MEET THE TEAM!
Sanctuary Founders
John D. Halamka MD, MS
Co-Founder & Board President
John D. Halamka is the President of the Mayo Clinic Platform, leading a portfolio of new digital platform businesses focused on transforming health by leveraging artificial intelligence, the internet of things, and an ecosystem of partners for Mayo Clinic. He is a practicing emergency physician and has a certificate in Organic and Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts. He enjoys the hands-on side of being Facilities Manager. You can often find him out on a walk with one of the Sanctuary dogs. John has his Mayo ClinicPlatform Blog
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Kathy Halamka
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Kathy Halamka, BA, MFA, brings business, visual arts and arts educator training to her many roles here at the sanctuary, including Volunteer Director, Events Manager, Social Media, Fundraiser and Public Relations. You will often find her spending time with Blackbeard the Rooster and her other Feathered Friends, taking new photos for the "Updates from Unity", or checking on her beloved ponies. She is lead blogwriter at UFS as well
Board of Directors
Our seven-person volunteer, 100% donating and vegan board of directors ensures our non-profit fiscal responsibility, and guides Unity Farm Sanctuary and our mission toward a meaningful future.
David Wirbal
Board Member
David Wirbal is now retired from Fidelity Investments. He is often known here affectionately as "Dud's Dad"after being instrumental in rescuing Dudley.
Please stay tuned for the next steps at Dudley Brewing, inspired by Dudley the Highland!
Wendy Weitzner
Board Member
Wendy Weitzner is a talented executive in healthcare consulting, and she brings prior board experience, leadership and planning skills to her role on the Board
When she is not fostering kittens, he has been instrumental as well in the success of the popular social group "Massachusetts Female Friends Over 50" that connects women to meet each other for fun and friendship events throughout the state.
Ann Wehr
Board Member
Ann Harrison Wehr is a professional skating educator and judge. She is also an accomplished yoga instructor who teaches locally.
Ann has a long track record of volunteering in many leadership roles here at the Sanctuary.
Donna Schultz
Board Member
Donna Schultz has been involved with the Sanctuary for a long time and was a special volunteer for Goldy the Minihorse.
She has years of experience in hospitality planning and event services!
Donna can be found hanging out with feathered and furry friends when she is onsite.
Jamie Cotel
Board Member
Jamie Cotel is our newest Board Member in 2025. More info and photo shortly!
Tory Keith
Board Member
Tory lives nearby and discovered how rewarding volunteering at Unity could be during the pandemic. A vegan since 2002, she has shared her home with many rescue cats and loves every moment she can spend around animals. Tory runs a local real estate company and when she’s not hosting an open house or cheering on her kids from the sidelines, she enjoys running, skiing and traveling. She’s excited to bring a business management background and previous nonprofit experience to her role on the Unity board. (on-board January 2026)
The Sanctuary Council
Our eight-person advisory board takes volunteering to a new level by tackling larger projects and long term goals to help the rescues and support the mission.
Peter DiMarzio
Council President
Peter is a veteran of the United States Air Force and served as a B1 bomber mission developer during Desert Storm. He is retired from the Federal Government having been assigned to work against human trafficking and child exploitation for Homeland Security Investigations. Peter has a love of horses having lived in various parts of Texas. He has observed the behaviors of wild horses in the Sand Wash Basin of Northern Colorado as well as the wild horses of the Salt River Basin in Arizona. He has traveled extensively to do research in this area of horse behavior. Peter is certified in both basic and advanced equine first aid When not busy here at the sanctuary or other horse related events he supports his wife Yvette in her glass creations and travel New England for various shows. Peter is a proud member of the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music.
Carol Brown
Council Member
Carol has been a lifelong learner and educator in the fields of math, science, fitness, Reiki and, most recently, the vegan lifestyle.
She joined the UFS family of volunteers in 2021 and is looking forward to helping Jennifer D'Angelo to expand the humane education program as part of The Sanctuary Council advisory board.
Look for her Becoming Plantastic! class in our Programs
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Gina Mariona
Council Member
Gina is a talent acquisition executive with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare field. A lifelong animal lover, Gina began rescuing and adopting senior dogs after helping save a Westie in need and finding him his forever home. She has since welcomed both senior and younger dogs into her family.
Since 2024, Gina has been a dedicated volunteer at Unity Farm Sanctuary, where she enjoys spending time with all the animals (though she admits to a special attachment to the Kune Kune pigs—shhh, please don’t tell the others!). She is passionate about supporting the Sanctuary’s mission of compassion and care for all living beings.
Sue Fleck
Council Member
Sue Fleck is a retired registered nurse with 40+ years of varied experience across several medical settings. A lifelong animal lover, Sue has rescued shelter dogs and has been a dedicated volunteer at UFS for several years. With an interest in, and passion for animal enrichment, Sue loves to play music (the harmonica, ukelele
and tambourine), for the sanctuary rescues. She is also the “facilitator” of the animal art/paintings, which are auctioned during the annual Celebration of the Turkeys event in November.
When she is not spending time with the rescues at UFS, Sue’s other interests involve traveling with family who live in many states (Montana is a favorite spot!),
as well as Europe. A big fan of the, “whodunit,” mysteries are Sue’s favorite category of books and movies, as well as an interest in the paranormal.
