Alissa was born and raised in Calistoga. Interested in learning more about animals, she shadowed Dr. Butler and this led to her first job – working at the Calistoga Pet Clinic for Dr. Butler and then Dr. Franquelin once he purchased the practice. After graduating with a B.Arch from the University of Oregon she backpacked through South and Central America before returning to Calistoga. She is a practicing Architect and the Owner of Mervin & McNair Architects designing wineries and hospitality facilities. Alissa and her husband, Erin, share their home with rescue dogs Fozzie & Buddy and cats King Tut, Sam and Gigi.
Though Camille was born and raised in California, it wasn't until returning from a year studying abroad in Italy that she found herself in wine country. Upon graduating with a Masters in Italian Language, she returned home to the U.S.A. to visit family in Sonoma. What she thought was a temporary job in hospitality in 2009 lured her to the Napa Valley and she's been there ever since. Camille currently serves as the Director of Sales & Hospitality for Bure Family Wines. She enjoys fostering and advocating for animals with WCAL. In her spare time, you can also find her snapping photographs, practicing yoga, dreaming up travel plans, and spending time in the great outdoors with her rescue dog Maggie Mae.
The majority of Donna’s career was spent in the realm of Marketing. Her positions included Director of Advertising and Public Relations for Gucci, Fendi, and Mark Cross Accessories in the United States and Canada; Director of Marketing for Rod McClellan, one of the world’s largest orchid growers; and Marketing Manager, Editor-in-Chief, and Partner in Foghorn Press, publisher of outdoor recreation guidebooks, including the national Dog Lover’s Companion series. Her move to Napa Valley in 1997 led to a shift to a career in food and wine, two of Donna’s passions. She was the Wine Buyer and Wine Education Director for Meadowood Napa Valley and is currently the Manager of Sherwin Family Vineyards. She and her husband, John, share their home with two rescued Border Collies and five rescued kitties.
Dr. Franquelin was born and raised in the Napa Valley and received his B.S. in science and D.V.M. (Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine) from UC Davis in 1992. He lives in Calistoga and has three children, Andy, Jenna and Casey. His love and passion for Veterinary medicine, his clients, community and most specifically the animals shows in all he does. Fly-fishing, hiking, scouting, reading, skiing and cooking are a few of his passions. Dr. Franquelin founded WCAL and hand picked the first Board of Directors. Now he supports our animal rescue as our trusted medical advisor and with generous discounts on veterinary care for the homeless animals that we help.
Jennifer was raised on a vineyard and farm just outside of Calistoga. After graduating with a BA in Research Psychology from Mills College in Oakland, CA, she lived for 9 years in Barcelona, Spain where she earned her MA in Cognitive Science and did everything from teaching English and yoga to working at one of Catalonia's largest international corporations. Upon returning to Napa Valley, her passion for animal welfare and the local community led her to join WCAL's foster team. Jennifer currently manages membership and events at the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce. Due for baby #2 in June, she lives with her British husband James, feisty preschooler Zoe and three crazy rescue cats, Sweet Pea, Oboe and Tubbies.
Brenda is a winemaker and co-owner of Mutt Lynch Winery. She moved to California from Chicago with her husband Chris and their 3 dogs in 1994 and made her first professional wine in 1995. Brenda has never had any personal interest in the pretentious and often stuffy side of the wine business and her laid back dog-friendly winery and tasting room is a reflection of this. Her family now includes twins Porter and Katie and everyone in the family helps raise puppies as dedicated WCAL fosters.
A Calistoga resident for 18 years, Mark has been a WCAL volunteer since 2017 and joined the board in 2019. Historically, a big dog kind of guy, he’s rolled with kittens of all ages and puppies of all shapes and sizes, from Chihuahuas to Cattle Dogs to Pit Bull mixes. One of our dog whisperers, you’ll often find Mark sitting outside the Calistoga Roastery with a foster dog or pup sporting an orange “Adopt Me” bandana. While his forte is socializing our canine guests to ready them for their forever homes, Mark is also quick to offer to do transport when an animal needs to be picked up from another rescue or taken to the clinic and is frequently on hand to answer questions at our adoption events.
Wendy and her husband, Mark, moved to Calistoga in 1998 and their home seemed to be an unofficial pit stop for lost and wayward animals almost from the get-go. A late-night stop on the way home from the airport to check on a scared and skinny dog on the road in 2017 led Wendy to the WCAL team, fostering, and in 2019, joining the board. She enjoys going on socialization field trips with the puppies and dogs that are often in their home and once took a kitten camping. Now, three years into fostering with WCAL, the family includes cats, Arlo and Otis, and puppy dog, Iris, all who were once foster kids themselves.
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