Kathy Stevens
Founder and Director
Kathy Stevens, Founder and Director of CAS, spent her childhood on a Virginia horse farm. Kathy moved to Boston for graduate school, and after a decade of teaching high school English, she was asked to head a charter school. Instead, one year later, she opened Catskill Animal Sanctuary, one of the country's leading havens for farm animals and a center for raising public awareness of their sentience and their suffering. She is the author of two critically and popularly-acclaimed books, Where the Blind Horse Sings and Animal Camp, a regular blogger on farm animal issues for the Huffington Post, and a frequent contributor to books and articles on farm animals, vegan living, and related issues. Kathy lives behind the barn with her dog Hannah and her cats Fat Boy and Mouse. She's an avid reader, loves to hike, swim, and bike, and spends rare quiet time with her partner David and her close friends.
Julie Barone
Business Manager
Julie was born and raised in Ulster County, New York, and holds degrees in Mathematics, Interactive Multi-Media Technology, and Nutrition. Her formal training serves her well, as she runs the main office and handles everything from database administration, online and printed communications, financial book keeping, the volunteer program, and animal intake and adoptions. When she's not on the farm, Julie can be found hitting the heavy bag at the local muay thai kickboxing gym, studying aromatherapy, expanding her private practice as a holistic health counselor, and taking long walks with her beautiful dog, Gabriella.
Michelle Alvarez
Outreach Director
Born and raised in New York City, Michelle joined the staff in 2009, after volunteering for over a year. Her responsibilities include recruiting new supporters, overseeing CAS's fundraising efforts, increasing public awareness of CAS, and planning special events. Prior to CAS, Michelle spent over a decade as a public interest lawyer, with a focus on environmental justice litigation and policy initiatives. When she's not at the farm, Michelle can be found in New York City with her partner and their four rescued cats, where she obsessively practices samurai sword fighting and kickboxing. She also enjoys off-road mountain biking and white water rafting.
Leah Craig Chumbley
Communications Director & Assistant to the Director
A North Carolina native, Leah Craig graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in Communications and minor in Non-Profit Studies. Her commitment to working with non-profit organizations and deep passion for animal welfare brought her to CAS. Leah Craig's duties include handling media relations, managing CAS's online and printed communications, increasing public awareness of CAS, and assisting with outreach and programs. Leah Craig also provides much needed administrative support to Director Kathy Stevens. She moved to NY in 2011 and loves exploring the great restaurants, stores, outdoor activities, and music scene that make the Hudson Valley region so special!
Melissa Gates
Director of Programs
Melissa is a Vermont native who comes to CAS from Maine, where she was the Founding Director of Animal Rights Maine. She is a longtime vegan and community organizer for animals, people and the planet, with nearly two decades of experience in the field. At CAS, Melissa oversees the design and implementation of our educational programs, including Camp Kindness, tours, speaking engagements, special events, and Compassionate Cuisine. When not engrossed in her work, Melissa can often be seen out & about advocating for justice, hiking, exploring New York's live music scene or snuggling up by her fireplace with some great jazz, a good book & feline friends Eden-Shade, Mama Shed, Sumo Monster & Cito Mosquito Fernandez Jones. Once settled, Melissa plans to study with Woodstock Aikido & the Zen Mountain Monastery.
Caleb Fieser
Construction Manager & Carpenter
Caleb grew up in Germantown, NY. He was raised learning and perfecting carpentry from his father, who has done restoration work with Historic Hudson Valley for many years. Caleb leads CAS's construction projects including: the Homestead, CAS at 32, and the building and maintenance of barns and shelters. He is also responsible for the overall upkeep of our grounds. Caleb has renovated old farmhouses, and loves to kayak and craft furniture.
Kathy Keefe
Farm Manager
A small business owner/manager for many years, Kathy joined the CAS crew part-time in 2006. She has served in many different volunteer and staff roles since then, and we are thrilled to have her join us full-time! As Farm Manager, Kathy oversees the daily care of all of our animals and manages barn staff and volunteers. Kathy lives in Catskill with her beloved dogs, ducks, cats, and partner Alex. In her free time she enjoys hiking, reading, watching movies, gardening, and talking to her favorite person: her 22 year old daughter.
Ciara Fiack
Animal Care Director
Ciara grew up in the Capay Valley of Northern California. She received her degree in Animal Science from Colorado State University, studying at the school's highly esteemed large-animal veterinary teaching hospital. After college she completed her graduate thesis work in Hawaii and Alaska. Most recently, Ciara worked at the University of California at Davis' veterinary teaching hospital where she concentrated on large animals. As the Animal Care Director at CAS, Ciara serves as liaison between CAS and local veterinarians, implements health care regimens, monitors the well-being of the animals, and manages the animals' diets. When she’s not working, she loves to dote on her cats and dogs, play tennis, go camping and hang out by the ocean. She is currently working towards her PhD in Animal Science.
Zach Desch
Animal Care Staff
Zach grew up in New Paltz, NY and now lives in the Kingston, NY area. He came to CAS in 2010 and is responsible for animal feed routes, cleaning shelter areas, maintaining farm vehicles and equipment, and assisting with carpentry and plumbing projects. When he’s off the clock, Zach likes to work on cars, go four-wheeling, hike, and camp.
Robyn Welty
Animal Care Staff
Robyn, an Ulster County native, moved back to the area after spending 20 years on the west coast where she was a holistic health practitioner. A vegan for the past 10 years, Robyn was drawn to CAS's mission and became a weekend volunteer. Robyn is responsible for animal feed routes, cleaning shelter areas and assisting with animal health care. She is a movie and music enthusiast who lives in West Hurley with her cat Jabel-Ja.
Jeff Kirby
Newly transplanted to the Hudson Valley, Jeff enjoys music, gardening, and cooking with his multi-species family. Although an avid traveler in a previous life, Jeff now spends more of his time getting to know the food, nature and people of this area. He has found a very nice crew of colleagues and friends at the sanctuary and has high hopes to train the "broiler hen soccer team" to a YouTube caliber. The most peaceful part of his job is when he gets to walk Bobo out to her run in the morning.
