Big Cat Rescue Board, Volunteer Committee and Staff

In alphabetical order…updated 1/6/2012.

All members of the Board of Directors are voting members.  Independent Directors are identified in the text.

CAROLE BASKIN

FOUNDER, CEO AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Carole Baskin (pictured below) is the founder of Big Cat Rescue. She runs a real estate business to support herself and volunteers as CEO for Big Cat Rescue managing 107 volunteers, several interns from around the world and 9 staff. She has run this Tampa based non profit since 1992 and has garnered international attention to the plight of captive big cats on CNN, Animal Planet, Discovery, U.S. News & World Report, People Magazine, The Today Show, Sports Illustrated, all of the local media outlets and many more national and international programs.  She has been lectured in Costa Rica, Panama and many cities across the U.S. on cage construction, legislative affairs, and sanctuary standards in Universities, Law Colleges, and in numerous animal association conferences. Her efforts, combined with many others of like mind, have resulted in the 2003 passage of the Captive Wild Animal Safety Act which made it illegal to sell a big cat across state lines as a pet, the 2009 requirement that those in Florida who possess Class I animals must post a $10,000 bond and the reclassification of a cougar to Class I, making it illegal to own as a pet in FL.

Carole Baskin served as a past President of The Association of Sanctuaries and currently serves on the board of the Humane USA PAC and is the head of the Florida branch. The PAC is the nation’s largest political action committee dedicated entirely to putting animal friendly candidates in office. Her mission is to end the trade in exotic cats and thus put herself out of business.

HOWARD BASKIN

SECRETARY, TREASURER, ADVISORY BOARD CHAIRMAN AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Howard Baskin is a retired management consultant who worked with early stage and fast growing companies in the areas of strategic planning, finance and operations.  He spent 11 years at Citicorp in various assignments, most recently as Director of Strategic Planning for the Commercial Real Estate Division.  After leaving Citicorp in 1991 he was an equity participant and general manager in three companies, one of which he co-founded.  He now devotes full time to Big Cat Rescue and serves on the Audit Committee.

Other civic activities include serving three years on the Board of Directors of the Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce and serving as first Chairman of its Performance Oversight and Monitoring Committee and member of it External Relations Committee.  He also is a past member of The Rotary Club of Tampa, serving as Chairman of the Community Service Committee and on the Board of Directors.

Howard received his B.S. cum laude from Union College, Schenectady, NY in 1972, his J.D. cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law in 1978 and his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1980.

Listen to a radio interview with Howard Baskin done by one of the Cox Radio stations in 2012.

KIM DEVER

VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE

Kim is originally from New Jersey but has had the opportunity to live all over the United States.

After spending many years trying to find the right profession she is now following her passion
and is currently pursuing a degree in Veterinary Technology from St. Pete College.

When not giving tours, Kim can be found working in the gift shop or doing off-site educational
events to spread the word about the issues facing wild cats in captivity and in the wild. She also
enjoys lending a helping hand out in the sanctuary with projects and enrichment.

CHELSEA FEENY

DATA  AND INTERN MANAGER

Chelsea Feeny first arrived at Big Cat Rescue in early 2009 as an intern. Before the completing of her internship she was hired as Project Manager.

She currently is responsible for database management, donations processing and acknowledgement, and Intern intake/screening.  This is no small feat with a support fan base of more than 80,000 people.

She aims to share her passion and excitement for this magnificent sanctuary with all of the guests, donors, and volunteers that help to make Big Cat Rescue what it is today.

JENNIFER FLATT

VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE

RELIEF OPERATIONS MANAGER

Jennifer (AKA “The Happiness Fairy”) has been a volunteer at Big Cat Rescue since May of 2008 and became staff in 2010.  She is the Operations Manager on Gale’s days off.

As a Green Shirt Keeper some of her favorite duties include giving tours to children and cleaning the smaller cats.

After showing great promise as a dedicated volunteer she was appointed as a member of the Volunteer Committee where she gives orientation to new volunteers as well as mentoring both Red and Yellow shirts on becoming well-rounded volunteers at BCR and shining stars in the community.

She has spent the last several years working with animals of all shapes and sizes and has found her perfect fit here at Big Cat Rescue educating the public on habitat conservation and protecting big cats everywhere.

MARY LOU GEIS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mary Lou is an Independent Director and has been a dedicated volunteer since 1997.  She holds the record for the volunteer who has sent the most advocacy based letters via our CatLaws.com system.

She has been a donor of both time and money to the sanctuary.

Mary Lou gives of her time and energy and even donated a home to the sanctuary to help us care for the animals at a time when money was really scarce.

Mary Lou is a Green level keeper at Big Cat Rescue.

