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BOARD MEMBERS

Jennifer Kirkland

A Staunton resident, is Associate General Counsel for Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA. Jennifer is also a professional musician, and has appeared locally and regionally in various musical settings. Jennifer has put her passion for animal welfare into service on the boards of Cat’s Cradle and The Mosby Foundation, focusing on grant writing, spay/neuter financial assistance programs, pet food pantry programs, pet retention initiatives, and other issues related to animal welfare. In 2013, she was honored to receive The Bravo Award from The Virginia Federation of Humane Societies, in recognition of her service to the field of animal welfare.

Donna Whitley-Smith
President

is a life-long animal lover and began her involvement with rescue as a child with her father, moving box turtles off of busy streets in Northern Virginia. For the last 40 years she has been a teacher and administrator for Page County Public Schools, where she currently serves as Superintendent. She holds a B.S. degree from James Madison University and a Masters degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. Over the years, Donna as been involved with the Page County SPCA, Page Paws, and currently serves as President of the Cat’s Cradle board. She has fostered both dogs and cats, and currently has two rescue mutts and a street kitty as part of her family.

Renee Clark
Vice President

a Staunton resident, works as a biologist assessing environmental impacts and obtaining environmental clearances. She is a graduate of Mary Baldwin College with a degree in Biology and attended VNRLI at UVA for environmental mediation and negotiation. Renee has actively volunteered with Cat’s Cradle for numerous years and can be found on Saturdays at adoption events, providing vaccinations and medical care to fosters, or transferring animals out of local pounds and shelters to safety.

Terry Elia
Secretary

a Fishersville resident, is a graduate of Bridgewater College with a BS degree in Business Administration. In 2014 she was inducted in to the Bridgewater Athletic Hall of Fame. She retired from the Virginia Department of Corrections in 2011 and until recently was employed at Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women as a Part Time Human Resources Assistant. Terry has been a volunteer with Cat’s Cradle for numerous years in addition to fostering, assists with adoption outings, transport and various other duties. Terry is a member of Waynesboro Chapter No. 105, Order of the Eastern Star serving as Secretary and is Grand Representative of New Hampshire in Virginia.

Elizabeth Ralston
Treasurer

a Staunton resident, is the Deposit Operations Officer and BSA Officer at Frontier Community Bank in Waynesboro. She started her banking career in 1998 with Rockingham Heritage Bank, working her way from Proof Operator to Deposit Operations Officer during her nine years with the bank. Elizabeth began fostering for Cat’s Cradle in 2005 and has played healer, helper and host to numerous cats and kittens over the years. She began duties as Cat’s Cradle Treasurer in 2015. Elizabeth and her husband Jeremy are proud pet parents to several cats, including four failed Cat’s Cradle fosters, and a German Shepherd mix who loves every kitty that comes through the door.

Diana Black

leads the writers team at Mia Learning, an app providing custom reader’s advisory to kids. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member with JMU, where she teaches Critical Reading and Writing. After earning her M.A. in English in 2013, Diana worked as a professional storyteller, creating award-winning programming for the Staunton Public Library and honing her grant-writing skills. A seasoned performer, she is almost constantly involved in local theater. She is proud mama to one tiny human and three rescue kitties.

Chase Martin

is a Human Resources Generalist for the City of Harrisonburg. He is a graduate of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina with a B.S. degree in Business Administration – Finance and a M.B.A. – Human Resources. Chase has over five years of professional human resources experience along with volunteer experience at other non-profit organizations while living in South Carolina. Chase’s love for animals brought him to Cat’s Cradle to help promote a safe and compassionate community for cats – even though his current lease doesn’t allow him to have a kitty of his own!

Susan Hagen

is a Programmer Analyst for the Commonwealth of Virginia, working at Western State Hospital in Staunton. Susan is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a B.A. degree in Psychology, and has completed graduate work at James Madison University in Software Engineering. Susan enjoys native plant gardening, singing, and is a layperson in the Episcopal church, in addition to being a cat lover and Cat’s Cradle volunteer.

Michael Hickman

is a writing instructor at James Madison University specializing in modernist literature. He is a “triple Duke,” having received a B.A. in English and Religion, as well as an M.A. in English, from JMU, and now teaching there! At JMU, Michael is also faculty advisor to the Hip-Hop Collective and a member of the first-year writing committee. He is one of the singers making up The Valley 7, a chamber choir in the Shenandoah Valley, a Beatlemaniac, and a lover of cats.

