Our Staff and Leadership
Executive Team
Mary Leprino
President and Co-Founder
Justin Klemer
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Paula Jacques-Bonneau
Director of Community Programs
Erin Henninger
Director of Development
Julie Roberts
Volunteer Coordinator
Jen Petre
Operations Manager
Jennifer Demchak
Dog Behavior and Enrichment Manager
Veterinary Team
Tiffany Coliglazer
Lindsey Murphy
Chelsea Nenoff
Shelby Wilkerson
Care Team
Chelsea Alvarez
Murph Geraghty
Michelle Loch
Miranda McCall
Gianna Neathammer
Dylan Scarlett
Lore Wachsmuth
Karina Perez
Board of Directors
Geoff Ellis
Geoff Ellis is a Managing Director with Ernst & Young Capital Advisors, LLC, the investment banking division of Ernst & Young LLP. Geoff brings more than 20 years of experience advising companies on executing complex financing transactions and strategic initiatives, and will utilize his financial expertise to further support the long-term growth and sustainability of Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary. A lifelong animal lover, Geoff and his wife Wendy have adopted many shelter animals and raised several extraordinary puppies to be guide dogs. After moving to the Denver area in 2025 to be near their two children, Mackenzie and Tate, Geoff and Wendy can usually be found hiking, exploring Colorado, and enjoying outdoor adventures with their two Labrador Retrievers, Tallie and Fergie.
Jill Farnham
Jill recently retired from a long career as a financial leader in the non-profit, government and real estate sectors. With more than forty years of financial experience, Jill has spent much of her career providing strategic leadership for some of the Colorado’s most recognized non-profit organizations, including the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority, Family Tree, Mile High United Way and the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Jill’s experience includes strategic planning, operational oversight, internal and external reporting, audit management, budget development, state and federal grant compliance, and real estate management and development.
Jill has also been involved in the governance of numerous professional and community organizations including the Colorado Non-Profit Association, the Colorado Bioscience Association, Porchlight Family Justice Center, Aurora Economic Development Council, and Commercial Real Estate Women.
Jill holds Bachelor of Science, Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting.
Susan Friedman
Susan Friedman has been a dedicated volunteer with Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary since its inaugural summer in 2023, bringing a lifelong passion for animal welfare and advocacy to the organization. Originally from the suburbs of Philadelphia, Susan moved to Colorado in 1992 to attend college in Boulder and has proudly called the state home ever since.
Susan earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado School of Law in 2002 and went on to serve in the Criminal Appeals Section of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office until her medical retirement in 2013. Her commitment to service extends beyond her legal career. Susan began volunteering with animal shelters as a teenager and later worked as both a kennel technician and adoptions counselor for the Humane Society of Boulder Valley and the Eagle County Humane Society, helping countless animals find loving homes.
Susan lives in Littleton with her husband, Billy, who is also an active Pepper’s volunteer, along with their two cats, Gnocchi and Tortellini, and their spirited terrier-mix, Stella. Outside of her volunteer work, Susan enjoys exploring Colorado on e-bikes, nature photography, and cheering on the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, and Denver Broncos. Her dedication to animal welfare, community service, and compassionate care makes her a valued member of the Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary Board of Directors.
Carrolyn Karrh
Dr. Karrh was born and raised in the deep south, living most of her life in Alabama and Georgia. She graduated from the University of Georgia Veterinary School in 2008, fulfilling a life-long dream of becoming a veterinarian. As veterinary medicine is a second career for her, Dr. Karrh’s previous profession was performing in music and theatre, receiving a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre from UGA in 1993. She moved to Nashville in the late 1990’s to make a career as a country music artist, however, while living in Tennessee, Dr. Karrh realized her highest aspiration was to be a veterinarian, so she left that occupation behind and answered her true calling, going back to school in her thirties to study veterinary medicine and graduating with her DVM at the age of 40.
She is a long-time pet owner/mom and has cared for dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, fish, reptiles and other small mammals, being particularly fond of senior pets and those with special needs. Outside of caring for animals, Dr. Karrh is also a Certified Personal Trainer and her favorite activities include spending time with friends, loving her adoring pets, live theatre (especially musicals), writing, golf, supporting animal welfare and rescue, as well as helping those less fortunate by volunteering for local low-cost spay/neuter programs and clinics. Dr. Karrh serves as President of the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine and also runs her own non-profit organization, Peace, Love & Paws, which has provided free veterinary care for pets of the homeless and indigent in Denver and the surrounding areas since 2013.
Mary Leprino
Mary Leprino is a versatile leader with professional experience spanning banking, franchising, and project management, and currently serves as Co-Founder of Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary. She brings a unique blend of financial expertise, operational leadership, and strategic planning to the organization’s mission of providing lifelong care and compassion for senior dogs.
