Board of Directors and Staff
Ann Chasson, President
Ann has many years of experience in managing software development projects including stints at Oracle Corporation and small startup companies. In 2002 she co-founded a systems biology consulting firm and continues to work there as President and CEO.
In 2015, Ann founded Karma Cat Rescue. That same year she and her friend Mary Rubin opened The Dancing Cat.
Ann’s love of cats began in childhood with her parents’ first cat, Kitty Girl, and extends to the present as she shares her home with her husband Rob Phair, and rescue cats Coco and Prowler.
Robert Phair, Vice President
Robert is a scientist, an engineer, and a philosopher. He joined this Board to help solve problems, and particularly to ensure that we care for the people of Karma Cat Rescue/The Dancing Cat as well as we care for the cats who grace our lives.
Mary Rubin, Director
With a background in architecture and real estate development, Mary has worked as a project manager in the field of Public Art for many years. Among her major local projects are the San Jose Airport Art Program, San Jose City Hall, and the MLK Library. She also co-managed production of the Fundred Project, mobilizing a national community to support an end to childhood lead poisoning.
In 2014 she discovered her love of cats. As luck would have it, she met her neighbor Ann Chasson and shortly after they co-founded The Dancing Cat. Whether dog, cat, pig, cow or sheep, Mary is committed to supporting the well-being of all sentient beings.
Mary Hoover, Director
Mary has over 30 years experience in the high tech world – and experienced the transformation from punch cards to phones having more power than the first computer she fed cards into. She has always lived with cats – when she was two the resident house cat had kittens, and she named him “Mao”. He was the first of a series of cats she grew up with
Every morning finds her in the yoga studio practicing Mysore style of yoga, which helps keep her centered and focused.
Mary began volunteering for the Dancing Cat in 2016. In her role of Cat Curator she ensures that there is a balance of ages, sexes and colors. She shares her home with her two cats Pixel and Minx.
Marilyn Smith, Treasurer
Marilyn has 25+ years experience in financial record keeping for non-profit and for-profit businesses. 10+ at Stanford in research administration, the School of Earth Sciences, and the controller's office. She was treasurer at her church for 9 years. And, was "CFO" for 7+ years at her family's garage go-ped business with $100,000+ annual sales.
In retirement, she hoped to volunteer her financial services to small non-profits. That dream was elusive due to physical and energy limitations from worsening Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. She is thrilled that the dream is coming true with the Dancing Cat
Although she loves dogs slightly more than cats, she believes that all God's creatures -- human and animal -- should be treated with love and care.
Alyson Falwell, Secretary
Alyson became owned by her first cat at age 4 and since that time has had a steady stream of felines in her home and in her heart. Alyson first came to The Dancing Cat as an adopter in 2017 and stayed on to volunteer in a variety of roles.
She has a masters degree in public health from the University of Washington and spends her days managing the research operations at Stanford Children’s Health. She is passionate about helping members of the community, especially children, learn about cats and experience the joys of cat companionship. She lives with her husband David and cats Moose and Toro (a Dancing Cat alum!)
Christine Hernandez, Operations Assistant
Christine started her cat career in 2010 at the San Jose Animal Shelter, socializing special needs, anxious, and shy cats & kittens. Feeling she needed to do more to help prevent so many cats from entering the shelter, she immersed herself in Trap/Neuter/Release (TNR). To date, Christine has helped make sure that over 800 cats will not have unwanted, overpopulating litters of kittens through her trapping efforts. In addition to her TNR work, Christine cares for many community cat colonies.
Taise Godinho, Adoption Counselor
Taise is a cat mom who came all the way from Brazil with her beloved ginger cat Fry in 2023.
For over a decade, Taise taught English as a Second Language, at the same time dedicating her free time to rescuing and caring for cats and dogs. Her love for animals started as she grew up surrounded by farm animals and loving pets.
With a background in linguistics and a love for learning new languages, Taise extends her gift of communication to our feline friends, making their voices heard through empathetic care. Beyond her role as a cat mom, she also has experience in making connections between rescued cats and families looking to adopt.
Having personally rescued over 20 cats, she stands as a dedicated advocate for feline welfare, both here in Silicon Valley and in her home country of Brazil.
Anastasia Peterson, Cat Lounge Guest Manager
Although Anastasia's career with animals did not begin until 2014, Anastasia has been caring for the community cats in her neighborhood, including doing TNR, since her childhood. Over the years, she also found herself independently rescuing and rehabilitating reptiles and rodents who were brought into the aquarium where she worked. Having a special love for cats led to her fostering with several local rescue organizations, eventually dedicating herself to rescue as part of the Saint Francis Animal Protection Society, and now The Dancing Cat team!
Chrissy Anderson-Goldberg, Community outreach manager
Chrissy is a graduate of The University of Chicago and Boston University, where she studied philosophy. She started her animal welfare career volunteering at shelters and rescues in Seattle and pet sitting in New England in the early 2000’s. Chrissy is the Community Outreach Manager for The Dancing Cat, as well as post-adoption counselor, foster coordinator, foster, fospice, and occasional foster fail. Chrissy has a certificate in Animal Shelter Management from the University of the Pacific, has been a horse guardian for over 20 years, and loves to help cats and humans share space, bond, and thrive.
Casey Stenblom, Vet Services Manager
Casey graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor's in Political Science and a minor in Geology. She is also a graduate of Cat Tales Wildlife Center Professional Zookeeper Program where she then spent time as a Lead Keeper before moving back to California to be closer to family. Once back in San Jose she took a job at MedVet Mountain View starting as a patient services representative and moving up to Internal Medicine Coordinator.
Casey has lived with cats her entire life and has a passion for all animals big or small.
Lauren Slayton, Consultant
Lauren is a graduate of The University of Arizona, where she studied history and sociology. After college she pursued a career in corporate finance, working in both San Francisco and Chicago, before deciding she wanted to explore more personal projects. She has loved cats all of her life and appreciates their individuality, spirit and teeny tiny paws. Lauren is consulting on fundraising and social media for The Dancing Cat.