The Team
Our team at Catskill Animal Sanctuary brings tremendous experience, visionary thinking and a shared commitment to excellence, creativity, innovation and the animals who call CAS home.
James Shackelford, APR, Interim President & Executive Director
James Shackelford, Interim President & Executive Director, joined the CAS Board to support the sanctuary and the many farmed animals who call it home. James previously served as Chairman of the CAS Board of Directors. An animal lover whose first great love, Molly, a rescued Catahoulan Cattle Dog, passed away in 2022, James brings 23 years of nonprofit leadership experience and previously served in global leadership roles supporting brands that include Microsoft, Walmart, Salesforce, Aon, and UNICEF. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Haitian Global Health Alliance, the Town Hall Theater in Times Square, and the Make Music Alliance.Michelle Hodge, Director of Education & Guest Experience
Michelle Hodge, Director of Experience, has been an animal lover since early childhood and vegan for nearly two decades. Michelle believes that being true to yourself and living your best life, while sharing with others, connects us to each other in a compassionate, meaningful way. For Michelle, there's nothing more rewarding than meeting fellow animal lovers, sharing stories with guests from all over the world, and connecting with folks as everyone enjoys a home cooked vegan meal. She brings this energy to our Homestead each day and welcomes every guest with compassion and kindness.Amber Moore, Development Manager
Amber Moore, Development Manager, has spent most of her career in business development - securing funds and strategic partnerships for both the private and non-profit sectors. She has also been volunteering for non-profits that range from animal welfare to domestic violence since the early age of 7. She is currently a “baby vegan” but has been a vegetarian since her older sister became one in 1998. When Amber is not working you can usually find her wandering in nature with her two dogs, foraging and mushroom hunting (responsibly of course).Mary Schiavone, Finance & Business Manager
Andrea Burritt, Director of Sanctuary Operations
Andrea, Sanctuary Managing Director, began her vegan journey back in 2007. When she found herself struggling to stay committed in 2015, she began volunteering at a farmed animal sanctuary. In doing so she not only renewed her reasons for being vegan, but found her passion for sanctuary work and giving rescued animals the life they always deserved. After spending 6 years working at farmed animal sanctuaries in the South and New England, Andrea joined CAS in 2021 as the Adoption and Transport Coordinator and was promoted to Sanctuary Operations Director in mid-2022. She is excited to take on a new role helping animals find loving homes so even more can be rescued. When she's not at the Sanctuary working, Andrea can often be found cuddled up with her senior dog Lola, or taking in all the beautiful sights New York has to offer.Lauren Hart, Marketing & Communications Manager
Nodira Akhmedova, Tour Guide
Nodira joined CAS in 2018 as a Tour Guide, a year after she became vegan. She is passionate about education as a tool for transformation to a kinder and more sustainable world. When not at CAS, Nodira works at the United Nations, and teaches yoga and Middle-Eastern dance. She started baking after becoming vegan, and now is working her way through Compassionate Cuisine cookbook. While loving all the animal residents at CAS, she shares special connection with Hermione, the goat.
