Kathy Stevens, Founder and Director

Kathy Stevens, Founder and Director of Catskill Animal Sanctuary, spent her childhood on a Virginia horse farm. It was in many ways an idyllic youth, one that instilled in her a deep love of and respect for all animals. Little did she know how such a childhood would shape her future!

Kathy left the south for graduate school in Boston, MA, where she spent eleven years as a high school English teacher. She received widespread recognition for her novel approaches to education, and in 2000 was asked to head a charter school in Boston. Instead, one year later, she opened Catskill Animal Sanctuary, one of the country's leading havens for farm animals and a center for raising public awareness of their sentience and their suffering.

Kathy's first book, Where the Blind Horse Sings, shares the life-changing lessons learned from a blind horse, a sheep, a pig, and a rooster, and received much critical and popular acclaim. It has just been released in paperback after three hardcover printings. Her second book will be released in late 2010.

Kathy lives behind the barn with her dog Hannah, CAS's Director of Canine Pursuits, and her cats Fat Boy and Mouse. She's an avid reader, loves to hike, swim, and bike, and spends rare quiet time with her partner David and her close friends.

Julie Barone, Business Manager

Julie was born and raised in Ulster County, New York, and holds degrees in Mathematics, Interactive Multi-Media Technology, and Nutrition. Her formal training serves her well, as she runs the main office and handles everything from database administration, online and printed communications, financial book keeping, the volunteer program, and animal intake and adoptions.

When she's not on the farm, Julie can be found hitting the heavy bag at the local muay thai kickboxing gym, studying aromatherapy, expanding her private practice as a holistic health counselor, and taking long walks with her beautiful dog, Gabriella.

Alex Spaey, Animal Care Staff

Before settling down in New York's Hudson Valley over 20 years ago, Alex Spaey traveled the world and spent significant periods of his life in Europe and Africa. At CAS, Alex enjoys what he calls "the grunt work," which includes everything from routine maintenance of the barns and grounds, animal care, and carpentry work. He feels privileged and honored to work so closely with the animals, and hopes that more people will discover that they are sentient beings and stop eating them!

Outside of CAS, Alex can be found roasting beans at Catskill Mountain Coffee, listening to the Beatles, and working on his novels, which he hopes to get published someday.

Abbie Rogers, Animal Care Director

Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Abbie is CAS's Animal Care Director. She is the main liaison with local veterinarians, and is responsible for implementing health care regimens, monitoring the well-being of the animals, and managing diets. A former CAS intern, she moved to Saugerties, New York, in May of 2009 after graduating from college with degrees in History and Environmental Studies.

After closing down the farm for the evening, Abbie can be found hanging out and making dinner with Beacon, her roommate and favorite pot belly pig.

Anthony Desimone, Animal Care Staff

Originally from New Jersey, Anthony holds a Bachelors of Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Anthony leads weekend tours for visitors, and is also a regular in the barn, where he tends to the feeding and cleaning needs of our animal friends.

Michelle Alvarez, Outreach Director

Born and raised in New York City, Michelle joined the staff in 2009, after volunteering for over a year. Her responsibilities include handling media relations, managing CAS's online and printed communications, recruiting new supporters, building alliances with animal-friendly businesses, increasing public awareness of CAS, and planning special events. Prior to CAS, Michelle spent over a decade as a public interest lawyer, with a focus on environmental justice litigation and policy initiatives.

When she's not at the farm, Michelle can be found in New York City with her partner and their four rescued cats, where she obsessively practices samurai sword fighting and kickboxing.

Caleb Fieser, Buildings and Grounds

A native of Germantown, New York, Caleb is CAS's buildings and grounds manager. He grew up learning and perfecting carpentry from his father, who has done restoration work with Historic Hudson Valley for many years. In addition to his primary work building new barns and shelters, Caleb is also responsible for the overall maintenance of our fences, buildings, and grounds.

Caleb has renovated old farmhouses, and loves to kayak and craft Shaker style furniture.

Karen Wilson, Farm Manager

Karen Wilson, who joined the CAS staff in 2009, is our new farm manager, a job she splits with veteran April Harrison. As manager, Karen organizes and oversees the day's work for all staff and volunteers, schedules large projects and oversees teams of volunteers carrying them out, and keeps our feed and hay rooms well-stocked!

With degrees in Biology and Forestry, Karen served in the Peace Corps in Malawi, where she worked closely with the residents on sustainable land use, forest preservation, and building economically viable communities. It was in Malawi where Karen met her beloved dog, Chipulikano, who returned to the United States with her in 2007.

Karen has worked with over 300 horses over the past 15 years; her experience includes teaching riding, horse medical care, and training. In her free time, she loves to ride, hike with Chipulikano, scuba dive, camp, and draw.

Kevin Archer, Certified Vegan Chef

Chef Kevin Archer moved from Santa Fe to lead CAS's Compassionate Cuisine program in 2010, where he provides the knowledge, skills and encouragement people need to incorporate a plant-based diet into their lives. He received his training at the School of Natural Cookery in Boulder, Colorado and the Living Light Culinary Arts Institute in Ft. Bragg, California. Kevin has owned his own market and cafe, served as private chef and consultant, and cooked at many notable restaurants in California, Colorado and New Mexico.

In his spare time, Kevin enjoys reading, writing poetry and prose, and gardening.

Elissa Jane Mastel, Director of Communications

Elissa Jane Mastel arrives at CAS with over 20 years of integrated marketing and publicity experience. Known by some as the Viral Guerrilla, she brings her expertise as social media guru to the farm. She is particularly enthusiastic about promoting all of the new things happening here, such as the new programs Compassionate Cuisine & Camp Kindness and Kathy's new book, 'Animal Camp'.

Inspired by the beautiful critters she has befriended here, she is taking a Veg Pledge with her eight year old son Zoren. You can follow her adventures on her forthcoming blog, 'Naaaaaaaaaamaste'.

This native NYCer moved upstate in 2005, and has fallen in love with Hudson Valley activities like snowboarding, hiking and picking fresh fruits and vegetables from her local farms. Elissa Jane is also known as Dharma Punx Facilitator, and runs a weekly meditation and discussion group in Woodstock.