DIRECTORS
Lauren E. Rizzo, Director of Operations
Serving as the President and Director of Operations, Lauren is the founder of St. Sophia’s. She has over 18 years in the Animal Welfare industry and a background in Library Science, entrepreneurship and education. Lauren has five cats of her own: Eggs, Carmen, Marquess, Vida, and Aya.
PHONE: 630-802-7389 / EMAIL: info.stsff@gmail.com
Amy Loek, Director of Outreach
Amy came to St. Sophia’s in 2014 after fostering through another organization. Known by those who love her as “Blunt Amy,” and as the most senior member of the board, Amy has her MBA in logistics and worked in commercial insurance for over 20 yrs. Amy coordinates all of the shelter’s outreach events: in-store adoptions, large pet expos, and community events. She has fostered over 1000 mothers and their kittens (from birth through adoption).
PHONE: 630-638-9048 / EMAIL: outreach.stsff@gmail.com
Gina Mieszczak, Director of Development
Gina is a network security specialist and has 29 years in IT. She started with 1 cat in 1992 and later discovered the wonderful world of St. Sophia’s Forgotten Felines fostering program. In 2013 she began fostering and repeatedly had her heart broken and went back for more cat torture by requesting more fosters. She now lives in Las Vegas, NV, and serves as an integral member of the team and assists with website, social media, and customer relations.
PHONE: 630-699-4455 / EMAIL: ginam2@vldesign.com
TRUSTEES
Ann Brandt, Foster Coordinator
Ann, though currently living in Kansas, has been with St. Sophia’s since 2014. She started as a kennel technician at our P2 Store (Albany Park Petco), and was quickly promoted to Store Lead. She joined the board in 2015, and then when she moved out of state in 2017, she took over the role of Foster Coordinator, where she can screen applicants and assist remotely.
PHONE: 847-732-8180 / EMAIL: foster.stsff@gmail.com
Laura Corrado, Donor Relations Coordinator
Laura joined St. Sophia’s Forgotten Felines as a foster home in 2013 and eventually took on the roll of Donation Relations coordinator. She always had all types of pets growing up. If she found an orphaned critter, she would always bring it home. Her current cats are Zoe, Mike & Angus (a StSff foster fail) and her dog Daisy.
PHONE: 773-858-5936 / EMAIL: donate.stsff@gmail.com
Vanessa Curry, Adoption Coordinator
Vanessa joined St. Sophia’s in 2014 with gusto. Putting on her foster application that she was “23 going on 30” she quickly showed the team her passion for cats and dedication to hard work. She works with our fosters, coordinates filling our partner store locations, assists with medical cases, and aids in transport, and well… coordinates adoptions! Vanessa loves everything pets (especially seniors) and owns her pet sitting business Peace, Love, & Happy Pets .
PHONE: 630-903-8765 / EMAIL: adopt.stsff@gmail.com
Samantha Scirenco, Database Administrator
Sam joined St. Sophia’s in 2018 through the referral of a previous board member. She quickly jumped in to help where needed and took on extra responsibilities. Sam has many cats of her own and specializes in fostering shyer cats and those with injuries. Currently working as the Database Administrator, Sam helps input medical records and gets our cats posted so that they can be adopted (and works as an adoption counselor too!).
PHONE: 847-436-5250 / EMAIL: medical.stsff@gmail.com