about Morris Animal Foundation » staff
Our MAF team genuinely loves animals and has a passion to serve them, improve their lives, and enhance the human-animal bond that elevates our spirit.
Staff Pets
Allen Byrne with his dog Hank
Carol Baptiste's cat Buzz
Carol Baptiste's dog Kato
Carol Baptiste's cat Tugboat
Cherie Cassel's cats Gizmo and Pyara
Cherie Cassel's dogs Jessie and Dutcher
Cherie Cassel's horse Lucky
Paul Raybould with his dogs Ceilia and Spencer
Darcy Nelson's cat Tigger
David Riggs' dog Cassie
Gloria Davidson's dog Anny
Heather Grimshaw with her dogs Maggie & Mollie
Heather Grimshaw's dogs Maggie & Mollie
Heidi Jeter's cat Pandora
Heidi Jeter's cat Sasha
Jenny Herren's dog Sonny
Karen Tiemeier's dog Sammy
Kristin Benjamin's dog Chester
Linda Golden's dog Guinness
Linda Golden's dog Guinness
Linda Golden's cats Friend & Eliza
Michael Burke and his dog Rocket
Michael Burke and his dog Rocket
Nancy Clark's cats Onora and Kameko
Nancy Clark's horse Capaill
Nancy Clark's dog Candy
Patricia Olson and her dogs Socrates and Emma
Rachel Kulkarni and her dog Buck
Rachel Kulkarni and her fish Neptune
Tina Martinez's dog Presley
Tina Martinez's dog Bonita
Tobie McPhail's cat George
Tobie McPhail's dog Lloyd
Vicki Fragasso and her dog Moby
Favorite pet photos are all over our offices. Frequently we celebrate pet birthdays, pet milestones, and animal health successes. We believe this is a special place to work.
And by the way, the MAF staff includes many of the most talented and respected professionals working in science, animal health, nonprofit, or private business.
EXECUTIVE
Patricia N. Olson, DVM, PhD
President/CEOPet/Animal Interests: Dr. Olson has three dogs: Emma, a Labrador retriever; Socrates, a golden retriever; and Otis Jr., a Boston terrier.
Hobbies/Passions: Photography (flowers), poetry, painting (tulips).
Business/Professional Background: Dr. Olson is a veterinarian, scientist and savvy businesswoman and CEO. She is a highly sought–after speaker and counselor to organizations and governmental agencies around the world. Dr. Olson has an extensive history in nonprofit work, including positions at Guide Dogs for the Blind and the American Humane Association. She also served as an AVMA Congressional Science Fellow and has taught at three veterinary colleges. Dr. Olson helped establish many programs that foster the human–animal bond – from preventing animal and child abuse to promoting humane dog–training methods to consulting for governments and industries on humane and healthful transportation of animals worldwide. She has won numerous awards for her work, which include efforts to address pet overpopulation and the relinquishment of unwanted animals. She is one of the co–founders of the National Council on Pet Population and Policy.
Debby Altendorf
Executive Assistant
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Michael Burke
Vice President of Marketing and CommunicationsPet/Animal Interests: Michael and wife, Diana, are pet parents to Rocket – an odd–shaped, long and loveable bassett hound/German shepherd mix (designer dog) – adopted from the Dumb Friends League. Growing up, Michael had as many as nine dogs and four cats, all rescued as either abused or abandoned. He helped with arctic fox and polar bear health welfare programs related to his work in Russia and on the Hudson Bay in Canada.
Hobbies/Passions: Walking with Diana and Rocket in the park and watching Rocket enjoy his 15–member canine playgroup; counseling problem pet owners on issues of proper care; reading a lot of history; striving to work out daily; and traveling to historic sites.
Business/Professional Background: Michael's 30 years of experience in marketing and communications include serving as senior vice president for a global acquisitions and operations firm; senior vice president, worldwide marketing and sales, at an NYSE firm; and senior positions at two international marketing and advertising agencies. A member of the World Trade Center Denver Board of Directors, in 2002 Michael was honored as the "Business Marketing Association Colorado Communicator of the Year."
