TEAM MEMBERS
MARLO BOTELLO-AEPLI
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Marlo found UnChained when she adopted her dog Roland who is a graduate of the Canines Teaching Compassion program. The mission spoke to her and she started volunteering and fostering for UnChained. She joined the Board of Directors in 2016 had been a longstanding UnChained board member since. She comes with more than 25 years of experience in tech, where she has an impressive track record of driving organizational growth, developing successful strategies, and leading teams to achieve their full potential. She is excited to use her skills to help UnChained grow and expands our reach.
marlo@livingunchained.org
MELISSA WOLF
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
After working in the social service sector, developing and managing programs for people with developmental disabilities for 20+ years, Melissa took a sabbatical to research the field of animal-welfare, that she hoped would open doors to a new career. Along the way, she discovered the specific ways animals can help heal human souls.
Through the Humane Society University, she became certified as a Humane Education Specialist. It was one particular homework assignment involving Monterey County's Department of Child Protective Services that ultimately led to the birth of UnChained.
"Seeing the way a dog can confirm a child's sense of self worth, is what makes my heart sing"
CHRISTINA WHITTON
YOUTH THERAPIST
Christina has since supported in different ways including providing educational trainings for new staff in learning the unique needs of our students, community trainings to educate about the link between animal abuse and domestic violence, and currently providing consultation on how to best implement activities to support the highest potential of student's learning and growth.
WHITNEY WEIBEL
PROGRAM ASSISTANT
Whitney has always loved animals. Her passion for animals led her to zookeeping where she trained an assortment of animals and performed on stage with them. Additionally, she taught incoming zookeepers and volunteers how to train animals using positive reinforcement. Throughout her life she has always trained dogs; first her family's dogs before getting her own, of which she's trained to CGC standards and taken to agility trials.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MELISSA WOLF, President, UnChained Founder, Humane Education, Social Services
ALLISON DARIN, VP, Marketing
LIZ MACDONALD, Director of Content Strategy - Monterey Bay Aquarium
SUSAN SKULLEY, BSN, RN, PCCN, Manager, Center for Lifestyle Management - Dominican Hospital
MARTHA E. DENNY, E.A, President/CEO/General Manager - A2I, Inc
JENNIFER MATLOCK, Project Coordinator - Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks
SASKIA CAN DEKAMP, Nonprofit Management, Strategic Planning
Interested in driving positive change? Learn how you can join UnChained's Board of Directors.
Discover the impact you can make and the steps to apply.
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Support UnChained by making a simple donation or celebrate a beloved pet, person or event with a special in-honor donation to create new opportunities for our community’s youth and the dogs they train.