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Pat

Craig

Executive Director

Founder and Executive Director – Pat Craig – Pat began saving captive wildlife after learning that thousands of “surplus” animals were being kept in tiny cages in the back of zoos all across the country – with many being euthanized on a daily basis.  Pat set out on a mission to help save these animals by building a small rescue facility on his family farm outside Boulder, CO.  At age 19, Pat became the youngest state and federally licensed person in the country, as well as the first person to build a sanctuary dedicated to saving large carnivores. 

 

Pat’s vision has led 40 years later to the oldest and largest nonprofit sanctuary in the world dedicated exclusively to the rescue of captive exotic and endangered large carnivores that have been abused, abandoned, exploited or illegally kept. He has also pioneered the art of building large acreage species-specific habitats, giving rescued animals the opportunity to live together and roam freely within large natural spaces.

 

Pat’s 40 years of experience in captive large carnivore rescue, transportation, animal behavior and sanctuary development have led to his becoming a leading expert in the field. He has participated in The Association of Sanctuaries and the American Sanctuary Association, on whose board he served for a number of years.

 

Pat lectures regionally and nationally on captive wildlife rescue and transportation, great cat behaviors and diets, and has worked tirelessly toward better protection for these animals. He works hand-in-hand with the USDA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and many other state and national organizations in the never-ending fight to rescue animals in need. Pat has also worked with Canadian, Mexican, Spanish, Bolivian, Uruguayan, Panamanian and Peruvian government agencies on large and extremely complicated rescues from within their countries.

 

Pat oversees and participates in all TWAS’ operations, including rescues, both within the United States and abroad.  Pat has over 39 years of experience in designing, building and operating specialized rescue equipment for use in transporting large carnivores, and manages the largest fleet of rescue equipment in the country.  His expertise in handling large rescues in demanding situations, as well as successfully covering great distances is well known among law enforcement agencies across the U.S. 

 

Pat has a BS in Education from the University of Northern Colorado, and has received recognition and awards from many sources including the United States Secretary of Agriculture Honor Award for service above and beyond to the USDA, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Humane Association and E-Chievement Award from E-Town Environmental Radio Show. He was also a finalist in Animal Planet’s “Hero of the Year” selections.

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Michelle McGraw

Becca

Miceli

Chief Administration Officer

Michelle McGraw’s profound love for animals is evident in every aspect of her work. She has played a pivotal role in the organization's mission to rescue and provide lifelong homes for animals in need with her ability to foster a performance-driven environment. Through her unwavering commitment, she has contributed significantly to the sanctuary's growth, and proven herself to be a passionate advocate.

Michelle's expertise extends beyond her passion for animals. Prior to her taking over the top administration position at TWAS, Michelle’s professional expertise served the organization well with the extensive time she served as the Director of Development at The Wild Animal Sanctuary. With a highly successful background in non-profit development, Michelle brings a unique blend of skills that have greatly benefited the organization. Her strategic thinking, fundraising acumen, and ability to forge meaningful partnerships have helped the organization secure the resources necessary to continue its vital work.

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Dr. Christine Bui

Sanctuary Veterinarian

Dr. Bui grew up in Southern California. During her undergraduate studies at UC Davis, and well after graduation, she worked as a Zoo Keeper at the Sacramento Zoo where her passion for veterinary medicine began. Dr. Bui attended Colorado State University and obtained her Master’s in Business Administration and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. Her career interests include zoo and exotic medicine, which lead her to spend time at various zoos across the United States and partake in conservation projects in Asia.

 

Dr. Bui has built a broad spectrum of skills pertaining to exotic animal medicine and utilizes her unique carrier experiences to strengthen her abilities in diagnosing difficult medical problems found in captive wildlife medicine, and to successfully treat large carnivores and other exotic species.

Chief Science and Welfare Officer

Becca Miceli has been working with the animals at The Wild Animal Sanctuary for more than 19 years.  During that timeframe, Becca has served in every capacity imaginable in order to help the animals we rescue.  Becca has a degree in Non-Profit Management from Metropolitan State University of Denver School of Business and is a Certified Veterinary Technician.  Having cared for and treated over 600 Lions, Tigers, Bears, Wolves and other large carnivores during her time with the Sanctuary, Becca is by far the most experienced large carnivore medical technician in the country. 

 

As Director of Animal Care, Becca oversees a full time animal care staff of nine, as well as more than 160 volunteers that routinely work with her staff to ensure each and every animal living at the Sanctuary is being given the best possible care and species-specific treatment.  Becca ensures each animal’s overall accommodations and rehabilitation program has been dialed-in to help them live a long, happy and exceedingly healthy life with us

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Dr. Valerie Johnson

Sanctuary Veterinarian

Dr. Johnson is a critical care veterinarian with a strong background in exotic species and wildlife. She received her PhD in 2020 at Colorado State University. During her 10 years at CSU she developed a protocol to grow mesenchymal stem cells from blood from elephants and giraffes and have treated multiple exotic species including elephants, giraffes, large felids, bears, monkeys, Sichuan takin and multiple other species. 