Heidi Jeter
Director of CommunicationsPets/Animal Interests: Heidi and her husband, Luke, are ruled by their two tabby cats: Pandora and Sasha. Over the years, she has shared her home with cats, dogs, birds, mice, hamsters, and guinea pigs. The unexpected loss of her first cat, Bailey – a mere eight years old – prompted Heidi to join MAF. Her furry felines continue to inspire her to make the world a healthier place for animals.
Hobbies/Passions: Heidi loves Colorado because the weather is perfect for outdoor activities like cycling, hiking, running and gardening. She and her husband have visited Europe a number of times and hope to expand their travels to other areas of the world. Their latest passion is their daughter, Symone, born in November 2007.
Business/Professional Background: Heidi has more than 10 years of journalism and communications experience. Her career began as a writer/copyeditor for a weekly paper in the Midwest. She then spent three years in the news and public affairs office of a state university. After Heidi received her master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University, she and her husband moved to Colorado, where she worked as the managing editor of a weekly business–to–business magazine for three years prior to coming to MAF in 2003.
Tina M. Martinez
Marketing ManagerPet/Animal Interests: Tina has been a pet lover all of her life – she especially loves monkeys. Her parents currently have a Shih Tzu named Presley (after Elvis – mom is a super fan). They also cared for and loved a West Highland White Terrier, Bonita for about 14 years and her memory will live in their hearts forever. Tina plans to adopt a puppy as soon as she has a yard, but until then she will continue to care for her fish.
Hobbies/Passions: Spending time with her boyfriend, friends, and family is Tina's priority. She loves to travel, read magazines and shop for shoes.
Business/Professional Background: Tina is a 2004 graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a double major in speech communication and journalism with an emphasis in public relations and advertising. Prior to joining MAF, she worked for a year and a half as the sales and marketing assistant for an HR software company.
Heather Grimshaw
Market Development Specialist/Director of Veterinary OutreachPets/Animal Interests: Maggie and Mollie, Labrador retriever siblings, are canine kids to Heather and Jim, who strive daily to deserve them. Their sweet faces brighten every day.
Hobbies/Passions: In addition to romping with the girls, Heather loves to cook, eat, and read. She recently launched a website titled Localcravings.com with friend and cohort Christine Emming to highlight all of the wonderful food options around Colorado.
Business/Professional Background: Before coming to the Morris Animal Foundation, Heather wrote and edited articles for the American Animal Hospital Association, and has worked in the publishing field for about 15 years. She has reported on the veterinary industry for the last five years, and finds the work both personally and professionally rewarding. In addition to writing pet–related articles, Heather is a frequent contributor to the Denver Post and several other regional and national publications.
Jenny Herren
Marketing and Communications SpecialistPets/Animal Interests: Jenny and her husband share their home with Sonny, a golden retriever, and Jack, a tortie cat.
Hobbies/Passions: Walking Sonny, spending time with family and friends, biking, and reading.
Business/Professional Background: Prior to coming to MAF, Jenny was a program manager for a direct–mail marketing company.
Kristin Benjamin
Technical Communications AdvisorPets/Animal Interests: Kristin's family of pets includes her pug, Chester; a 70–pound lap dog, Roper; and six paint horses, two of which are "home bred."
Hobbies/Passions: Her hobbies and passions include her family, breeding and showing horses, and championing for the survival of the mountain gorilla and other primates. She likes to "dink" around on the computer, dabbles with photography, and enjoys traveling. Africa is her passion.
Business/Professional Background: Kristin has been with Morris Animal Foundation since 1988 and managed the grant program for 12 years. She has a degree in anthropology from Colorado State University.
