BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Emily Coffey, President

Emily Coffey was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She began working with animals at a very young age while helping her mother care for cats and dogs which the family fostered. Emily has her B.S. degree from the University of Missouri – St. Louis in Biology with a concentration on Conservation Ecology. She worked at the Missouri Botanical Gardens and Shaw Nature Reserve for several years specializing in restoration efforts of federally listed rare plant species and education. Following her B.S. she received a M.S. in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management from the University of Oxford – United Kingdom. She is currently finishing her Ph.D. working on long-term vegetation changes on the Galapagos Islands from the same university.

She has worked with Gateway Pet Guardians and Stray Rescue caring for and fostering countless cats and dogs. Additionally, she greatly enjoys travel to foreign countries, birding, hiking, canoeing, and anything she can do outside. She has successfully completed the following courses: International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC) Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation, IWRC Wound Management, IWRC Pain Management, IWRC Fluid Therapy, National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA) Clinical Diagnostic Sampling, and NWRA Suture Techniques. Emily has volunteered at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic since the summer of 2005.

Sue Flynn, Secretary

I was born in Saratoga Springs, NY and lived in the state for 45 yrs. After graduating from high school I went to work at the NYS Identification and Intelligence System for the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for 4 years. In 1973 I married Gary Flynn also from NY. We have 2 children--Philip who lives in Byers, Colorado with his wife Lisa and their two cats. Jennifer who lives back in Plattsburgh, NY with her husband Ron and their 3 children, Ryan, Joseph and Hailey Jo and many pets.

In 1987 I started working for USDA Farmers Home Administration, known now as Rural Development which helps low-income people become first-time home owners. In 1996 the Government did some restructuring of County Offices and mine was one of them. I saw that the RD was hiring in St. Louis, talked it over with my husband, applied for the job, and got it so in 1997 Gary & I moved to MO. We currently live in Dittmer with my two cats Pevely and Squeaker, and a hedgehog named Sonic who had been brought into the Wildlife Clinic.

I have been an animal lover forever. I have had many pets, cats dogs,horses, etc. My uncle worked for the NYS Conservation Department and I have fostered 2 baby raccoons, 1 young skunk and a woodchuck. I was also a 4-H leader for 2 yrs. I started with the Wildlife Rehab Clinic in 2008 and volunteer on Tuesday mornings.

Stefanie Reiser, Treasurer

Stefanie was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. She has always had a strong passion for all animals, domestic or wild. Stefanie is a Veterinary Technician with over 10 years of experience in working in the animal medical field. After finding a volunteering opportunity at the Wildlife Rehab Clinic it began a wonderful new adventure for her. She began volunteering in Fall 2007, and along with helping to care for all the animals we take in, she is also the Groundhog and Beaver Species Specialist. Continuing her education in animal health she has completed several corses offered by the IWRC & NWRA; Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation, Fluid Therapy, Pain Management, Critical Care, as well as in her daily job has a educational emphasis in pharmacology and pharmocokinetics.

She has served on the board of directors since 2008 and has been serving as Treasurer since 2008.

Jyll Bellis, Chairman

Jyll was born and raised in Wisconsin and began rehabbing animals while in college in Wisconsin. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse with a B.S. degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership. After graduation she traveled thruout the U.S. volunteering and working for a wide variety of public & private zoos, rehabilitation facilities, farms, and circuses collecting data on exotic animal care and care of orphaned wildlife. She has over 25 years of experience working with animals of all kinds.

Along with volunteering her time at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic, she also volunteers for the Ozark Trail Association building and maintaining the Ozark Trail. She is an avid backpacker and loves hiking Missouri's Ozark Trail. She began volunteering at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic in May of 2008, and became the Chairman of the Board in January 2010. She lives with her 2 dogs, 4 cats, 2 ferrets and whatever else may walk or crawl into her house.

Connie Schilling - Trustee

Connie was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. She has always enjoyed the outdoors and any wildlife she encounters so to find the volunteering opportunity at the Wildlife Clinic was perfect. She began volunteering in 2001, and along with helping to care for all the animals we take in, she is also the Opossum Species Specialist.

She has served on the board of directors since 2003. She served as Secretary from 2005-2008. She is a member of the NWRA, IWRC and the National Opossum Society. She currently resides in Jefferson County with her husband Steve, her son Tobey and their five cats.

Kathi Christman

Kathi was born in St Louis, MO, but raised in California. She has always loved animals. She began volunteering in Feb. 2008 and has been on the board since 2009. Along with helping to take care of these animals that are taken in, she is also the Fox Specialist for the clinic.

Kathi has her Basic Rehabilitaion Certificate from the IWRC. She has an Associate degree in Liberal Arts and is currently finishing her Bachelors degree in Accounting at Mayville University.

Kathi resides in Jefferson County where she lives with her husband Mike and her two sons, Devin and Austin.

Chris Keister

I pursued my nursing career in the greater St. Louis area. During my 33 years in the nursing profession I have had a passion for assuring that patients are cared for with the highest quality of care possible. This passion has been carried in the care of my pets and in volunteer work with animals.

My home is graced with many pets. An older dog rescued from hurricane Katrina thru the Two By Two Animal Rescue in Helena, AL. A younger dog was rescued from the Franklin County Animal Shelter in Union, MO. The yellow napped amazon parrot was purchased from a pet store in MO because he was near death, and the six cats are all rescues.

Due to physical limitations I’m limited from active volunteering with the wildlife, but attempt to make up for those limitations through creative ideas implemented to raise funds for two different animal organizations, one of which is the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic.
I volunteered for 6 years in an animal shelter in IL and have been with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic since 2007.

Christy Victor

Christy was born and raised in St. Louis and has always loved nature and animals. She began as a volunteer with the Wildlife Clinic in April 1999, joined the Board of Directors in November 1999, and served as Chairperson for the Board from February 2001 to February 2008. She was the rabbit species specialist for six years, supervised the Monday morning shift for eight years, created the Clinic’s first website in 2002, published the Newsletter for many years, and organized fundraising.

In addition to volunteering with the Wildlife Clinic, Christy is currently volunteering with the St. Louis County Health Department caring for the cats in the adoption program and working on a fundraising event for The Pulmonary Hypertension Association and St. Vincent Depaul Society. She served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Arthritis Foundation for 10 years and was chairperson for the Development and Fundraising Committee. She is the Accounting Manager for SBTV.Com and lives in Ballwin with her husband and two rescue cats, Mindy and Snow.