Our Director Team

Krystal Hasard, Executive Director

Starting her journey with Karma Cat + Zen Dog in 2015, Krystal has a deep love and respect for all living things and is grateful for this work!

Jim LaCanna, Assistant Executive Director

Jim has been with the group since nearly the beginning. He is our resident “cat man” with a crazy and lovable sense of humor.

Colleen Gillen, Assistant Executive Director

Colleen has been with us since 2018. Her hard work and gentle demeanor has made her a beloved member of the organization!

Debbie Mattson, Adoption Director

Debbie has been with KCZD since 2011. Her dedication and love of the animals we save is unshakeable, and she has helped hundreds of families match with their purrfect companions!

Lauren Seber, Foster Coordinator

A past adopter, Lauren fell in love with her own Karma Cat, Jackfrost, in 2019! She joined us as a volunteer and is an amazing asset to our foster program!

Marina Godich, Feline Socializing Director

Marina joined the organization in 2018. Her gentle touch and instinctive understanding of our feline’s needs has given priceless second chances to so many of our kittes.

Kaylee Howlett, Medical Director

Kaylee started out as a cleaner for Karma Cat + Zen Dog in 2019. Her experience and insight into our adoptables’ health and wellbeing is rivaled only by her fearless pursuit to get the job done!

Niki Thornton, Medical Director

Niki started as a cleaner for KCZD in 2016, and joined the medical team in 2017. Her compassion for the animals is boundless, and her ambition is to become a veterinarian!

Lisa Zoda and Michelle Gold, Volunteer Directors

Lisa and Michelle joined KCZD in 2017 as cleaners, despite Michelle’s cat allergies! Sweet, fun, and compassionate, they lead our volunteer team with passion!

Terri Ann Sullivan, Volunteer Coordinator

Terri Ann started as a cleaner in 2019. Her joyful and hilarious interactions with our kitties brings so much fun to the job!

Amy Nieskens, Development Director

Amy has been a dedicated volunteer since 2018! Her long association with Milltown and experience sharing knowledge as a teacher has given our outreach and fundraising programs a huge boost!

Rebecca Smith, Development Director

Rebecca has been a staple at KCZD since 2013! Her energy is practically boundless – with creativity not far behind. Her do-all attitude is infectious and inspires the team!

Matt Bendel, Operations Director

Matt started volunteering with KCZD in 2018. He shone brightly right away as a standout volunteer who cared deeply for the animals. Matt keeps the place functional and sparkling at all times!

Beth Post, KCZD Spirit Coordinator

Beth joined us in 2017 and has won everyone over with her quirky sense of humor and heart of gold. Her beloved kitties match her purrsonality perfectly – just ask her all about BUTT and Bryce!

Rebecca Ruch, TNR Director

Rebecca was one of our first new recruits when we opened in Milltown in 2018! Dedicated and passionate, Rebecca has quickly turned the TNR team into a top notch operation!

Lindsay Margossian, TNR Coordinator

Lindsay is new to KCZD, having started in the fall of 2020 – but all knew she fit in right away! Her love of animals and her drive and passion to further the cause of animal welfare is second to none!

Brian Kondás, Visual Communications Director

Brian and his family have been members of our group since 2016! Brian’s creativity is matched only by his love of animals, which is reflected in the collection of unique pets that are part of his family!

Christina Karl, Marketing Coordinator

Christina has been a supporter and adopter since 2014! She joined us in 2020 as part of the marketing team – her giving spirit and creative talent help get those kitties adopted!

Gina Dwyer, Adoptables Marketing Director

Gina has been part of the KCZD family since nearly the beginning in 2011! It takes a special kind of love and patience to get great photos of felines, but Gina does it with grace and style!

Dayna Mennona, Merchandise Director

Dayna joined KCZD in 2019, and quickly showed us her passion for crafting! She stepped up as Merch Director in 2019, and has pursued sale of our crafted goods with unmatched drive (even during quarantine!).