Tamara has been the Executive Director of Beautiful Together since co-founding it in 2014. An advocate for children waiting for families, she saw the extraordinary connection between children and animals through years of tangible project work in Ethiopia and the United States. She envisioned the Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary as a bridge between these worlds, linking two vulnerable populations to benefit the other in a naturally therapeutic way. Finding land, creating partnerships, building a passionate team of like-minded advocates, and witnessing thousands of heartwarming outcomes all affirmed this decision.

Tamara is also a professional photographer, Nikon Ambassador and previous show host for PBS NC Chasing Frames. She has delivered presentations at Google, Disney, Harvard Law School and more, speaking on the power of photography and storytelling to affect real change. Her business background includes a career in management consulting with Accenture, focused on organizational design and development, and founding an executive recruiting startup in Silicon Valley that connected executive and development talent with VC firms focused in the technology space.

She and her husband, Steve, also own Coco Bistro & Bar, a plant-based restaurant in Chapel Hill partnered with Beautiful Together. They, their children, and their many pets are excited for the continued growth of this sanctuary – and all the hope it represents.

Steve is the co-founder of Beautiful Together, and he has been working on related non-profit projects and funds since 2014. As a long-time animal rescue advocate, he often finds himself surrounded by a number of foster pets on a day-to-day basis, whether he actually knows they are in his house or not! Steve is responsible for helping to realize the on-the-ground vision of the animal sanctuary. He oversees development and coordination with all general and subcontractors, managing communication with builders and fielding county requirements. His efforts include ensuring compliance with all permitting requirements and overseeing and participating in the build-out of all infrastructure across the property. Steve is also focused on data strategy management and reporting for Beautiful Together. His background includes magazine publishing and race events production for Endurance Productions, a company he founded that built a portfolio of road races and triathlons that he has since sold. Previous experience includes a career in IT management consulting at Accenture and managing e-commerce projects for Cambridge Technology Partners. He and his wife, Tamara, also own Coco Bistro & Bar, a plant-based restaurant in Chapel Hill that is partnered with Beautiful Together. They and their family live in Chapel Hill and love to run their dogs on the sanctuary property as much as possible. Both pups rate all 83 acres a 10 out of 10.

Caitlin brings a lifelong love of animals, a sharp eye for organization, and nearly two decades of experience in operations and client service to her role as Operations Manager at Beautiful Together. From bottle-feeding her first rescue puppy at age 12 to hand-feeding an injured deer who still visits three years later, Caitlin’s compassion and care for animals runs deep, now inspiring her own children who proudly rescue sidewalk bugs and pet every dog they meet on their walk to school.

Caitlin’s professional background spans both the entertainment and wellness industries. She spent nearly a decade at United Talent Agency in Los Angeles, where she rose from assistant to talent agent, managing music and comedy tours for clients including Jerry Seinfeld, Celine Dion, and Hall & Oates. She later transitioned into the wellness world, managing and teaching at a Beverly Hills pilates studio before continuing as a classically trained instructor here in North Carolina. Whether coordinating global tours or supporting recovery through movement, Caitlin has built her career on thoughtful communication, meticulous attention to detail, and putting people—and animals—first.

At Beautiful Together, Caitlin oversees sanctuary operations, rescue dog adoptions, and administrative systems with the same precision and heart that have defined her career. She has hopes to spearhead a national animal transport network within Beautiful Together, is a passionate advocate for connection and community, and she believes deeply in the sanctuary’s power to heal and inspire.

Caitlin lives in Chapel Hill with her husband, two children, and senior rescue dog, Parker. Her happy place is a lakeside cottage on Ontario’s Rideau Lakes, surrounded by family, wildlife, and quiet joy.

Raised by caring parents who nurtured his love for animals, Scott grew up surrounded by a variety of pets, including guinea pigs, hamsters, lizards, turtles, birds, dogs, cats, snakes, fish, rats, and even insects. Born in the Bay Area, Scott moved to Chapel Hill in 2017 while working as an attorney for a medical device company.

When Scott retired, he searched for a cause that would allow him to invest in his passion for animals and improving the conditions in which they live. He also wanted to continue his efforts to improve the lives of people facing health issues and leverage the skills he developed as a coach, teacher, and father of four. Beautiful Together’s commitment to changing the way animal rescue is conducted, building partnerships within the community, and connecting vulnerable communities of kids and animals convinced Scott that its 83-acre sanctuary was where he wanted to invest his time.

 

As an attorney, Scott spent more than 30 years working as a legal and health care executive, providing legal advice across a variety of global business functions for public and privately owned companies. His areas of expertise include public affairs, investor relations, litigation, intellectual property, employment law, corporate compliance, corporate governance, data privacy, and contract negotiations. Scott’s ability to convey strategic vision, navigate complex political and regulatory environments, elevate patient care standards, and enhance shareholder value will help drive the growth and future success of Beautiful Together.

 

Scott lives in Chapel Hill with his wife Sally and their French bulldog Lucy. They have a passion for family, sports, theater, and their lake house in Michigan. Their three adult sons and daughter are frequently home, but never enough.

Kate is the Social Media & Marketing Coordinator at Beautiful Together.

Lauren Brooks is our Veterinarian Technician at Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary.

