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TEAM MEMBERS
Lisa Beal
Born in India, Lisa was adopted at the age of two by a single mother. She grew up in Southern California. In 2013, she graduated from California State University, San Bernadino, with a BA in Criminal Justice. She worked with the San Bernadino Sheriff’s Department for seven years. In 2018, she moved from the “Golden State” to the “Evergreen State.” Lisa lived on the Long Beach Peninsula, in Washington, for four years. While living there, Lisa was a volunteer dog walker for the South Pacific County Humane Society. Lisa shares their vision to provide every cat and dog with a loving home, free of abuse and neglect. Lisa adamantly opposes every act of animal cruelty and violence.
Lisa started volunteering with Ruff Haven in March of 2023. Lisa’s goal is to provide the dogs at Ruff Haven with the love and affection they truly deserve. Ruff Haven is important to Lisa because the shelter is committed to keeping furbabies with their owners. She has had dogs her entire life and could never imagine being permanently separated from them. Lisa loves and adores her 14-year-old Chihuahua/Poodle named “Titus.” His personality sure fits his powerful name. He is small but mighty! She credits Titus with saving her life. He is the light of her life. Lisa also enjoys volunteering with the Road to Recovery Program, through The American Cancer Society.
Volunteer Coordinator &
Dog Walking Mentor
Chris Bereshnyi
Purradise City Coordinator
Chris has been an animal lover all his life, something which was greatly influenced by his mother, who was always taking in stray and injured animals. As such, he has had the pleasure of interacting with numerous animals growing up.
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Chris have two cats of his own, Mitch and Carl, who are the quintessential odd couple. He began volunteering at the Humane Society of Utah in 2012, and still continues do so. He is a family therapist with Salt Lake County, and feels that interaction with animals can be very therapeutic and healing.
Maddie Bomher
Foster Sitter Coordinator
Maddie discovered Ruff Haven while seeking ways to engage with the community after relocating from Chicago. Originally from the Chicagoland area, Maddie has owned a variety of pets over the years. Chewy, their soul-dog who passed away in 2022, holding a special place in their heart. Maddie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College Chicago. While not yet ready to adopt another dog, Maddie wanted to channel their passion into supporting those in need and Ruff Haven provided the perfect opportunity to do so. With a professional background as a pet caretaker as well as experience volunteering with PAWS, Maddie was drawn to Ruff Haven’s mission and values.
As the Foster Coordinator at Ruff Haven, Maddie is dedicated to guiding and supporting fosters through every step of the process. Having firsthand experience as a foster parent with Ruff Haven, Maddie understands the challenges and rewards of fostering, making them a compassionate and knowledgeable resource for others in the program.
Outside of their work with animals, Maddie is an operations specialist and enjoys a variety of hobbies, including hiking, climbing, exploring, watching movies, playing video games, and engaging in creative artistic endeavors including photography, painting and music. They share their home with a lively black cat who keeps life interesting.
Isabel Imbriano
Graphic Designer
Isabel is a designer and artist living in Brooklyn, New York with her Bichon Frise Clover and cat Marcello. She graduated from the Fashion Institute Of Technology for graphic design and began volunteering with Ruff Haven in 2021. She enjoys doing art of animals, traveling and visiting roadside attractions, making stickers, and visiting New York's Prospect Park with her dog.
Nikki Gordon
Nikki’s journey with Ruff Haven began a few years ago, driven by her belief that kindness should extend to both animals and the people who love them.
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Originally from Minnesota, she now calls Utah home, where she lives with her husband, Dan, and their two lovable dogs, Stilts and Charlie, both of whom were adopted after fostering through Best Friends Animal Society. Always looking for an adventure, I loves that her new(ish) home offers easy access to breathtaking destinations in every direction. In her free time, you can find her exploring National Parks, and attending hockey games or concerts.
In addition to her role at Ruff Haven, Nikki volunteers with My Pit Bull is Family as the National Rental Research Coordinator. She also serves as the Employee Engagement Manager for the R&R Partners Foundation, focusing on strengthening communities through employee giving, volunteering, and pro bono work.
Social Media Coordinator
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Jackie Stanworth
Donations Coordinator
While volunteering with an organization that aids the unsheltered human population, Jackie saw Ruff Haven in action and immediately knew she had to be involved. She loves everything she gets to do with them, but her favorite is the monthly outreach with the team. She’s grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the team.
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Jackie is a dog trainer who works in an elementary special needs classroom during the day, works with drag queens on the weekend, and also has her own pet-sitting business. When she is not working she can be found playing the drums, making dog treats, taking care of community cats, and enjoying live music. Her best friend is her 13-year-old deaf pug, Opti. ​
She dedicates her life to working with humans and animals alike to ensure that everyone has a safe place in the world, is better understood, and gets the chance they deserve to succeed
Misty Taylor
Social Media Coordinator
Misty began volunteering with Ruff Haven in 2023, helping with vaccine clinics to support pet families in her community.
Growing up exploring Utah's beautiful landscapes, she has a deep love for nature and adventure. She’s happiest outdoors—whether hiking, camping, or exploring a new National Park. She is a devoted dog mom to two rescue pups, Sadie and Sheldon and her bond with them fuels her passion for helping other families stay together with their pets. Outside of her adventures and time with her dogs, she enjoys gardening, going to concerts, and cozying up with a good book.
In addition to her volunteer work with Ruff Haven, Misty also works in marketing as a Graphic Designer and Social Media Specialist, bringing her creativity to life through engaging content and design.
Valerie Yoder
Valerie is excited to join Ruff Haven as its Community Operations Specialist. After graduating from Westminster College with a degree in Computer Science, Valerie adopted her first cat, which changed her life plans to include animal welfare. She began volunteering at Best Friends Animal Society's Kitten Care Center when it opened in 2013, then joined as a part time employee for five years. She learned and developed best practices for kitten medical care and shelter data management, and is looking forward to using her skills at Ruff Haven.
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In addition to working and volunteering in animal rescue, Valerie works as a Database Analyst in public health. Valerie enjoys gardening, hiking, and skiing in her spare time. She shares her home with her five cats and a variety of foster animals from bottle-fed kittens to unsocial cats and kittens.
Community Operations Specialist