Alan Salter
President
Founder and Principal | Caravel International Partners
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Alan Salter has served as Board President of Paws & Claws Cat Rescue since January 2023, bringing more than 30 years of corporate leadership experience to strengthen nonprofit governance, operational discipline, and long-term sustainability.
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Alan’s professional career spans procurement, supply chain, manufacturing, and enterprise transformation across pharmaceutical, medical device, CPG, and defense industries. He has led large-scale category management portfolios exceeding $2B in annual spend, advised executive leadership teams, supported multi-billion-dollar revenue operations, and guided complex integrations and business transformations. His leadership style blends strategic vision with structured execution — ensuring that plans translate into measurable outcomes.
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Through his advisory work with Caravel International Partners, Alan supports organizations navigating transformation, operational alignment, and strategic growth. In parallel, Nonprofit Resource Partners, focuses specifically on strengthening nonprofit capacity — helping mission-driven organizations build governance models, financial oversight frameworks, and operational infrastructure that allow them to scale impact responsibly.
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As Board President, Alan applies these same principles to nonprofit leadership:
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Elevating governance standards
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Strengthening financial stewardship
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Aligning mission with operational capability
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Building sustainable growth models
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He believes nonprofits deserve the same strategic rigor and disciplined leadership opportunities as global enterprises — because community impact depends on sound structure.
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A former Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and part of a multi-generational tradition of service, Alan continues to invest his time and expertise in organizations that strengthen communities and create lasting value.
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He holds a BA in Economics from Miami University of Ohio.
Cathy Boyce
Vice President
Bio coming soon.
Lee Boyce
Treasurer
Bio coming soon.
Melissa Wilhelm
Secretary
Melissa Wilhelm is a mission-driven nonprofit executive with over 20 years of experience guiding organizations through the complexities of leadership and growth. She is recognized for her thoughtful approach to board governance and her ability to act as a bridge between executive leadership, volunteers, and donors. Throughout her career in the nonprofit and higher education sectors, Melissa has served as a trusted advisor, helping institutions stay true to their missions while navigating the complexities of change. As a servant leader, she takes pride in building collaborative teams and creating clear systems that allow organizations to flourish.
Melissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago, a Master’s degree in Public Service Management from DePaul University, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Board Consulting from BoardSource.
She is honored to bring her expertise in strategy and stewardship to her role as Board Secretary for Paws and Claws Cat Rescue.
Eric Zoberman
Board Member
Bio coming soon.
Sophie Lisowski
Board Member
Sophie Lisowski first met Ashlynn, Executive Director, when she adopted three kittens Ashlynn was fostering prior to Paws and Claws' founding. Sophie has been involved with Paws and Claws since the very beginning.
A true creative at heart, she has made hundreds of the blankets for the organization! She often lends a hand at events such as Rally for Rescues and was integral to constructing The Paws and Claws Cat Adoption Center, helping to secure contractors and materials.
Sophie was formerly a Business Analyst for a computer company before retiring. Born a cat lover, she has always had a soft spot for felines. For years she fed, trapped and released feral cats in her old neighborhood. Sophie currently has three cats who she loves very much
Lauree Peterson-Sakai
Board Member
Bio coming soon.
Lisa Stein
Board Member
Bio coming soon.
Corinne Wolcott
Board Member
Corinne Wolcott is a people and culture leader who designs and scales programs that strengthen organizations and the communities they serve. Her work spans organizational development, employee experience, and enterprise-wide culture transformation, where she is known for turning insight into action to build environments where people can do their best work and flourish. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Harvard University, deepening her focus on how environments shape behavior and well-being.
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Corinne brings a thoughtful, community-centered approach to her work and is honored to support Paws & Claws Cat Rescue and its commitment to care and second chances. At home in Chicago, she is a proud mom to three rescue cats affectionately known as the “L Squad” — Louis Sullivan, Leo McGarry, and Luna Joy.