Our Board
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Barbara Dicely
Barbara has a Masters Degree in Education and was an elementary school teacher for 18 years. She started Leopards, Etc. 23 years ago. Every year Barbara and her husband, Rob, present around 100 educational programs with the ambassador cats of WCE&CF throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Wild cat conservation has become the focus of her life. Rob and Barbara founded the Wild Cat Education and Conservation Fund in 2001.
Barbara tries to spend time every year in Southern Africa, seeing for herself that these amazing cats who share our planet with us continue to survive.
Steve Flaherty
PRESIDENT
Steve is a computer systems manager and life-long lover of cats, especially cheetahs. In April 2000, he saw an ad in the San Jose newspaper for a fund-raising event for the Cheetah Conservation Fund that would feature the appearance of two live ambassador cheetahs. This event started his volunteer career, including a stint as the co-chair of the Northern California chapter of the Cheetah Conservation Fund. Steve is involved with fund-raising efforts for the Snow Leopard Conservancy, Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation, and Wildlife Conservation Network. Steve is also on the Board of Directors for the Monterey Zoological Society.
In August of 2008, Steve was asked to join the WCECF Board of Directors as its President.
SECRETARY / TREASURER
Jan Warz
Jan has been involved in animal organizations for over 30 years and is currently the longest serving member of the Sonoma County Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. Her experience includes dog obedience trainer, private behavior consultant, and rescue and placement service.
Jan was deeply moved by the efforts of organizations such as the Snow Leopard Conservancy and Cheetah Conservation Fund for their practical and positive approaches to conservation. Her very personal bond with Chhinsu convinced her that everyone should have the opportunity to experience these amazing creatures.
Chris Llewellyn
DIRECTOR
Chris met Barbara and Rob Dicely during her senior year in high school, about 18 years ago, through a mutual friend in the animal business. Barbara invited her to their compound to see and play with some serval and caracal kittens. Chris was hooked at the first sight of those little fuzz balls of energy and asked what she could do to help out. Through the years she helped clean enclosures, feed the cats, wash food bowls (lots and lots of food bowls) and the toughest job of all, playing with the kittens to socialize and train them. She also helped with outreach programs, fund raising events, the upkeep of the compound and taking care of the place when Barbara and Rob were out of town.
Chris gained most of her animal experience working at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom for 16 years. She began in the education department and after a year transferred to the Wildlife Theater department. She started as an apprentice trainer and worked her way up to Wildlife Theater Supervisor. At Wildlife Theater she did a variety of things, including animal husbandry, enrichment, medical procedures, educational shows, and outreach programs. She also handled and trained animals, and managed and taught the staff. Her position at Wildlife Theater provided her the opportunity to work with a wide variety of animals: cats, bats, porcupines, tamanduas, coatis, kinkajou, to name a few. Although Chris loves working with all animals, she has a special place in her heart for cats, especially cougars and caracals.
In 2003, she was invited to become a board member of the Wild Cat Education and Conservation Fund and gladly accepted the position. Being a board member is yet another way she can help support the efforts to save wild cats around the world.
DIRECTOR
Jeff O’Brien
Jeff is retired from the United States Air Force and has always been interested in animals. He has experience in various non-profit organizations and can be counted on to "get the job done" no matter what his assignment is.
Jeff is willing, inventive, energetic, and devoted. His personal favorites of the ambassador cats are Shoshone and Asha.
DIRECTOR
Rob Dicely
Rob has been an engineer, high school teacher and a general contractor. He also spent years teaching dog obedience training classes, and took up the challenge of training and working with wild cat ambassadors. Rob's other passion is building fast cars.