MEET THE TEAM

Administrative Staff

Ariana Katovich

Executive Director

Pronouns: she/her

Ariana has diverse experience in nonprofit management, strategy, fundraising, outreach, and advocacy. Ariana is the former Director of Operations for Cutting Edge Capital, and the former Director of the Restoration Initiative and the Streets Alive! Initiative at the Earth Island Institute. She won the David Brower Youth Award for co-founding the UCSB Coastal Fund. Ariana holds a J.D. from the Santa Barbara Colleges of Law and a B.A. from UC Santa Barbara. Ariana is also a mom to a wonderful boy that loves the outdoors and animals as much as she does.

Connect with Ariana: ariana@sbwcn.org

Dr. Rebecca Aldoretta

Director of Veterinary Services,
Cariño Veterinary Program

Pronouns: she/her

Dr. Aldoretta joins the SBWCN team with vast experience in the veterinary field, including wildlife medicine, exotic pet medicine, companion animal general practice, and emergency medicine. After earning her DVM from Kansas State University in 2015, she's worked all over the United States, including Miami, Las Vegas, and Chicago. Most recently, Dr. Aldoretta completed a specialty internship program in Zoo, Exotics, and Wildlife Medicine at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, Canada.

She loves hiking, reading, and spending time with her German shepherd named Maya.

Connect with Dr. Aldoretta: rebecca@sbwcn.org

Julia Parker

Director of Operations

Pronouns: she/her

Julia oversees the day-to-day operations at the Wildlife Hospital. She plays a key role in the construction and planning of the new wildlife hospital.

Julia holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology. She was previously employed at the Santa Barbara Zoo for 25 years.

At the zoo, Julia spent ten years as the Animal Care Supervisor for over 500 animals and worked with many exotic animal veterinarians. She later went on to work with the Island Fox Recovery Program partnered by the Channel Islands National Park and the Zoo. She cared for captive Island Foxes during several tours of San Miguel and the Santa Rosa Islands.

Connect with Julia: jparker@sbwcn.org

Britt Rickman

Director of Rehabilitation

Pronouns: she/her

Britt joined the SBWCN team in 2019. After first serving as the lead for the mammal department, she moved into the role of Director of Rehabilitation in 2021.

She grew up in Santa Barbara County with a love of the outdoors, animals, and sports. When not at work, Britt enjoys getting out into nature, playing rugby, and spending time with family.

Connect with Britt: britt@sbwcn.org

Naomi Wolf-Tripp

Training and Recruitment Coordinator

Pronouns: she/her

Naomi grew up in Iowa, where she enjoyed being outside and looking for wildlife all around (even Bison!). She graduated from Gordon College in Wenham, MA majoring in biology with a concentration in Marine Biology and a minor in Psychology. She has worked with a multitude of animal species from manatees and dolphins in Florida to tropical birds and sloths in Costa Rica.

Naomi started at SBWCN in 2022 in the songbird department. She then moved to work with the mammal department and now is our Training and Recruitment Coordinator.

When she is not at work she enjoys baking and eating delicious desserts since her family owns a Dutch bakery in Iowa, going on hikes, and doing anything in or near the ocean!

Connect with Naomi: volunteer@sbwcn.org

John Birchim

Director of Facilities

Pronouns: he/him

John was fortunate to grow up on the beaches and coastal foothills of the Gaviota Coast. He was blessed to witness the area's wild animals every day and became comfortable in his home and surroundings.

In his teens, John found a love for riding ocean waves. To this day, he finds his physical, mental, and spiritual health through this practice and plans to continue indefinitely.

College life took him from UCSB to Humboldt State University to the University of Hawaii; all the while, he connected with each region's oceans/beaches, forests, wild environments, and wildlife.

After college, he discovered woodworking and has been a freelance carpenter/woodworker for over 25 years.

John always felt like he wanted to give back to his community somehow. When the opportunity to be involved with SBWCN arose, he realized that helping local wildlife was a perfect fit for him.

He is a husband and proud father to four beautiful children.

Connect with John: jb@sbwcn.org

Gina Petuskey

Executive Assistant

Pronouns: she/her

With the desire to be of service in her community, and a voice for wildlife, Gina began volunteering at SBWCN in March of 2021. She worked with the Helpline team managing incoming wildlife concerns, and educating the community on living in harmony with nature. Her continued passion led her to work in the mammals department caring directly for wildlife, and as the center's needs began to grow, Gina was hired as Executive Assistant in November of 2022.

Always on a path of personal enrichment and incorporating the tenets of living a committed life, Gina strives to create a legacy of kindness for all beings, by blending people, departments, and hearts to foster productivity and effectiveness in the workplace.

Connect with Gina: gina@sbwcn.org

Caitlin Swedroe

Business and Development Manager

Pronouns: she/her

Caitlin is a Chicago native who was brought to the Santa Barbara area by her passion and love for education, animals, and wildlife.

Caitlin majored in English Literature and Business with a focus in Creative Writing. She made good use of her degree when she got her first job as a doggy day care attendant, and she has worked with animals at every job since. She worked as a veterinary technician, veterinary practice manager, small animal nutritionist, and has worked with award winning customer service teams.

Caitlin has a great time working with donors, the team at the center, and the animals that come in. In her free time, she writes poetry, short stories, and makes her pets (two dogs and two cats) speak in funny voices.

Connect with Caitlin: caitlin@sbwcn.org

Rachel Mattovich

Communications Manager

Pronouns: she/her

Rachel grew up in the tiny town of Bishop, California next to the towering Sierra Nevada Mountains. Growing up in this environment inspired her deep love for both wildlife and community. This led naturally to her studies at University of California Santa Barbara and her work at SBWCN.

Rachel has over 11 years of professional experience working around the world focusing in business development, marketing, events and program development.

When not at work, Rachel enjoys finding the best dumplings, thrifting, dance, and spending time with friends and family.

Connect with Rachel: rachel@sbwcn.org