At Pepper’s, Mary oversees strategic planning, partnerships, and daily operations, helping ensure every resident dog receives exceptional medical care, enrichment, comfort, and dignity throughout every stage of life. Her background in regulated industries and multi-unit operations has shaped a thoughtful, systems-driven approach to nonprofit leadership and organizational growth.
Mary is deeply committed to philanthropy, community engagement, and advancing the welfare of senior pets. As a proud mother of two adult children, she believes strongly in building compassionate programs that create meaningful and lasting impact for both animals and the people who care for them.
Phil Lipof
Phil Lipof is an Emmy and Murrow award winning journalist with 30 years of experience, telling stories across the country and the world. In September of 2025, Phil left ABC News in NYC and moved to Denver with his wife Juli. Phil now anchors at 9 News with Kim Kristiansen.
Over the couirs of his career, Phil has reported and anchored in New York City, Boston, Miami and Idaho Falls, covering among other major news stories, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy, the Boston Marathon bombing and the mass school shootings in Newtown and Uvalde.
Internationally, Phil traveled to the border of Ukraine to cover the catastrophic refugee crisis, telling the stories of the women and children desperately crossing to safety. He has filed reports from Germany, the West Bank and Israel as well.
Phil began in career in Idaho Falls and spent 10 years in Boston and Miami anchoring with his wife Juli. In Miami, Phil had several exclusive interviews with O.J. Simpson and proposed to Juli on-air!
While covering the lighter side of news, Phil has flown with the Canadian Air Force, jumped out of a plane with the Army’s Golden Knights, interviewed every living member of Led Zeppelin and played guitar — live on stage — with the band O.A.R.
Phil's passion for making a difference in his community has led to partnerships with a number of charitable organizations, including the Jimmy Fund, the Lupus Foundation of America, Gift of Life, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and ZERO - The End of Prostate Cancer. Phil is beyond excited to continue that work, and more, here in Colorado.
When he's not on air, Phil spends a lot of time working out and playing guitar. Phil and Juli love finding new trails to hike and running Spartan races. They have two children, Dylan and Daniella.
Brad Olsen
Brad Olsen and his wife, Nancy, are devoted lifelong dog lovers whose passion for rescue animals has shaped much of their lives together. Their journey began with their first rescue Pomeranian, Elliot, who quickly taught them the joy of unconditional love, companionship, and plenty of snuggles. Since welcoming Elliot into their family, Brad and Nancy have continued expanding their “pack,” opening their hearts and home to numerous rescue dogs, including senior dogs, dogs with medical needs, and abandoned puppy mill survivors.
Brad is a retired business lawyer who has been involved with Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary since its earliest days. He is deeply committed to the organization’s mission and values the opportunity to help create meaningful change for both animals and people alike. Brad takes great pride in being part of the Pepper’s family and supporting a community dedicated to giving senior dogs the love, dignity, and care they deserve throughout every stage of life.
Sally Jennifer Root
Sally Jennifer was born in Kansas City and raised on 100 acres in semi-rural Kansas, where a lifelong love of animals began among cows, horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, gerbils, and guinea pigs. That passion led her to volunteer in animal rescue beginning in her early 30s and continues today through her support of senior dogs and vulnerable animals. Sally also cares deeply about women’s causes, particularly helping women escape domestic violence situations. After earning a teaching degree and spending a year teaching high school English, speech, debate, and forensics, she joined her family’s dental laboratory business, where she worked for 25 years. In 2021, Sally made Colorado her home after first falling in love with the state during her freshman year at the University of Denver. Outside of her love for animals, she enjoys cheering on the Colorado Avalanche, art of all mediums, paddle boarding, cooking, traveling, and golf.
Betsy Wagner
Betsy Wagner is an entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and longtime animal rescue advocate whose work sits at the intersection of compassion, systems change, and hands-on service. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Stage5 Industries and Rogue Impact Foundation, and brings extensive nonprofit board and governance experience across community, education, civic, and philanthropic organizations, including prior service as Board Chair of the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, and current service as a member of the Ludeman Center for Women’s Health Research at UC Anschutz. Her professional background spans business building, sales, investing, nonprofit leadership, and philanthropic strategy, with a focus on backing people and organizations doing meaningful, under-supported work.
Betsy’s love for senior and vulnerable dogs is deeply personal and practical. In addition to her rescue work, she volunteers with a nonprofit in St. Louis, MO providing medical care to unhoused people in St. Louis, where she helps provide care and vaccines for the dogs of the non-profit's clients. She is honored to join Pepper’s Senior Dog Sanctuary in its mission to provide elderly dogs with a compassionate, loving, lifelong home through their good days, bad days, and last days.
Join Our Pack
Interested in making a career out of your love for senior dogs? We are always looking for great additions to the team. Reach out with your resume today!