BISSELL Pet Foundation is dedicated to finding every pet a loving home, and this mission is made possible through the generosity of donors, sponsorships from businesses like BISSELL Homecare Inc., and the active involvement of young professionals serving on BPF’s Junior Board. Meet our 2024 ambassadors below, as they passionately support BPF’s campaigns and events throughout the year!
Kat is a creative content manager and full-time pet enthusiast currently residing in Nashville, TN. She is a Michigan native with a degree in Business and Art from Aquinas College and previously worked at BISSELL Pet Foundation for 7 years prior to her move south. She has never lost her passion for helping save pets, so she’s excited to spread the message of BPF in Nashville. Kat and her husband Nick have two rescue dogs, Iris and Tom. Together they love to travel, play golf and try new foods whenever they can.
Adrienne is from Germany and holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in architecture from the Technical University of Darmstadt. Adrienne moved to the US in 2016 and works at Ghafari Associates in Grand Rapids. Animal welfare plays an important role in Adrienne’s life. Her dad is a veterinarian in Germany and her family has always had dogs, cats, chickens and geese. Adrienne recently adopted two labradors Ella & Kash and is enjoying being a pet parent.
Kelly is a passionate animal rescue advocate who is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve on the junior board for a second year. She and her husband, Andrew, are the parents of a baby girl, Elizabeth, and a yellow lab mix, Emma. Kelly is a proud University of Alabama graduate (Roll Tide!) and works for FedEx Services as a Digital Marketing Advisor. She lives in Tampa, Florida and loves advocating the importance of animal rescue and adoption in her community.
This is Andrews 4th year on BPF Junior Board, and 2nd as the Board’s Chair. He is a proud Grand Valley State University graduate and has called Grand Rapids home for the last 10 years. He loves getting out in the community with his wife Sydney, their Dog Mila, and whoever their foster pup at the time might be. He works local in Business Development for FedEx, and in his free time loves traveling the world with his wife.
Caitlin is a second-year BPF Junior Board member! She currently lives in Grand Rapids, MI, with her rescues, Dunkin & Paris. Caitlin works in Business Development at Workbox Staffing by day and is a dog foster, fitness enthusiast, bookworm, and traveler by night. She is happy to serve on the J Board and help save lives all over the US!
Brenna is a Michigan native and grew up in a family with a love for rescue dogs. She’s a passionate marketer for Chaco Footwear and has a love for their ever-growing Chaco Nation. This is her second year on the BPF Junior Board, serving as the Chair in Training, and is excited to continue to share how rewarding animal adoption can be. Brenna is a proud dog mom to her 6-year-old pit/boxer mix, Dax, and her 3-year-old cat, Nevis. In her free time, she loves exploring the outdoors or Northern Michigan.
Kate is a first year BPF Junior Board Member. She is currently living in Grand Rapids, MI with her 2-year-old German Shepherd (Empty the Shelters) rescue, Bella. Kate is passionate about animal adoption and fulfilling BPF’s mission of “Until every pet has a home.” She is a Physician Recruiter at Mayo Clinic. Kate received her undergraduate degree at Michigan State University and graduate degree at Central Michigan University. Kate spends most of her time at yoga or exploring new trails with Bella!
Rachael is excited to serve on the Junior Board for a fifth year and to return as the board’s vice chair. Rachael is passionate about spreading the rescue mission locally and enjoys creating partnerships and opportunities for the board to expand BPF’s awareness while planning fun dog-friendly events in the community! Rachael is a Detroit native who now calls Grand Rapids home. She holds an MBA from Marquette University, a BS in Engineering from Michigan State (Go Green!), and works as a Project Manager at Meijer. She has an adorable four-year-old chi/terrier rescue pup named Heidi who loves coming to all the BPF events with her!
Ella is a East Grand Rapids native and proud dog owner. Ella attended Central Michigan University where she majored in Recreational Therapy. Throughout her time as a CTRS her favorite treatment with patients was animal therapy, working closely with West Michigan Therapy dogs. Ella has recently adopted a Bernese Mountain Dog named Richard. Ella enjoys spending time with her family and puppy, pilates, reading, and going for walks. Ella is very excited to be selected for the BPF Junior Board, and cannot wait to make a difference working with other members for a purpose close to her heart.
Ashley is an East Grand Rapids native who currently works as a Clinical Sales Specialist at Astellas Pharma. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Services with a concentration in nonprofit management and social innovation from Kennesaw State University in Georgia. She has always had a passion for rescue work and rescue pets. While living in Arizona, Ashley was able to rescue her dog Poppy, a pittie mix, from the Arizona Animal Welfare League during an Empty the Shelters event. When not working, you can find Ashley walking her dog or spending time outside, enjoying Michigan’s beautiful scenery.
