Leadership | Standish Humane

Board of Directors and Staff

President/ Executive Board Member

Joyce Keyes

Joyce is a volunteer member of the Executive Board of Directors serving in the position of President of Standish Humane Society. She has been a foster parent for over 30 years specializing in pregnant feral cats and the socialization of feral kittens. Joyce is a volunteer Adoption Matchmaker, oversees the maintenance of Holmes House, oversees all foster homes within our network, works with families for home-to-home adoption, is a Shift Supervisor, heads up the entire trapping team and also works with families as a Post Adoption Behaviorist.

Joyce recently retired from her position as a Medical Operations Director which she held for over 35 years with Johnson and Johnson Orthopedics.

Vice President/ Executive Board Member

Karen O'Connell

Karen is a volunteer member of the Executive Board of Directors serving in the position of Vice President of Standish Humane Society. She joined Standish in 2021 as weekly volunteer. She became a member of the Board in 2023. Karen manages the technical support for Standish. Karen is deeply devoted to caring for the cats at the shelter. She enjoys the socialization of shy, hesitant cats and kittens. She is committed to help protect and improve the lives of both feral and stray cats and kittens.

Karen has been teaching middle school art for 25 years. She lives with her husband and two cats that she adopted from Standish.

Clerk/Executive Board Member

Donna Nikalson

Donna is a volunteer member of the Executive Board of Directors serving in the position of Clerk. She a Standish adopter recently adopting her seventh Standish cat. Donna initially joined Standish as a morning volunteer in 2018. Knowing she had more to offer the organization, she added Volunteer Coordinator, Shift Supervisor and Spay Waggin’ coordinator to her Standish responsibilities. Additionally, she is part of the fundraising committee.

Donna retired in 2018 from the manufacturing/financial services industries. Besides her love of animals, she is an avid boater and golfer.

Treasurer/ Executive Board Member

Kathleen Bergeron

Kathy is a volunteer member of the Executive Board of Directors serving in the position of Treasurer since 2008. She has been a volunteer at Standish for over 20 years. Kathy started as a weekly volunteer cleaning cages and shelter floors. As her children grew and left the nest, she took on more responsibilities in the office and now oversees the accounting for Standish Humane Society as well as other financial duties. Kathy is a long-time foster home volunteer and serves on the fundraising committee as well.

Kathy is a retired accountant having spent 27 years working at a CPA office.

Board Member

Sue Moulton

Sue, a volunteer member of the Board of Directors, has been involved in cat rescue since the early 1990’s. She joined Standish Humane Society in 2019. Her volunteer efforts focus on feral cats. Sue has partnered with many homeowners trapping feral and stray cats and kittens. Sue has fostered well over 100 kittens and cats. Her foster room is often the first stop for the spiciest kittens. Sue looks for opportunities to educate people about outdoor cats, the importance of vetting them and resources available to improve the lives of these cats.

Sue has lived in Plymouth since 2001 and currently works in the vet med field. She enjoys the beach, reading and spending time with her resident kitties.

Board Member

Christine Fitzgerald

Christine, a volunteer member of the Board of Directors, adopted her cat from Standish 10 years ago and began volunteering shortly afterwards. Christine helps with the morning and night shifts, socializing, fundraising, and runs the Standish Petco table.

Christine lives in Marshfield with her cat Cody and dog Andy. She is a 3rd grade teacher and enjoys playing golf, going to the beach, hiking and cooking.

Board Member

Shannon Godden

Shannon, a volunteer member of the Board of Directors, began fostering cats and kittens for Standish in 2018. Shannon’s goal is to always have foster kittens in her home and the more the merrier! Shannon also coordinates vaccinations and spay and neuter surgery appointments for all Standish fosters.

Shannon lives in Plymouth with her husband, two dogs and their single foster fail cat- Wyman. She works in finance for the Duxbury Beach Reservation and loves to read, float and travel as much as possible.

Shelter Manager

Melissa Lasko

Melissa is a Certified Veterinary Technician with years of extensive medical training in both a classroom and a veterinarian's office. She works side by side with our veterinarians to deliver the best care to the animals entrusted to Standish Humane Society.

Animal Care/ Shift Supervisor

Melinda Mackin

Melinda, a long-time Duxbury resident, joinedStandish in 2019 as a morning volunteer. As an animal lover, Melinda saw volunteering as a segue into a career working with animals. She was quickly convinced she had found her niche in life, and in 2021 transitioned to Morning Shift Supervisor. Melinda’s responsibilities include overseeing shelter volunteers, making sure proper cleaning protocols are followed, monitoring the health and well-being of the cats, advising the shelter director of any cats needing medical attention and administering medications as needed.

Melinda worked in the health care industry before joining Standish to follow her passion of working with animals.