Meet Our Team
Our Staff
Andrea, Operations Manager
Andrea has lived on Maui since 2009 and became involved with East Maui Animal Refuge in 2021. Her love of animal care began at Surf Cat Ranch, where she discovered the joy of working closely with animals. Introduced to EMAR by Tom, she was immediately drawn to the refuge’s mission to help all animals, regardless of species or condition.
Andrea serves as Operations Manager. She is also a combat medic in the Hawai‘i Army National Guard, a role she has held for over seven years. She believes both positions complement each other, allowing her to bring compassion, calm under pressure, and strong leadership to the refuge every day.
Veni began volunteering at East Maui Animal Refuge in 2009, primarily in the cattery, though her empathy extends to every animal on the property. She has a special gift for caring for cats, especially those who are sick or fragile.
Her work goes far beyond feeding and cleaning. Veni provides the social interaction, calm presence, and deep compassion that cats need to thrive. Despite working a full‑time job, Veni still dedicates seven days a week to EMAR. Her unwavering commitment is cherished by both the staff and the animals who rely on her gentle care.
Tom has been part of East Maui Animal Refuge since 2016. He began by helping in the cattery once a week, but after forming deep bonds with the animals, he quickly became the go‑to person for nearly everything.
He volunteered full‑time for years—often running the refuge on his own during busy days. His dedication, reliability, and compassion are unmatched. Tom embodies selfless service, and EMAR has been profoundly blessed by his presence and commitment over the years.
Dana joined East Maui Animal Refuge in 2023. After retiring as a mechanic, he returned to Maui from Massachusetts with a mission: to help shoulder the physically demanding work of unloading thousands of pounds of food each week. He invested in heavy equipment to ease the burden on volunteers and continues to take on some of the refuge’s toughest tasks.
Every morning—seven days a week—Dana cleans the courtyard to ensure the animals have a safe, clean habitat. His background in engineering and carpentry makes him an essential part of the refuge, providing the skill and problem‑solving needed for the constant repairs and maintenance that keep EMAR running smoothly.
Our Board
Sylvan Schwab, Founder and President
Sylvan grew up in Chicago and graduated from the University of Illinois. He arrived in Maui in 1977, fell in love with the island, and soon after met Suzie, the woman who would become his wife and his life's partner. When Suzie was diagnosed with terminal kidney cancer, Sylvan noticed that caring for an injured bird seemed to give her something medicine couldn't, so he started bringing home more animals in need.
Suzie recovered, and what began as an act of love gradually grew into the East Maui Animal Refuge (EMAR), nicknamed the "Boo Boo Zoo," because every animal arrives with an injury or hardship. After Suzie passed away in 2018, Sylvan continued the work they built together.
Adele Holcolm, Secretary
Adele has served as board secretary since 2019. She grew up in Chicago. Adele devotes a considerable amount of time caring for rescued baby sheep, deer and goats brought to East Maui Animal Refuge.
Andrea Werner-Gillum, Treasurer
(See staff section.)
Marsha Kelly, Vice Present, is a Drama & Speech Instructor with Seabury Hall, a private college preparatory school on Maui. Appreciating the importance of exposure to animals in childhood education, every year Marsha leads a group of Seabury students to visit the East Maui Animal Refuge.
Barbara Coda, MD, is a Yale-trained anesthesiologist. As a volunteer with the East Maui Animal Refuge, the consistent initiative she has shown over the years has made her a role model and led to her recognition as a County Volunteer Hero in 2023.
Photo from gofundme.org
Dennis Burns founded Valley Isle Animal Rescue in 2011 and is a long-time volunteer with the East Maui Animal Refuge.
Photo from Maui High School
Lacey Brandt is the founding President of Maui Bird Rescue. She came to Maui pursuing her marine science career in 2013. The need for help rescuing birds fell into her lap almost immediately and by chance. After leaving Maui to attain her graduate degree abroad, she returned to the island with the same passion for animals and began building extensive community collaborations to create resources for the care of birds in need. She teaches marine science at a local school, where she leads by example to teach compassion for animals and humans, and tolerance for differences in cultures and animal welfare, in a gentle, proactive way.
Mark has called Maui home for more than 40 years and spent much of his life working as a chef. Everything changed the day one special chicken crossed his path, sparking a passion for animal rescue that eventually led him to East Maui Animal Refuge.
Today, Mark is the primary caretaker for EMAR’s crippled, sick, and injured birds. With more than 30 in his care at any given time, he provides a clean, enriching environment for animals who often cannot move well on their own. His work requires constant monitoring, daily medications, and multiple check‑ins throughout the day. Mark single‑handedly manages these special‑needs cases, and EMAR truly could not be the “Boo Boo Zoo” without him.