Dominic Armao, Manager, Buildings & Grounds
Dominic, Animal Caregiver, joined CAS in October of 2022. He has been vegan since 1999 and is happy to have found a job caring for animals and return to the Mid-Hudson Valley after a long absence.Lauren Barbieri, Associate Director, Education
Lauren Barbieri, Associate Director of Education, first visited the Sanctuary in July 2015. This was also the first time she was able to connect with turkeys, goats, cows and other animals; this transformative experience led her to veganism and, in February 2017, to join the team. Today, with the goal of creating a kinder world for all beings, Lauren helps kids of all ages tap into their innate senses of compassion, fairness and justice.Sarah Beth, Manager, Sanctuary Tours
Sarah Beth joined CAS as a Tour Guide & Greeter in 2022 after volunteering with animal care since 2017. In May of 2023, she started full time as a Humane Educator and Merchandise Specialist, but is now our Tours Manager. Sarah became a vegetarian in the summer of 2016 (starting with educating others about the horse racing industry). After visiting her first farm sanctuary (CAS), she made an instant connection with Amos the cow—who stole her heart while giving her a big kiss on the cheek. She was a vegan within a few months of this visit. CAS's approach to educating others in a kind manner kept bringing her back and she is honored to help facilitate new human-animal relationships every weekend.Rich Bollin, Buildings & Grounds
Rich Bollin, Buildings and Grounds, hears his name on the radio about 150 times a day — “Rich, can you fix this door?” “Rich, the truck won't start!” “Rich, how soon can you build a barn!?” The man who can fix nearly anything especially enjoys the antics of Russell, the free-ranging pot-belly pig who races to the outer edge of the Sanctuary every morning to raid the compost pile. Rich also holds a special place in his heart for Leo, our special-needs goat, and always stops to give Leo some snuggles.Wendy Haberman, Tour Guide
Wendy joined CAS as a Tour Guide in 2021 after working as a physical therapist for 20+ years and raising 2 amazing children. At the age of 11, while living on a horse farm, she raised a gorgeous and loving little Jersey calf named Bonco, which lead to her being vegetarian for most of her adult life. Wendy has been vegan since 2017 and loves to help others onto that path as a health coach and a lover of all animals. When not leading tours at CAS, she loves to hike and kayak. She shares her home with Molly, a 16 year old dog rescued from Puerto Rico, and Thistle, a loving and very large “shoulder cat”. Sharing animal rescue stories with visitors as they meet the animals face to face – and then seeing the lights come on in their eyes – is one of Wendy’s greatest joys.Sophie Hoinoski, Healthcare Lead
Sophie, Healthcare Lead, joined the CAS family in December of 2022. She has been an animal lover since day one and working to heal animals, both physically and emotionally, to be her true calling in life. She has worked in veterinary hospitals with dogs and cats, interned at an avian wildlife hospital, and volunteered at a pig sanctuary. Working at CAS has been an entirely new and exciting experience for her and an absolute privilege getting to know and love all the unique animals that call the sanctuary home.Bari Johnson, Animal Caregiver
During my freshman year in college back in 2007, our class was visited by animal rights activist, Gary Yourofsky. His educational talk and video he shot and made himself of the conditions of factory farms completely altered me. I went fully vegan the first day of 2008. After that, I switched my career path from chemistry to animal rights philosophy.
My goal was to go to law school and use my merit to push for animal rights.
I ended up working as a paralegal for about six years and decided the legal field wasn’t for me, and I also discovered the beauty and sanctity of farm sanctuaries. I decided to fly to NYC and visit Woodstock back in 2013, and was introduced to a new path of animal liberation. In 2017 I moved to NYC from Florida and began working in the city as a bike messenger. In 2024, I moved to Kingston, NY where I was determined to work and volunteer on a farm sanctuary. Woodstock provided me an internship for a month and I realized how the work filled my soul and I couldn’t really see myself doing anything else. From there I led with curiosity to apply as an Animal Caregiver at Catskill Animal Sanctuary and it led me right where I was dreaming to be, tending to rescued farm animals and practicing the compassion I crave to see in others.
Lesley Johnson, Grants Specialist
Working as the Grants Specialist & Analyst at Catskill Animal Sanctuary is a dream come true for Lesley, who enjoys using her writing and research skills to help the most exploited animals on our planet. She is deeply passionate about this cause, as well as rescuing and caring for cats, and folding animal care laundry with a precision that has earned her the awe and admiration of her colleagues. Lesley's favorite Sanctuary resident to introduce to visitors is Bruce the Duck, who rivals any seasoned lap cat with the duration of his lap-time visits.