Zoey is the Events Coordinator for Humane Society of West Michigan, a non-profit organization that has made its mission to promote the humane treatment of animals in West Michigan through education, example, placement, and protection. Zoey has made it her personal mission to give animals a voice by raising awareness and fundraising. When not working, she likes to spend her time playing with her rescue pup, Oakley.
Kate is a first year BPF Junior Board member. She recently moved to Grand Rapids after time in Traverse City and prior to that 8 years in New York. She works in innovation and product strategy, and grew her animal loving to new heights during a six year tenure working for BarkBox. She has two rescue dogs, Ripley and Mia, and a young daughter, Ivy. She’s looking forward to engaging with the broader Grand Rapids community, and fellow animal lovers.
Megan is a second year Junior Board Member who enjoys the opportunity to get more involved within her local community helping animals in need through both volunteer and fundraising efforts. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Management from Grand Valley State University. Megan works in Supply Chain as the Operations and Fulfillment Manager at The Darling Effect in Grand Rapids, MI. Megan and her husband, Patrick have 2 rescue animals at their home. Rosie – a 6 year old Beagle mix, and Tillie – a 3 year old mixed breed.
Kayla is a first year Junior Board Member and is thrilled for the opportunity to continue her involvement in the community through BISSELL Pet Foundation. As a long-time animal lover and recent adopter of Frito, a 3-year-old American Staffy, Kayla is passionate about animal advocacy and sharing the joy of adoption. Kayla is a digital marketer for Merrell, a MSU Spartan, and enjoys spending her free time playing outdoors or curled up on the couch with Frito.
When Taylor is not working as a data analytics director, you are likely to find her surrounded by the thing she loves most in this world: animals! She and her husband currently have 4 pets of their own: 2 dogs and 2 cats – all rescues. She is also an active dog walker and foster parent for the Kent County Animal Shelter. Taylor is excited to join the BPF Junior board to expand the impact she has not only with local animal welfare efforts, but across the entire country.
Megan is a first-year BPF Junior Board Member! She is a graduate of Grand Valley State University and works in healthcare technology. Megan is currently residing in Kansas City, where she is excited to bring more awareness of BPF to her community. She loves fostering dogs through her local shelter and is a proud supporter of “Adopt Don’t Shop.”
Johannah brings more than a decade of experience in community engagement, marketing, customer service and project management. In her role as Community Engagement Manager, at GRCMC Johannah is responsible for cultivating relationships across diverse communities. She provides new opportunities for all community voices to be heard, valued and lifted through GRCMC programs. Johannah previously served as GRTV Marketing Manager, where she developed marketing campaigns and built new community connections through outreach and fundraising efforts. Active in the community, Johannah has served on boards and committees of several local organizations, including the Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids Symphony, Grand Rapids Sustainable Streets Task Force, Grand Rapids Urban League, SiTE:LAB and the UICA.
Kelsey is the Manager of Philanthropy for Lions International Engagement at Leader Dogs for the Blind, working closely with Lions Clubs all over the United States who are committed to serving those who are blind and visually impaired in our communities. Kelsey has given her time to many Michigan based animal welfare and advocacy nonprofits, including Michigan Humane and the Abraham Ranch. She is a proud supporter of “Adopt Don’t Shop,” advocating for shelter animals and the power of fostering and adoption. She has a seven-year-old rescue cat named Celle that she found abandoned at only a few weeks old while living in Houston and a 8 month old rescue cat named Auggie who was part of a litter found in a Michigan neighborhood living under a porch. Kelsey is looking forward to bringing awareness to the BPF’s mission and impacting the pet community across the country.
Aly Mac is a local morning show personality in Grand Rapids, MI. When she’s not on the air she’s probably on a walk with her beloved American Staffy, Frannie, whom she rescued during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Aly is passionate about animal advocacy and #AdoptDontShop and feels very aligned with the mission of BPF: until every pet has a home. Aly would love to meet you at any BPF event throughout the year…don’t be surprised if she asks to pet your dog!
Alycia is a passionate marketer, fueled by the desire to leave a lasting impact on every person she works with. She is motivated by purpose and thrives on curiosity and creativity. Currently, Alycia works at Wolverine Worldwide on the Hush Puppies team. She assists with managing Hush Puppies Key Accounts and Global Partnerships. Growing up in a home filled with rescue dogs, Alycia is passionate about spreading the importance of pet adoption nationwide. Alycia is eager to make a difference for all animals in need of finding their forever home for her second term!
