Resources

Marchelle is a compassionate community leader with a deep-rooted love for animals. She lives in Kenwood with her husband Curt, and their four rescued kids: Rosie the puppy mill survivor, Harrison the Paradise fire escapee. and 2 Pets Lifeline cats Jasmine and Gatsby. Marchelle has always enjoyed giving back to her community. She previously served on the Board of Boys & Girls Club, was a Past President and honored as Sweetheart in 2017. Marchelle is also a founding member of the Cha Chas helping the youth at Valley of the Moon Children’s Center.

Marchelle’s professional experience includes starting Carleton Group Healthcare with her husband Curt, with offices in Burlingame, Atlanta and eventually Sonoma. For over 30 years they worked with large medical organizations providing products and assistance as they were building new facilities. Prior to that she was a partner in an event company producing large events, PR and marketing.

Marchelle loves going on long walks, reading, cooking, traveling all over the world, and most importantly truly loves and cares about people and animals. Marchelle’s kind heart and unwavering commitment to making a difference inspire those around her.

Larry lives in Sonoma  (since 2000) with his wife Virginia and two Pets Lifeline superstars, Baxter (beagle mix), and Lulu (miniature Schnauzer).  Larry is currently serving on the Board of Directors of The Boys and Girls Club, is a past board President plus was honored as Sweetheart in 2017. Previously, he was Board President of the International Health and Racquet Sports Association and member of the Tennis Hall of Fame Advisory Board.

​

Larry’s career encompassed roles providing leadership to drive staff accountability, financial responsibility and ethical practices. Most recently Larry was with the San Francisco based, The Bay Club Company. Prior to relocating to the Bay Area, while based in Boston, he was President of The WellBridge Company, an upscale wellness and fitness organization. After WellBridge, he joined the then Boston-based Virgin Lifecare Company as VP.

Larry has been an avid tennis player and competitor from early childhood and now enjoys the challenges of golf.  He loves reading, a good bottle of wine and a good hamburger that he doesn’t get at home.

Born in New York State, Yvonne has been a resident of California for more than 50 years, the last 15 in Sonoma County.  She graduated from Santa Clara University with a B.S. degree in psychology. Her 26-year professional career was spent with Levi Strauss & Co. After starting with the company as a secretary, she went on to hold positions in Merchandising, Production and Product Development. Subsequently she served as President of Levi Strauss de Mexico SA de CV in Mexico City. She was the first woman of any nationality to head a company in Mexico. Her last position with Levi’s was V.P. of Merchandising and Product Development for the 14 segments of the Levi’s brand in the U.S. Yvonne uses her skills and experience to support the non-profit community in Sonoma. This has included board positions with La Luz Center, the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art and Pets Lifeline. She rejoined the La Luz board in 2018 and currently serves on the Development and Strategic Planning committees. She currently resides in downtown Sonoma, reads voraciously, travels extensively and enjoys the great experience of living in the wine country.

Frank Espina’s professional experience spans over four decades as the founder of his own CPA firm as an audit and tax partner. He retired in 2018. His financial accounting and tax consulting experience lends well to the role of Board Member.

Over the years, Frank has served on several volunteer boards as President and Chairman of the Board of Family Service Agency, San Mateo Chamber of Commerce and Suicide Prevention and Crisis Center. Also, for 20 years he was on the Board and CFO of Pets in Need. Currently, he is on the Board and CFO of the Wine Country Marines. He has both a BA and MBA from San Francisco State University and spent time in the United States Marine Corp. He is married to his wife Andi for the last 18 years. He has two dogs, Hambone and Coco Chanel. He currently serves on the finance committee for Pets Lifeline.

Toni was born and raised in Boston Massachusetts, moving to Southern California is the mid 80’s and finally to Northern California in 2000.  She practiced law for over 20 years in both Massachusetts and California, concentrating on civil litigation and real estate.  She has been and continues to be involved in a number of non-profit, charitable organizations including the Anti-Vivisection Society, the Cha-Chas (providing support to The Valley of the Moon Children’s Home for abused, abandoned and neglected children), 4Paws where she and her pup Winston volunteer at the local Library for Read to the Dog Days, and finally to Pet’s Lifeline where she joined the Board of Directors in 2017. Toni lives in Kenwood with her beloved husband Chuck and her labradoodle Winston. She enjoys photography, travel and cooking.

Deborah grew up in the East Bay and was an actress and model spanning 20 years. She was also an Oakland Raiderette. Deborah married John Emery in San Francisco and helped start his medical spa in the city. She was an active member of the Junior League and helped co found the Child Abuse Prevention Society in San Francisco.

