Karen Dendy Smith (Board Member) is the Founder and Director of The Animal Communication
Collective® and is a professionally certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul
Level Intuitive Coach®, and Pangu Qigong instructor and energy healer.
Karen also is a retired branding a marketing specialist and was a co-founder and
Creative Director for her company kor group for 28 years.
Karen has served on the board of the New England School for Acupuncture as Vice
Chair and on the board of the American Institute for Graphic Arts (AIGA) and an
event development chair.
With her intuitive and energy skills, Karen finds immense joy helping people build
stronger connections and relationships with their animal families. She believes
animals are compassionate and loving teachers and deserve our respect and
gratitude. As a board member for NicaLove, Karen is excited to roll up her sleeves,
work with Julie and the board to help support the incredible humans on the front
line in Nicaragua, and help the animals heal and have a voice.
She and her husband adopted their furry feline children, Dia and Noche when they
were six years old and they are now 11, living their best life, and telling Karen what to do!
Mary Johanna Brown (Board Member) is the Founder and President of Brown & Company Design, a strategic design firm, and Big Brown Books, a publishing company. An active community member, she currently serves on the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation board and is Founding Chair Emeritus of the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation. Mary Jo has traveled to Nicaragua with NicaLove and experienced Julie’s work firsthand. She was especially moved by the people she met, Julie’s deep connection to the community she serves, and how little resources can do such amazing good in the midst of deep poverty. Plus, she got to meet One-Eyed Jackie, a tiny stray kitten with a missing eye that was rescued during her stay. Her visit and experience encouraged her to join the board. Mary Jo loves cats, and her most recent black cat Oscar lived for 18 years and was always by her side.
Mimi Loureiro (Board Member) has been involved with animal and human welfare for most of her adult life (and likely earlier!) She is passionate about empowering those who do not or cannot speak for themselves; animals, children, the poor, the disabled, the elderly, and the list goes on. So much in our world is about power and she believes everyone deserves an advocate to help them be safe and live a life with as little suffering as possible.
Mimi is the owner of one of the first yoga studios on the seacoast, O2 Yoga, and also XOLO Kitchen, which helps businesses and families incorporate more plant-based options. She is passionate about family, travel, homeschooling, vegan cooking, and, of course, spending as much time as possible with animals. She is the proud mother of two beautiful sons, Dylan and Deven, married to the love of her life, Steven, and is blessed to have two rescued dogs, Mate and Blue, Ender the Pig, and lots of chickens as part of her ever-growing family.
Mimi did her first trip to Nicaragua with Julie in early 2021 and she was immediately transformed from interested in what Julie was doing to incredibly passionate! It’s one thing to hear about the work and see photos, but to be in the country and watch and assist Julie in action was incredible. She doesn’t stop finding ways to help animals and people alike in the community and does it with a sense of purpose and kindness.
Mimi has always been passionate about making her giving as direct as possible and there is no question in her mind that NicaLove is as direct as it gets. Straight up direct help, compassion and love given. The other thing that Mimi has experienced first hand is the incredible toll this work can take on the heart, mind and soul. This work is grueling, dirty, and often heart-breaking, but there is always the sense of accomplishment as well. Mimi is happy to give as much as she can and hopes you will too!
Alyssa Duncan (Board Member) is a seacoast photographer specializing in capturing personalities, whether that is people or pets. She has done several pet portrait events through the years to help raise food and money for various animal welfare non-profits. Through these events she has come to adopt two dogs-Finn, a beagle in 2010 from the NHSPCA, and Lucy, a Doodle mix from Nicaragua in September of 2022.
Leslie Lawrence (Virtual Administrative Director) is a dynamic individual whose journey has taken her from a successful sales professional to a fulfilling role with NicaLove, all while pursuing creative projects that reflect her passion for animals and personal growth.
After thriving in the world of sales consulting for two decades, Leslie bid farewell to Corporate America in 2018 and embraced the “good life” on the island of Ambergris Caye in Belize. Transitioning to ECI Development as a Property Consultant in late 2020, Leslie furthered her exploration by moving to Nicaragua in 2021, where she quickly rose to the role of Sales Director in early 2022, showcasing her leadership skills in fostering a supportive and empowering team environment.
In October 2023, Leslie made a bold decision to step away from her Sales Director position at ECI Development, driven by a desire to align her career with her true passion. Presently, she dedicates a portion of her time to NicaLove, providing invaluable support to the organization’s founder.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Leslie has made significant strides in the realm of music and creativity. As a singer/songwriter, she recently released her debut Christmas album and embarked on a creative project—a children’s series of books featuring her rescued fur babies. This endeavor beautifully intertwines her love for animals and storytelling. Authenticity, integrity, and the pursuit of excellence are the guiding principles woven through Leslie’s diverse journey. She firmly believes that everyone can discover their passion, regardless of how diverse or unconventional their interests may be. Leslie stands as a testament to the idea that success knows no limits and lies in the pursuit of one’s true calling, coupled with a relentless drive for excellence.
However, it’s Leslie’s heartfelt commitment to animal welfare that defines her current chapter. Prior to taking on her role as a support professional at NicaLove, Leslie dedicated her time as a foster dog mom and volunteer for the organization. Her love for animals is evident in her rescue dogs, including Lucky Lee, a NicaLove foster failure turned beloved companion. Leslie continues her role as a foster dog mom, currently providing care and support to Keiko, a testament to her dedication to improving the lives of animals. Keiko is thriving and gaining confidence under Leslie’s care.
In her free time, Leslie enjoys playing golf, riding horses, and, of course, spending quality time with her beloved rescue dogs, Lizzy Lu, Livvy Love, Lucky Lee, and foster furball, Keiko. Leslie continues to fill her life with music, laughter, and connections, both human and animal alike.
Senior Advisor
Dr. Joan Zofnass (Senior Advisor) wears two hats: she is a psychotherapist in private practice for over 40 years. She has held faculty positions at both colleges and hospitals teaching and lecturing on the individual, couple, and family therapy. She has also been a director of Human Resources for a small investment firm in New York City. Her love of nature is reflected in her work with her brother not only in developing and building a 10-mile hiking trail open to the public in New York but also their creating the Zofnass Program of Sustainability at Harvard University. Joan has served on the boards of the New England Wildlife Center, the Wild Bird Fund in New York City, volunteers with the Audubon Society, and is a preserve steward for The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire. She worked in Liberia to aid chimpanzees, spent time in Belize monitoring the health of manatees, and loves her work with NicaLove, helping to give the animals a better life. Pictured is Joan with her Nicaraguan dog Willow.