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BOARD MEMBERS

Jennifer Kirkland
Board President

A Staunton resident, recently retired from her position as 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, including as a touring artist on the roster of the Virginia Commission for the Arts. 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.

Renee Clark
Vice President

Renee Clark, a Staunton resident, works as a biologist assessing environmental impacts and obtaining environmental clearances. She is a graduate of Mary Baldwin University with a degree in Biology. In addition, she is a graduate of UVA’s Virginia Natural Resource Leadership Institute for environmental mediation and negotiation. Renee has actively volunteered with Cat’s Cradle for numerous years and is often found doing adoptions at the Waynesboro Petsmart.

Sharon Sims
Treasurer

Sharon Sims, a Waynesboro resident, is a Certified Public Accountant who is retired from the US Department of Health and Human Services in Washington DC, where she worked as an Audit Consultant in the administration of the department’s numerous grant programs. Sharon is also a vocalist, and has appeared locally and regionally in various musical theater productions. She and her husband Barry, along with their furry four-legged kids (cats, of course!), moved to Waynesboro in 2016. Sharon quickly discovered Cat’s Cradle and began volunteering in various roles at our Downtown Center, Intake Center, the Harrisonburg PetSmart, and adoption events at the Waynesboro PetSmart.

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.

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!

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.

Geoff Snow

A Harrisonburg resident, owns and operates local business Valley SmartMove. Geoff is the human to a Cats Cradle alumni, Leo.

Maria Malerba

Maria Malerba-although originally born in England, Maria has called Virginia her home since the age of 14. She received a B.S. in Kinesiology from the College of William and Mary and a M.S. Ed. in Kinesiology from James Madison University. Upon completing her Masters she was offered a position as an Instructor in the Kinesiology Department and at the same time was named Head Womens Tennis Coach, a position she held until her retirement 38 years later. Maria has been a volunteer with Cats Cradle for over seven years. Her duties include everything from overseeing van and facilities maintenance, to supply ordering, etc. - - if it needs to be done, she's on it! Her personal favorite is running silent auctions to help with fundraising for Cats Cradle. In her spare time Maria enjoys antiques, travel and reading.

Robert S. Ryder

Retired Army Colonel, Bob resides in Fishersville. During his career he was an entrepreneur and owned a restaurant in Staunton as well as rental properties. He worked at VDOT as a director for over 30 years. Bob has volunteered for many organizations and was head of the Happy Birthday USA Volunteer Committee for many years. Have questions on investing – Bob is your guy! Bob stays in shape by walking over 5 miles a day!

Rachel Street

Rachel Street has a B.B.A. in Marketing and Computer Information Systems from James Madison University and a Master of Science in Business and Branding from the VCU Brandcenter. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, and has years of experience specializing in project management, operations, research, and strategy. She has worked closely with clients across a wide range of industries, including education, financial services, non-profits, technology, healthcare, and more. She first crossed paths with Cat’s Cradle as a volunteer while at JMU and is the proud cat mom to two Cat’s Cradle alums, Moose and Olive.

OUR STAFF

Sherri Heishman - Executive Director

With over 18 years of dedicated volunteer service to Cat’s Cradle, Sherri Heishman was retained as Executive Director in 2022, bringing a wealth of experience in animal welfare, philanthropy, and organizational leadership. A graduate of Virginia Tech with a degree in Animal Science, Sherri has played a pivotal role in helping the organization expand its impact in the Shenandoah Valley and beyond. Cat’s Cradle’s mission to create a safe, compassionate community for cats has thrived under Sherri’s leadership. Under her guidance, the organization has experienced significant growth across all its programs, including spay/neuter and Trap, Neuter, Return, (TNR), fostering and adoption, and pet retention. Through her extensive background in personnel management, process reengineering, marketing, and sales, Sherri has worked to streamline operations, elevate outreach efforts, and build meaningful partnerships within the community. Since Sherri joined the organization, the rescue’s reach and efficiency have been amplified, contributing to Cat’s Cradle’s impressive 2024 annual statistics, which include: the intake of over 675 cats, over 600 adoptions, more than 1,400 TNRs completed, and the facilitation of spay/neuter for nearly 4,000 cats. Sherri remains steadfast in the belief that every cat deserves a loving home, and through innovative programs like foster-based rescue, pet retention, and rehoming assistance, Cat’s Cradle is steadily working toward the ultimate goal of reducing intake rates and ending the euthanasia of healthy, adoptable pets in the area. With a passion for both animal welfare and community-driven change, Sherri continues to lead Cat’s Cradle with a vision that prioritizes both compassion and sustainability.