Sue Gast

Sue is originally from Upstate New York and has lived in various states in the Northeast where she and her husband raised their 2 daughters. She has a BS in Business Administration and was employed by Philhaven Behavioral Health Care in Central PA prior to relocating to Waynesboro 5 years ago. At that time, she began volunteering at Cat’s Cradle in various roles at our Downtown Center including phone counseling, adoptions, and administrative tasks. She also has trained volunteers at Pet Smart, assisted with fundraisers/events and currently volunteers in our Intake Center assisting with various administrative tasks and of course continues fostering!

OUR STAFF

Christy Tabor

Licensed Veterinary Technician/Intake and Foster Coordinator
started her staff position in 2013. Christy received her Associate’s Degree from Blue Ridge Community College, is licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a veterinary technician, and in January 2018 will receive her B.S. in Leadership and Organizational Management from Eastern Mennonite University. Christy volunteered for Cat’s Cradle for many years while working at Woodworth Animal Hospital and teaching Veterinary Assistance at Massanutten Technical Center. Since joining the Cat’s Cradle staff, she has been instrumental in expanding Cat’s Cradle’s foster home and transport network. Christy can often be found providing training to foster homes, facilitating medical treatment, or working with local intake shelters to transfer animals to safety. She is a lover of all animals, including cats, dogs, chickens, rabbits and goats. She enjoys yoga, running, and chocolate in her free time (even though she has no free time!)

Valerie Hartzog

Adoptions Counselor
Valerie is no stranger to the organization. She has adopted from Cat’s Cradle five times over the years in addition to previously volunteering with fundraisers and other activities. Cats have always been a part of Valerie’s life - her first kitten was named Samantha, an orange and white long hair Tabby. Currently, she has four cats: Boodle, Henry, Oliver and Vivian.
In her role as the Adoption Counselor, Valerie will be helping coordinate various adoption processes and interacting with Cat’s Cradle staff, volunteers and the general public. Valerie states that she “wants to be part of ensuring someone else’s life is filled with the joy of love from a special kitty.”

Amy Setzer

Volunteer and Community Services Coordinator
Amy has lived all over Virginia but grew up in Richmond. She has over 20 years of animal rescue experience and has been with Pet Harbor Rescue & Referral, a Siberian husky and cat rescue, since 2003 and currently serves on the board of directors and holds the title of vice president. When she is not working to save lives of homeless animals, she spends time with her husband and dogs. She is owned by 2 Siberian huskies, Chief and Flynn, and 2 German Shepherd Dogs, Maverick and Cynder. Amy hopes that with Cat’s Cradle she can help save as many cats as possible through training, recruiting and educating not only volunteers but the public.

Lindy Suster

Trap Neuter Return Coordinator
joined the Cat’s Cradle staff in the spring of 2017. Lindy had volunteered for Cat’s Cradle during all four of her years as a student at James Madison University, graduating in 2015 with her B.S. in Biotechnology. Lindy’s love of chasing cats began when she used to bring strays home as a child. Her mission is to change the misunderstood feral cat community! In her spare time, Lindy enjoys playing roller derby – – she plans to use the support network and friendships she cultivates through roller derby to increase awareness and support for Cat’s Cradle.

Sherri Heishman

Publicity/Marketing
is a Philanthropy Manager for Augusta Health Foundation. Sherri is also a professional photographer and owns Twist & Snap Photography. Sherri is a Dale Carnegie High Impact Speaker and Certified Sales Trainer. She uses her creativity to design much of Cat’s Cradle’s print media, including our newsletters, and some of our online promotional and marketing materials. Sherri photographed and designed the 2015 “Men Who Love Cats” calendar, and designed the space and layout for Cat’s Cradle’s Downtown Center in Harrisonburg. Sherri also volunteers as a foster home for Cat’s Cradle. Sherri graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Animal Science.

Jennifer Camille Ybarra

Ellen Carrillo

I’ve rescued cats my whole life and got involved with cat’s cradle in 2014 when I was 16. I’m starting BRCC’s Veterinary Technology program in the fall & plan to focus on rescue medicine. In my spare time I like to travel, read, shop, and of course spend time with my kitties!

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