THE TEAM

TOGETHER WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

COMMITMENT

Our Board

VOCAL is an animal welfare organization made up of board members who are passionate about helping the animals in their community. Read on to learn more about each of our board members.

BOARD PRESIDENT - FOUNDER

Lauren Carpenter

Lauren’s commitment to animal welfare began close to home when she and her husband, Brice,

found themselves stopping to rescue stray dogs they would occasionally encounter. That passion

deepened when they stepped in to save four chained dogs whose story made local news as

Marion County considered an anti‑tethering ordinance. It was a turning point that solidified

Lauren’s dedication to creating lasting change for vulnerable animals.

Originally from Ohio, Lauren earned her degree in Human Resources from The Ohio State University and began her career in that field. While she valued the work, she soon realized her true calling was helping homeless pets. In 2015, she joined two like‑minded women to co‑found VOCAL, turning that passion into a mission-driven organization serving animals and families across the region.

A mother of three boys and five dogs, Lauren is known for her exceptional organizational skills,

a superpower that makes her the ideal chair of VOCAL’s annual Furball gala. Under her

leadership, the event has grown into one of Ocala’s premier social gatherings and a cornerstone

fundraiser that raises significant funds for VOCAL’s lifesaving work.

Lauren plays a pivotal role in shaping VOCAL’s future as the Project Manager for its capital

expansion, Expanding Our Pawprint. Her ability to keep complex projects moving forward is

helping bring to life a campus that will transform animal welfare in Marion County for decades

to come.

BOARD VICE PRESIDENT

Sarah Myers

Sarah has been a long time, animal lover, growing up riding horses in New Jersey.

After graduating from Rowan University in 2007, she and her husband moved to Ocala, where she spent 11 years as an elementary school teacher before transitioning to work full-time with her husband in their electrical contracting business.

Sarah and her husband became involved with VOCAL early-on through fostering and adopting animals. They even spent a year living on site, caring for the animals and the facility when VOCAL first moved onto their current property in 2017.

Sarah is excited to continue her involvement with VOCAL through her new role as a board member.

BOARD SECRETARY

Nicole Lower

Nicole Lower has been a proud resident of Ocala, Florida for over 35 years. With a strong foundation in education and community engagement, she spent 18 years as an elementary school teacher before transitioning into entrepreneurship. In 2011, Nicole and her husband founded Ocala Fence, where she now plays an active role in managing operations and supporting the growth of their family-owned business.

She and her husband have been married for 20 years and are the proud parents of two children—Ethan, a freshman at the University of South Florida, and Hailey, a sophomore at Forest High School. Their home is also shared with three dogs, two of which are rescues from VOCAL (Voices of Change Animal League), and two guinea pigs.

Nicole is honored to serve on the board and is passionate about contributing to meaningful change in the Ocala community.

BOARD TREASURER

Rob Bowman

Joining the board of V.O.C.A.L. is a natural for Rob who is an animal lover and counts his Bull Terrier Willie as a member of the family.

Rob began his career with R+L Carriers in 2007 bringing an extensive background in supply chain and logistics management. As president of R+L Truckload and R+L Global Logistics, he leads all of the non-asset and supply chain firms for R+L Carriers.

He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and was deployed to Desert Shield and Desert Storm. It was during his career in the military that Rob was able to blend his passion for logistics with supply chain management.

Rob is a loyal University of Alabama fan, "Roll Tide". He is also an avid golfer and looks forward to teeing off whenever his schedule allows. Also ranking high on Rob's list of priorities is spending time with his adult children and grandchildren.

BOARD MEMBER - FOUNDER

Linda Norman

Linda has been a driving force and visionary behind VOCAL since its founding in 2015, working

alongside her two partners to guide the organization through its first decade of growth. As Board

President during VOCAL’s first 10 years, she helped the board shape the mission, culture, and

programs, laying the foundation for long‑term organizational success.

Her commitment to animal welfare began long before VOCAL while serving on the board of the

Humane Society of Marion County. In 2014, Linda received the Governor’s Award for her work

to end the inhumane practice of dog chaining. Her leadership was instrumental in passing a local

anti‑tethering ordinance, a milestone that continues to protect animals throughout Marion

County.

A Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Linda brings a blend of financial expertise and dedication

to her role as VOCAL’s Development Director. She currently leads the organization’s major

capital initiative, Expanding Our Pawprint, guiding campaign strategy, stewarding donor

relationships, and articulating the founders' and the board of directors' shared vision for VOCAL’s next decade of transformation.

Linda shares her home with her husband, Gary, and six very spoiled former shelter dogs who

keep life lively and full of joy. She remains grateful every day for the opportunity to work

alongside others who share a commitment to creating a more compassionate community for pets and the people who love them.

BOARD MEMBER

Dr. Lauren Pastewka

Dr. Lauren Pastewka is a seasoned veterinary executive with extensive experience in multi-site operations, medical leadership, and organizational growth. As former Chief Operating Officer and Chief Veterinary Officer for national animal health organizations, she led over 100 hospitals.

With a background in both clinical practice and executive leadership, Dr. Pastewka has driven initiatives in systems integration, performance metrics, and team development. She is recognized for her pragmatic, people-first approach and her ability to foster high-trust, results-driven cultures.

