Our Team
Meet Our Staff
We’re grateful to have a dedicated staff of animal caregivers. Our team works continuously to provide the highest level of care and to find loving homes for the dogs and cats of Nelson County.
Rose Fariss
Shelter Manager
Haley Lenahan
Office Administrator
Erin Ezzyk
Canine Lead
Marissa Shaner
Feline Lead
Cole Johnson
Feline/Canine Technician
Perla Barrios
Canine Technician
Holly Martin
Canine Technician
Bailey Naughton
Feline Kennel Tech
Mackenzie Powell
Canine/Feline Tech & Veterinary Intern
Kaitlyn Wills
Veterinary Intern
Grace
Veterinary Intern
Keira McPeak
Canine/Feline Tech
Become a Part of Our Dedicated Team
We welcome all talents, whether you’re an experienced caregiver, a skilled trainer, or have a knack for administrative work. Your commitment is what we need.
Meet Our Dedicated Volunteers
The Nelson Community has never held back in supporting our shelter with their time and effort. There are too many to list individually, but if you’d like to send us a photo and a short bio, we’d love to feature you. We can’t do this without you and we simply can’t thank you enough.
Veterinary Volunteers
Elizabeth Luziach
Supervising Veterinarian
Robin Pullen, VMD, DACVIM - SAIM
Assistant to Supervising Veterinarian
Dr Jennifer Magill
Assistant to Supervising Veterinarian
Charles Wood
Assistant to Supervising Veterinarian
Volunteer Coordinators
Danielle Harris
Volunteer Coordinator
Kim Jackson
Foster Coordinator
Position Open
Event Coordinator
Community Champions
Sue Lambert
Dog Walker & Bather
Clinton Fariss
Volunteer
Carolyn Frith
Volunteer, Cat Write-ups & Photographer
Amy Swope-Robles
Volunteer & Boarding Kennel
Diana Galarreta
Volunteer & Dog Walker
Arin Bennett
Dog Walker
Jenn O’Connor
Feline Foster
Katie O'Connor
Volunteer
Georganne L Kelly
Volunteer
Karen Ryan
Volunteer
Donald Wenrich
Volunteer
Megan Washburn
Volunteer / Foster
Shirley Allen
Senior Volunteer
Polly Davis Doig
Volunteer
Vicki Martin
Volunteer, Foster & Donor
Andi Blanton
Grounds, Shelter Maintenance Helper & Dog Walker
Tad Smith
Special Volunteer
Melissa Rosenthal
Volunteer & Dog Walker
Maura Singleton
Dog Walker
Rhonda Richardson
Volunteer
Laura Scherman
Thank you for your dedicated service.
Interested in volunteering?
If you have the time — we need you!
Meet Our Visionary Board of Directors
Denise Merricks
President
Denise is the President and trainer at Camp Merricks, a local boarding, daycare and training facility. She is active in dog rescue with multiple organizations and has worked with the Nelson SPCA since 2013. Additionally, she has 30 years experience in Human Resources and Business Management.
Sarah Landon
Vice President
Lifelong animal lover and rescuer. I’ve spent 19 years with Almost Home, serving on the Board for much of that time. I’m an advocate of and committed to promoting spay/neuter initiatives. My farm is a lively haven, home to a wonderful mix of cats, dogs, goats, sheep, a bunny, and a parakeet.
Jennifer Shingler
Treasurer
Jennifer joined the board as treasurer in June 2025 after retiring to Nelson county the previous month. Jenn has pursued animal welfare projects throughout her life. She fostered and adopted animals from Japan, Kenya, Philippines, Nepal and of course the U.S. She participated heavily in the TNVR programs during her time in Manila, and transported eight animals from Kathmandu to Virginia and on to their forever adopters in the US and Canada.
While licensed as a CPA (in Florida) for 30 years, she specialized in financial management as a contractor and then as a direct hire to the Federal government for the majority of those years. Jenn is sincerely grateful for the opportunity to combine her love of animals and her financial skills on behalf of the animals of Nelson County.
Lauren Hunt
Secretary
Lauren joined the Nelson SPCA Board of Directors in March 2025 and lends her communications expertise to the organization’s social media and newsletter outreach.
A lifelong animal lover, Lauren has shared her home with many cats and dogs over the years, including her beloved beagle, Beau, who passed in 2024, and the current love of her life, a Beagle-Boxer named Ernie (an Almost Home alum!). She’s passionate about using storytelling and community engagement to support the SPCA’s mission of helping animals find loving homes.
Ronald Cote
Board Member
Ron joined the Board in 2023 and actively volunteers as an infrastructure coordinator and animal transport driver. His wife, Robin, lends her skills as a volunteer veterinarian, caring for the animals we shelter. Together, they’re crucial to our mission. Among those in their care is Wink, a rescue cat who’s become part of our community.
Michael Wood
Board Member
Michael grew up on a farm here in Nelson County, where a love of animals developed early. He’s volunteered and fostered with the Chesterfield Humane Society, Dogs Deserve Better, and now the Nelson SPCA. He loves the outdoors, often hiking or kayaking with furry friends. He tries to utilize his background in architectural fabrication & custom signage, and now landscaping to contribute to the shelter.
Astrid Brock
Board Member
Michael Wood
Board Member
Matthew came to the Board of the SPCA as a long-time animal lover. As a youngster he had ambitions to become a vet. Instead, he pursued a culinary degree and bought into an automotive repair business in Duluth, MN. When the business closed due to a fire, he relocated his family to Northern Virginia where he took on a variety of jobs, mainly with automotive dealerships. He was offered a position as shop foreman in Charlottesville with the Browns group.
Within a year of moving to Charlottesville, Matthew and his wife Sue adopted an SPCA rescue, Leonardo, a sweet Chow-Golden Retriever mix. Leo had 12 lovely years before he succumbed to lung cancer, despite no smokers in the household. After Leo, Matthew was subjected to the tyranny of the “English Springer Spaniard,” Molly Hatchet. She lived to 13 years after a
dramatic incident of necrotizing pancreatitis. Matthew and Sue are now a family of 5, including three more Springers – Paco, Matilda and Matilda’s pup, Charles.
In 2010 , Matthew started his own auto repair business with the intention to provide auto repair with integrity. He has run his operation in the black since day one and has provided a tremendous to the Charlotteville community – auto repair with integrity, otherwise known as “By Word of Mouth Auto.”
Matthew frequently donates to individual car projects (based on income limitations), and to the community at large. Examples of Matthew’s community support include helping the Charlottesville SPCA, the Nelson-Albemarle Artisan Trail, Twice is Nice charity
store, the International Rescue Committee, Piedmont Community Land Trust, and most recently, the Nelson County SPCA (Almost Home Adoption Center).
Help Us Shape a Brighter Future for Pets in Need
Your ongoing support is essential to our mission, empowering us to create tangible positive changes in the lives of Nelson County’s dogs and cats. Join us in this meaningful endeavor and be part of our story.