President, Board Member

Myranda has been working in the accounting field for 20 years and working for Itasca County for 17. She works closely with the shelters Treasurer on reporting aspects of the business. She has loved animals her whole life and begged her parents daily for dogs, cats, birds and farm animals. When she and her husband built their home, she knew she wanted a hobby farm. She has been asked to take in many animals throughout the years. She has raised baby goats and lambs in the house and loved every second of it. She also has rabbits, chickens and a beloved goose, Zeus. She has 4 mini dachshunds, 2 yellow labs and a cat She became a volunteer at GTAR to give back to the animals that bring so much love and joy to people. She will do all she can to help these sweet souls to find their forever homes.

Vice President, Board Member

By day, Angie serves as the Coaching Director for Wisdo Health, where she manages a team of health coaches who support people through their wellness journeys. By night, and every moment in between, she is deeply dedicated to the mission of Great Tails Animal Rescue. To help the community get to know her a little better, Angie shared a round of Two Truths and a Lie. Can you spot the “tail” that is not true?

Angie has been around animals her entire life, from cats and dogs to a turtle and even birds.

She is a maker at heart and recently picked up painting and is teaching herself how to play the piano.

She has lived in Minnesota longer than any other state.

The Big Reveal: If you guessed Statement 3, you are right. While Angie loves calling Minnesota home, she has only lived there since 2009. Her passion for the local animal community, however, is completely genuine.

Angie is excited to bring her coaching background and lifelong love of animals to Great Tails Animal Rescue. She is currently building a Foster Coordination Team and welcomes anyone interested in supporting this work to apply to become a foster.

Treasurer, Board Member

Kelsey grew up surrounded by animals, from cats and dogs to birds and the occasional reptile, which sparked a lifelong passion for animal welfare. She volunteered for several years at an animal shelter in Fargo, North Dakota, where her own fur family began to grow. Today, she is the proud mom of two lovable mutts and two mischievous black cats. With nearly 10 years of banking experience, Kelsey serves as treasurer and is committed to supporting Great Tails’ mission through thoughtful financial stewardship and care.

Secretary, Board Member

Tracy has always had a deep love for dogs, and after decades of rescue work in Charlotte, North Carolina, that passion only grew stronger. When she returned to northern Minnesota, she felt an immediate connection with Great Tails and its mission. She’s here not only to support the animals (both the cats and dogs who bring so much joy to our lives) but also to help people connect with pets to build their forever families!

Board Member, Co-Founder

Shannon comes from a family of animal lovers, and animal rescue was something she grew up with. Her late mother volunteered and fostered for Heartland Animal Rescue Team (Brainerd). Shannon’s background is in administrative and budgetary support for private and government entities. She has volunteered and fostered for other local animal shelters and served as secretary for the Deer River Chamber of Commerce. Her hope is that Great Tails will be a community resource for providing care, training and adoption of domestic animals. She believes animal advocacy is not just about supporting animals but also their owners. When she’s not busy with Great Tails she enjoys fishing and taking trips with her husband and two sons, and taking care of their own animals: 3 dogs and 4 cats.

Board Member

Leah brings a lifelong appreciation for animals to her role on the Great Tails Animal Rescue board. Serving on the board allows her to give back to her community while supporting the organization’s mission of providing temporary shelter, veterinary care, and loving permanent homes for animals in Itasca County and the surrounding areas. Through her service, Leah is proud to help ensure stray, abandoned, and surrendered animals receive the care and compassion they deserve.

Board Member

David Piehl Marquardt is a life-long supporter of animals and animal rescue, having started (many years ago) in high school by rescuing unwanted farm litters of kittens as well as numerous strays and Animal Control residents before they were euthanized. 

David has an MBA and over 25 years of experience in supply chain which includes logistics, planning, and inventory control from companies like Pillsbury, Schwans, and Unilever.  David also has dozens of years of experience as a volunteer board member for other boards and is currently also part of the Grand Rapids City Planning Commission.  In his role as board member for Great Tails, David looks forward to assisting in numerous capacities and supporting other volunteers in our shared mission to help as many animals as possible find their forever homes.

Board Member

Hannah is originally from Minnesota’s Iron Range, where growing up with a dog was always part of life. That lifelong love of animals led her to adopt two rescue dogs during and shortly after graduating college. She brings more than a decade of experience working in social media strategy, with a background in marketing and community engagement. Hannah is also a former Rotary Club member in Elko, Nevada, and Cloquet, Minnesota, where she helped organize volunteer activities and fundraising efforts in support of local causes.

She looks forward to helping animals in need and supporting Great Tails as a community resource for care, compassion, and advocacy. Hannah lives in Grand Rapids with her husband and their three dogs. In her free time, she enjoys cozying up with her chihuahuas, roughhousing with her golden retriever, and spending quiet time at home with her family.