Christy Tabor - Intake & Foster Coordinator

Intake and Foster Coordinator
started her staff position in 2013. Christy received her Associate’s Degree from Blue Ridge Community College. She also has 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 and 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!)

Tracey Meadows -Trap Neuter Return Specialist

Tracey Meadows was born and raised in Virginia. Her first job with animals started with the Augusta Regional SPCA in 2008, then the Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center in 2011, and has extended her work with us here at Cat’s Cradle. Her knowledge of and compassion for animals continues to grow throughout the years. When Tracey isn’t working with animals, she spends her time with her son, her boyfriend and her 3 kitties. Her first foster fail was an injured kitten that Cat’s Cradle took into the foster program (in 2013)! Tracey is raising a young man that shares the same empathy for animals as herself and hopes to one day be able to fill her shoes. Interesting fact: Tracey developed allergies to animals in 2012 and although she continues to struggle with the allergy, it doesn’t stop her from owning pets or helping animals in need. Tracey hopes that her persistence in animal advocacy will help save more lives through training and education.

Justin Morris -Trap Neuter Return Specialist

I have always been an animal lover since I was very young. I learned about riding and caring for horses before I was 5 years old. Currently I have two dogs, Luna and Yuri, and two cats, Old Lady and Mosley. All of my animals are rescues. I work with Cat's Cradle's TNR program to trap and transport cats from their home farm or other property where they are cared for to area clinics. There they are spayed/neutered and get other medical care and then I transport them back to their caretakers. I love helping these animals get the care they desperately need. Knowing that I may have helped them live healthier for a few more years is like nothing I've ever experienced before.

Peggy Downing - Animal Care Assistant & Events Coordinator

Originally from East Texas and currently living in McGaheysville Peggy Graduated from Georgia Southern University. She is a retired Contract Specialist for the Government Printing Office. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Page Paws and Page SPCA. Peggy has been fostering and volunteering for Cats Cradle for over 10 years and is a bottle baby expert!

Felicity Copenhaver - Phone/Adoption Counselor and TNR Specialist

Felicity, a student at Bridgewater College working towards a bachelor’s degree in computer science and data administration! She moved from Harrisonburg to Broadway in January of 2021 and has since found herself caring for a colony of community kitties that she has had fixed and provides daily care. This sparked her passion for animal welfare and helping her local community of neighborhood cats. She enjoys spending time with her seven cats; Simba, Mufasa, Pizza, Athena, Semicolon, Starfire, and Cleo! If she’s not spending time with her cats, you can most likely find her on a tennis court or hiking outside in the woods. As an upcoming graduate of Bridgewater College, Felicity is passionate in incorporating her fur babies into her technological world and hopes that she can help make a difference here in Virginia.

Bill Howard - Phone/Adoption Counselor

Bill Howard was born and raised here in the Shenandoah Valley. For the past two decades Bill has been playing music in the area on his own, and as a member of the bands The Judy Chops & Mothman Rodeo. A staunch advocate for the arts, with a background in guitar performance, and theater, Bill has also been booking music in the region at several different venues and is an organizer for outdoor music events in the area including 'Staunton Jams' and the 'Harrisonburg Levitt Amp Music Series.' Although Bill didn't grow up with pets, his love for animals has grown leaps and bounds since adopting his cat Leo during the pandemic, and now he's a certified 'Cat Dad!' If Bill isn't working or performing on stage he enjoys spending time with furry friend, and his lovely partner Brittany. 

Jocelyn Portillo-Romero - Phone/Adoption Counselor

Born and raised in Virginia, Jocelyn is a student at Eastern Mennonite University as a double major in Biology and Secondary Education. She has the two best furry study buddies, even if they are always falling asleep. While Jocelyn did not grow up around animals much, she has always had a soft spot for them and is enthusiastic about helping find them their forever home. In her free time, she can be found reading endless book series or visiting her favorite coffee shops.

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