Our Staff

Amanda Plank, a nonprofit leader with a background in animal welfare, has joined Black Pine Animal Sanctuary as the organization’s new executive director.

A graduate of West Noble High School and Purdue University, Amanda previously served as the executive director of Syracuse-Wawasee Trails. Prior to that, she served as the director of development and community engagement at Foothills Animal Shelter near Denver.

She has extensive experience from her more than 15 years of working at nonprofit organizations and helping them reach their development and fundraising goals. She also has played a key role in their strategic planning and growth.

With more than 70 animals that call it home, Black Pine Animal Sanctuary is the only Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries-accredited facility in the Midwest. Black Pine’s Board of Directors is thrilled to have Amanda lead the organization into an exciting new chapter, said Board President Barry Rochford. “Amanda is a proven nonprofit leader,” he said. “Her experience will help us advance our mission so that we provide a refuge for captive-raised exotic animals for the rest of their lives. She is a great addition to our incredibly talented and compassionate staff that works tirelessly each day to ensure our animals are happy and well cared for.”

Amanda said, “The high-quality animal care provided by the team at Black Pine is unmatched. From tigers to tortoises, our future is bright thanks to this community of animal lovers.”

You can contact Amanda at amanda@blackpine.org or 574-528-0100.

Born and raised in Noble County, Melissa has an extensive background in animal welfare.  Her career began in 2010 as a volunteer at HOPE for Animals in Fort Wayne, IN.  IN 2013, she was hired at HOPE for Animals and started the Community Cat Program once ordinances were amended to allow for TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) within city limits.  In 2015, Melissa implemented Fort Wayne’s (and the state’s) first pet retention social service program, assisting struggling pet owners facing the possibility of potentially surrendering their pets to the overpopulated shelter system.  She has graduated with multiple Maddie’s Fund Apprenticeships, helped national organizations with large-scale cruelty cases, and has a passion for humane education.

She lives with three cats, Binx, Warren, and Shirley, and affectionately calls herself a “cat lady” who adores pitbulls and dachshunds.

Melissa is excited to raise funds for and awareness about Black Pine and the issues surrounding the exotic pet trade.

In her free time, she tends to her extensive plant collection, spends quality time with the people (and animals) she loves, cooks, and binges-watches her favorite shows.

You can contact Melissa at melissa@blackpine.org or 260.318.1546.

Jordan’s admiration and passion for animals started as far back as she can remember. Her love for animals knew no bounds, wanting to rescue any and all animals in need. Much to her parents’ dismay, she even went as far as coaxing a pot belly pig off the side of a busy state road and taking it home in the backseat of her car as a teenager. To no one’s surprise, she chose a career that allowed her to strengthen her role as an advocate for better animal welfare. With a degree in veterinary technology, Jordan has been working at a veterinary emergency hospital as a nurse in the ER and ICU since 2014. In that same year, she began her journey at Black Pine Animal Sanctuary as a volunteer. From 2016 – 2021, Jordan was one of the full-time Lead Keepers at BPAS, dedicating her time and skillsets to improving the veterinary program, enrichment, and overall husbandry of the BPAS residents.

Since 2021, Jordan has worked as a Zookeeper at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo as an African Primate and Carnivore keeper, an Administrative Assistant at the Northeastern Center, and the Advancement Specialist at ACRES Land Trust. She also returned to college and will be graduating this year with an associate degree in business administration. Throughout her ever-changing life, one thing remained consistent…BPAS. Jordan remained a volunteer with the goal of eventually returning as a staff member. She is thankful for all of the experiences she has had and people she has met over the last four years, as they have taught her so many lessons about non-profit administration, animal welfare, and leadership skills.

With immeasurable excitement, Jordan has accepted the role as the first-ever BPAS Animal Curator. Her goals are to lead the animal care team with kindness and positivity, improve the residents’ lives with continual changes to the vet program and enrichment, and educate the public on the realities of the exotic pet trade. Here’s to a brighter future for captive exotic animals!

“I like to envision the whole world as a jigsaw puzzle… If you look at the whole picture, it is overwhelming and terrifying, but if you work on your little part of the jigsaw and know that people all over the world are working on their little bits, that’s what will give you hope.”

― Jane Goodall

Graduated from Ball State University with a bachelor’s degree in biology/concentration in zoology.

Interned at ARF Animal Shelter Spring of 2020

Interned at BPAS summer of 2020.

Joined the BPAS team as a Lead Keeper in the summer of 2021 and became Commissary Manager in June 2022

Laura has a Bachelor of Science degree in Veterinary Technology from Michigan State University and LVT for over 20 years, working most of that time in the zoo/sanctuary world.

Runs a personal nonprofit organization called International Veterinary Care, Inc.

