Staff and Board

whitney@paws4ever.org
919.241.8438 ext. 101

kathy@paws4ever.org
919.241.8438 ext. 110

Kathy enjoys using her bookkeeping skills to support the animals she loves! You’ll often find Paws4ever shelter dogs lounging next to Kathy’s desk in the Admin office. She spends her free time with her grandchildren and her two cattle dogs, Bandit and Lucy. Her dogs keep her entertained with their fun games – as soon as she throws a ball for Bandit, Lucy takes it and drops it further away for Bandit to retrieve! Kathy is famous for her beautiful flower garden and her holiday cookie baking tradition.

savanna@paws4ever.org

Savanna loves working with others who are passionate about animal welfare and seeing the positive impact Paws4ever has on both the animals and the community! Before joining Paws4ever’s development team, Savanna worked in veterinary support, adoptions, humane education, animal control, and pet-sitting. She is currently working towards a MA in Public Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management. When she isn’t at work, she likes to go for walks, listen to podcasts and audiobooks, play Minecraft, and spend time with her boyfriend and their five cats, Jack, Houdini, Myrtle, Zara, and Ziggy!

SarahEllen@paws4ever.org
919.241.8438 ext. 105

Sarah Ellen’s favorite part of her job is getting to help animals as well as meeting and training fellow animal lovers. Before joining the Paws4ever team, Sarah Ellen worked for over a decade in project management for a small clinical trials company. She was also a Paws4ever volunteer! In her free time, she enjoys reading, taking bubble baths, pedal kayaking, and taking pottery classes, even if she’s still mastering the art. Sarah Ellen shares her home with two furry companions: Maggie, a vocal and affectionate 15-year-old cat, and Jasper, a 10-year-old neurotic Weimaraner.

Jasmine@paws4ever.org
919.241.8438 ext. 109

Jasmine’s favorite thing about Paws4ever is how their services and pets contribute to people’s mental health, daily quality of life, and unite people of all backgrounds in our community. Before joining Paws4ever, she worked for nonprofits in the Chapel Hill/Durham area, specializing in communications and marketing. She grew up in the country of Burlington where her family had chickens, turkeys, goats, Koi fish, dogs, and cats. Her current pet is a black and white cow-print Chihuahua named Noggin. He wears a red dragon wing harness and fits in her purse! Jasmine is a cruelty-free makeup and skincare enthusiast, she loves going to concerts, and reading suspenseful books. She is very passionate about building community, serving as an advocate for resource access and continued support, and some of her most prized memories are seeing the smiles of families she has helped in her career. 

brian@paws4ever.org

Brian loves to be a part of that moment when dogs and their owners start to understand one another and communicate through fun, positive training. Brian started working with animals as a volunteer in 2018 after the loss of his own beloved dog, Sonny. When Brian isn’t training dogs or working in his other job at Duke University Medical Center in the Radiation Safety Office, he enjoys hiking at parks around the Triangle, collecting comic books, and doing puzzles.

heather@paws4ever.org

Heather loves to see partnerships between dogs and people strengthen. She especially enjoys witnessing the joy and pride of that moment when a dog starts to understand what their human is asking them to do. When Heather isn’t at work, she enjoys doing crafts like macramé and plasma cutting, watching horror movies, hosting theme parties with her husband, and traveling. She stays connected to her Scottish roots and attends the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games every year. Heather has a dog named Hornsby, 2 hens, and a rooster!

Read more about Heather’s Dog Training experience.

maida@paws4ever.org

Maida joined the Paws4ever team in September 2024, bringing 17 years of dog training experience primarily from the Austin, Texas area. She specializes in Assistance Dog Training and Behavioral Consulting. Maida finds joy in helping dogs and their owners lead happier lives together. At home, she shares her life with a lovable pack of pets that includes Luann the pit bull, Roo the silver Labrador, and Archie, an African Grey Parrot! When she’s not training dogs, you can find her cooking up delicious meals or enjoying her favorite tunes, especially at live music events.

Read more about Maida’s Dog Training experience.