Pamela Geisel
VP, Development and Communications
Pam is a freelance writer and editor who works primarily for nonprofit organizations serving children and adults with special needs. She has volunteered in animal rescue for seven years, ever since she and her husband, Ritchie, adopted a disabled cat and found their lives forever changed. The Geisels recently returned to California from the East Coast, where they were long distance Heaven on Earth-ers for four years. Both joined the Heaven on Earth board in 2003.

Ritchie Geisel
President
Ritchie has spent his entire career in nonprofit and says he was the only member of his Stanford Business School class who had his eye (and heart) on the independent sector. He has served in executive and fundraising capacities in the education, human services and animal welfare fields and presently heads a Los Angeles-based organization that provides support services to at-risk children and their families. Ritchie and his wife, Pam, are parents to three cats, all rescues: Bravo, Nosey and Abby.

Nicole Jacobson-Zuniga
VP, Volunteer Management
Originally from Philadelphia—where she worked in nonprofit and volunteered for humane organizations—Nicole is presently human resources manager for a biotechnology company in the Los Angeles area. She and her husband, Carlos Zuniga, live in LA with their four cats: former Philadelphians Belle and Hope and Heaven on Earth alums April and Samson. Nicole joined the Heaven on Earth board in 2006; Carlos serves as Heaven on Earth’s webmaster.

Bonnie Jaffe
CFO/Treasurer
Bonnie is part of the financial planning and analysis group of a nonprofit policy research institution and brings significant experience in strategic planning to the Heaven on Earth table. She lives in Santa Monica, where she serves as human to a pair of feline brothers, Ernie and Bert, whom she met in a New Orleans shelter during post-Hurricane Katrina rescue work in fall 2005. Bonnie, who also volunteers with Special Olympics, has been on the board of Heaven on Earth since 2003.


Erendira Kriteman
VP, Operations and Founder
Eri started rescuing homeless animals at 19, soon discovering she had stumbled into what was as much calling as cause. After gaining experience as a volunteer with several rescue groups, she founded Heaven on Earth Society for Animals in February 2000. She currently resides in West Los Angeles with her husband, Josh and their infant son, Elijah; dog, Simba and cat, Pretty Girl—whose refusal to allow any other cats in her home is the original reason for Heaven on Earth’s sanctuary.

C. Montenegro
VP, Adoptions
Carlos says his previous job as manager for a customer service firm showed him the joy of working with animals. Ahem. Raised a dog person, he discovered upon relocating from Florida several years ago that he simply hadn’t met the right cat(s). Carlos now has the job of his dreams and lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Destiny, and their rescue family: basset hound Sugar and cats Osiris, Isis, Solo, Mia, Capella and Heaven on Earth alum Superman. Carlos joined the Heaven on Earth board in 2006.

Jennifer Parsignault
VP, Public Relations
By day collections supervisor for a union trust fund, Jennifer is also an artist and singer/songwriter with a couple of independent albums to her credit. She grew up with cats and horses, but found her way to animal rescue through a colony of feral cats in her neighborhood. Jennifer has served on the Heaven on Earth board since 2006 and lives in the San Fernando Valley with her husband, Bob Wynne, rescue cats Beenes and Bailey and an ever-changing census of fosters.

Marie-Helene Thibiant
Secretary
Marie-Helene is a director of project management for a large biotechnology company. She lives in Ventura County with her two rescue cats, 12-year-old Chamade and 6-year-old Kali, both of whom quickly adapted to their cosmopolitan surroundings and are now fully bilingual French/English. Marie-Helene joined the Heaven on Earth board in 2005.

Front Row: Eri Kriteman, Destiny Haney (Sanctuary Manager), Jennifer Parsignault, Pamela Geisel, Bonnie Jaffe
Back Row: Ritchie Geisel, Nicole Jacobson-Zuniga, Marie-Helene Thibiant, Carlos Montenegro, Lisa Hague