PRESIDENT

Katie Frederick has been involved in the animal welfare world of Arizona since 2013, starting off as a volunteer, then foster, and eventually staff member at the Arizona Animal Welfare League where she currently leads the Volunteer & Events Department. Her love of the littles started at an early age and has continued on with 94 fosters and counting, most being neonate kittens. She is a self-proclaimed “Chihuahua Enthusiast” with four rescued pups of her own.

VICE PRESIDENT

Megan Meyer is a former preschool teacher that has worked in the early childhood education field for most of her life. Originally from NJ, Megan moved to Arizona in 2022 and has spent much of her time volunteering. In addition to NKR, she is very passionate about her work with Keep Nature Wild, an organization that hosts clean ups to remove litter from natural spaces all over the country. Megan is a lover of all animals, especially cats and reptiles.

MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Taryn Layshock has been involved with rescue for the last 15 years, the majority of that independently. She helped run the kitten/cat intakes, facilitate adoptions, and the adoption center at the last rescue she was at. She’s is also a flight attendant and works part time for a wonderful vet when she is not flying. She is very passionate about TNR and stopping the cycle of preventable suffering. Although she grew up with only large dogs and no cats, she loves her 4 resident kitties (including a tripod!) and can’t imagine life without them.

TREASURER

Kristy Flener, a Pacific Northwest native with 18 years in the mortgage industry, discovered her passion for rescue work fueled by a profound love for cats. The pivotal moment came in 2019 when she ventured into fostering, reaching out to our medical director, Taryn, on social media for guidance in trapping a neighborhood cat. Strengthening her connection, Kristy became a foster with NKR in 2020. In the sanctuary of her home, she coexists with four treasured resident cats, each having, in their own unique way, rescued her.

SECRETARY

Meagan Kulpa started fostering in 2017 when a friend reached out to her for help with a young kitten. She found she had a passion for neonates, and eventually landed at NKR in 2022. Meagan and her husband run a classic auto repair shop where they help care for a colony of 20+ ferals. They are big advocates for TNR, and have 5 resident foster fails.

VETERINARY ADVISOR

Dr. Shanah Frankel is our veterinary advisor, who joined Newborn Kitten Rescue in 2021. Graduating from Ohio State with a love of both feline and reproductive medicine, she was excited to bring this passion to NKR after learning about us after working with Taryn Layshock at her previous hospital. She currently practices in small animal medicine, and enjoys giving back to the rescue community in her free time.

FOSTER COORDINATOR

New friend coming soon!

COMMUNITY OUTREACH LEAD

Leslie Reid is an Arizona native with degrees in Business Management and Nursing. She currently works as a registered nurse in the hospital setting. Leslie has been a foster with NKR since its first year. Although she was raised with only dogs in the home, she has made up for lost time and now enjoys the companionship of four rescue cats, one of whom is an NKR foster fail. She is also proud to have converted her parents, who in the 2022 season adopted three NKR kittens and now have their very own "ginger army". Her dream is for all of her family, friends, and coworkers to have at least one NKR cat in their home!

DEVELOPMENT LEAD

After spending most of her life in Arizona, Danielle Chassen relocated to Chicago for work, where she focuses on quality assurance and control for a large financial company. She grew up with dogs, but always desperately wanted cats, and now has three, one of whom is an NKR alum! Outside of rescue work, Danielle enjoys spending her time reading while cuddled up to her cats!

MEDICAL COORDINATOR

Nicole Firek has been in the veterinary field for 5 years, working from CSR to Vet tech. She is currently in school working towards her CVT. Cats have allowed her to be herself and learn more about the similarities we have with them. From previously working in cat rescue, Nicole feels in love with wanting to help felines who don't have a home to have the opportunity and chance at having one!

VETERINARY Advisor

Dr. Kiersten Griesback joined NKR as a foster in 2020 when she was in her first year of veterinary school. She stayed with the rescue as a foster and a veterinary technician. After graduating from Midwestern University in 2023 Kiersten decided to stay in Arizona and practice as a small animal GP. She has been involved with cat rescues and TNR for about 8 years now, and it will always be a passion of hers.

VETERINARY TECHNICIAN

Kayla Carter has had a passion for animals since childhood. As she came into adulthood she ventured into the field of veterinary medicine. After 10 years of being in the field and seeing the need for pocket pet rescue she decided to create Little Critter Arena, a pocket pet only rescue in October 2022. She eats, breathes, and sleeps animals working at an animal hospital, volunteering/working with other rescues, and running her own non-profit rescue.

VETERINARY TECHNICIAN

Kelly Ivins grew up on a small farm out in Queen Creek, AZ where her love for animals blossomed. Graduating college with an associates, 2 weeks before graduating high school, she went on to get my 2nd associates in Veterinary Technology which followed with becoming a CVT shortly after. Kelly has worked a lot in exotic animal medicine as well as emergency and critical care which is the part of the field she is currently working in. She has always been known to be the cat and kitten whisperer and loves them dearly, often getting very excited when she gets to make new feline friends.

VETERINARY TECHNICIAN

Nicole Wolfe has been in the veterinary field for 10+ years and is currently in school to become a CVT. There has always been a place in her heart for fur babies and has 5 dogs and a kitty of her own. In her down time she loves hanging out with the family, the ones with 2 legs and 4 in the outdoors.