Staff Spotlight

Name: Lauren Goodman Position: Behavior Specialist How long have you been part of the ARL team: I’ve been a part of the ARL team for 3 years now!  Do you have any pets at home? Tell us about them: I’m a cat mom to five cats who all have their own very different...

Name: Heather Potteiger Position: Business Operations Manager How long have you been part of the ARL team: 5 ½ years   Can you tell us a little about your role and what a typical day looks like: A typical day includes shopping, organizing, inventory...

Name: Jessie Wickersham Position: Lead Surgery Technical How long have you been part of the ARL team: 3.5 years total  What does a typical day at work look like for you: We usually have around 40 surgical patients per day. Most are spays and neuters, but we also...

Name: Don Smith Position: Animal Care Specialist How long have you been part of the ARL team: I’ve been at ARL since October 2024. I started as a volunteer and was hired soon after. What inspired you to pursue a career working with animals: I find it highly rewarding...

Name: Millie Pozo Ramos Position: Lifesaving Programs Specialist   How long have you been part of the ARL team: I have been at the ARL since I was 15 and then officially started working here when I hit 18! So about 2 and a half years.   Can you...

Name: Kayla Mercado Position: Lead Animal Care Specialist How long have you been part of the ARL team: I have been with the ARL for 2 years now.   What does a typical day look like for you: A typical day for me starts at 9 AM. I begin by reviewing all the...

Name: Alexi Neiffer Position: Animal Care Specialist – PT and Engagement and Training Coordinator  How long have you been part of the ARL team: I just came up on my second anniversary here at the ARL! I was a full-time animal...

Name: Kayla Donnelly Position: Pet Placement Lead Do you have any pets at home? If so, tell us a little about them: Well, of course, I have pets! My current critter crew consists of two cats and a dog: Kida, Kuzco, and Rosie! I have had Kida for 15 years; she has...

Name: Rachel Minchoff Position: Animal Protection Officer Do you have any pets at home: I have five furry menaces!    Jackson – An 8-year-old, jet black, domestic shorthair and king of the castle.  Minnow – A 5-year-old domestic shorthair...

Name: Andrew Tetley Position: Medical Administrative Specialist What were you doing before joining the ARL: Before I joined the ARL in 2018, I was getting my bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Lehigh University. Before I joined the staff as a member of the...

Name: Sierra Ortiz Position: Client Services Supervisor What were you doing before joining the ARL: I worked for a home improvement company called Install America for 2 years. I worked in their call center. I was the lead verifier for canvassers and rescheduled...

Name: Brandon Gooden Position: Medical Manager Do you have any pets at home: Yes, I have 3 cats- Pea, Flower, and Ellie and 2 German Shepherds- Magic and Saint.  What does animal welfare mean to you personally: To me, Animal Welfare means providing any service to...