Meet The Team

volunteer board member

full time employee

Dani is a lifelong advocate for the most vulnerable animals in our community, with over a decade of hands-on experience in rescue. Her journey began through volunteer work at municipal shelters and nonprofit organizations, where she discovered her true calling: to save lives and be a voice for the voiceless. Driven by that passion, Dani founded The Runaways Animal Rescue in 2020, building the organization from the ground up during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under her leadership and unwavering commitment to the rescue’s mission, The Runaways has saved over 4,000 animals and become a vital resource for both animals and people in the region. Dani established strong partnerships with multiple county shelters and rescue groups, expanding access to services that the community desperately needed. Her background in business management and organizational leadership—paired with a minor in biology—provided her with the skills to grow a grassroots effort into a thriving 7,000-square-foot facility.

Through strategic networking, community outreach, and tireless fundraising efforts, Dani has raised over $1 million to support the rescue’s programs. Her vision, compassion, and leadership continue to shape The Runaways into a powerful force for good, delivering second chances to animals and hope to the communities they come from.

Volunteer board member

part time employee

Alyssa has been a passionate advocate in animal rescue for over 12 years, with hands-on experience caring for dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, and other small mammals. As a founding board member of The Runaways Animal Rescue, she has played an integral role in shaping the organization since its inception in 2020. From day one, Alyssa has been actively involved in every aspect of the rescue’s growth and success.

Widely regarded as our in-house expert on chickens and small mammals, Alyssa has not only provided critical care for countless animals but has also contributed her knowledge to writing and developing training manuals and standard operating procedures that guide our daily operations. Her strong background in running a successful small business has been a tremendous asset to the organization, especially when she stepped into the role of Office Manager. In this position, she has streamlined administrative processes, improved donor retention, and helped lay the foundation for long-term sustainability.

Alyssa’s commitment to rescuing animals in need is matched by her dedication to education and advocacy. She works tirelessly to raise awareness about animal abuse and exploitation, using her voice to promote compassion and change. Her leadership and heart continue to make a profound impact on the lives of animals and the mission of The Runaways.

Volunteer board member

volunteer employee

Genesah is a founding board member of The Runaways Animal Rescue and has been instrumental in building and guiding the organization since its inception in 2020. While her background isn’t rooted in animal welfare, she brought a wealth of experience in operations, finance, and leadership to the table—quickly becoming the backbone of the rescue’s business and marketing functions.

A true jack of all trades, Genesah was critical in establishing The Runaways’ online presence during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when digital outreach was the only way to connect with supporters. She built the organization’s website, launched and managed its social media platforms, and developed the systems for virtual donor engagement. Beyond communications, she also took on the vital responsibilities of managing the rescue’s financials, insurance, payroll, and branding—ensuring the organization ran smoothly behind the scenes.

Prior to her work in animal rescue, Genesah proudly served in the United States Navy, where she led quality assurance operations and implemented inventory systems that maintained 100% accountability for $8.5 million in assets. After her military service, she built a successful career in aviation, holding high-level roles such as Operations Manager, Senior Director, and Chief Pilot. She now serves as an Airline Pilot for a major commercial carrier.

With her extensive experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets and leading complex teams, Genesah brings strategic insight and operational strength to The Runaways in her role as Chief Financial Officer. Her leadership continues to be a cornerstone of the rescue’s growth, stability, and impact.

volunteer board member

volunteer employee

Erica has been an essential part of The Runaways Animal Rescue since 2021. What began as a visit to learn more about the organization quickly turned into a deep and lasting commitment to our mission. A lifelong animal lover with experience volunteering at various rescues in Florida and New York, Erica’s passion and alignment with our values made her a natural fit—and a vital member of our team.

In her time with The Runaways, Erica has worn many hats: foster, donor, event volunteer, and most recently, board member. Since joining the board, she has led our grants and partnerships division with outstanding success, increasing our donations intake by 20% in her first year alone. Her dedication goes far beyond fundraising—she provides invaluable support to both the animals and the leadership team, helping to strengthen the foundation of our organization.

Outside of rescue work, Erica brings 29 years of experience in the healthcare industry, offering a unique perspective and strong organizational skills to her role. At home, she shares her life with three beloved fur babies—Buddy, Sukhi, and Pumpkin—as well as one very special Runaways foster, Papa Elf. Erica’s heart for animals and her unwavering commitment to our cause continue to make a lasting impact on our rescue and the community we serve.

volunteer board member

Dr. Banks was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. After completing his college education, he ventured west to begin his veterinary career working with large animals in Montana. Two years later, he relocated to Brandon, Florida, where he completed a rigorous internship in equine medicine and surgery. During this time, he discovered a growing passion for small animal medicine—particularly in surgery—leading him to shift his focus.

Since then, Dr. Banks has developed a broad range of professional interests, including surgery, endocrinology, and oncology. In 2022, he became involved with Runaways Animal Rescue and quickly became an integral part of the team. He joined the board shortly after and now provides ongoing guidance on animal care and emergency surgeries. His expertise has had a profound impact on the welfare of the animals, especially those with special needs, where his insight has been invaluable.