Enjoys international travel and learning new and exciting animal conservation work.

Lexus is originally from Wisconsin and graduated from Goshen College in 2020 with a Biology degree and experience in Elementary Education. In her time at Goshen, she studied Marine Biology in the Florida Keys, conducted a research project on captive serval behavior, completed an internship at Black Pine, and spent 3 months living in China where she taught high school students.

After graduation, she moved to the Rio Grande Valley where she worked as the Primary Giraffe Keeper at the Gladys Porter Zoo. She also comes with a background in youth programming and community outreach from time spent at the Brownsville Public Library.

Her favorite animals are opossums, and in her free time Lexus loves travelling, antiquing, and spending time with her cat.

Interned at Black Pine in 2020.

Previously worked in park maintenance and wildlife rehabilitation in my home state of Minnesota. Lived in Costa Rica as a research assistant/motorcycle mechanic.

Joined Black Pine as the Maintenance Manager in September 2023

Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Indiana University

Started as an intern at Black Pine in 2021

Trey spent one year volunteering at Soaring Hawk Raptor Rehab as a bird handler and avian care provider, doing bird rescues and in the ICU.

He enjoys building with LEGO, playing video games, and reading.

Graduated from Purdue University, specializing in Wildlife Management

Her background is primarily working and studying native amphibians.

Madison began her career at Black Pine as a Lead Keeper in the summer of 2022 and was promoted to Senior Keeper in April 2024.

“Black Pine has given me a great opportunity to work and learn more about managing exotic wildlife. I look forward to continuing my services for these animals and spreading awareness on the negatives of owning wildlife as pets.” ~Maddie

She graduated from Wittenberg University in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in biology.

Previous experience with large carnivores, including big cats and tigers.

Interned for three months at The Wild Animal Sanctuary-Texas in Boyd, TX, and for six months at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, AR

Through experience, she has fallen in love with the animals and the mission to rescue and provide peaceful, happy lives for exotic animals in need.  She is glad to have landed here at Black Pine Animal Sanctuary!

Jess received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication, with a minor in music, from Indiana State University in December of 2023.

Jess is honored to have joined the BPAS team in April 2024 as Guest Services Coordinator. Her past experience includes Smith Walbridge Leadership Clinics, WTHI TV-10 News, and interning and serving as a tour guide at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center (EFRC) in Center Point, Indiana.

Jess enjoys spending time with her rescued cats, caring for her tropical plants, hiking, and playing the saxophone outside of work.

Kim graduated from Purdue University West Lafayette in 2014 with a degree in Wildlife Biology and a minor in Spanish.

My previous experience includes being a primate and birdkeeper at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, an education assistant at Columbian Park Zoo, a veterinary assistant at St. Joe Center Veterinary Hospital, and a rehab assistant at Canine Rehab at NIVES.

Kim interned at Black Pine Animal Sanctuary in 2014 and completely fell in love with the mission (and the animals, of course!)

Honored to be hired as a Lead Keeper of Black Pine Animal Sanctuary in June 2019

She spends her free time with her husband, family, friends, and three wonderful domestic cats. She loves tap dancing, traveling, and visiting accredited sanctuaries and zoos.

I grew up right here in Albion and attended Central Noble Schools. My certificates are in Veterinarian Assistant and Euthanasia. I attended Penn Foster for small business management.

I worked for ten years in human health care as a CNA before changing over to animal care. I interned at black pine in 2014 and became part of the team in October 2023. Before moving into management, I spent nine years in an animal shelter as a receptionist, kennel attendant, and medical assistant.  I enjoy time with my family and my beloved animals. I love being outdoors in nature; it’s so peaceful and relaxing! I garden, can, and make natural products in my free time.

YiWynn holds a B.A. in Biology, Environmental Studies, and Race and Ethnic Studies from St. Olaf College and an M.Sc. in Biology from Purdue University. She has worked mostly in the realms of marine conservation and research, specifically on tropical coral reefs, cold-water corals, mussels, intertidal biodiversity, and sea turtles. YiWynn has worked on international projects across Malaysia, Japan, the Netherlands, the U.S., and Costa Rica.

YiWynn is passionate about combining her interests in nature, adventure, languages, and culture within the realms of wildlife and conservation. She is excited to join Black Pine Animal Sanctuary and experience a different side of wildlife, while gaining animal husbandry experience. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, scuba diving, playing water polo, and exploring the outdoors.

Originally from Missouri, Brittany graduated from University of Missouri-Columbia aka Mizzou in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and a minor in Captive Wild Animal Management.

She interned at Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary in Nevada in 2020 where she got experience working with carnivores.

After Brittany’s internship was over, she got hired on as an animal caretaker at Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary and worked full time there untill the summer of 2023.

She began working at Black Pine in April 2024