Tracy Goldfine, Executive Director
Tracy grew up in the Mad River Valley town of Waitsfield, Vermont. After graduating from the University of Vermont with a degree in Business, she moved West where she worked in public relations and publishing in Utah and Wyoming. Upon returning to Vermont, Tracy worked as a freelance grant writer, helping local nonprofits strengthen their development efforts. She has served as executive director for Hope Grows Community Farm in Hyde Park and River Arts in Morrisville. She earned her Nonprofit Management Graduate Certificate from Marlboro College and pursued graduate work in grant writing. Tracy joined NCAL as executive director in July 2016.
Growing up with many animals including dogs, cats, horses, rabbits and birds, Tracy developed a passion for rescue at an early age. Her early efforts included rescuing barn kittens, mending injured birds and squirrels, and even once helping a raccoon. She began assisting the local veterinarian at the age of ten with farm calls and surgeries. Today at NCAL, she is committed to furthering the mission dedicated to promoting responsible and compassionate relationships between humans and animals.
She lives in Stowe with her husband and two children and in her “off time” enjoys playing guitar, mountain biking, skiing, and hiking with her dogs.
Jamie Dutil, Director of Operations & Medical Care
Jamie has been working with animals in a professional capacity for over a decade, ever since graduating from the University of Vermont with a degree in Animal Science in 2009. While working in a veterinary clinic, she realized her passion for helping to combat pet homelessness through the nonprofit sector, and went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Walden University and a certification in humane education. She carries a wide diversity of experience in the animal welfare field, including private practice veterinary clinics, high-volume/high-quality spay/neuter clinics, other animal shelters and humane societies, and volunteering as a first responder and Board member for the Central Vermont Disaster Animal Response Team. She also spent two and a half years living in deep South Texas, fundraising and working to implement life-saving programs in a severely under-served city with an overwhelming pet overpopulation crisis.
Carlee Brion, Programs & Outreach Manager
Carlee Brion began working for NCAL in 2012 after graduating college in New Hampshire and moving to Vermont. Carlee has spent a few years caring for dogs and cats as a Shelter Associate, caring for customers and animals alike as NCAL’s Customer Service Manager, and was promoted to Pet Adoption Center Manager and then to the Operations Director. After becoming a new mom, Carlee now serves as NCAL’s Programs & Outreach Manager. Growing up, Carlee always had animals living in her home and currently has three rescue pups. She loves living in Vermont and exploring all that it has to offer with her dogs Winnie, Roscoe and Josie (although Winnie is secretly a couch potato at heart).
Lusana Masrur, Development & Communications Manager
Lusana’s earliest memories include farm animals, cats, dogs, rabbits and a crane, all of whom helped her become an animal lover. After college, she worked as the E-Coordinator for the SPCA of Erie County, in Buffalo, New York. She was also the Communications Coordinator for Obhoyaronno – Bangladesh Animal Welfare Foundation and continues to be invested in her home country’s animal welfare movement. In addition, she has worked in youth development in Buffalo, NY and brings that experience to NCAL’s Humane Education Program. Additionally, she has work experience in disaster management and climate change mitigation in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Work and education have also taken her to Malaysia, Singapore, the UAE, Tanzania, Sierra Leone and Thailand, but she now calls Vermont her home. Lusana’s love for animals inspires her to follow a plant-based lifestyle. She takes pride in contributing to NCAL’s mission with her non-profit background in animal welfare, communication, development and special education.
Emily Peterson, Customer Care & Adoptions Manager
Emily has had animals her whole life, from dogs and cats, to lizards, birds and fishes! She majored in Wellness and Alternative Medicine at the Northern Vermont University in Johnson. She has worked with an animal shelter in the past and wanted to continue in the field when she moved back to Vermont. Her favorite part about this job is playing matchmaker and helping people find their four-legged family members. Emily is also very interested in exploring how to apply her learning from wellness and alternative medicine to the world of animals.