Deborah and John started their move to Sonoma in 1985 and Deborah became involved in many community efforts including Salute to the Arts, Children's Home Auxiliary, Sonoma Valley High School projects mentor and President of the board of Boys and Girls club of Sonoma Valley. There she spearheaded the much needed start of the new Teen Programing. After serving 10 years she was looking for a new place to serve. Having adopted several pets for her family she saw a need to serve the unheard. Deborah joined the Pets Lifeline board four years ago, and is looking forward to help drive the future of this worthy service to our community and the wonderful pets that are lovingly taken care of.

​

Cyndi lives in Sonoma with her husband Lars and their beloved cat Mia, a.k.a. Creamy. She is a lifelong animal lover and is proud to serve on the Pets Lifeline Board of Directors so that she can express that love through helping to do good for our local cats and dogs. Cyndi’s other passion is travel and hopes to eventually visit every continent so that she can learn more about the languages and traditions of all cultures on our planet.

​

Cyndi has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years for many different organizations: The Sierra Club Foundation, San Francisco Food Bank, Jewish Community Center, Sports4Kids, National Gaucher Foundation, Friends of San Francisco Animal Care & Control, and currently the Gaucher Community Alliance where she is the Co-Founder/Co-President and The Cultural Conservancy, where she serves as their Chief Development Officer. 

Bob has lived in Sonoma since 2005 with his husband Tom and their precocious terror-mix, Dusty Springfield. Retired from a 30-year career with the National Park Service, Bob led Ranger walks, managed volunteers, and facilitated the preservation of historic buildings, landscapes and archeo sites at Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Bob has volunteered for Transcendence Theater since 2014, served 3 years on the Public Advisory Team for the Sonoma Developmental Center, and is a founding member of the LGBTQ+ social group, Sonoma Gaydar. 

The summer of 2018 was a big one for Jane – she retired, moved to Sonoma and married her husband, Bill.  Prior to that, Jane’s career as an independent school business officer spanned over thirty years, working at Hanahau`oli School in Honolulu, HI, The Park School in Brookline, MA, and most recently as the CFO at The College Preparatory School in Oakland. During her professional career, Jane served as the president of Cal-ISBOA, a professional association with 250 California independent school business officers, was the founding president of HAISBO (Hawaii Association of Independent School Business Officers), and was a member of ABOIS (Association of Business Officers in Independent Schools). Jane has also served on the board of directors of NBOA (National Business Officers Association) and was the recipient of the Ken White Distinguished Business Officer Award in 2018. Since moving to Sonoma, she has chaired the Finance Committee of the First Congregational Church of Sonoma and volunteered with Impact 100 Sonoma. Jane and Bill share seven grandchildren between them (two set of twins!) and are looking forward to future travel to see family and friends, as well as exploring some new adventures together.

Sue lives in Sonoma with her husband Pete and Norwich terrier, Franklin.  After attending several Pets Lifeline events and volunteering for PLL events, she enthusiastically joined the Board in 2023. Sue now chairs the RDC committee supporting marketing, fundraising and events.  From 2008-2018, she served two terms as a board member for Safe & Sound, an organization dedicated to preventing and reducing the impact of child abuse, neglect and trauma in San Francisco where she supported marketing, Web site and messaging for the non-profit.  Sue currently works as an Executive Creative Director at Ketchum, a global marketing and communications agency. 

Tiffany grew up in Sonoma Valley, attending El Verano Elementary, Altimira Junior High and Sonoma Valley High School. She attended Occidental College in Los Angeles, spent 2 years teaching English in Japan, and completed her degree in veterinary medicine at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island where she met her husband, Gordon. They moved back to Sonoma in 2016, where they currently live on a hobby farm with their 3 elementary school daughters, 6 alpacas, 2 goats, 2 bunnies, 2 dogs, cat, guinea pig, numerous chickens and racing pigeons. Tiffany currently practices small animal veterinary medicine at Sonoma Veterinary Clinic with Dr. Howard Rosner. Sonoma Veterinary Clinic with Dr. Howard Rosner.

I’ve lived in Sonoma for 24 years, moving up from Newport Beach in 1999, I’ve been in the Mortgage business here in town for over 18 years. I love Sonoma and like to give back to my community as best as I can. I’ve been a Mentor with the Mentoring Alliance for 16 years and a Rotarian for 10 years. My favorite charities typically revolve around children and animals. 
I am an avid snow skier, mountain biker and all-round outdoor man. I live with my longtime girlfriend Linda Zaiss along with our two dogs Bear and Teddy. 

For 20 years, graced television screens in northern and central California as an anchor and reporter.  Best known for nearly five years as a news anchor at KTVU in Oakland during the first several years of the station’s then-new Mornings On 2 newscast, she later joined KGO-TV in San Francisco to serve as co-anchor of the station’s Marketplace financial program with Rosie Allen.

​

After leaving television, Laura and her family relocated to Sonoma from the East Bay in 2000 and went into non-profit work. In 2007, Laura became the Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation.  Now, Laura is sharing her enormous talent with Pets Lifeline.