Outside of his veterinary work, Dr. Banks cherishes time with his wife, Sasha, and their two daughters, Charlotte and Emmylou. When he’s not in the clinic or volunteering, you can often find him on the water, enjoying a peaceful day of fishing.

volunteer board member

Meet Dug, the rebellious soul with a heart for felines. At 39, this cat aficionado doesn't just rock four cats at home; he owns Felinious, a fierce apparel brand defying cat clichés. With designs blending punk and retro vibes, he storms music festivals, punk rock fleas, and cat conventions around the US, unleashing unique creations.  Beyond the threads, Dug is a punk with purpose, fostering over 60 kittens and focusing on adventure training kittens when possible. As a board member of Runaways, Dug brings a love for cats, an impeccable eye for branding, and little bit of edge, challenging norms of what people expect from cats and saving lives with style.

volunteer board member

Madai's was taught from a young age to have a deep compassion for animals. Alongside her parents, she participated in the rescue of various animals, ranging from raccoons and birds to dogs and cats in critical situations. Into her adult life, she continued volunteering her time at local animal shelters and wildlife rehabilitation centers. Believing in the importance of advocating for those without a voice, Madai focuses on generating creative ideas to support the mission's funding. She aims to raise awareness about the significance of adoption over purchasing pets and holds a special place in her heart for senior animals.

volunteer board member

My wife shirley and I moved into Citrus County 18 years ago after retirement from the medical field where I worked as a Safety and Health Manager for the State of NY Power Authority. Following a few years, I decided to follow Shirley’s lead and volunteer at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park working with the birds of prey and shorebirds. Over several years at the wildlife park, I logged well over 20,000 volunteer hours. During my tenure at the Park, I joined the Board of Directors and served 5 years as President. Wanting to increase our knowledge of Florida wildlife, Shirley and I decided to complete the University of Florida’s Master Naturalist program. With our additional knowledge we decided to volunteer with Nature World Wildlife Rescue doing as the title says... rescuing (and rehabbing) wild animals. During my time with both organizations I began fundraising for them. That venture resulted in raising enough money to purchase a new rehab center for Nature World and raise over 3 million for the“Friends of the Homosassa Wildlife Park”.

Full time employee

After retiring from the United States Army in 2014, Larissa decided to follow her other passion in life, animal rescue. She has worked with a wide variety of animals from cats, dogs, raccoons, birds of prey, and other wildlife. In 2017, Larissa helped with relief efforts in Puerto Rico after hurricanes Marie and Irma. There she assisted with the rescue of 170 cats and dogs.

Contractor

After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a degree in neuroscience, she completed her veterinary degree at Cornell University, finishing at the top of her class and cementing her desire to pursue a career in shelter medicine. Dr. Emerson worked for multiple non-profit organizations in and around New York City, including the ASPCA, before the cold winters drove her back to her roots in the Tampa Bay area. Since returning home, Dr. Emerson has continued to work with numerous local shelters and animal rescue groups, and she is determined to provide affordable high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter surgeries and medical care to as many animals as possible. Outside the clinic, Dr. Emerson can be found riding one of her two horses, or spending time on the water with her husband, Matt. They currently share their home with 1 dog and 5 cats.

Contractor

When Miko was a kid She always knew she wanted to work with Animals. When she started vet med she decided becoming a veterinary technician was more of her passion and has been in vet med for 5 years now. she spends her free time at Disney and being a certified crazy cat lady having 8 cats herself. she loves working with all types of cats… the spicier the better. she was born and raised in Florida with 2 years of her life being spent in California where she worked at a cat only practice. Vet med is her passion and loves being able to help animals everyday.

part time employee

Volunteer Position

I have been in banking 20 years and always love volunteering for different things in my community. My husband and I saw Runaways back when you were still renovating , while we were riding around on Our golf cart - I came by one day in 2021and signed up to volunteer and just fell in love with it. I started by doing dog care once a week and now I volunteer as much as my free time will allow.

Contractor

Emily has always had a passion for animals and the environment. She moved to Florida in 2010 to pursue a degree in Marine Science which sparked her interest in animal care and conservation. In 2014, she transitioned into the animal welfare field, working in high-volume spay neuter clinics and eventually exploring various sectors of veterinary medicine to expand her knowledge and skills. Her true passion lies in nonprofit work where she is able to combine her dedication to animal welfare with her desire to make a lasting, positive impact on communities and animals in need.

Volunteer position

Linda has worked with various rescues throughout Florida for 30 years. Her love of animals comes from her mom who always allowed the kids to bring home strays. As a mom herself, she has brought home over 50 animals for her kids to foster. She believes fostering teaches empathy, humanity, responsibility, and reminds us all how important it is to take time to play. She joined Runaways in 2021.

Board of Directors

If you are interested in joining our board please email runawaysanimalrescue@gmail.com