Dr. Carlos Rivera
Senior Veterinarian
Over a decade of small-animal practice specialising in preventive care, soft-tissue surgery, and behavioural medicine for dogs, cats, and small mammals.
Preventive careSoft-tissue surgeryBehavioural medicine
Our people
Meet the Team
Passionate specialists across domestic, exotic, and marine life care — united by one mission.
Chief Executive Officer
Leadership
Karen Russo
Chief Executive Officer
Karen Russo's love for animals started at the age of eight, when she began caring for every creature she could find — from stray cats in her neighbourhood to the fish in her bedroom tank. That childhood passion never left her. With over 20 years of experience spanning veterinary practice management, wildlife conservation, and animal welfare policy, Karen has built Blue Exotica Specialists Team from a two-room clinic into Miami's most trusted full-spectrum animal care centre.
Before founding Blue Exotica, Karen served as Director of Animal Welfare at the Florida Wildlife Commission and held senior roles at two of the country's leading exotic animal sanctuaries. She holds an MBA from the University of Miami and a postgraduate certificate in Conservation Leadership from the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Karen's leadership philosophy is simple: hire people who are better than you, give them the tools they need, and get out of their way. She remains hands-on with the rescue programme and can often be found in the marine wing on a Friday morning, helping the team with water quality checks.
20+
Years in animal care
3
Specialist departments built
600+
Animals rehomed
Experts who truly care
Our team is organised into three specialist departments, each staffed by dedicated professionals trained in their field. Whether your companion is a golden retriever, a ball python, or a reef shark — we have the right expert for them.
Domestic animals
Domestic Animal Team
Priya Nair
Certified Veterinary Technician
Lead vet tech with expertise in anaesthesia monitoring, IV therapy, and client education. Special passion for rabbit and guinea pig care.
AnaesthesiaIV therapySmall mammals
James Thornton
Boarding & Daycare Supervisor
Oversees our boarding and daycare facilities ensuring every domestic animal feels safe and comfortable. Certified in animal behaviour and enrichment.
Boarding managementAnimal enrichmentBehaviour
Exotic animals
Exotic Animal Team
Dr. Amara Osei
Lead Exotic & Wildlife Veterinarian
14 years treating rare reptiles, tropical birds, and exotic mammals. Residency at the National Wildlife Institute with specialist certification in exotic animal medicine.
Reptile medicineAvian surgeryExotic mammals
Marcus Webb
Animal Control & Wildlife Officer
Licensed officer with 8 years of field experience in humane wildlife capture, urban wildlife management, and community safety response.
Wildlife captureUrban wildlifeCommunity safety
Sofia Delgado
Rescue & Adoption Coordinator
Leads our exotic rescue programme, coordinating with shelters, foster networks, and rehabilitation centres. Has helped rehome over 600 animals.
Rescue coordinationFoster networksRehabilitation
Marine life
Marine Life Team
Dr. Lena Hartmann
Marine Biologist & Aquatic Vet
Specialist in aquatic animal medicine with a PhD in marine biology. Experienced in treating sharks, rays, tropical fish, and coral reef ecosystems.
Aquatic medicineShark & ray careReef ecosystems
Kai Nakamura
Marine Habitat Specialist
Expert in aquarium design, water quality management, and marine species husbandry for both private collectors and commercial marine displays.
Water qualityHabitat designMarine husbandry
Yara Santos
Marine Rescue Coordinator
Coordinates marine animal rescue and rehabilitation, working with coastal wildlife agencies to respond to stranded or injured marine life.
Marine rescueCoastal wildlifeRehabilitation
Want to join our team?
We're always looking for passionate animal care professionals across all three departments.