Leadership Team

Sara Brown, Secretary, member, Board of Directors

Sara Brown became involved in animal welfare as a humane education volunteer, board member and secretary with the Central Missouri Humane Society and, since moving to Virginia, has served on the board of directors, committees and in officer roles for the SPCA of Winchester, Frederick and Clarke Counties and The Virginia Federation of Humane Societies.

For the past 12 years, Sara’s focus in animal welfare has turned to community cats and TNR. She helped develop community cat initiatives with both VFHS and the SPCA. As a result of this involvement, and assessment of the need for TNR services in her own community, she helped found Community Cat Advocats, now The Community Cat Alliance, where she currently serves as secretary. In addition to serving on the Community Cat Alliance board, Sara also currently serves on the Board of Directors and as secretary of The National Kitten Coalition.

Now retired, Sara’s career path included biological illustration, college-level instruction, botanical research, graphic design, public relations, web and instructional design and distance learning technology. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in zoology from Duke University and Master of Science degree in botany from University of Arizona.

Susan Chesley, member, Board of Directors

Susan moved to Winchester in 2012. She has been advocating for and helping community cats since July 16th, 2013 after attending a meeting at Posh Pets in Winchester along with several other concerned citizens. Driven by compassion for these cats, just a day later, she began trapping cats for spay neuter, and hasn’t stopped. Susan also served as a foster for puppies who would become companion dogs for people with disabilities. Susan's experience as an editor, freelance writer, and Minister of Christian Education provides a solid foundation for our programs, community outreach, and a leadership model steeped in compassion, and respect for others. Susan is a Founding member of Community Cat Advocats, now The Community Cat Alliance and proud of the tremendous difference the group has made in the lives of community cats and the residents of Winchester and Frederick County.

Rebecca DeHaven, member, Board of Directors

Rebekah is an attorney with an extensive background in policy, and advocacy. She has worked in the nonprofit realm, as well as private legal practice. Her professional experience is instrumental as we build our programs and implement policy to serve our community, and achieve our mission. Rebekah pulls from her knowledge of humane law to guide us as we set standards of care for the community cats we assist.

Prior to law school she worked in the policy and legal departments of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s leading LGBT advocacy organization. Following law school, she worked for the American Constitution Society on the organization's judicial nominations docket, working with federal judicial nominees, Senate offices, and coalition partners to deepen and support the pipeline of progressive candidates into the federal judiciary. Rebekah then served as the Senior Attorney and Director of Humane Law & Policy for Alley Cat Allies in furtherance of improved policies and practices at the federal, state, and local levels for community cats. After several years in that role, Rebekah transitioned into private legal practice.

Most recently, Rebekah rejoined the nonprofit realm and is working with a local Youth Development Center to grow its development, communications, and marketing abilities. In addition, she works with the Impact Center’s Women’s Executive Leadership Program and draws on her experience in diverse institutions to support the Impact Center’s work with organizational and individual clients. In addition to serving on the Community Cat Advocat Board, Rebekah serves on the Board of White Coat Waste Project and dedicates as much time as possible to animal advocacy, TNR, and fostering cats in need. Rebekah holds a BA from Randolph Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, and a JD from the University of California, Berkeley.

Robin Richey, member, Board of Directors

Robin started out in the animal welfare field as a volunteer for the Fauquier SPCA. She has lived in the Winchester area for 30 years during which time she attended Shenandoah University and received an Associate degree in Nursing, specializing in operating room. Her passion to help people, extends into her compassion, and love for animals.

Robin has a strong understanding of the plight of community cats, and is driven to improve their lives within the community. She has been a lead volunteer with Community Cat Advocats, now The Community Cat Alliance from the beginning in 2013, and shares her extensive knowledge of humane trapping with other volunteers, caretakers, and community members.

Robin is dedicated to helping develop the organization so that we may save even more lives with TNR. She is a fellow caretaker of over 40 community cats in multiple locations and keeps a close eye on their welfare.