Biographies of our Board and Leadership Team
Mary Althaus - MCRS Representative
Mary had to have a motorcycle. So, Mary got a motorcycle, helmet and a jacket with nice long fringes. Mary took the rider safety class two times... Then it dawned on her what she really needed was a rabbit - In her house. So, she sold the bike and got the rabbit (kept the jacket, of course). Mary learned about living with rabbits in the house by hands-on experience. Then she found Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society and met lots of Bunny Friends, met lots more Bunnies, and learned tons more about rabbits. She fosters in her house and likes to help new Bunny Parents who are in the beginning stages of knowing rabbits like she was 16 years ago! Motorcycles are good, but rabbits in the house are the best. Mary earns the bunny kibble in the advertising industry.
Laura (Tessmer) Atkins - MCRS Representative
Laura has been living with bunnies most of her life starting with a big New Zealand White named BunnyBear, an Easter present from her grandparents when she was only three. Her first house rabbit, Rufus came to live with her in September of 1994. Within a year she had two other permanent bunnies and had fostered four other bunnies. She has been a volunteer and educator with the House Rabbit Society and then the Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society since mid-1995. She has lived with various permanent and foster bunnies through the years. Currently, Laura has four "funny looking bunnies" (the feline kind with short ears and long tails) rescued from the wilds of her neighborhood. Laura received her B.S. in Animal Science from Virginia Tech in 1992. She has worked in the biotech field, in government and university laboratories, between 1988 and 2000.
Tonia Baxter - Email/Voice Mail Coordinator
Tonia Baxter is an academic advisor at a local university. She shares her home with two rabbits, Cleo, who came to her as a stray, and Gus, who was adopted from Minnesota Valley Humane Society to be Cleo's husbun. After MCRS introduced Tonia to her first rabbit, Sherlock, in 2001, she was hooked! MCRS (and Sherlock) taught her about living with a house rabbit, and now Tonia wants to take what she's learned and pass it on. She regularly replies to voice mail and email inquiries and has taught Bunny Basics classes. Since Tonia has moved to the state of Illinois, she no longer teaches classes here in Minnesota, but she is still involved via phone and email.
Cindy Cameron - Bookkeeper
Cindy has had pet rabbits since 1994. She currently is owned by two sets of bonded pairs. She also shares her home with two large dogs, , a bearded dragon, a cockatiel, two parakeets, and a fish tank. She is married and has a young, hockey-playing son. Cindy became a member of MCRS in January 2005 and began volunteering one year lateras Bookkeeper and Membership Coordinator. In her spare time, she volunteers for several other organizations. In 2007, she became a certified Master Gardener; she is currently training to become a certified Master Naturalist. Cindy earned a BA in English Literature many moons ago, but ended up working in the Accounting field.
Joanna Campbell - President
Joanna has had pet rabbits for over 30 years. She got the rabbit bug after a fellow student brought rabbits to class for show and tell. Since then, she has continuously had a variety of rabbits, from dwarves to Flemish Giants. Joanna first became acquainted with the House Rabbit Society in 1997. She went on to become a nationally certified HRS Educator, HRS Fosterer, and served on the House Rabbit Society board. At the same time, she founded this group, originally named Minnesota House Rabbit Society, and continues to serve as president of this group. Joanna has a degree in Classical Studies, which obviously laid the foundation for her current career in animal welfare. Prior to running MCRS, she spent many years in electronic banking.
Christine Chan - MCRS Representative
The mother of two twin Holland Lops bunnies, Rev and Axela, Christine's great love for bunnies was ignited by her boyfriend, Jason, who grew up with a wonderful house bunny named Roger. Christine herself spent much of her childhood with animals as a volunteer for the Westwood Nature Center in St. Louis Park. This eventually led her into the field of biology where she currently works as a Genetics Researcher at the University of Minnesota. Originally a volunteer in the MCRS PETCO program she has begun volunteering at the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley as a "Bunny Expert" and assists as an official representative for MCRS communications. In addition to volunteering, she actively trains Rev and Axela in Rabbit Agility (obstacle courses) which has led to many ribbons, a front page newspaper photo (of Rev), and very proud bunny mommy! She looks forward to fostering bunnies at home after entering graduate school for Genetic Counseling.