Now advising emerging veterinary and health-focused organizations, Dr. Pastewka brings strategic insight and a passion for aligning operational excellence with compassionate care. She lives in Ocala, Florida with her husband, son, two labradors, and a crew of beloved cats.

BOARD MEMBER

Jeremiah Bennett

Jeremiah Bennett is a Certified General and Building Contractor in Florida and a Certified Residential/General Contractor in Georgia. A Marion County native, he grew up immersed in the construction industry, learning the trade alongside his father and extended family. After an early career in aviation, Jeremiah joined the family business in 2007 and now leads Benmar Construction, serving both local and national clients.

Known for his strong work ethic and commitment to client relationships, Jeremiah brings practical expertise and a values-driven approach to every project. His faith and dedication to helping others guide both his professional and personal life.

Jeremiah lives in Ocala with his wife Nicole and their four children, and finds joy in time spent with family and friends around a campfire.

BOARD MEMBER

Laura Ramos

Laura and her husband moved to Ocala after completing their education in 2000,

where Laura earned her MSN from the University of South Florida. Together they have

two daughters that became equestrians competing in the Hunter/Jumper Division. As

much as horses were a large part of the family’s lives, a dog was Laura’s true

companion.

The plight of unwanted pets became a realization after Laura’s daughter rescued a very

sick puppy in Philadelphia while in medical school. Due to her rigorous schedule the

dog has had to come to live with Laura and her husband in Ocala and will always have

a forever home with the family. This special dog has inspired Laura to get involved with

the community and VOCAL to do more for our vulnerable pet population and their

families.

BOARD MEMBER

Cheryl Findlay

Cheryl Findlay joins VOCAL’s Board of Directors with a deep personal connection to the organization and a lifelong commitment to service. Her late husband, Bill Findlay, was a passionate supporter of VOCAL, and his dedication inspired Cheryl to continue championing the mission he cared so deeply about.

A mother of three and grandmother of six, Cheryl has spent decades serving her community. She held every leadership role on her children’s elementary school PTA board over more than ten years and led numerous successful fundraisers through both the PTA and the Junior League. Professionally, she owned and operated the local Avis Rent A Car franchise for over 20 years before helping build a thriving construction company.

Cheryl’s resilience and gratitude shape her outlook, especially following her second kidney transplant in 2024. She loves to travel and looks forward to exploring more of the world as her health allows.

A lifelong animal lover—especially of cats—Cheryl and Bill welcomed only rescue pets into their home. She is honored to serve on VOCAL’s board and to help advance the mission of giving every animal the chance they deserve.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION? LEARN HOW YOU CAN GIVE SOME OF YOUR TIME TO VOCAL!

FOCUS

Our Staff

We have a small but mighty group of dedicated staff members who are all focused on one mission: helping animals in our community!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & FOUNDER

Kate Rengel

Kate's journey into animal welfare began when she rescued her first dog off the euthanasia list at a rural North Central Florida shelter. At just 19 years old and a college sophomore, Kate's eyes were quickly opened to the challenges that shelter animals were facing and the extremely high euthanasia rates that were slowly being exposed in our communities. After graduating Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Finance from Florida State University, Kate settled in Ocala and felt unfulfilled working in a corporate environment. After taking some time to reflect on her goals, Kate realized her heart truly belonged to animal welfare, and was determined to improve the quality of life for pets in our community. She soon joined forces with Lauren and Linda to build VOCAL, and hasn't looked back since.

After 10 years of dedication, Kate was officially hired into the role of Executive Director in September 2025. Kate's leadership is rooted in optimism, empathy, and creativity. She believes that every team member has unique strengths, and helps our staff grow with support, encouragement, and the occasional reality check. Kate feels so grateful to be doing what she loves, around people she loves, for the animals and community she loves!

Kate lives in Ocala with her very supportive husband and best friend, Stephen, who has been along for the ride since she rescued that first dog in 2007. Kate & Stephen have two amazing kids and 3 dogs and enjoy spending their free time outdoors, working on their home and garden, and making s'mores at their fire pit.

CLINIC MANAGER

Kayla

KENNEL MANAGER

Alyssa

OFFICE MANAGER

Leah

TNR & WAREHOUSE COORDINATOR

Debbie

SOCIAL MEDIA & SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR

Courtney

FOSTER COORDINATOR

Ryan

KENNEL TECH

Matt

KENNEL TECH

Callie

KENNEL TECH

Haley

LEAD CLINIC ADMINISTRATOR

Caleanna

CLINIC ADMINISTRATOR

Molly

CLINIC ADMINISTRATOR

Chay

LEAD CLINIC VET TECH

Taylor

CLINIC VET TECH

Shelbie

CLINIC VET TECH

Mara

CLINIC VET TECH

Tina

MAINTENANCE TECH

Joe

Key Volunteers

DEDICATION

VOCAL is not your typical animal welfare group. Our dedicated group of volunteers set the pace for efforts to help the local pet population. We all work together for the betterment of the animals in our community. To learn about our key volunteers, please continue reading.