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About us

Better Together Animal Alliance is an animal welfare organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of dogs, cats, and the people in our community who love them. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is not affiliated with the county or city and receive no tax support.

Located in Ponderay, Idaho, we serve Bonner, Boundary, and Kootenai Counties. Our programs focus on supporting people and their pets, providing a safe and enriching environment for animals in our care, and helping pets find new families. Every year we support approximately 2,400 animals in our care center and over 6,000 pets through our community programs.

Meet Our Team
Meet Our Board
Annual Reports
MEET

Our team

Mandy G. Evans

Executive Director

Mandy has led BTAA for over 10 years, transforming a fear-based environment into a thriving community-focused organization. Her work with her paralyzed dog Molly inspired the nonprofit Molly Inspires and a national mission of empathy and kindness.

Paige McGowan

Development Director

Paige connects donors to programs that help people and animals. She oversees BTAA’s philanthropy, including fundraising, grants, and planned giving. She holds a master’s in Public Administration and a B.S. in Community Health.

Steve Carothers

Director of Retail & Community

With over 35 years in retail and leadership experience including regional management at Goodwill, Steve drives revenue and efficiency for BTAA’s retail operations and community involvement programs.

Sarah Berry

Director of Operations
Sarah brings nearly 20 years in veterinary leadership, with experience across multi-site hospital operations. A Licensed Veterinary Technician with a B.S. in Business Administration, she focuses on team development and operational efficiency.

Dig Chrismer

Storytelling & PR Manager
Dig completed a B.A. in Rhetorical Studies and spent a decade in England and France. With 25 years in the ski industry and 3 in community development, she’s a passionate storyteller and outdoor enthusiast.

Trisha Decker

Transformational Giving Officer
Trisha helps connect supporters to the work that makes a real difference for animals and the people who love them. She holds a bachelor’s in Public Administration and Communications from the University of Kansas.

Gordon Berry

Pets for Life Manager
After 20+ years in the military, Gordon leads BTAA’s Pets for Life program, removing barriers to pet care and keeping families together. He brings calm, mission-driven service to every interaction.

Morgan Neiley

Care Center Manager
Morgan oversees pathways and the foster program, ensuring every animal gets the care they need. With 10 years in the pet industry from administration to behavior she brings deep hands-on expertise.

Emma Keverkamp

CFO

Meg Gotts

Medical Coordinator
Meg holds degrees in Neuroscience and Spanish, with a master’s from Washington State University. She transitioned from research to animal welfare and now supports the health and well-being of BTAA’s animals.

Kaylee Storer

Intake Coordinator

Desiree Laine

Front Desk Manager
MEET

Our board of directors

Mark Hon

Board President
Mark has served on the BTAA board on and off since 2013. With over 15 years in commercial real estate, he believes that helping families keep or find homes for their pets is a win for everyone.

Seth Levy

Vice President
A lawyer and partner at an international firm, Seth advocates for holistic services that address broader community challenges. He joined the BTAA board in 2021.

Marie Shaw

Secretary / Treasurer

Marie joined the BTAA board in 2023. She volunteers as a dog walker and clinic assistant, and is passionate about BTAA’s regional outreach and community impact.

Peg Tuddenham

Board Member
Retired pediatric emergency medicine physician. Active with PAFE, the Idaho Club HOA, Sandpoint Rotary, Bonners Partners in Care, and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care.

David Thompson

Board Member
A retired surgeon from Houston who now resides in northern Idaho. David joined the BTAA board of directors in 2023.

Jim Asche

Board Member
On his second six-year cycle as a BTAA board member, Jim adopted two BTAA puppies, Tupie and Sammy. He’s a hands-on volunteer who has helped build the dog park, assist at clinics, and more.

Judi Manis

Board Member
Judi joined the BTAA board in 2025, bringing leadership experience from healthcare, mobility, entertainment, and financial services. She’s actively involved in community organizations across Sandpoint.

Jean Vorhies

Board Member

With a background in business development and event planning, Jean has been an active community member sitting on the board of Sandpoint Waldorf School and 101 Women as well as participating in the Chamber of Commerce Sandpoint Leadership Program.

Eric Ostfeld

Board Member

Eric is a licensed engineer with 30 years of broad experience in transportation, land development, and vertical construction.  A lifelong dog lover, Eric has worked from Guam to Montreal to Salt Lake City and taken his dogs with him with each move.  

RECOGNITION

Awards & honors

BTAA is proud to serve the North Idaho region and beyond. We’re nationally recognized for the impact we make in the animal welfare community.
  • The Bonner County Daily Bee — 2026 Best Community Involvement
  • The Bonner County Daily Bee — 2026 Best Thrift Store
  • The Bonner County Daily Bee — 2026 Best Nonprofit
  • Sandpoint's Finest Organization with a Cause — 2025 Sandpoint Living Local
  • Sandpoint's Finest Organization with a Cause — 2024 Sandpoint Living Local
  • Favorite Local Business & Best Thrift Store — 2024 Bonner Daily Bee
  • Best Non-Profit, Best Thrift Store & Best Consignment — 2023 Bonner County Daily Bee
  • Humane Society of the United States Pets for Life Storyteller Award
  • Best Non-Profit Organization — 2022 Bonner County Daily Bee
  • Best Thrift Store — 2022 Bonner County Daily Bee
  • Best Large Nonprofit in North Idaho — 2016 Idaho Nonprofit Center

Annual impact reports

Transparency matters. Explore our annual reports to see the impact of your support.
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