a shark species someday! They were a huge focus for me in college, and I never ended up working with them.
🦎 If you could have any animal superpower, what would it be?
I would love the ability to camouflage at any given moment!
🍬 Favorite snack to sneak in the van between programs?
Snow Caps!
🎶 What’s your go-to hype song before an event?
“On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons
🌎 What do you hope kids take away from our programs?
I hope kids learn that reptiles are vital to our ecosystems—and that they deserve our protection at all costs!
🐢 Meet Stephanie Heidorn
Director of Animal Science
I bring science and adventure together at Dino Buddies! I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Northern Kentucky University and play a key role in developing engaging, hands-on programs for learners of all ages.
I lead herpetological surveys at Gorman Heritage Farm, where I monitor ponds, flip tin, and search for Ohio’s native reptiles and amphibians. I also serve as an Animal Ambassador Keeper at the Cincinnati Zoo, expanding my passion for wildlife education even further.
Whether I’m designing a new program, finding a salamander in the field, or teaching kids why reptiles deserve our protection, my mission is clear: spark curiosity, share knowledge, and inspire a love for the wild.
🦎 Fun Facts About Stephanie:
🦎 If you were a reptile, what would you be?
I’d be a marine iguana. I love swimming, but I also love sitting in the sun to warm back up!
🌟 Favorite Dino Buddies moment?
Watching someone overcome a lifelong fear through learning about our animals. It’s incredible to see.
🐙 Dream animal to work with one day?
I would love to work with an octopus. Incredible intelligence comes in all forms!
🐍 Favorite Dino Buddies animal?
Our California Kingsnake, Dino! He’s still got some of his fiery baby snake energy, but he’s taught me so much about behavior and handling.
🦅 If you could have any animal superpower, what would it be?
The speed of a peregrine falcon—flight is already amazing, but going fast with the wind in my face would be the best!
💚 What do you hope kids take away from our programs?
I hope kids leave feeling empowered. Touching an animal you never thought you would is a powerful experience. It builds confidence and teaches empathy—showing them they have the ability to protect and care for other living beings.
🐍 Coral Fry — Program Coordinator
My love for wildlife started early — as a kid, you'd find me either glued to Animal Planet or out in a creek catching tadpoles. That passion grew into three years of volunteering with a local wildlife rehab organization, where I cared for opossums, raccoons, squirrels, skunks, bats, and foxes, and helped the public connect with our non-releasable ambassador animals.
I first walked up to the Dino Buddies booth at a festival just to see the animals — and left having found my calling. This year I've come full circle, working at the very same festival that inspired me to chase my childhood dream. I hope to inspire someone else to do the same.
Fun Facts About Coral
🦎 Favorite Ambassador: Patrick the Mexican Black King Snake — his coloration is so striking, and he's such a pleasant snake to handle.
✨ Favorite Moment: Watching someone touch a snake for the first time and realize it's smooth, not slimy — that "Hey, that's not so bad!" look never gets old.
🌊 Bucket List: Scuba diving with whale sharks
👋 Would love to meet: Steve Irwin, of course
🦜 Hope Fifer — Animal Handler & Dinosaur Performer
I've loved animals my whole life, and I turned that passion into a career, studying Animal Sciences with a concentration in Behavior & Well-being at Purdue. The summer of my junior year, I interned with the Cincinnati Zoo's Animal Ambassador department, fell head over heels for so many new species, and knew this was exactly what I wanted to do.
After graduating, I connected with the Dino Buddies team through a friend — and the rest is history. I still work with the Cincinnati Zoo's Wings of Wonder bird show team (longtime advocates for Dino Buddies!), and I'm always happy to jump in and share these animals with the world whenever I can.
Fun Facts About Hope
🐍 Favorite Ambassador: Any of the ball pythons — they're so chill and surprisingly calming to hold. If I ever got a pet reptile, it'd be a ball python.
💭 What I hope you take away: So many animals are misunderstood. They're far more intelligent and complex than we give them credit for, and learning to understand them helps us all share this Earth.
🎬 Favorite Animal Movie: Hotel for Dogs — pure childhood nostalgia
👋 Would love to meet: Robert (or Steve!) Irwin — the whole family is an inspiration to anyone in the wildlife world
🐊 James Leon Harris III — Nature Interpreter & Herpetology Specialist
My love for animals started at age three, when my dad found me holding a fistful of pill bugs and declared I'd grow up to be "like the Crocodile Hunter." I graduated from Miami University in 2017 and spent three and a half amazing years at the Cincinnati Zoo before the pandemic led me down a new path.
Outside of Dino Buddies, I work professionally as a Nature Interpreter, where I’ve developed extensive knowledge of Ohio’s biodiversity—from the smallest ant to the extinct mastodon. Over the years, I’ve developed a particular fascination with herpetology, the study of reptiles and amphibians. That passion, along with my love of helping others connect with wildlife, is exactly what led me to Dino Buddies.
Fun Facts About James
🐍 Favorite Ambassador: Oxana — I can talk about her (and rat snakes in general) for hours.
🌿 What I bring: Ohio biodiversity and natural history knowledge, from the tiniest insect to Ice Age giants.
💭 What I hope you take away: Respect for wildlife — animals don't exist to harm us; they each play a vital role in our ecosystem.
🤯 Mind-blowing fact: Daddy longlegs taste like vanilla — it's a defense mechanism against predators!
🌍 Dream destination: Anywhere in Africa
📸 Lindsay Porter — Director of Communications
I grew up on a farm surrounded by all kinds of animals, and from a young age I knew I wanted to build a career making a difference for wildlife. I began at the Cincinnati Zoo as a Wild Encounters Interpreter before stepping into a temporary keeper role in the Children's Zoo — experiences that taught me patience, adaptability, and just how meaningful it is to help people connect with animals.
From there, I discovered a second passion: creating content that informs, engages, and brings people together. That path eventually reconnected me with Tiffany and led me to Dino Buddies, where my love of animals, education, and storytelling all came together perfectly. Today, I get to share the stories of our animal ambassadors and help spark curiosity and appreciation for wildlife across our community.
Fun Facts About Lindsay
🐍 Favorite Ambassador: Carol — she acts big and bad, but she's a total sweetheart and the perfect introductory snake for anyone feeling nervous. (I also love our geckos — softer than anyone expects!)
🎥 What I bring: Creativity and a ground-level, non-scientific approach to animal education — bringing Dino Buddies to life on social media.
💭 What I hope you take away: A new understanding that every animal matters — whether it's a snake, a cockroach, or Speedy the Hinge-Back Tortoise, they all have a purpose.
🦕 Dino Sidekick of Choice: A Triceratops or a Pterosaur
🌍 Bucket List: An African safari
