HavaHeart Leaders - Our Team!

As Executive Director, Kaylyn is involved in just about every part of rescue- from coordinating intakes, medical care, and foster placements to keeping the day-to-day operations running. At the end of the day, her favorite part will always be getting to know the dogs and helping them get the second chance they deserve.

Cheryl Prifti serves as the Treasurer and Finance Director for HavaHeart Rescue, overseeing financial management and accounting operations to support the organization's mission.

As Secretary Kristine processes information for new and retiring volunteers, keeps team records up to date and organized, coordinates any requests from the team, organizes and moderates quarterly team meetings. She has been in this role with HavaHeart since August 2026 after fostering and adopting a rescue in May of 2026!

As Membership manager, Beth works to keep our active HavaHeart Rescue membership records up to date. She tracks expired foster/adoption applications and renews membership as needed, also updating our Facebook group pages with active members. Beth also helps cross post adoptable dogs for more visibility, helps with transport, just signed up to be a representative, and is an event manager for Lake or the Ozarks area!

Kimber and Melissa support and guide Dog Representatives (basically social workers for foster dogs) by providing direction, resources, and ongoing communication. They help representatives stay organized, answer questions, coordinate activities, and ensure everyone feels supported while representing HavaHeart Rescue!

Kimber and Melissa support and guide Dog Representatives (basically social workers for foster dogs) by providing direction, resources, and ongoing communication. They help representatives stay organized, answer questions, coordinate activities, and ensure everyone feels supported while representing HavaHeart Rescue!

As Transport Manager, Kacy works behind the scenes each week coordinating HavaHeart’s Sunday transports across six hub cities, keeping all the moving pieces connected alongside our hub leads and incredible volunteers to help each dog safely reach their next stop. From organizing routes to stepping in wherever she’s needed, Kacy loves being one small part of each dog’s journey toward the life they deserve.

As Veterinary Relations Manager, Wendy serves as the connection between our foster families, veterinary partners, and rescue leadership to ensure every dog receives the medical care they need. She coordinates veterinary services, builds and maintains relationships with clinic partners, authorizes medical care, and helps navigate everything from routine wellness visits to complex medical and surgical cases. Her goal is to advocate for each dog while building strong partnerships with veterinary professionals so we can provide quality , compassionate care and help more dogs find their way to healthy, happy forever homes.

Renee has been a part of HavaHeart Rescue for 9 years. She started by processing applications. As of the end of last year she became the application manager. She provides our team with applications to process, in the hopes of providing foster dogs with an adoptive home.

As Events Director for HavaHeart Rescue, Maryellen Pado leads event teams across Missouri (Springfield, St Louis, Kansas City, Lake of the Ozarks), Northwest Arkansas, Indianapolis, and Kentucky (Bowling Green). She coordinates and promotes community events to showcase adoptable dogs, raise awareness of fostering, adoption, and volunteer opportunities, and educate communities about HavaHeart Rescue's lifesaving mission - all while having fun and helping to change lives on both ends of the leash!

As Director of Community & Partner Relations, Estelle builds relationships that connect HavaHeart Rescue with the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our mission possible. She also leads HavaHeart’s LinkedIn presence, sharing our work, expanding community awareness, and creating opportunities for new partnerships and support.

Christy is the Technology and Website Manager, which means she built the website, keeps it running, manages ShelterLuv, and generally tries to make the tech behave. When she’s not arguing with software, she loves jumping in with the Intake Team and helping at events whenever she can- basically wherever dogs, chaos, or a computer problem needs her!

Hannah leads social media for HavaHeart Rescue, where she turns wagging tails and happy endings into stories that connect dogs with their forever families. From foster spotlights to adoption celebrations on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, she keeps our community informed, inspired, and engaged.