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS AND ADVANCEMENT
Tobie McPhail
Director of Scientific Programs & AdvancementPets/Animal Interests: Tobie is proud pet parent to Lloyd McPhail, a golden retriever, and George McPhail, a golden tabby cat. She has had animals her entire life, including dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, horses, fish, and a miniature goat.
Hobbies/Passions: Volunteering in the community, running, collecting Mexican folk art, watching edgy films, and spending time with my family are all fave pastimes.
Business/Professional Background: Tobie has worked in the nonprofit arena since 1997, primarily in animal–related nonprofits. She began her career at Canine Companions for Independence, an assistance–dog school in California. She earned a master's degree in marriage and family counseling and worked for a time as a family therapist. Tobie was lured back to working in an animal–related nonprofit by the Denver Zoo in 2002 and has been with Morris Animal Foundation since 2004.
Cherie Cassel
Grants SpecialistPets/Animal Interests: Cherie and husband Ray have a very full, fur–family, which consists of two miniature horses – Lucky, the blanket Appaloosa (aka Goofy–loosa), and Ebony, who is black with shades of red. They are also the proud parents of two dogs – Jessie, a shetland sheepdog, and Dutcher, a miniature Australian shepherd (named after the awesome wildlife photographer Jim Dutcher); three cats – Citara, Cymric Manx; Gizmo, Cymric Manx; and Pyara, Bengal. They also have a bi–polar parrotlet named Darth Beakie who has their three cats terrified.
Hobbies/Passions: Spending time with her husband at their home on two acres in Parker, Colorado, and taking care of their animal family, home, and property. They trained their horse Lucky to pull a cart and then brought home his buddy Ebony who was already a pro at pulling a cart. Cherie and Ray enjoy taking the horses out and riding in the carts all over the area near where they live. They are continually training their horses and, when they finally become successful at convincing Lucky he should ride calmly in the horse trailer, they plan to take the horses and carts to various parks. In addition to "horsing around" they also enjoy dog training and dog agility. Their dogs love agility training; it is a wonderful activity to do with them, and it gives them great exercise. Cherie and Ray both volunteer for a bird of prey education organization called HawkQuest. They have spent many years helping to care for the birds, writing grants and assisting with HawkQuest's education outreach programs.
Business/Professional Background: For more than 20 years, Cherie has channeled her passion for animals and the environment by working with environmental and animal–related organizations, such as the Colorado Wildlife Federation, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, HawkQuest and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She was a participant in the hearings to reintroduce wolves to Yellowstone National Park and received a personal commendation from former U.S. Representative Pat Schroeder for her efforts to help designate the Rocky Mountain Arsenal as a wildlife refuge. Presently as a volunteer grant writer, she raises tens of thousands of dollars every year for HawkQuest.
Allen Byrne
Veterinary Student Scholars Program CoordinatorPets/Animal Interests: Allen has a black hound/lab mix named Hank. Growing up primarily in Michigan, Allen has always had at least one dog and one cat as family members. Allen's love of animals came from his Dr. Doolittle–esque mom who adopted and rescued any animal who needed it.
Hobbies/Passions: Playing frisbee and hiking with Hank, outdoors, sports, live music, working in the community, animals, education, reading, movies, and travel.
Business/Professional Background: Allen has worked in the Denver community for the past four years. The last two years he has worked as a community organizer with a Colorado statewide, public school advocacy non–profit organization. A graduate of Michigan State University, Allen has also taught English in Taiwan and completed one year of service with AmeriCorps VISTA. Allen's passion for animals, education, and the community has brought him to Morris Animal Foundation.
GIFTS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Paul Raybould
Vice President of Gifts and Business DevelopmentPet/Animal Interests: Paul was born just outside of London and grew up in Australia and Africa, which fostered his love of animals, especially dogs and wildlife. He and his wife, Susan, have two Irish setters: Ceilia who is 3 and Spencer 11. Animals of all kinds are a big part of their lives.
