Sharon A. Roy, Ruth Frazier, Amy Fultz, Cathy Willis Spraetz, Kathleen Taylor, Raven Jackson-Jewett, D.V.M.
(318) 925-9575 | www.chimphaven.org | 13600 Chimpanzee Pl., Keithville, LA 71047
Sharon A. Roy Chief Financial Officer Sharon serves as the Chief Financial Officer as well as Contract Administrator and has been with Chimp Haven since 2003. Sharon has over 40 years of experience in financial and administrative operations, including human resources and office operations, as well as governmental contract administration.
She has a Master’s Certificate in Government Contracting and oversees financial and administrative duties.
She began her career in the nonprofit field by working at the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana. Sharon worked in Dallas and the Shreveport-Bossier City areas for companies in the land development and residential and commercial construction fields the first half of her career and excels in organization and helping start-up companies. Sharon has held memberships with such organizations as Executive Women’s International, National Contract Managers Association, the NW LA Society of Human Resource Managers and the National SHRM.
Ruth Frazier Chief Development Officer Ruth began her fundraising and management career in the political arena. She worked for a U.S. Senator and Congressman and went on to join an internationally renowned political consulting firm that provided campaign guidance to candidates around the world. In 2005 she moved to San Diego to become the Director of Development at the Elementary Institute of Science and in 2011 became the Director of Fund Development for The Elizabeth Hospice.
Ruth has a well-rounded knowledge of nonprofit fundraising and some of her expertise includes donor cultivation and stewardship, direct mail, and copywriting. She also oversees all communications at Chimp Haven, including print and webbased, along with public relations and marketing.
She received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Central Arkansas. Ruth is a member of the AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals) and has earned her CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) designation.
Amy Fultz Director of Behavior, Education & Research Amy co-founded Chimp Haven in 1995 and has been working at the sanctuary since 2004, which was prior to the first chimpanzees arriving.
She is responsible for the socialization of the chimpanzees, as well as overseeing the enrichment, training and education programs at the sanctuary. Amy and her staff also conduct observational research on the chimpanzees as they adjust to their new lives at the sanctuary.
Amy has worked with various primates since 1986 and with chimpanzees since 1992. Her area of expertise is introductions, having conducted hundreds of them at Chimp Haven. She has also spent time doing conservation related field work in various countries through Miami University’s Global Field Program. Amy has published and presented a number of scientific papers based on her research and is currently an instructor for Project Dragonfly and Earth Expeditions through Miami University. Amy takes many of the photographs of the chimpanzees you see on the Chimp Haven website.
Cathy Willis Spraetz President and Chief Executive Officer Prior to joining Chimp Haven in 2013, Cathy, an Atlanta native, served several nonprofit organizations in Georgia, focusing primarily in the area of disabilities and domestic violence. She has more than 30 years of experience as a chief executive and with that brings extensive expertise in administration, fiscal accountability, staff and program development, and fundraising.
Cathy serves on the NAPSA (North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance) Steering Committee and is an avid animal lover. She finds it a special privilege to be leading Chimp Haven and values the ongoing opportunity to learn more about our magnificent relative, the chimpanzee, while working to ensure they have a forever home in sanctuary.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies with a concentration in Nonprofit Administration from Georgia State University. She is a scholarship recipient of the 2005 Harvard Business School’s Strategic Initiatives in Nonprofit Management.
Kathleen Taylor Director of Animal Care Kathleen has been helping Chimp Haven fulfill its mission since 2005, and now serves as the Director of Animal Care. Kathleen ensures adherence to all associated standards, regulations and guidelines, while also providing the chimps with a species appropriate environment that encourages natural behaviors. Kathleen has over 20 years’ experience with primates, and 15 years with chimpanzees, in research and sanctuary settings.
Prior to joining Chimp Haven, Kathleen served Columbia University Medical Center as a Research Compliance Officer. From 1991 through 2004, Kathleen worked at New York University’s (LEMSIP), Montefiore Medical Center and Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
Kathleen holds a Master of Science in Psychology, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences. She is an active member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP).
Raven Jackson-Jewett, D.V.M. Attending Veterinarian Dr. Raven Jackson-Jewett currently serves as the Attending Veterinarian at Chimp Haven. She leads a staff of two veterinary technicians and one part-time veterinarian, along with a team of external consulting veterinarians and local medical specialists who regularly assist with the needs of the chimpanzees. She oversees the health needs of more than 200 chimps living at our sanctuary. This includes medical and therapeutic treatments, dispensing medications, ensuring individual diet and nutrition needs are met, positive reinforcement and weight loss trainings.
Raven earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Animal and Poultry Science from Tuskegee University.
After graduation, she completed a post-doctoral bio-behavioral research internship at the Mannheimer Foundation, Inc. where she conducted research on the mother-infant relationship and its correlation with chronic idiopathic colitis in captive rhesus macaques.