Jeff Saret
Council Member
More info soon
Alett Mekler
Council Member
Dr. Mekler brings over 20 years of veterinary expertise to the Unity Farm Sanctuary Advisory Board, with specialized experience in oncology, physical rehabilitation, and pain management. She is an independent business founder providing compassionate in-home end-of-life services to beloved pets.
In addition to being a volunteer for over 4 years, Dr. Mekler has also contributed her professional skills whenever needed at the sanctuary. As caregiver to two dogs and two cats, she understands the profound bonds between animals and their guardians. She is passionate about sharing her medical knowledge and holistic approach to ensure enriched, fulfilling lives for the beloved souls who call Unity Farm Sanctuary home.
Janet Nola
Council Member
I serve as President of the Board for Stray Pets In Need of Massachusetts (SPIN). Over two decades with the organization I have led board development, volunteer recruitment, donor stewardship, and fundraising while remaining actively involved in hands-on animal care and event
coordination. In addition, I volunteer pro bono as an
advocate for DCF-involved children and have served as a court-affiliated mediator assisting individuals in resolving small disputes. I am a committed and passionate volunteer strongly
advocating for adoption and rescue as well as providing educational information to help to drive rescue work.
Emily Schur
Council Member
Emily Schur is a Human Resources professional with 25+ years of experience, largely in Financial Services. She has served on multiple non-profit boards in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and currently Chairs the Human Resources Committee for the Boston Children’s Museum Board of Directors. Emily spends her weekends walking dogs at the Buddy Dog Humane Society and volunteering at Unity Farm Sanctuary (where she demonstrates a particular fondness for Maxine and the goats!)
Animal Caregiver Team
The Caregiving Team works tirelessly to improve the lives of the rescues.
Tyler Wehr
Shelter Manager
Tye has been an active volunteer, chef-educator, a part of our Board of Directors, and is excited to be Shelter Manager.
Animals have always been a part of Tye's life, and bovines are one of his favorites (that is baby Bob Crockett in the photo!).
Together with his wife Ann (on our Board of Directors), Tye is looking forward to advancing the mission, vision and values of the Sanctuary.
Liz Sykes
Animal Care Manager
You look at the photo and say, "wait, that is Hamish!"
You would be right! But also, meet Liz!
Liz joined the team in 2024, and is very much in love with our pigs, and she can be found snuggling with them (especially Norah Potbelly) on her lunch break.
Liz assists Tye as the Animal Care Manager
Lisa Knox
Animal Caregiver
Knox joined our Unity team after falling in love with our sanctuary as a long time volunteer. She is a passionate vegan who shares her heart and home with three rescue hens, Phoenix, Peregrine and Opal.
Knox enjoys writing and photography as a means through which to express the beauty, wisdom and sacredness of animals.
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Tyler Claxton
Animal Caregiver
Tyler joined the Sanctuary in 2022, and did you know he is technically one "day" younger than his twin sister?
He loves his cats, and when not at the Sanctuary you can find him spending time with his friends, hiking, and working out at the gym.
Emma Flood
Animal Caregiver
Emma joined the team in 2023 and is passionate about veganism. She loves to spend her free time with Roger (in photo) and the broad breasted turkeys! She is always kept busy with her hobbies - fiber arts, music, hiking, and bird watching.
She is going to school for field ecology and natural history and spent the summer of 2025 in Maine as an intern at a wildlife sanctuary. She also loves spending time with her bunnies, Mitzy and Tabasco, both adopted from UFS!
Caroline Kisgen
Animal Caregiver
Caroline discovered the Sanctuary as a volunteer, then became a part of the LEAP Changemakers program. She joined the animal caregiver team while juggling the intense demands of high school. Caroline shares "I've had the opportunity to learn how to advocate against inhumane practices in the animal agriculture industry and form bonds with the animals at the sanctuary. I don't have any pets, but all the residents have become like family to me. I love reading and spending time outdoors, along with running cross country and track for my high school."
James Belanger
Animal Caregiver
James joined the animal caregiving in 2025. He has cross-trained for our many species, and can be spotted doing the medical rounds of medications, sunscreen and health checks.
Did you know he is a talented artist too? He designed the 2025 Dudleyfest logo!
Paula Brousseau
Animal Caregiver
Paula joins the Animal Caregiver Team with a clear joy of being with the rescues.
She joined our team in 2025 and is ready to pitch in with all the animal areas here (and can often be seen chatting with the rescues about the day).
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Jennifer D'Angelo, CHES
Humane Education Director
Jenn has a lifelong love of animals instilled by her grandmother, who started the family on a mission of rescuing as many companion animals as they could. She loves spending time with all of the animals at the Sanctuary, especially the goats, sheep and of course, Maxine the llama. In her spare time, Jenn enjoys talking sports and spending time with her husband Brian and their beloved cats, Zoe, Griffin and Dewey.
Sunny
Resident Greeter
Sunny is a Halflinger and Morgan cross, with a background as a workhorse and a lesson pony. He is the lead in his group of buddies, with Micky and Dunny.
He lives near our Sanctuary House and keeps an eye on all "going's on"!