Becky Wheeler-Percy, Barn Manager
Becky grew up in Connecticut, but spent a lot of time at her family’s cabin in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Beginning at a young age being inspired by avid equestrians in her family, riding is truly in Becky’s blood. Throughout high school she spent her days as a working student for a local A-level Pony Clubber, where she eventually assumed the role of assistant trainer. During this time, Becky had the privilege of spending weekends volunteering at the most prestigious 3-day events in New England. Following this period, Becky embraced a series of opportunities all over the US working for renowned trainers such as Mark Weissbecker and Frank Conway, spending time in Washington State, Kentucky, and Florida, among others. She moved back home to be with her family in Vermont in 2009, and has been living with her husband, stepdaughter and four boxers in Wolcott since 2011. The highlight of Becky’s equestrian accomplishments is Dior – her most prized accomplishment, whom she brought fresh off the track to a Novice Level event horse. Becky’s goal is to impart the knowledge she has gained from her experiences throughout the years with the younger generation. And her philosophy is that exceptional horsemanship is the root of building healthy bonds with horses, which reflects NCAL’s core mission of promoting compassionate relationships among all beings, and she looks forward to sharing this vision with the community we serve.
Rini Mayer, Administrative & Development Coordinator
Originally from Connecticut, Rini graduated from UVM with a degree in Recreation Management. While at UVM she fell in love with the Green Mountain State and decided to call it home. Rini’s love of winter led her to work for a ski resort for several years before entering into the world of finance. Rini has always had a great affinity for animals big and small and is excited to have the opportunity to help animals in need. Rini lives in Stowe with her husband, daughter and their dog Watson.
Angel Mitofsky, Animal Care Coordinator
Angel is a born and raised Vermonter who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and is a certified dog trainer. She feel in love with helping animals when she began fostering at a young age. In 2018, she began her career in animal welfare with the Virginia Beach SPCA, where she served as the Trainer and Behaviorist, following which she worked at the city shelter in Norfolk Virginia as a supervisor, alongside volunteering for several other rescues in the area. Angel and her husband decided to move back to Vermont after the birth of their daughter in 2020. They currently reside in Essex and with their dog and two cats. During her free time, Angel loves reading, hiking with her dog and enjoying the beautiful land Vermont has to offer.
Brooke Willett, Animal Behavior Specialist
Brooke grew up right here in Morrisville, VT. Driven by her love of all things equine, she moved to Lexington, KY in 2016 to attend University of Kentucky (UKY). She graduated in 2020 with a B.S. in Animal Science and a B.S. in Equine Science & Management. During her time at UKY, she joined Wildcat Service Dogs, a student organization dedicated to the raising and training of puppies on their journey to becoming service dogs. During her time there, she served as the Director of Fundraising, the Vice President, and the Training Supervisor for the organization, and trained a dog herself. Following her time at UKY, she worked as a veterinary technician in Lexington, KY, while also teaching private and group training classes.
Brooke has always had a passion for training and understanding animal behavior. Growing up, she rode horses and competed in the hunter/jumper divisions. While at UKY, she continued working with horses, with a focus on humane handling, understanding equine behavior, and using this understanding to better training and horsemanship practices.
Brooke lives in Morrisville with her family and her chocolate lab Wrigley.
Nina Matt, Assistant Barn Manager
Jess McLeon, Animal Care & Adoptions Associate
Jess began working at NCAL in 2012. From a very young age, she has had a love for animals and has always hoped to find a career that would allow her to work with them. At NCAL, she enjoys and takes pride in caring for the dogs and cats and playing a part in their second chance at life. Jess also serves as NCAL’s staff photographer, capturing the beauty in every animal and helping market each one which improves their chances at finding forever homes.
Schae Wolff, Animal Care & Adoptions Associate
Schae has had a passion for animals her whole life. Working with cats and dogs in need is very important to her and gives purpose to her life. Her two spoiled cats, Sylvester and Wilbur, are both adoptees from NCAL and according to her, are the greatest of all cats! Schae also has an artistic side which she gets to apply to run her family business where she partners with her dad to create custom products.
Mindy Hinsdale, Riding Instructor
Mindy Hinsdale just joined the NCAL team and is excited to share her love of teaching with the community lesson program. Her teaching experience spans 35 years, from young riders and pony camps to riders competing at regional and national levels. As a junior rider, Mindy trained under such greats as Gunnar Ostergaard, Denny Emerson and Fran and Joe Dotoli. Under this tutelage she rose to the National level competing in equitation finals, including Madison Square Garden. Mindy is a founding member of the Vermont Hunter Jumper Association where she served as President for many years. She has also served on the board of the New England Horsemen’s Council, USEF Zone 1 Committee, and the Vermont Farm Bureau. Mindy looks forward to seeing you at the barn and helping you reach your horsemanship goals!