WILLOW HECHT

EDUCATION CO DIRECTOR

Willow is the Education Co Director and is the onsight liaison for Dr. Beth Kamhi who works remotely to manage our Education Department.  She has a B.A. in Sociology from Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York.  Her concentration was in Criminal and Juvenile Justice Studies.  She graduated Magna cum laude.

She is a volunteer member of the Bay Area Disaster Animal Response Team, ASPCA Tampa Bay, Largo, Florida.She is an experienced tour guide, trained in FEMA Incident Command System for animals in disasters, is a SSI certified Open Water SCUBA diver and has excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills.   She has used those skills to report on big cat issues such as the following:

April 2010: Article “Big Cat Rescue: Tampa Bay’s Best Kept Secret,” Neighborhood News & Lifestyles, Volume 1, issue 2.

Examiner.com article, February 11, 2010 “Pseudo-sanctuaries.”

http://www.examiner.com/x-25179-Tampa-Cats-Examiner~y2010m2d11-Psuedosanctuaries

Examiner.com article, February 11, 2010 “Where Do Surplus Zoo Animals Go?”

http://www.examiner.com/x-25179-Tampa-Cats-Examiner~y2010m2d11-Where-Do-Surplus-Zoo-Animals-Go

Examiner.com article, February 2, 2010 “R.I. Woman Gives Up 13-year-old Pet Cougar.”

http://www.examiner.com/x-25179-Tampa-Cats-Examiner~y2010m2d2-RI-Woman-Gives-Up-13yearold-Pet-Cougar

Examiner.com article, January 24, 2010 “Three-legged Serval Found in Arizona

Desert.”  http://www.examiner.com/x-25179-Tampa-Cats-Examiner~y2010m1d24-Threelegged-Serval-Found-in-Arizona-Desert

GALE INGHAM

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Gale worked her way up to Senior Keeper twice.  The first time around she ended up as Den Mother to our interns, but family issues required her to move away for a while.  When she returned, she started over again and quickly worked her way back up to Senior Keeper.

Gale is a By-The-Book kind of person and Big Cat Rescue has a LOT of rules on its books that keep our cats well cared for and our people safe.  When our Operations Manager, Scott Lope decided to resign in order to pursue his film career Gale was a natural to take his place.

She has done an absolutely awesome job of improving every aspect of animal care at the sanctuary.  Because of her attention to detail the cats are getting the very best care and the cages and grounds look better than ever before.  Gale never asks the volunteers to do anything that she isn’t doing right along side them.  From cleaning out tiger pools to painting cages to mowing to managing the guest parking, Gale will jump right in and get it done.

She is a great example of someone who can see what needs doing and do it without being asked.

BECKY IVAN

VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE

Becky Ivan began volunteering in 2009 and joined the Volunteer Committee in 2011.

Up until the summer of 2009, her experiences around exotic cats were nothing above and beyond the average person’s distant appreciation for these animals. She had seen tigers and lions in the zoo, watched television shows about animals in the wild and read many first hand encounters between African safari guides and wild cats. Her own up close and personal experience, however, did not begin until she decided to volunteer in South Africa on a game reserve.

Says Becky, “My time in South Africa was my first real experience around big cats, and accordingly, my first real exposure to the threats exotic cats face. Before volunteering at the reserve and handling cubs, I had zero education of the canned hunting industry or the use of baby cats as marquee items. Ultimately, I do not regret my direct experiences with cats in South Africa nor do I believe it was a mistake.”

She goes on to say, “Volunteering in South Africa brought me to Big Cat Rescue, and as a result, opened my eyes to the devastating threats faced by these animals everyday. Furthermore, having been exposed to the very real issue of “pay to play” with cubs, I have become a stronger advocate against the issue.”

BETH KAMHI, D.C.

OPERATIONS MANAGER LIAISON & EDUCATION DIRECTOR

Beth Kamhi serves as Education Director and has been the Grant Writer for our sanctuary. In January 2010, she also took on the responsibility of assisting Gale Ingham as the Operations Manager taking over from Scott. The title she gives this new position is ”Transitional Liaison” due to her snowbird schedule.  Over the next four to five months she will be working to understand the “big picture” of our daily operations, create a Standard Operating Procedure manual to collect this knowledge, and help Gale and others day to day as they take over all the numerous functions of running a world class sanctuary.

Beth is also a Chiropractic Physician practicing part time in the Tampa after many years of her own family practice in the Boston area. Her experience in business and technology, background in biological sciences, along with her Keeper training as a volunteer at Big Cat Rescue were the perfect blend for our education department. The Education Director is responsible for the development and coordination of educational functions, scheduling and daily supervision of all school and community programs as well as our ever-growing Summer Camp program.