JiaNin Chen - MCRS Representative
JiaNin is a technical communicator with an IT company who got the bunny bug again while walking dogs for Animal Humane Society in St Paul back in 2004. Having had small white rabbits as a child, she figured the adult JiaNin could probably handle the cute friendly brown bunny on display next to the desk, just begging to be loved by the world. BB ended up ruling the house instead. She encountered MCRS in 2005 while looking for a companion--Taremimi--for BB, and has since assisted where she can, predominantly with editing and posting the blogs. BB and Taremimi deigned to have a third bunny, LB, join them in 2006 in their rule over the household, a couple of fishes, and a few planter boxes of greenery for their dining pleasure. When not serving the trio or providing a last minute helping hand at MCRS events, JiaNin keeps herself busy with other hobbies like reading, knitting, anime and studying languages.
Shelley Chirhart – Marketing Coordinator
As a sales and marketing professional by trade, Shelley took on the role as Marketing Coordinator in December 2007. Education and adoption through marketing and promotion will be her mission. In addition, her and Paul Dupor, have an interest in education and have been volunteering with Bunny Basics. Shelley did not grow up with any pets and Paul grew up with a cat. So bunnies were "new territory" for both. We caught the "bunny fever" when we observed the 4H Rabbit Exhibit at the MN State Fair in 2004. A parent of a 4Her was sitting behind us and told us all about what great indoor house pets they make (easy to litter box train when spayed/neutered, social, loveable etc. etc.) and that the internet was full of great resources like rabbit.org. While checking out the internet, we discovered MCRS. Before adopting, we started by being volunteers at a Petco in 2005. We got hooked by the behavior and antics of the various bunnies we were socializing. Jack, a Himalayan Dwarf mix, was adopted later that year from MCRS. In December 2007, we adopted another MCRS bunny we named Violet, a dwarf who looks like a miniature English Spot, to bond with Jack. It's great to be part of such a fine group.
Maria Day - MCRS Representative
Maria has had a long-time interest in the environment and environmental issues. She lives in a small town along with her husband and four children. Maria has a BA from the University of MN in International Relations, works as a Senior Claims Rep and enjoys home decorating, baking, corresponding with international friends as well as landscape design. Maria currently lives with three bunnies: Kip, Caesar and Buttercup - all adopted. The whole family loves bunnies - being reminded daily how much fun they can be! Maria helps with Adoption Events and other educational activities. She feels blessed and very productive to be a part of MCRS.
Laura Franco - Adoption Applications Coordinator
Laura is a Physical Therapist at Methodist Hospital. She and her husband Peter live with Elaine, a five year old rabbit, and adopted Fidget from MCRS in Sept 2003 as a companion for Elaine. Elaine has lots of medical issues and Laura is interested in learning more about using physical therapy to help rabbits. Laura looks forward to ensuring a good quality of life for rabbits in the community through education.
Tanya Hulsey - Board Member
Tanya has always lived with animals, although she only began sharing her life with rabbits in 1999. Since then, she has fostered a few hundred rabbits for Minnesota House Rabbit Society and later for Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society. Tanya is one of the MCRS Bunny Boot Camp instructors and works with many of the more troubled rabbits that come to our organization. Tanya can be found at most of the MCRS adoption events, usually trimming bunny nails or supervising rabbit introductions. When not working with rabbits, Tanya is employed by Wells Fargo Wholesale Banking.
Margaret Jacot - Major Events Coordinator
Margaret is an attorney living in the Twin Cities. She grew up with cats and dogs and discovered rabbits while in college. She and her husband adopted Ferdinand, her first rabbit shortly after they were married. A year later they brought home Isabella to be his best friend. Ferdinand and Bella have been very patient with them as they learn the ins and outs of rabbit care. Margaret began volunteering with MCRS at the Roseville PETCO and eventually took on the additional task of PETCO Volunteer Coordinator. She is fascinated by bunny bonding and bunny behavior.
Heidi Johnson - MCRS Representative
Heidi is currently studying Animal Communication and talks with some of our more challenging fosters. She looks forward to helping animals to get along better with their people. Sharing her home are two spoiled rabbits, Vespa Amberlyn Regina and Prince Taiko, plus one incredibly handsome hooded rat named Paladin. The Bunnies are siblings who were born soon after their Mother, Elena, came to MCRS in April 2006.
Barb Kelley - Education Events Coordinator
Barb has raised and trained horses for over 30 years. In the fall of 2005, her friend adopted a little black Rex from Animal Humane Society and so it goes. By Thanksgiving, Barb had adopted Abigail and Alexander - Jersey Wooly's from the June confiscation of that year. Then Andrea started sending her to groom the fuzzies at the PETCO's and soon afterwards River was bonded in to form her trio. . Then Andrea decided Barb should become a foster home and her lagomorphs family has now grown to six. Barb is one of the agility instructors at Animal Humane Society and handles email responses for MCRS. To support these habits, she manages a dental clinic in Plymouth.
