TEAM MEMBERS
STACEY IVERSON
PROGRAM TRAINER
Stacey has been involved with UnChained since 2013. She served as a Wildlife Biologist in the Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa, and continued working in international wildlife conservation for many years. With over 25 years in non-profits, her focus has been humane education, animal welfare, and advocacy. Stacey is certified in Canine Massage, Equine Welfare, and Horse Powered Reading®.
Through her experiences in animal rescue and therapeutic programs, she has seen firsthand the transformative power of connecting with animals. She is thrilled to be a part of UnChained’s extraordinary mission and team.
WHITNEY WEIBEL
PROGRAM TRAINER
Whitney has always loved animals. Her passion for animals led her to zookeeping where she trained an assortment of animals and performed on stage with them.
Additionally, she taught incoming zookeepers and volunteers how to train animals using positive reinforcement. Throughout her life she has always trained dogs; first her family's dogs before getting her own, of which she's trained to CGC standards and taken to agility trials.
ALEX BREMER
PROGRAM TRAINER
Alex is a certified Family Dog Mediator with 10 years of professional experience in dog training. Her journey with dogs began in childhood, working with their family pets. She specialize in grooming, pet sitting, behavior training, agility, obedience, rally, and scent work.
Her path to becoming a Family Dog Mediator stems from a desire to bridge the gap between dogs and humans. By focusing on the "why" behind behaviors, rather than just the "how" of changing them, she helps both stray and pet dogs thrive. This approach has brought remarkable changes, benefiting dogs and their owners alike.
CHRISTINA WHITTON
YOUTH THERAPIST
Christina has supported UnChained in different ways including providing educational trainings for new staff in learning the unique needs of our students, community trainings to educate about the link between animal abuse and domestic violence, and currently providing consultation on how to best implement activities to support the highest potential of student's learning and growth.
FELIPE DE LA CRUZ
DIGITAL CONTENT & MEDIA COORDINATOR
Felipe De La Cruz understands the power of second chances—because he’s lived it. Growing up with dogs, he learned that trust, love, and healing go both ways. In many ways, his own dog saved his life, and now he’s dedicated to paying that forward. He sees himself in the youth UnChained serves, recognizing their struggles, resilience, and untapped potential.
As Digital Content & Media Coordinator, Felipe ensures the world sees the beauty and impact of UnChained’s mission. But he’s more than a storyteller—he’s in the trenches, building trust, fostering connection, and fighting for change. For him, UnChained isn’t just a job—it’s his way of saving the world, one youth, one dog, and one story at a time. He invites others who share that same fire to join him in making a difference.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MELISSA WOLF, President, UnChained Founder, Humane Education, Social Services
LIZ MACDONALD, Director of Content Strategy - Monterey Bay Aquarium
SASKIA CAN DEKAMP, Nonprofit Management, Strategic Planning
LAURIE PROSCIA, small business owner, Neuromuscular & Fitness Therapist
ALEXA FREDERICK, Strategy Consultant - Accenture
Interested in driving positive change? Learn how you can join UnChained's Board of Directors.
Discover the impact you can make and the steps to apply.
MEET OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
MAKE A DONATION
Support UnChained by making a simple donation or celebrate a beloved pet, person or event with a special in-honor donation to create new opportunities for our community’s youth and the dogs they train.