Rachel is a dog mom of two (Dawson, 9 and Trigger, 11) and relocated back to the mitten in 2021 from Texas with her husband. She is a Recruiting Coordinator for Rarebreed Veterinary Partners and also has a dog blog, The Bark Blogger, where she’s able to use her passion of animals, writing, photography and rescue all in one! She is a Michigan State University alum and enjoys spending time with family + friends, traveling and checking out new places around the city.
Bri rejoins the BPF family after a 3 year stint in Chicago where she volunteered for Alive Rescue and added another 4-legged friend to her pack. Bri has a background in PR, Events & Sales and graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2018. When not working, she’s playing dog mom to Basil and Dunkin while urging anyone around her who will listen to adopt, not shop. This year, she’s excited to help facilitate events that will raise awareness of BPF’s mission and raise funds for all the integral support homeless pets require & deserve across the country – aka all the voiceless Basil’s and Dunkin’s who haven’t found their forever home.
Brianna is a first-year BPF Junior Board member. She currently serves as the Communications Specialist for the City of Wyoming and has a passion for social media, writing and photography and videography. She is a graduate of Western Michigan University and while she was in college she worked for Camp Bow Wow where she assisted in marketing efforts for their animal welfare program. As a lifelong animal lover, she hopes to continue to give animals a voice and spread awareness of the BPF mission. In her free time she enjoys cuddling her dogs Myla and Roxy, reading and relaxing with her husband.
Meet Andrea, an Interaction Designer on the Consumer Design team at BISSELL Homecare Inc. Andrea prides herself on being a designer who brings joy to both the human and animal experience through innovative product design. Beyond her professional pursuits, a love for pets is a driving force in her life. She has two dogs, Dexter and Penny, and has been volunteering with animal welfare groups for over a decade. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, playing D&D, and ping-pong.
Lexy Ritenburgh, originally from South Haven, MI, now proudly calls Lansing her home. She holds an MS in Anthrozoology from Canisius University and a BS in Zoology from Michigan State. Lexy is the Community Relations Manager for the Capital Area Humane Society in Lansing, promoting the adoption of homeless pets and the human-animal bond in mid-Michigan. She and her fiancé Ben share their lives with a whole crew of adopted shelter pets, including dogs Wrangler and Mercury, and three adopted “foster fail” cats, Jeff Probst, Sophie, and Bernard. New to the BPF Junior Board, Lexy is enthusiastic about diving in and making a difference for local communities.
Katiann is a compassionate Team USA athlete with a heart for animals. A graduate of The Ohio State University in Animal Science and Equine Science, Katiann’s journey began in zoos, educating the public about animals like her idol, Jack Hanna. Her love for animals deepened when she adopted Princess Leia, leading to a surprise litter of nine puppies. Keeping Kylo Ren, she became a passionate advocate, fundraising and networking for various rescues and shelters. Katiann’s compassion expanded to a stray kitten, Rufio, her little lost boy. Beyond her athletic pursuits, Katiann’s story is one of dedication to making a difference – whether on the court or in the lives of animals.
Laura is a Senior Designer at AMP Agency and received her degree in art and design from the University of Michigan. She currently lives in Rockford, Michigan with her husband and adopted dog, Walter. As a passionate animal lover, Laura is excited to serve on BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Junior Board as an advocate for animal rescue.
Morgan is a Grand Rapids native and Owner of House of Paws Boarding and Training Center. From advocating pet rescue and adoption, to starting her own dog business, she has valued animal welfare her whole life. Whether it be through fostering or volunteering, Morgan’s passion has always been improving the lives of pets. When Morgan isn’t training dogs, she works as a server/manager at Nonna’s the Trattoria in Ada and enjoys hiking, yoga, and hanging out with her four rescues; Baron, Jan, Poppy, and Gretta.
Lauren currently works as a Senior Auditor for Universal Music Group and is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting from Michigan State University and is a huge Spartan fan. She has always had rescue dogs growing up and currently have two of her own, Piper (Border Collie / Aussie mix) and Nelson (Boxer / Aussie mix).
Kelli is a second year Junior Board member and a proud dog mom of Lily, an adopted one-year old Pitbull Mix. Kelli is a HR Business Partner at BISSELL and obtained her bachelors degree from Central Michigan University – Fire Up Chips! Kelli loves to snuggle on the couch with Lily while reading a good book and host game nights with her friends and family. She’s looking forward to continuing her efforts on the BPF Junior Board to help pets find their forever homes.
Holiday wishes are coming true for pets across the country thanks to your support of Empty the Shelters!
More than 200 commercially bred dogs were provided with second chances
The Story Exchange spotlights Cathy Bissell's incredible achievements in animal welfare.