Janet Kittelson - Website Coordinator
Janet is a software engineer with a degree in Computer Science from the University of MN, and an all-around bunny slave. She is owned by three house rabbits, Spencer, her first bunny ever who was adopted from a local shelter in 1999; Haylie, adopted from MCRS; and Mirabelle, adopted from MCRS in 2007. Janet also fosters rabbits for MCRS in her home. Haylie came to her initially as a foster following a confiscation in 2004, and she fostered Mirabelle from the tender (and absolutely adorable!) age of 3 or 4 weeks, which entailed lots of formula, nursing, and snuggling! She hopes to share her knowledge and love of rabbits so that as many bunnies as possible can lead happy, healthy lives in permanent loving homes.
Peggy Kvam - Retail Sales Coordinator
Peggy has been bunny mom to five house rabbits over the past 20 years. She learned about and joined MCRS in 2005 after spotting their logo on a board member's business website. Peggy voluteered at Petco and opened one of the MCRS supply sites before taking the role of Retail Sales Coordinator. Her resident bunny, a big French Lop named Cassie, always enjoys meeting members who stop by for supplies.
Rich Lancello, DVM - Board Member
Dr. Lancello obtained his degree from the University of Minnesota Veterinary School and has been practicing in the Twin Cities area since 1988. He has been a recommended veterinarian of the House Rabbit Society and the Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society since 1994. Dr. Lancello continues to maintain his rabbit knowledge by regularly attending seminars offering the latest in rabbit medicine. He does not have a rabbit, but does have a dog, two cats, and two turtles.
Holly Lang – Adoption Director
Holly Lang is the new Adoption Director for MCRS. Holly has worked in the Animal Welfare world for over 8 years and brings her passion and knowledge of all animals but especially her love of rabbits. Fifteen years ago Holly's first rabbit named Oatmeal was the start of her interest in learning more about what makes a house rabbit happy. She currently lives with 4 rabbits, Rainbow, LuLu, Helen and Twinkle. Holly's other love of her life is her daughter Mazie.
Heidi Miller – PETCO Rabbit Coordinator
Heidi's daughter Hannah asked her father for a bunny for Christmas 2006. After staying at Dad's for about five months, Chester came to Heidi's home for the weekend – and stayed ever since. She had never had a pet in her life, yet was determined to give him the best life she could. Heidi went online to find out more about rabbit behavior and care and found MCRS. Shortly after that, she started volunteering with adoptable MCRS rabbits at a nearby PETCO store. As she learned more, her responsibility increased and now she is our PETCO Rabbit Coordinator, responsible for the physical care of all the MCRS bunnies living in PETCO stores while they wait for their forever homes to find them. Heidi loves putting her organizational skills to use, meeting wonderful people, and helping bunnies find their forever home.
Andrea Nye - MCRS Representative
In 1996, Andrea Nye rescued her first pet rabbit, Ebony, from a meat farm. Ebony passed away in the fall of 2006, but Andrea's love and concern for rabbits as pets has continued. Andrea has been volunteering with MCRS since the beginning and has served in a variety of leadership capacities. Andrea has a degree in Healthcare Management and works in the health care industry.
Lisa O'Brien – MCRS Representative
Lisa became enamored with bunnies when she was a little girl and her parents rescued two wild bunnies. As a result of seeing bunnies up close and personal she fell in love with these misinterpreted furry creatures and knew she would one-day adopt a companion bunny. More than thirty years later Lisa adopted Ginger in 2006. Although Lisa spent a great deal of time doing research and consulting with an MCRS voice mail volunteer prior to adopting Ginger she realized as soon as she brought Ginger home from the Woodbury Humane Society she was in over her head so Lisa (and Ginger!) were thrilled MCRS was hosting a Bunny Basics class two days later. Lisa is taking a break from her banking career so she is currently a full time wife to John and a full-time bun mom to Ginger. Lisa enjoys being able to volunteer by replying to voice mail inquiries.
