Chris Amendt

Chris Amendt, the founder of Native Monarchs and Monarch Botanika, is a dedicated advocate for the natural world and a tireless champion of Monarch butterfly conservation. She holds degrees in Cytotechnology from CSU, Dominguez Hills and UCLA, specializing in identifying cells and abnormalities, including cancer. Certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and trained as a Specialist in Cytotechnology, she spent over two decades diagnosing cancer cells in a medical testing laboratory and earned a Platinum Project Management Certification.

Despite her successful medical career, Chris felt a deep longing to have a more meaningful impact on the environment. Raised by her grandmother, “Grammy” Betty, who instilled a love for wildlife and the outdoors, Chris's childhood was filled with science projects involving butterflies, caterpillars, birds, and plants. Her grandmother encouraged her not just to play in the backyard but to explore, respect, and support the wildlife there. This early connection to nature became the basis of her life's work.