We are the Fossil Team
We started with just a small collection of fossils, bones (which we call "biofacts"), and a whole lot of passion. Now, as our collection grows, we want to share it with you through fun educational classes, adventures, and art. Our moto "Education for the present, from the past" refers to all the amazing things we will talk about through our classes! Down below you will meet our team members, give it a once over then head over to our classes page to learn about the amazing world we live in!
Our founder, resident Paleontologist, and lead educator, Nico has had a lifelong passion for all things furry, scaley, and feathery. Along with the study of paleontology, he’s spent many hours working with big animals like lions, crocodiles, and elephants, and many hours out in the woods tracking, teaching survival skills, and rock/fossil hunting. Using his wide range of skills, he brings a ton of enthusiasm and excitement to his lessons.
Nico Spadafora
AT A GLANCE:
Favorite Animal… African Elephant (Loxodonta africana), Cougar (Puma concolor)
Favorite Dinosaur… T. rex (Tyrannosaurus rex), Therizinosaurus (Therizinosaurus cheloniformis)
Favorite Megafauna… Sabertooth Cat (Smilodon fatalis), American Lion (Panthera atrox)
Hodari is not only a wealth of knowledge in all things paleo, he draws really well too! Hodari is a professional paleoartist and has been lending his skills and art to The Fossil Team for years. His art can be seen in our information displays with our fossils and in his own website (www.hodarinundu.com - coming soon) or in his social accounts. When he isn’t drawing paleoart or researching paleontology, Hodari can be found in the wilds of Mexico searching for it’s local wildlife.
Hodari has his own Youtube channel highlighting his own artwork and fascinating paleo news, to see his work, go to https://www.youtube.com/@hodarinundu
Hodari Nundu
AT A GLANCE:
Favorite Animal… Jaguar (Panthera onca)
Favorite Dinosaur… Carnotaurus (Carnotaurus sastrei)
Favorite Megafauna… The Cookie Cutter Cat (Xenosmilus hodsonae), Wolverine Shark (Hemipristis serra), Giant Sea Serpent (Palaeophis colossaeus)
Will is a talented musician, photographer, and all around amazing guy. His skill will come in plenty handy when developing and writing music for the films we will be providing in the future. He is also a skilled model maker and plans to help develop models that will coincide with the exhibits we show! Will has also provided many fossil donations to the museum collections.
will Goble
AT A GLANCE:
Favorite Animal… Little Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor), Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
Favorite Dinosaur… Spinosaurus (Spinosaurus aegyptiacus)
Favorite Megafauna… Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius)
Cody has worked with animals for over a decade and is a talented educator. He has an affinity for the normally unloved in reptiles and insects and has been with the Fossil Team since 2019. His love for wildlife shows through the classes he teaches and the work he does outside of Fossil Team with the Oregon Zoo. Cody specializes in modern animals and when partnered with our paleontologists, the classes can get real wild. Outside of work, you can find Cody adventuring with his wife and son around Portland and the greater outdoors.
Cody fort
AT A GLANCE:
Favorite Animal… Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus),
Favorite Dinosaur… Spinosaurus (Spinosaurus aegyptiacus)
Favorite Megafauna… Terminator Pig (Daeodon shoshonensis), Terror Bird (Titanis walleri)
Heather started working in wildlife management in college and has provided her time and knowledge to make classes with Fossil Team educational, interesting, and tons of fun! Her skills with the ecology of Oregon’s environment and her love for the animals that inhabit it make her a perfect fit. You can catch her in the occasional class on the PNW!
Heather Goble
AT A GLANCE:
Favorite Animal… Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)
Favorite Dinosaur… Triceratops (Triceratops horridus)
Favorite Megafauna… Giant Beaver (Castoroides ohioensis)