Isa Jones, Healthcare Lead
Healthcare Lead, Isa started working at CAS in October of 2021 as an animal healthcare assistant. They have some experience with exotic animals including reptiles, small mammals, and birds of prey, but are fairly new to caring for farmed animals. Their experience in human healthcare has been a huge help with their role at CAS. In their free time, Isa is an avid birder, enjoys taking care of their myriad of house plants and giving the best life possible to their three guinea pigs. Isa lives in Kingston with their partner Liam.Ana Kuprava, Tour Guide
Humane EducatorAndie Langlois, Animal Caregiver
Andie Langlois, Animal Caregiver, has just started her journey at CAS this past August after a 5 year run at a local horse barn. She has worked with horses her entire adult life and as a little girl wanted to be a veterinarian. Andie grew up riding and taking care of horses, raising chickens, and befriending cows. She has always been passionate about animals and animal rights. Andie is going back to school to study anthropology and environmental science in hopes to continue her work with animals and conservation. You can find Andie cuddling some sheep, joking with the Farrier, and rubbing some pig bellies. She is a wonderful new addition to CAS!Annie Motter
Animal Healthcare Support Annie has been putting her love of animals into practice since becoming a vegetarian at the age of 5. Her final step towards veganism was inevitable when she started as an intern at CAS in 2016. From intern to animal caregiver to healthcare manager to animal care director, Annie always seems to find herself drawn back to the incredible people, animals, and message that CAS represents. The welfare of humans, animals, and the planet we share is inextricably linked -- Annie is excited to help work towards a future where all three are equally important.Melissa Pullum, Sr. Animal Caregiver
Melissa Pullum, Senior Animal Caregiver, joined CAS in October 2021. She has always known that working with animals is her passion and has been working with them for the past 14 years. Graduating with a degree in Veterinary Technology, her career began working in animal hospitals and then transitioned to farm work in 2019, where she realized her love of working outdoors. Melissa’s dedication to veganism and advocacy for farmed animals led her to CAS. In her free time, Melissa enjoys going to concerts, reading mystery books, and cuddling with her rescue pug, Peaches.Lauren Rich, Tour Guide
Lauren, Tour Guide, fell in love with the sanctuary the moment she spotted a group of sheep basking in the sunshine. Carefree, they lay scattered on the hill by the road leading to the welcome hut. Seeing this reinforced her long-held belief that all animals deserve to be this happy. Less than a year later, Lauren joined the Humane Education team to do her part in making the world a better place for animals. Prior to this first sanctuary visit, Lauren transitioned to Vegan after seeing the documentary, Earthlings, in 2017. When she’s not at the sanctuary, Lauren enjoys hiking, power yoga, tennis and snuggles with her rescue dog, Hope.Megan Sisti, Animal Care Manager
Megan joined the CAS team in July 2022 as an Animal Caregiver and is now the Animal Care Manager. Growing up she has always had a love for animals, to the point where she has always dreamed of working with them when she grew up. As a kid she never thought this could be achievable, until she went to college and decided to pursue her childhood dream of working with animals. Megan is proud to say that she made her dream into a reality, and is thrilled to be on a team that puts compassion for all species above all else. Her favorite part of working with animals is getting to know their unique personalities! When Megan is not at CAS you can find her with friends playing board games, swimming, or hiking, as she loves being outside in nature.Rebecca Shaw, Sr. Development Associate
Rebecca Shaw, Senior Development Associate, first began her journey with CAS in 2011 as a Camp Kindness attendee. At the young age of 8 she immediately fell in love with all of the animal residents, including beloved Rambo and Tucker, and started advocating for animal rights. She rejoined the Sanctuary’s team in 2022 as an Animal Care volunteer and Communications Intern, and shortly after accepted her current position - offering aid to donors and sponsors. She is excited to continue her work fighting for animal rights and promoting a compassionate and sustainable lifestyle. When she is not at the Sanctuary, you can usually find her snuggling with her dog, Cooper, and cat, Carly...aka the best snuggle partners.Kathy Stevens, Founder
Kathy Stevens, Founder, views the Sanctuary as the embodiment of her two greatest passions: animals and teaching. While Kathy speaks, writes and raises money in support of our work, her greatest joy is in connecting good-hearted people with the animals we love, then stepping back to watch as the animals work their magic and change human lives. Her second greatest joy? Kissing pigs.The Board of Directors
The Catskill Animal Sanctuary’s Board of Directors hail from diverse backgrounds and organizations, bringing an inclusive range of knowledge, perspective and experience to guide and drive long-term planning to the sanctuary.
