🐾 our team
We believe great care starts with great community.
Our team is powered by people who care deeply about pets and the humans who love them. Through honest conversations, hands-on care, and unwavering dedication, we work every day to build a safer, kinder world for rescue animals.
Our Staff
Alyse Arras
Prior to joining us as our Executive Director, Alyse served on the organization's board for two years, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to the cause. Her professional background includes content marketing expertise, which she now leverages to amplify the voice of animals in need and promote the importance of animal welfare in our community. Driven by the belief that every animal deserves a loving home, Alyse is dedicated to fostering connections between people and pets. When she isn't advocating for animals, she enjoys spending time with her partner, Ben, hiking local trails, knitting, reading, and loving on their own rescue pup, Lenny.
Email: alyse.arras@sotasaves.org
Executive Director
Tricia Buerke
Animal Intake and Foster Supervisor
Tricia has spent years in animal welfare, transitioning from doggy daycares to shelter work. Though she studied theatre, her passion for animals is just as strong—she is dedicated to giving voice to the voiceless and ensuring every animal feels loved.
A multifaceted creative, Tricia spends her free time working on film sets, writing scripts, playing D&D, creating art, and working out with her partner. They share a lively home with three cats (Harvey, Urza, and Peanut), a Crested Gecko named Bug, and a Carver Scott foster-fail pup, Ugin.
Email: tricia.buerke@sotasaves.org
Ridley Coate
Director of Development and Communications
Ridley has dedicated her career to the nonprofit sector, leveraging her experience in operations and grants management to focus on communications and development. She is deeply passionate about fostering empathy through storytelling and loves sharing the heartwarming journeys of CSHS and its animals.
Outside of work, Ridley enjoys tackling home improvement projects, exploring local hiking trails and breweries, or cooking with her husband, Sean, and son, Ellis. They share their home with three rescue pets: two dogs, Atticus and Mabel, and a cat named Spiders.
Email: ridley.coate@sotasaves.org
Jessy Halverson, LVT
Animal Wellness & Clinic Manager
Jessy Halverson brings 30+ years as a Licensed Veterinary Technician and 15+ years as a Practice Manager, combining deep expertise with heart. She specializes in feline medicine, prioritizes Fear Free care, and loves supporting people and pets—whether guiding the wellness team, handling intakes, or fostering animals.
Outside the clinic, Jessy enjoys reading, theater, and spending time with family and friends. She shares her home with her patient husband, four cats (Montana, California, Puerto Rico, and Jax), and is a proud mom to a daughter who shares her love of animals.
Cam Hernandez
Rescue Operations Manager
With a rich history of caring for animals across different animal shelters and zoological facilities, Cam brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role. Before stepping into her position as Rescue Operations Manager, Cam served as the Feline Intake Foster Supervisor for two years, gaining deep hands-on experience in rescue operations and foster coordination. Cam's passion for helping and advocating for animals is the driving force behind her work at CSHS. In her free time, Cam spends a lot of time with her partner and enjoys spending time in nature, taking hikes, or sitting out on the front porch. Cam and her partner brought home a foster cat, Hazel, just six days into working at CSHS and officially adopted her a short time later.
Julinee Kratcha, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Julinee Kratcha holds a BS in vet tech from NDSU and a DVM from the U of M, alongside internship training in Sacramento. Returning to Minnesota, she worked in general practice, toxicology, and pharmacovigilance before pivoting to affordable care for families and rescues—performing thousands of spay/neuter, soft-tissue, and dental procedures. Her surgery, rescue, and teaching background makes her an ideal fit to grow our clinic.
Outside work, Dr. Juli enjoys fishing and spending time with her husband, two kids, rescue pup, and two cats.
Email: juli.kratcha@sotasaves.org
Amanda Macdonald
Animal Intake and Foster Coordinator
Amanda spent years in veterinary medicine, building strong clinical skills in ICU, Emergency, and Critical Care before transitioning to shelter work. She joined the nonprofit side to focus on the full journey of each animal—from medical healing to finding the right foster and forever homes.
As the Animal Intake and Foster Coordinator, Amanda guides vulnerable animals from intake through placement with compassion and dedication. Outside of work, she enjoys art, reading, and the outdoors. She shares her home with her husband and two FeLV+ cats, Cyclopes and Chimera.
Marissa Wolff
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Marissa has dedicated her career to the nonprofit sector, using her talent for storytelling and design to champion mission-driven work. By blending a professional background in public health with her personal experience as a foster and volunteer, she brings both marketing expertise and a deep-rooted commitment to animal welfare. Outside the office, Marissa is an outdoor enthusiast who loves tent camping and strenuous hikes, as well as coaching for the St. Croix Swim Club. Her home is shared with her husband, Leif, and their five cherished rescue pets: Luna, Mako, Margot (a Sota Saves alum), Ivy, and Irving.
Email: marissa.wolff@sotasaves.org
Our Board of Directors
Tim Soulen
President
Angela Price
Immediate Past President
Nick Beck
Treasurer
Whitney Mason
Secretary
Cindy Cox
Renee Edwards
Emily Hennessy
Katie Larson
Katie Lauterbach
Alex Lenort
Jen Rezac
Dr. Steve Barghusen
Advisory Member