Hobbies/Passions: He and his wife have lived all over the world, including three years in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. They also lived in South Africa together and all over the United States, including Hawaii. Their hobbies are dancing Latin & Ballroom. His other hobby is playing the piano. He loves the outdoors, hiking and camping with his dogs. He and his wife are also PADI certified rescue divers.
Business/Professional Background: Paul has more than 20 years of business development experience within diverse cultural and business environments, working for companies in a variety of industries including aerospace, automotive, marine, telecommunications, oil and gas, and communications. Most recently he was the vice president of business development for Avchem Inc., a $50 million company in St. Louis, Mo., that provides chemical management solutions to the aerospace industry. After he and his wife first met, they worked at the Wildlife Waystation in Los Angeles.
Rachel Kulkarni
Associate Major Gifts OfficerPets/Animal Interests: Rachel grew up with a Brittany spaniel (a hunting dog) named Buck, who is now 13 years old and living with Rachel's parents in Wisconsin. Her current roommate is her faithful Beta, Neptune, who has diligently moved with her three times this year.
Rachel became passionate about animal health and welfare at an early age when she adopted a penguin, Big Bird, from a local zoo. Over the years, she has volunteered with the Humane Society and the Colorado Horse Rescue. Though she loves animals of all kinds, her favorite is the hippopotamus.
Hobbies/Passions: Something is always in the oven at Rachel's! She loves to try out new recipes and make up her own. She is an ardent reader of classic literature but is also absolutely obsessed with Harry Potter. She enjoys traveling and has been to more than 20 different countries in the Caribbean, South America, Africa, and Asia. She moved to Colorado in 2002 and instantly fell in love with the mountains. She is looking forward to hiking her first fourteener but will have to settle for improving her ridiculous skiing skills this winter.
Business/Professional Background: A recent graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, Rachel has worked as the marketing associate at a regional book–publishing company and as the special event coordinator for a local nonprofit organization.
Karen Tiemeier
Donor Relations ManagerPets/Animal Interests: Karen is a Colorado native. She and her husband, Neil, reside in Lone Tree, Colorado with their fur–child, Sammy, an Australian shepherd /chow mix, they adopted from the Denver Dumb Friends League.
Hobbies/Passions: Bicycling, hiking, working out, volunteering, spending time with Neil and Sammy.
Business/Professional Background: Karen has more than 15 years of customer service management experience. She previously managed the corporate customer service department for Archstone, a real estate management company and also has experience in the payroll, education, and cellular industries.
Gloria Davidson
Planned Giving AssociatePets/Animal Interests: Gloria adopted a Basenji, named Anny from the Colorado Basenji Rescue; she grew up around dogs, mainly Doberman. Her favorite animal is the Beluga Whale.
Hobbies/Passions: When at home Gloria will be watching either Food Network Channel or Animal Planet. She enjoys reading true crime books, art history, taking Anny to the dog park, and is always looking for a scrumptious dessert. Her favorite sport is College Basketball; favorite team is the UCLA Bruins. She also volunteers with the Colorado Basenji Rescue by taking pictures of available adoptable dogs.
Business/Professional Background: Gloria is a UC Irvine Graduate–bachelor's degree in Psychology & Social Behavior; bachelor's degree in Criminology. She had extensive non–profit fundraising experience with annual campaigns, special events, capital campaign, major gifts, and board development while working with the YMCA of Orange County. Recently moved to Colorado from Southern California and looking forward to changing seasons and Bronco games!
Dave Riggs
Study Sponsorship CoordinatorPets/Animal Interests: Dave is a "pet guardian" to Cassie, a Rhodesian mix, adopted from the humane society. Dave is also a lover of wildlife and is thrilled to see animals on his trips into the wilderness or even around the neighborhood.
Hobbies/Passions: Dave's passions include the outdoors, enjoying Colorado's incredible mountains, hiking, rock climbing, cycling around Denver, and reading fiction.