Leslie has spent the last twenty years in a variety of youth counseling and advocacy roles. A long-time supporter of UNC Athletics, her background also includes mentoring a number of college athletes over the years, as well. Leslie is a passionate volunteer and advocate for the Hargraves Community Center in Chapel Hill, and she understands the challenges children in our community face as it relates to an inequity of opportunities. She is excited to help build out and lead this major part of The Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary as its Director of Youth Programming. Leslie lives in Chapel Hill with her husband and their family, which includes three teenagers, two chickens, three dogs, and a myriad of basketball hoops.

A lifelong animal lover, Shay Christenson rescued her first kitten the summer she was 8 years old. Although she was never allowed to bring them inside, within a few years she was supporting a small colony of outdoor cats, and spent countless hours socializing them, even trapping the cats when they needed medical attention. 

Living in front of a large patch of woods, Shay grew up catching turtles, snakes, and other small animals to keep for a few days before releasing them back into the wild, inspired by the greatest show ever filmed, Crocodile Hunter. Her first foray into bottle feeding was with an orphaned baby groundhog who eventually made his burrow underneath the back porch and came for visits (and carrots) for years. As an active 4-H member for 15 years, Shay studied environmental science, competing in wildlife habitat evaluation and the Envirothon, and spent summers first attending, then volunteering at camps held at a Nature Conservancy. While majoring in Asian Studies in college, Shay may have gotten in trouble (oops) for rescuing cats in her dorm room, and planned numerous fundraising events for the local animal shelter.

Shay lived and worked in Japan for several years after graduating, both as a teacher and in hotel guest services. She brings the people skills and passion for education honed in those positions to her role at Beautiful Together. Since returning to the states, Shay has worked primarily in digital marketing and data analysis, while fostering numerous litters of kittens in her free time. When moving and home renovation projects made that more difficult, she started volunteering in-person and online with Beautiful Together, and quickly became more and more involved in cat rescue operations. 

Now, Shay applies her tech skills to help the four and two-legged members of our community as the Communications and Cat Rescue Coordinator. Working for Beautiful Together feels like both a return to her core passions and an exciting opportunity for personal growth while making a meaningful difference. She lives in Chapel Hill with her husband, two perfect cats, and a human baby coming soon! 

 

Polly has always had a deep caring for animals, not only because of their underestimated intelligence and capacity for love, but because these innocent creatures cannot control their own destiny.  She used to spend hours saving bees from the pool as a child, or trying to save injured birds.  There was always a family pet growing up, but she had her own little cadre of hamsters, turtles, and fish as well!

 

Polly is a retired oculoplastic surgeon, who trained at Manhattan Eye and Ear, and spent her 25-year career at Virginia Eye Institute in Richmond, VA.  After traveling around for a few years, she and her beloved partner of 25 years have settled happily in Chapel Hill, along with their four adorable kitties.

 

She has become increasingly concerned with the plight of domesticated, farm, and “wild” animals, as well as the effect of climate change on this miraculous earth.  She adopted a vegan diet in 2023 for ethical reasons, and was shocked to see how much better she felt.  If only everyone knew!  She has always supported nonprofits focused on animals and the environment, but when she discovered Beautiful Together, whose mission completely reflects her deepest values and concerns, she joined this amazing team, and feels gratified by the caring of all involved, and the inspired leadership of Tamara and Steve.

Christy’s excitement to tell Beautiful Together’s story, coupled with her desire to bring everyone to the party, makes it the perfect place for her to volunteer her time. She brings diverse work experience to her role at the sanctuary, having been a lifelong actor and singer, a staff volunteer recruiter for a non-profit called Feed More, and a teacher of English and acting at The New Community School in Richmond, Virginia.

After a period of gallivanting, Christy and her partner, Polly, settled in Chapel HIll with their four furry kids, whipping up plant-based recipes and playing music together. 

Christy can’t remember ever being without a cat companion. Through efforts with TNR in her own neighborhood, she saw firsthand the transformative power of love and trust, now having lap cats that are former feral. Being able to help further the mission of Beautiful Together, along with its gentle creatures (both two and four-legged), is a welcome and wonderful next chapter.

Angela has been a supporter of Beautiful Together since its inception and joined officially to run the International division of our Youth Programming. Angela works directly with the young men in our Ethiopian transitional housing program, guiding them as they grow and mature personally, as well as mentoring them in their support of Kidane Mehret Children’s Home. With six children of her own, this position is a natural fit for Angela. She is passionate about children without traditional families, and recognizes the importance for kids of all ages to have consistent love and support as they grow and find their way in this sometimes unfair world. Angela grew up in eastern North Carolina and completed pharmacy school at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2000. She lives in Chapel Hill with her husband, Clint, and their children. They have one daughter and five sons – the youngest two are twins adopted from Ethiopia. The family has two dogs (one adopted through Beautiful Together) and a cat, and they enjoy fostering puppies for Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary.

Anaiyah is a UNC student with a heart for animals and a passion for making a difference. Whether she’s studying on campus or supporting rescue work, she believes every animal deserves safety, care, and a forever home.

 

Driven, compassionate, and grounded in purpose, she works to create a better future for pets and people alike.

Abi is an Animal Care Coordinator with Beautiful Together.

Hagan Connell is an Animal Care Coordinator at Beautiful Together.

Lauren is the Welcome Center & Community Enrichment Manager at Beautiful Together.

Martez is an Animal Care Coordinator at Beautiful Together.

Grace is an Animal Care Coordinator at Beautiful Together.