Staff & Bios

Meet some of the staff and managers of Best Friends.

Animal Care

Patty Hegwood, Director of Animal Care
Dr. Michael Dix, Clinic Medical Director
Dr. Patti Iampietro, Veterinarian
Dr. Tara Timpson, Veterinarian
Dr. Debra Nicholson, Veterinarian
Dr. Franklin McMillan, Veterinarian, Director of Well Being Studies
Susan Kesling, Clinic Manager
Jeff Popowich, Animal Care Operations Manager
Steve Scheurich, Parrot Garden Manager
Michelle Besmehn, Dogtown Co-Manager
John Garcia, Dogtown Co-Manager
Jen Reid, Horse Haven Manager
Bobbie Foster, Cat World Manager
Debby Widolf, Bunny House Manager
Yvonne McIntosh, Piggy Paradise Manager
Sherry Woodard, Animal Behavior and Training Manager
Ann Allums, Certified Pet Dog Trainer
Pat Whitacre, Certified Pet Dog Trainer
Jen Severud, Certified Pet Dog Trainer
Tamara Dormer, Certified Pet Dog Trainer
Kristi Littrell, Adoptions Manager
Kalene Craddock, Volunteer Manager
Carmen Smith, Wild Friends Manager

Sanctuary and Canyon Operations

Glen Reid, Director of the Canyon
James Quinby, Landscaping Manager
Ross Hartill, Maintenance Manager
John Goodell, Utilities Manager
Kathi McDermott, Welcome Center/Lodging Manager
Nicholas Meyeres, Dining and Kitchen Manager

Community Programs and Services

Julie Castle, Director of Community Programs and Services
Anna Gonce, Associate Director of Community Programs and Services
Judah Battista, Associate Director of Community Programs and Services
Sandy Passmore, Manager of Humane Education
Elizabeth Oreck, L.A. Programs Manager
Liz Finch, NMHP Manager
Nicole Anderson Sharp, Campaigns Manager
Liz Finch, NMHP Manager
Richard Crook, Rapid Response Manager

Development

Aileen Walden, Senior Manager of Stewardship and Donor Relations
Debbie McCullough, Grants & Corporate Relations
Melissa Steimer, Interim Director of Development
Tamara Berry, Planned Giving Manager
Carragh Glover, Membership Relations Manager
Terri Shoemaker, Annual Fund Manager
Christine Lockmon, Relationship Research Manager

Finance & Administration

Marsha Tupper, Human Resources Manager
Wade Peatross, Information Technology Manager
Mike Lindley, Information Services Manager
Holly Harris Reid, Director of Finance and Administration

Communications and Media

John Polis, Public Relations Manager
Barbara Williamson, Media Relations Manager
Carla Davis, Editor, Best Friends magazine
Eric Evans, Creative Director
Kate Schnepel, Interim Communications Director
Elissa Jones, Video Managing Producer
Denise LeBeau, Web Managing Editor

Marketing

Vicki Kilmer-Rinker, Interim Director
Namrata Chand, Cause Marketing Manager
Sliva Battista, Celebrity Relations Program Manager
Jon Dunn, Online Marketing/New Media Program Manager
Amber Ayers, Marketing Plan Management
Claudia Perrone, Event Marketing Program Manager
Lori Bernath, Sanctuary Programs Manager
Christina Guyette, Senior Manager, Promotions Management, Marketing