DARREN KIPNIS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Darren is a Vice President & Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch’s Global Private Client Group.   He and his partners operate a wealth management practice for the benefit of affluent families and corporations. Our process encompasses Financial management, legacy implementation, estate coordination, retirement management and tax minimization.

He is a Past President of The Rotary Club of Tampa, the area’s oldest and largest Rotary Club, is currently Co-Chair of Major Gift’s for Rotary District 6890, and serves on the Advisory Board of Love Heals, the Alison Gertz Foundation for AIDS Education.

Darren serves on our Audit Committee and is an Independent Director.

JEFF KREMER

DIRECTOR OF DONOR APPRECIATION

Jeff Kremer is the Director of Donor Appreciation with Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, the world’s largest accredited rescue facility for exotic cats. Jeff was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area. After spending 21 years working for Honeywell Space Systems in Clearwater, Jeff chose to embark upon a career that focused on his life-long interest in the field of animal welfare.

Big Cat Rescue is accredited by The Global Federation of Sanctuaries (a national accrediting body that is to sanctuaries what the American Zoological Association is to zoos.)

Big Cat Rescue is a member of the International Tiger Coalition, The Captive Wild Animal Protection Coalition, the Florida Association of the Restoration of Ethics, Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, Tampabay Visitors and Convention Bureau, No More Homeless Pets, and many other animal welfare groups.

Big Cat Rescue assists other accredited rescue facilities by helping them build cages, train their volunteers and they lend their people and resources to help them recover from natural and man-made disasters. Big Cat Rescue is licensed by and in good standing with FWC, USFWS, USDA and is registered with the state of Florida as a charity.

Jeff Kremer is available for college and civic lectures and has given presentations to numerous civic and educational organizations regarding the plight of exotic cats and other species and what the public can do to save them.

Jeff is available to speak regarding such topic as:

The exotic animal crisis in America and around the world.

The differences between sanctuary’s and zoo’s.

Ethical issues involving exotic animals in captivity.

Legislative issues involving the exotic animal trade in America.

The nature of wild cats in captivity and why they don’t belong in cages

The correlation between youth violence against animals and adult violence towards humans.

 

KEITH LAWLESS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Keith is Vice President and Market Manager, Cox Media Group Tampa.  The six area Cox Radio stations have provided enormous support to Big Cat Rescue in the form of public service radio spots featuring our events, tours of the sanctuary, and messages about the issues surrounding private ownership of big cats.

LA WANNA MITCHELL

WEBMISTRESS

I had spent a couple years traveling various zoos and learning how to make web sites and website goodies, just looking for a way to make a difference for animals;  tumbling around trying to find my ‘place in the sun’, my purpose in life.  then in July 2004 I found Big Cat Rescue’s web site and offered to make games for them.  Carole sent me some photos and the fun began. That progressed into being blessed with getting actually visit Big Cat Rescue for eight heavenly days taking photos in September 2004.  If a turning pont in life can be pinpointed, that trip was exactly that for me.  My life changed forever right then and there.

After visiting Big Cat Rescue it was quite clear to me that this place was it unlike any other animal facility.  I had finally finally found the animal place I wanted to devote my life to thus no longer needed to travel around looking for my place in life.  More trips to take photos of the cats at Big Cat Rescue followed in 2005 & 2006.   During those visits I became completely hooked for life.  For me, building web site goodies for Big Cat Rescue is like breathing itself.  If I couldn’t be a part of Big Cat Rescue and part of working toward the goals of their mission, I think my breath would actually stop.  I LOVE Big Cat Rescue with my whole heart and my whole being and firmly believe in their mission and goals.

Now, I take great delight in spending my days using those photos to create goodies for their newest website BigCatFun.com.  I really enjoy doing tabling events and doing little classroom presentations on saving endangered species by saving their wild habitats.  Big Cat Rescue participates in many habitat preservation projects and getting to share those with kids whose minds and hearts are open and full of wonder for wild animals is a truly joyous thing.  Currently, there are three passions that rage like wild fires in my heart and working with Big cat Rescue allows me to help make a difference in these three areas.  #1 Raising awareness for the need for new laws to keep big cats out of backyards and roadside ‘wannabe’ zoos #2 Raising awareness for saving wild habitats and last but not certainly not least #3 Educating the public on the real truth about white tigers.

Working with Big Cat Rescue is the highlight, the joy, and the purpose of my life.  Not to go without mention, working with Big Cat Rescue is the greatest privilege I could ever have imagined receiving in my life.  To sum it up, I live and breath Big Cat Rescue and our mission and count it a privilege to do so.  I can’t give money, so I give what I can, which it my time and devotion.