 

Over the past ten years Dr. Johnson has been investigating the effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) as a therapeutic modality for various disease processes including multidrug resistant infections, immune-mediated disease and arthritis.  She has worked with animal models trying to elucidate the mechanisms by which these cells exert a therapeutic effect and additionally have participated in several clinical trials in dogs and exotic species with a variety of inflammatory diseases including multidrug resistant infections and osteoarthritis.  

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Dr. Mikaela Vetters

Refuge Veterinarian

Dr. Vetters has been working with and treating exotic animals for many years in numerous capacities and various locations within the United States. 

The Sanctuary's Staff

Animal Care

Office, Development & Accounting

Communications, Volunteering & Information Technology

Welcome Center Associates

Food Transport

Operations Team

Snack Bars

Gift Shop

Ice Cream Shop

Lion's Den Cafe

The Sanctuary's Board of Directors

Toni Scalera

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Board Chair

Toni Scalera- Independent - current Term 1/2021-1/2023

Toni has been saving and advocating for animals all her life.  She began volunteering at The Wild Animal Sanctuary in 1999, and after seven years of working with every aspect of the Sanctuary's operations, became its first Director of Development & Public Affairs in 2006.  After serving in that position for many years, Toni relocated to California to be near her family, but has remained involved with TWAS by representing the Sanctuary's interests from afar.  Now working as Legal Administration Manager of the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund on the west coast, Toni continues to bring a wealth of experience to TWAS, including funding, public and legislative affairs, donor relations, operations, rescues, and animal care.  Having graduated from Florida State University with a BA  Honors degree in commercial art, Toni has parlayed her creativity into a variety of ways to serve the animals, and she is honored to continue serving the animals as TWAS Board Chair.

Toni Scalera

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Board Chair

Dr. Ashley Malmlov

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Secretary/Director

Dr. Ashley Malmlov –  Independent - current Term 1/2020-1/2022

Like most people integral to the management of TWAS, Ashley started as a volunteer. In 2006, she was hired in administration, and managed the Sanctuary’s Adoption and Pledge programs. With her background as a Vet Tech, Ashley took the first opportunity available to work in animal care. In 2008, Ashley was accepted in to the Colorado State University Veterinary Program, and graduated in 2012. Ashley is currently continuing her education at CSU with a microbiology residency, as well as volunteering at the Sanctuary helping treat our large carnivores. Ashley brings a variety of related experiences to TWAS’ board.

George Ellis

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Director

George Ellis –  Independent - current Term 1/2021-1/2023

George is a supervisor for the Boulder Housing Management in Boulder, CO, and has spent more than 38 years specializing in construction and carpentry, and has acquired numerous advanced certifications. George has been heavily involved in The Wild Animal Sanctuary since its inception in 1980, with animal care and rescues, as well as in the construction of animal housing, rescue/transport cages, large animal enclosures, habitats and visitor infrastructure and large observation decks. Throughout the Sanctuary’s growth and evolution, George has been a stalwart presence in saving captive wildlife.

Scott Edwards

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Director

Scott Edwards - Independent - current Term 1/2020-1/2022

Scott Edwards – Scott, a veteran entrepreneur, founded his first company, Sportnet, in 1985. His second company, Epigraphx, founded in 1992, delivered tailored fax and email services for Fortune 500 companies, and gained a market leadership position before merging with SilverPop Systems Inc., in 2001. The third company, StuffBak, founded in 2000, continues to provide loss protection and recovery services for consumers and corporations. Scott has raised $9MM in angel and venture capital financing, and is a seasoned manager, having been the President and CEO of all three companies. Additionally, Scott was the Director of Sales and Marketing for Mountain Travel, and President and CEO of Boulder Rock Club and Colorado Mountain Club. Scott holds a Bachelor’s degree in business communications from Pepperdine University and is the General Manager of LockIn Security, LLC.

 

Scott was involved with the Sanctuary in the early 1980’s when the original facility was started outside of Boulder, CO, and spent a modest amount of time interfacing with the Sanctuary until he relocated to CA.  Years later, Scott moved back to CO and eventually became highly involved with helping the animals during the Bolivian Lion Rescue.  Scott remained committed to helping the Sanctuary grow and was instrumental in helping the Sanctuary to raise funds for building the Mile Into The Wild Walkway.  Scott continues to utilize his entrepreneurial skills as a member of the Sanctuary’s Board of Directors.

Maria McCann-Glover

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Director

Maria McCann-Glover - Independent - current Term 1/2021-1/2023

Maria McCann is a professional actress, business owner and mother of two that lives and works in Los Angeles, CA.  Maria Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA and has maintained a long and highly successful career within the motion picture industry, as well as acting on stage, in television series, commercials and other professional mediums.  Maria has been involved with supporting The Wild Animal Sanctuary in many ways for numerous years, including donating her talent toward several Captive Wildlife Crisis education projects.  She continues to be an outspoken advocate for animal welfare and our organization within her industry and on many other fronts.

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