Amy Ramnaraine – MCRS Representative
Amy's first bunny demanded that she adopt him from the Humane society, despite her lack of knowledge about anything rabbit. After taking him home Amy was compelled to take a crash course All About Bunnies. Her new bunny boy quickly demanded a companion, who was adopted from the MCRS. Amy is crazy, madly in love with her rabbits and hopes they live forever. Amy has been passionate about improving the lives of all animals since becoming a vegetarian in 1990. She started volunteering for the MCRS in 2002, when she hosted the first South Minneapolis supply location. Amy believes in volunteering time and expertise and in the principals of "paying it forward". By volunteering with the MCRS Amy has been given the chance to share her love of bunnies, the opportunity to help other people appreciate what wonderful companions they can be, and the ability to improve the lives of animals outside of her immediate family. Amy is enrolled in the UCLA Design & Communication Arts program, and she holds out hope that some day she will be a real graphic designer. She currently lives in Santa Monica, CA with two bunnies, an adopted German Shepherd dog, and her savant, eye-candy husband.
Marcelyn Reiter – MCRS Representative
Marcelyn (Marcy) Reiter has been an animal lover all of her life, beginning with the Brittany spaniel named Twinkle that she grew up with. She has kept hamsters, guinea pigs, dogs, cats. While her husband Pete claims that she turned him into a bunny junkie, they co-parent four house rabbits: Maybelline, a gray and white mini-lop; Maxwell Q. Rabbit, a chocolate-brown Havana mix; Clifford, a black and white Rex; and Beauregard, a French Lop. All of their rabbits are rescued rabbits. At work, Pete is proudly known as Bunny Dad, and Marcy is proudly known as the Rabbit and Rodent Whisperer.
Pete Reiter – Board Treasurer
Pete Reiter has been a bunny dad for 10 years and an active member of MCRS for about 3 1/2 years. He is married to Marcy and they are proud parents of Maybelline (gray and white mini-lop), Max (Havana Brown), Clifford (black and white Rex), and Beauregard (chestnut agouti French Lop). Pete takes care of the adoptable bunnies book at the Minnetonka Petco and is a frequent volunteer at adoption events. He also delivers litter pellets to several MCRS supply locations. He is currently planning to get more involved by joining the ranks of Bunny Basics instructors.
Carrie Romuald – MCRS Representative
Carrie Romuald is an accountant at the University of Minnesota. She shares her apartment with two bonded rabbits, Chloby, a large mini-lop who loves having his ears rubbed and Gertie, a small Dutch mix who is always available when raisins are being distributed. Carrie continues to be intrigued by the antics of her rabbits and loves to learn all she can about them. She joined MCRS as an email volunteer in 2007 and loves interacting with other "rabbit people".
John Rubbo - Photographer
John and his wife Jeanne had their first exposure to rabbits in 2004. Their home is now ruled by a mini lop named Cinnamon and an English spot mix named Brinco (both MCRS alumni). Aside from taking pictures of adoptable bunnies and other pictures at MCRS events, John and Jeanne have served as a foster home for the past two years. When not serving bunnies, John works as a Systems Engineer for Thomson.
Jamie Schmeichel – MCRS Representative
Jamie has a big heart when it comes to animals. If you don't believe it, visit her house! Her family includes a dog, four cats, and three feisty boy bunnies! Her furbabies are all very close and are known to travel in a pack following her throughout the house. Although a big animal lover, rabbits are closest to her heart. She has had rabbits since she was a child and began volunteering with MCRS in 2005. Today she fosters and is a part of the adoption application and voicemail teams. She feels that education about our companion animals is the most valuable service we can provide as a group serving our furry friends. In addition to doting on her animals, she is pursuing a degree at the University of St. Thomas and works full-time in the financial services industry.
Karen Skewes - MCRS Representative
Karen has been a bunny mama since 1992. She joined MCRS as a member and volunteer in 2003 and believes the cause of rabbits is one of her purposes in life. Karen is known as the MCRS "Bunny Profiler" and "Bunny Dater" at the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley) She started volunteering at the shelter in 2003 and has become quite knowledgeable about rabbit care. Karen is involved in many MCRS events, including Adoption Events, the Holiday Boutique and teaching Bunny Basics classes. Karen has many creative talents as well; she sings classical and jazz, and she sews the dust bunnies and carrier covers. Karen is a bunny mom to Noelle and Figaro or "Figgy", as well as cat mom to her 11-year-old calico, Ruffles.
Taryn Wichterman - MCRS Representative
Taryn had her first bunny, Whiskers, when she was a little girl and so followed Patches, Fuzz #1, Fuzz #2. It wasn't until Taryn wanted to find a companion for her lop Peanut that she found MCRS. She adopted Maggie from the Animal Humane Society with the help of MCRS. Taryn wanted to help out the bunnies personally so she chose to volunteer with MCRS. Taryn fosters in her home and also exercises the buns at Richfield PETCO. She loves that MCRS is so dedicated to helping bunnies find good homes and is happy to be a part of the gang.