EDITH PARKER

VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE

Edith is originally from New Jersey but considers herself a Floridian after being a resident for over thirty years.

She is an Executive Secretary in a local company and resides in Lutz.

She has a BS Degree from Nova Southeastern University in business.

Edith enjoys volunteering, besides BCR she does work with Hospice, Salvation Army and Meals on Wheels throughout the year.

Her love for the cats makes BCR a very special place.

VINCE PAVESE

DIRECTOR

Vince is SVP and GM, North America Credit Card Solutions, at FIS Global, a $6 Billion Fortune 500 company providing credit card processing to banks and credit unions.  He serves on our Audit Committee and is an Independent Director.

Mr. Pavese served on the Board of Trustees for the University of Tampa from 2000-2006 and is now a member of the advisory board to the University of South Florida on international business and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Tampa Bay.

CHRIS POOLE

MEDIA PRODUCER

Chris Poole originally volunteered as a hard working intern from the United Kingdom here at Big Cat Rescue.

With an extensive background and degree in graphic design and video editing, he later joined our team in order to produce weekly podcasts and web-market our sanctuary on sites such as YouTube, MySpace, FaceBook, etc.

He is always striving to find new ways to cross promote Big Cat Rescue worldwide.

While living on property, he provides invaluable assistance to our Volunteer Coordinators in the never ending day-to-day chores of running a sanctuary of this size.  Chris also performs all of the responsibilities of a Senior Keeper.

PAM RODRIGUEZ

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Pam is a Green level partner, long time volunteer and generous donor who serves as an Independent Director.

She puts in an enormous amount of time in our gift shop and is known for her wonderful tours given in her sophisticated British accent.

LISA SHAW

VICE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Lisa Shaw has been a volunteer for many years, is a Green level keeper, and serves as an Independent Director.

She coordinates the sanctuary frequently and previously lead the Enrichment Committee.

She makes sure our freezers are always full of blood cicles for the cats and our coolers full of ditty bags.

When I need someone to write their congressman or their local media outlet, I can always count on Lisa.

VERNON STAIRS

MASTER BUILDER

Vernon Stairs is our Master Builder and works to design, build and maintain all of the cat-a-tats and facilities.

He was a business owner until he retired in 1996 and came to Big Cat Rescue to help build a pond.

His feats include construction of a three acre tiger marsh, dueling waterfalls and ponds for the fishing cats, an air conditioned rock mountain for the snow leopards, underground dens, overhead sprinklers and so much more for the comfort of the 100 animals living on Easy Street.

He is remembered daily by the animals, staff and guests for his work and will be remembered for many years to come in the lasting improvements he has made to the quality of life for each of the animals.

He is pictured here on the Kobelco, a machine he has kept running with duct tape and coat hangers for more than a dozen years past its prime with Carole Baskin, founder and CEO of Big Cat Rescue.  Even after having triple bypass heart surgery in August of 2010, he was right back at work as soon as he could get to his feet.

JAMIE VERONICA

PRESIDENT, VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jamie Veronica is President of Big Cat Rescue, a member of the Board of Directors, and Chair of the Volunteer Committee.  She has served in these capacities for well over ten years. She spent many years developing a sponsorship program whose financial success continues to contribute largely toward meeting our annual budget.  Much of her time is also dedicated to orchestrating our annual fundraising event, the Fur Ball, which has recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.

An award-winning photographer, Jamie is the staff photographer and publishes our quarterly Big Cat Times newspaper, distributed to over 60,000 readers.  She creates all of our print and web advertisements, billboards, brochures, books, donor plaques and signage.  She manages all of the discount offers and reciprocal agreements with other attractions. She has designed and implemented the sanctuary’s worldwide Internship Program.

Jamie is also a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and manages the sanctuary’s bobcat rehab program.  She has successfully raised, rehabilitated and released several wild Florida bobcats and leads expeditions into the release sites to track and camera trap wild bobcat populations.  She oversees and handles all rescues, veterinary procedures, transfer of animals on the property, and regulatory compliance issues.

HONEY WAYTON

GIFT SHOP MANAGER

Honey Wayton is responsible for merchandising and maintenance of inventory for our gift shop.  On a typical day, you will find her greeting our guests, answering our phones, running our cash register, maintaining the appearance of our gift shop and tour waiting area, and coordinating the responsibilities of our Partner Volunteers in the gift shop.

She also fills orders for our online gift shop and is our onsite intern housing representative. In 2010 Honey’s management of the Gift Shop resulted in over a quarter of a million dollars in sales.

Honey serves on our Fur Ball Committee and our Enrichment Committee and fulfills all the daily responsibilities of a Senior Keeper as well.