Business/Professional Background: Prior to working at Morris Animal Foundation, Dave served as the assistant director of a nonprofit in New Mexico, organizing grassroots humanitarian and environmental groups around the world. Dave also helped start and coordinate a homeless education program in central Oregon. Dave brings an affinity for, and skills in, grant writing and partnership building. He is a master's candidate in the Nonprofit Management program at Regis University.
Vicki Fragasso
Director, Major GiftsPets/Animal Interests: Vicki has one dog – Moby – Rottweiler/Labrador mix who has hiked more than five Colorado fourteeners and enjoys sleeping.
Hobbies/Passions: Helping animals is her passion. Running, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing and walking the dog.
Business/Professional Background: For–profit and non–profit background in development, marketing and sales/business development. She is excited to have the opportunity to combine her experience with her passion for animals and to be working for Morris Animal Foundation.
Christy Oakes
Donor Relations Specialist
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
John Taylor
Chief Operating OfficerPets/Animal Interests: John and wife Debra currently have two cats and a dog – down, due to allergies, from a high of four cats and a dog. All the pets were strays. Ruffle Bear is a big black S/H diabetic cat; he enjoys carrying around a stuffed walrus and yowling at the same time. Chui Chui is a small L/H tortoiseshell that enjoys sleeping on footwear and carrying around socks or any other small articles of clothing she comes across. Smokie is a black and white English springer spaniel who is permanently attached to Debra. John volunteers at the Denver Zoo and is fortunate enough to be able to help with the care of young lion cubs, hyena cubs, and African wild–dog puppies.
Hobbies/Passions: John is a keen soccer player and is a member of three different teams. Winning takes second priority to exercise. He also works out two to three times a week. John and Debra love to travel to see animals in their natural environments. Two trips to Africa covered Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia. Other destinations included the upper reaches of the Amazon in remote Peru, Costa Rica, Australia, Alaska, and British Columbia. John also volunteers at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and is treasurer of the Friends of the Colorado Talking Book Library (for the blind and physically handicapped).
Business/Professional Background: John has some 35 years of experience in accounting, IT, human resources, and administration. He is a British Chartered Accountant and a U.S. CPA. Work locations have included London, Oslo, Frankfurt, Vienna, Rome, Milan, and Bahrain. In 1984, John scored in the top 100 out of 70,000 who sat for the CPA exam that year.
Carol Baptiste
Database AdministratorPets/Animal Interests: A veterinarian once told Carol never to give a pet a name you do not want it to live up to. Well, she named a very sweet longhaired orange tabby Tugboat and the advice haunts her to this date.
Hobbies/Passions: Carol has a stunning red canoe that graciously slips into the water and glides her to abandon all her worries; she can also be seen ripping up the Highland Canal trail on her zebra–painted bicycle.
Business/Professional Background: After 12 credit hours of law, Carol decided working for an animal–related nonprofit would be a better life choice, and education has taken a non–traditional course by working with mentors.
Serena Everett
Meetings and Operations ManagerDan Liphardt
Technology and Accounting SpecialistDarcy Nelson
Donation AnalystPets/Animal Interests: Darcy has a cat of 4 years named Tigger. "She has so much personality, she can entertain me for hours." Darcy has had many pets in the past and has always been an animal lover. She has always dreamt of being a veterinarian, but instead stayed busy raising her family. She is happy to be able to contribute to the well being of animals by working at MAF.
Hobbies/Passions: Darcy enjoys hiking, camping, skiing, golfing, gardening, horseback riding, and most outdoor activities. "I also love to cook." She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends and looks forward to being able to travel in the future.
Business/Professional Background: Darcy has owned and operated her own cleaning business, worked as an office manager for a construction company, and as an assistant teacher for a private pre–kindergarten class.
