Friends of the Shelter Trustees and Officers
Janet Hawk
Director/Trustee
Janet is the Friends of the Shelter’s director. She has been a volunteer with the Franklin County Dog Shelter since 2008 and a volunteer with Friends of the Shelter since 2009. She began volunteering with the Shelter after she and her husband, Mickey, adopted Rex, who was both a Shelter and a Friends of the Shelter alumnus. Rex was helped by Friends of the Shelter after arriving at the Shelter suffering from pneumonia.
Janet holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Business Administration from Franklin University. She is director of market research and sales programs for an international non-profit organization serving libraries.
Today, Janet and her husband, Mickey, have two dogs—Parker adopted from Colony Cats & Dogs Rescue and Baxter adopted from Citizens for Humane Action (CHA)—and a rescued cat, Tobey.
Contact Janet at [email protected] with any general questions about Friends of the Shelter.
Kirsten Levisay
Treasurer/Trustee
As treasurer, Kirsten manages the Friends of the Shelter finances, tracks donations and prepares financial reports for the organization. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Miami University and a Masters in Business Administration from Washington University. Kirsten serves as internal audit manager for a large local retailer.
She and her husband, Joe, have three rescue Labradors, one of which was adopted from the Franklin County Dog Shelter. Kirsten, who was previously a Franklin County Dog Shelter volunteer, has been a Friends of the Shelter volunteer since 2007.
Contact Kirsten at [email protected] with any financial questions.
Cheryl Mandell
Donations Coordinator/Trustee
Cheryl began volunteering at the Franklin County Dog Shelter in 2004. She continues to spend time working with The Shy Dog program and other Shelter volunteer opportunities. She became involved with Friends of the Shelter in 2011, working with donations, fundraising and in the Friends of the Shelter Shop, located in the lobby of the Franklin County Dog Shelter. She became a trustee in 2012.
Cheryl holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University. She taught Special Education in the Columbus City School system and is now retired.
Cheryl and her husband, Ernie, have a son named Paul, two dogs, Peanut and Stella. Both girls are rescue pups.
Contact Cheryl at [email protected] with donation offers and to learn more about volunteering in the Friends of the Shelter Shop.
Phyllis Stewart
Volunteer Coordinator/Trustee
Phyllis began volunteering at the Franklin County Dog Shelter 8 years ago following the adoption of her first shelter dog, Sassy. She has helped at the shelter with customer service, dog walking, adoption counseling, working in the Shy Dog Program, fostering dogs and has been a Special Events representative. She became involved with the Friends of the Shelter in 2012 upon the opening of the FOTS Store in the new shelter. Phyllis became a Friends trustee in 2015.
Phyllis is a Client Services Specialist for Progressive Medical in Westerville providing necessary medical equipment to the retirees of the United Mine Workers of America.
Phyllis and her husband, Michael, have two children who have recently set out on their own. They decided to fill their extra time and space by permanently adopting their foster puppy, Sydney. Sassy is now a big sister!