2013 The Wildcat Sanctuary Board of Directors

Tammy Thies – Tammy Thies founded The Wildcat Sanctuary in 1999. She was a full-time advertising professional who became aware of the need for such a facility through her exposure to big cats during photo shoots and advertising campaigns. For several years Tammy served on the board of the American Sanctuary Association which currently governs 35 sanctuaries in the United States. She has been very active in education regarding the captive wildlife crisis and testifying for legislation that bans breeding and keeping dangerous exotic animals as pets.

Director of Animal Care

Dr. John Baillie – University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, 1972. Dr. Baillie, he says, is “still in his first job,” Cedar Pet Clinic. Dr. Baillie is a regular lecturer at the University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine, for the Minnesota Medical Association, the Eastern States Association of Avian Veterinarians, and other organizations. Dr. Baillie is the Medical Director of Animal Care at Minnesota’s Wildcat Sanctuary. He provides free care for nursing home companion animals and is the kennel veterinarian for the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club.

Treasurer

Sarah Sederstrom – Sarah Sederstrom is an attorney – SCM at Wells Fargo.  She has been an attorney / CPA over 15 years with experience providing leadership, risk assessment, and process improvement.  She is recognized by peers and colleagues for solution generation and collaboration.  She has a proven track record of meeting goals, problem solving, facilitating positive outcomes and working group communication and goal-driven results.

Secretary

Christina Rich – Christina Rich is a Project Manager with a decade of experience in the financial services and technology industries. Rich is currently a Technical Project Manager in Business Intelligence and Reporting with Wells Fargo. She is also an Alumni Board of Directors at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Directors

Jeffry Hoogerhyde – Bachelors of Science Miami University (Ohio), 1992 and Masters of Business Administration Indiana University, 2002. Jeff is a Marketing Manager at 3M where he manages Shop3M.com. Jeff is also a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, which means he has never met business process that couldn’t be mapped. His interest in big cats was tweaked while spending a semester abroad in South Africa during graduate school, where he went on numerous safaris. Jeff has been on the TWS board since 2004 and is the current board chair.

Dr. Courtney Blake – Dr. Courtney Blake is a veterinarian that has been working with the residents of The Wildcat Sanctuary since she became an associate of Dr. Baillie’s in 2004. She was invited to join the board of directors in 2005 and has enjoyed her expanded role in the organization. She currently is the medical director at VCA Cedar Animal Hospital in Minneapolis. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association and the Association of Avian Veterinarians. Dr. Blake became a veterinarian because of her love of big cats and feels very blessed to be able to realize a dream by helping the cats at the sanctuary.

Monica Crocker – Monica Crocker has been a specialist in enterprise content management since 1991 and currently serves as Corporate Records Manager at Land O’Lakes in Minnesota. She brings to the Board her project management skills, her proven ability to multi-task, as well as her drive for results.

Carol Griglione – Griglione is a dedicated advocate for animal issues. She helped grow the Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Iowa into a nationally recognized animal shelter. Griglione has established policy for the largest animal shelter in Iowa and set policy relating to animal care, adoption, personnel policies, human resources, position statements, succession planning and long range planning. She also co-chaired a capital campaign for a new shelter; raising $10.5 million for a new 43,000 square foot shelter and 12,000 square foot barn for farm animals.

Gail Plewacki – Gail Plewacki is a communications professional with more than fifteen year experience in broadcast journalism as a reporter with KARE TV and KSTP. She also has a decade of experience as a communications director. Plewacki is currently the Communications Director and a Senior Manager for Dakota County, the third largest county in Minnesota. Prior to joining Dakota County in 2007 she was the Communications Director and an Assistant City Coordinator with the City of Minneapolis for almost 5 years.