Nancy Clark, CVT
Donations AnalystPets/Animal Interests: Nancy and her husband, Rich, have a cat, a dog and a horse: Kameko, a football–shaped calico who talks A LOT; Candy, an American Eskimo dog and a cancer survivor who loves to dance for her dinner; and Capaill, a German "Pasture Accident" chestnut gelding who Nancy says chose her and has taught her a lot about slowing down and finding calm.
Hobbies/Passions: Nancy likes spending time with her horse and learning Natural Horsemanship, skiing, hiking, going to the movies with her hubby, having friends over for gaming (cards, board games, role playing games), reading, and art (both viewing it and dabbling in it).
Business/Professional Background: After over 20 years of working in administrative roles for companies ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, Nancy decided it was time to complete a degree and get into a job where she felt she was helping animals. She went to the Bel–Rea Institute of Animal Technology and graduated in September 2006 with an AAS in veterinary technology. She did her internship with a well–respected local equine clinic and stayed on after graduation until she heard the call to come to the Morris Animal Foundation.
VETERINARY OUTREACH REPRESENTATIVES
Linda Golden
Veterinary Outreach Representative Front Range RegionPets/Animal Interests: Linda's family has a two-year-old Golden retriever named Guinness and two cats named Eliza and Friend.
Hobbies/Passions: Linda has worked as a pre-school and special needs teacher and is very involved with her children's activities and volunteers for the Limb Preservation Foundation. She has three children (Christopher, Danny and Emma) and has been married to her husband Mike for 19 years.
Business/Professional Background: For Linda Golden, a teacher and animal lover, the Veterinary Outreach Representative position was a natural. She worked at the Southwest Veterinary Hospital in the early '90s, where she was introduced to the Foundation though that connection extends to Colorado State University, where her son received the benefit of MAF-funded research that crosses the human/animal medical boundary. As a veterinary outreach representative, Linda is eager to help veterinary professionals tap into MAF-funded research that will help their patients. "I can remember cases that weren't in the scope of 'normal' and doctors would turn to research and/or making calls to specialists to help them out. MAF is a great resource to tap into. They have done so much to help with everyday procedures that doctors currently use. Practices need a resource to reach to for advice etc., and MAF certainly demonstrates that it is veterinarians wanting to help fellow veterinarians."
Susan West
Veterinary Outreach Representative — Northern CaliforniaPets/Animal Interests: Currently, Susan is the Mom to Davey, a 10-year-old cat who she adopted from a friend's veterinary practice when he was a kitten. She also has two Shelties: Robin, a 6-year-old Blue Merle and Jack, a 2-year-old Sable. Robin's passion in life is chasing squirrles, and Jack is great at chasing soccer balls and Frisbees. They are the "office managers" at Susan's chiropractic office. Davey's job is to stay home and nap!
Hobbies/Passions: Animals are Susan's passion! In addition to her own critters, she often takes care of other people's pets. Her favorites are the Shelties, who come and stay at "The West Inn." Lucy, Mimi, and Mattie are frequent guests. Taking road trips with the dogs, especially to the beach, is one of her ways of relaxing. She also enjoys reading and getting together with good friends for dinner.
Business/Professional Background: Susan has worked as a microbiologist, and also as a technical sales representative for a small scientific products company. She went back to school to earn a degree in chiropractic. However, she did not want to work only on humans. So 5 years after opening her practice, she went on to get her certification in animal chiropractic. She has been in practice for almost 16 years, and finds her work with the animals to be a great bridge to the veterinary field. She works closely with vets, and also adjusts many of them and their technicians. "Providing alternative health care to animal patients has been extremely satisfying," says Susan, who had the honor of doing a presentation on animal chiropractic for the Holistic Veterinary Medicine Club at UC Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. In addition to her practice, she has been a faculty member at Life Chiropractic College-West, in Hayward CA, since 1992. She is also certified as a Basic Life Support Instructor for the American Heart Association, and would like to establish a course in animal first aid and CPR.
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