Garret Barcheski

Shelter Director

Garret has a lifetime of pet ownership and is our in-house dog whisperer. He keeps everyone at the shelter on their toes with his crazy amount of energy! Garret is knowledgeable about so many aspects of dog training and being a pet parent, he is always willing to share his advice with everyone! But it's not all fun and games, as Garret handles most of the business related to the shelter as well. Garret can usually be seen walking a dog when he's not hard at work at his computer - usually singing a tune while he does so! Make sure you say hi - he is always ready to talk to new people about their pets!

Natalie Armstrong

Adoption Program Manager

Evan Kerekes

Animal Care Manager

Evan has ten years of experience working as a Veterinary Technician, mainly in the non-profit spay and neuter sector. He is a life long pet owner who's dedication to animal welfare inspires all of those around him. His wife, Amy, and him are the proud parents of three rambunctious human boys, Hendrik, Robin, and Seamus, as well as little girl Maggie. They have some furry babies as well, Heidi, the ever bouncy ball of energy in dog form, as well as kitties Lego and Charlie. Evan spends most of his free time with his family, outdoors, cycling, and running.

Dr. Michelle Hewitt

Veterinarian

Dr. Michelle Hewitt has been a veterinarian at the Tranquility Veterinary Clinic since 1997. In 2008, she started volunteering at Father John's Animal House. Dr. Hewitt examines all of the dogs and cats that come to the shelter, manages their preventative health care and treats illnesses and injuries. She is one busy veterinarian but working with all of the wonderful animals and dedicated staff at Father John's has been extremely rewarding for her. Dr. Hewitt looks forward to finding happy homes for all of the special animals that she meets!

Leon Richards

Caretaker

Leon started as a volunteer for the shelter but for many years has lived in the apartment at the shelter as Caretaker. In addition to keeping the facility looking good, his commitment to the animals is non-stop. He is up before the sun and tucks all the dogs into their kennel runs each night. He treats each animal here like they're his own, and showers them with love and affection during their stay with us! You're sure to run into Leon walking a dog or doing some important maintenance work when you stop by, so be sure to say hi!

Patti Mastellone

Administrative Assistant

Patti helps out in so many ways at the shelter, primarily by inputting donations into our database and organizing them. It's a lot of computer work, so she is also one of our fantastic kitten fosters! Patti specializes in little bottle feeders, and doesn't mind waking up in the middle of the night to feed these precious babies. If you ever adopt a kitten from us, chances are he or she was one of Patti's fosters!

Laura Bomberger

Receptionist

We’re so lucky to have Laura as the first smiling face you see when you walk into the shelter! As our receptionist, she keeps things running smoothly—and always with a kind word and a laugh. Laura is known for her fun glasses and her love of hanging out with the cats in the lobby (they keep her giggling all day long!). Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and her granddaughter!

Ariana Como

Development & Communications Associate

Ariana plays a vital role in supporting the organization’s growth and outreach efforts! She’s the one behind all the adorable adoptable pet posts, helping to spread the word and connect animals with their future families. When she’s not hard at work behind her computer, she’s getting content of the pets and sneaking in some extra love with them. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her two dogs, Benny and Lucy, and her cat, Teddy.

Joanna Kugler

Veterinary Technician (Lead)

Joanna has recently joined our team as a vet tech, but she has been working in the industry for years! Joanna has helped animals from all over, whether at veterinary clinics or on the farm, she loves treating all kinds of animals! Her expertise is critical in her role, as we see pets with all kinds of medical needs, and are often challenged to save these precious lives under daunting circumstances. When you stop in to adopt your newest family member, Joanna may be doing just that!

Mary Lynn Haug

Veterinary Technician

Mary Lynn is one of our newest vet techs, but she comes from experience! Once a volunteer at a local municipal shelter, Mary Lynn helps keep every cat and dog at Father John's healthy, plus she's a vital member of our team on the days our low cost spay/neuter clinic operates. When you adopt, be sure to talk with Mary Lynn or one of our other techs about your new pet's health!

Guiselle Montero

Cat Care Counselor

Guiselle is one of our dedicated vet techs AND cat counselors, and you'll have a hard time finding someone who loves animals more than her! Not only is Guiselle responsible for making sure all of our animals get their medications, are healthy and on track with their weights, checking for parasites and so much more, but she is also an amazing kitten foster who specializes in caring for kittens who are sick or otherwise very fragile. She has spent over 40 years in the animal medical field, but now spends most of her time at Father John's working with our cats. When you work with Guiselle to adopt your next cat, you'll learn all about their medical needs as well!

Danielle Janiszewski

Cat Care Counselor

The first thing you may notice about Danielle is her beautiful hair - the second thing would be her love of all animals! Danielle is lucky enough to work with both the cats AND the dogs! No matter which type of furry friend you're looking to take home, Danielle can help you find the perfect match. Plus, the shelter has never been so clean thanks to her eye for detail!

Liz Nafis

Cat Care Counselor

As a retired Project Manager, Liz first came to us as a volunteer, and we were lucky enough to later welcome her as an employee! Her organizational skills and constant drive to improve daily operations have become a tremendous asset to our shelter, benefiting the animals, her coworkers, and even other shelters and local food pantries we support. Liz also works closely with our volunteers to raise funds for the shelter, including painting wine glasses for our Annual Dinner and creating handmade bracelets to benefit the animals. Although she’s technically retired, you’d never know it, Liz is always on the move cleaning, organizing, caring, and sharing endless love with the animals. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and spending time with her four rescued cats: Jesse James, Dali, Leibchen, and Pumpkin!

Katya Jouravlev

Cat Care Counselor

Sarah Oehler

Canine Training & Behavior Coordinator

Sarah has been with us working with our dogs since 2015! She loves and cares for every dog that comes to our facility. When she's not out with the dogs getting some exercise in one of our beautiful play yards, she's checking adoption questionnaires to see if there are any potential matches. Did you know that Sarah is also a certified dog trainer? Sarah can help you with so much, so make sure you stop by to say hi!

Mike Branagan

Kennel Care Counselor

Mike brings heart to his role as a Kennel Care Counselor at Father John’s. It’s clear he loves every dog that comes through our doors, and we’re so glad he’s part of our team. When he’s not caring for our pups or helping match adopters with their new best friends, Mike enjoys spending time with his own dog, a proud Father John’s alum!

Ceferino Lopez

Kennel Care Counselor

Allen Stoll

Volunteer Handyman

Allen first got involved with Father John's when he came to adopt Dakota, pictured here with him. After that, it was a match made in heaven - with the dog and our organization! Since then, he has been on board to help with various different projects, and recently accepted our invitation to become the official volunteer handyman, helping out our caretaker Leon whenever it's needed. If you see someone walking around with a toolbox, say hi - it's probably Allen!