Before coming to Cherryland Humane Society, Heidi was the Executive Director for The Humane Society and Animal Rescue of Muskegon County(HSAR). The Michigan Pet Fund Alliance awarded HSAR the 2013 Outstanding Performance Award for most improved limited admission shelter in Michigan while Heidi was at the helm. She has been involved in animal welfare for over 22 years. She has two rescued pit bulls and one cat.

Fear Free Shelter Certified

Tia joined the CHS Team in 2016 after graduating from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Animal Behavior and Neurology. Her three rescue dogs at home enjoy the spoiled life. Mazie (Tia’s blind husky mix) assists her in raising kittens and teaching the shelter pups how to play. Tia loves to travel with her husband, do anything with her dogs, get out in nature, and paint rocks. Behavior is a passion that has led Tia to spearhead CHS’s behavior, training, and enrichment programs.

Laurel has been on staff at CHS since 2009. Her job consists of managing donor software program, is responsible for acknowledging donor contributions and handling end of day bookkeeping keeping her busy!  Although she dearly loves both cats and dogs, she has a real place in her heart for dogs. She and her husband have one dog who is very spoiled and loved very much.

Rachel has lived in Traverse City her whole life. She attended Northwestern Michigan College and has a degree in Engineering Technology. She has always shared a deep connection with animals and has an immediate affection and desire to care for them. She is excited to extend this care to all the animals at CHS. Rachel’s fur-family consists of three cats and two dogs. She loves to take her pup disc golfing and paddle boarding. If you ask Rachel what makes her happy, she’ll say a wagging tail and a sweet genuine purr.

Fear Free Shelter Certified

Emma  has been an animal lover all her life. She rode horses as a girl and even taught her goldfish tricks. She attended Michigan State University to further her passion by getting a degree in Zoology, with an emphasis in zoo and aquarium science. Today she strives to help every animal that walks through the doors find their Furrr-ever home. 

Sherri has been working at CHS since October of 2018.  She is part of the office staff, handling the bookkeeping and financials.  She graduated from Northwestern Michigan College with a degree in Business Administration/Accounting and has been a volunteer since 2014.  While she adores all animals, she has a special place in her heart for the kitties.  She and her husband share their home with six puurrfect felines.

McKenzie joined our team in 2021 after moving to Traverse City from Alpena, where she was the assistant manager of Huron Humane Society. Kenzie has had a deeply seated love for all animals her entire life. She enjoys spending her free time with her horses, rock hounding, and gardening. Her fur-crew consists of three dogs and four cats, all of whom were rescued. 

Fear Free Shelter Certified

A mother of six children – two human and four furry, Naomi joined the CHS team with a passion for all. She loves camping with her family, cooking, eating and traveling to expand her worldview. With a bachelor’s degree from Hope College and nonprofit marketing experience, she is determined to be a strong advocate for all of the animals at CHS.

Fear Free Shelter Certified

Christa was born and raised in the Detroit area. She has always been an animal lover and upon graduating high school, pursued a career working with horses. After some years working for several horse trainers in Texas, Wisconsin, and Colorado, she began work with the DDFL Harmony Equine Center in Colorado. She helped to rehabilitate, retrain, and eventually place into new homes, horses in transition. She moved back to Michigan in 2018 to work on Mackinac Island and finally found herself settling down in Traverse City, where she lives with her rescue pitbull, Juno. Aside from horses, she has a passion for both dogs and cats and her dream is to help as many as possible find their forever homes.

Fear Free Shelter Certified

Grace was born and raised in Kingsley where her love for animals started.  She was a part of 4H for 12 years showing lambs and even raised her own flock.  After graduating high school Grace moved to lansing where she lived for 2 years, there she began shelter work at Capital area humane society.  She has had lots of foster babies and has a special place in her heart for hospice patients.  Grace’s fur family consists of 4 cats, 2 dogs, 1 turtle and a leopard gecko. Grace loves helping all of the animals find their forever homes and giving them plenty of love until then!!