Meet Our Officers

Chair
Brianne Youngberg

with Dr. Laurie Marker at CCF Namibia Apr 2009

After a chance encounter with Subira, a three legged cheetah from Shambala Preserve in 1994, Brianne was instantly in love the moment she saw her and heard her purr.  In 2001, she was given the opportunity to volunteer in South Africa at Cheetah Outreach, helping with everything from preparing cheetah diets, cleaning enclosures and talking to guests about cheetahs.  Helping to spread the word of the plight of the cheetah in Africa was a dream come true.  A dream that just got better in 2007, when she returned to Cheetah Outreach to help raise 4 cheetah cubs who grew to become ambassadors for their species both here in California and in South Africa.

While completing her degree at Moorpark College’s Exotic Animal Training and Management program, Brianne had the chance to meet Dr. Marker during the WCN Expo. Following their meeting, Brianne was given the opportunity of a 2 week internship during CCF’s annual work-ups on their resident cheetahs.  Once she returned to California she knew she wanted to do more and in July 2010 was given the chance to start the CCF San Diego Chapter.

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Secretary
Kym Janke

Kym always wanted to work with exotic cats and found the opportunity to do so as a zoo keeper.  She graduated with a BSc. in Agriculture from the University of British Columbia in Canada and from there has had the opportunity to work at Cat Tales Zoological Park, the Greater Vancouver Zoo, Wildlife Safari and currently at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.   She was thrilled to meet Dr. Marker at the Big Cat Big Party in Portland for several consecutive years and resolved to volunteer at CCF.  After Dr. Marker was honored by the Zoological Society of San Diego for her conservation efforts, Kym a primary cheetah keeper at the time began talks with her supervisors to map out the details of an internship at CCF.  That opportunity came in March of 2008 when she spent 5 weeks volunteering at CCF Namibia!  After travelling around the world to have the most amazing experience of her life she ended up rooming with Brianne at CCF.  At the time they lived in the same city in California but met in Namibia, what a small world!  After volunteering at several CCF events in San Diego together Brianne contacted her about the potential of a San Diego chapter she jumped at the chance to be involved. She looks forward to being able to help the cheetahs in any way she can!

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Treasurer
CCF USA Director
Marisa Katnic

with Victor the Cheetah of Wild Wonders

Marisa is an active and committed conservationist currently working in the legal field.  Prior to that she owned and operated her own travel business for nearly two decades primarily coordinating East African safaris.  She has visited over 30 countries on six continents and her favorite place is, by far -- Africa.  Since childhood Marisa has had a great love of wildlife -- once getting lost in the San Bernardino Mountains at the age of five by following a squirrel into the woods with her arm stretched out trying to feed it a peanut.  Her love of nature and adoration of cats led her to develop a very deep passion for the cheetah and she became involved with the CCF in 2007 and has since devoted her time to share the word of the urgent need by creating awareness of the cheetah’s plight and whereby she has hosted many fundraising benefits toward the cause.

Participating in all three cities’ Run for the Cheetah programs she specifically assisted Phoenix in 2009, Portland in 2010, and Chicago in 2011.  For each race she was leading fundraiser and was awarded for her accomplishments by the three chapters in Arizona, Oregon, and Illinois.  Now, with a focus on the newly-formed Southern California Chapter stretching from Santa Barbara to San Diego, she is launching forward at cheetah-speed sharing the cause wherever she can.

In a relatively short period of time, Marisa has quickly established herself not only as a strong supporter for the CCF but has proven herself to be a true friend of the cheetah cause and to those devoted individuals who share her passion.  Marisa says she feels truly blessed as fortunate to have visited the CCF based in Otjiwarongo, Namibia, and to meet the legendary Chewbaaka, famous ambassador cheetah of Dr. Laurie Marker.  By donating her time, energy and willingness to volunteer, the love of the cheetah has led Marisa on the path to dedicate and arrive as a Chewbaaka Society member.  Marisa also sponsors “Samantha” a permanently orphaned resident cheetah which, at the time, she selected due to this cheetah requiring the most need and critical care.  Now, Samantha is in excellent hands at CCF.

Marisa currently volunteers for Wild Wonders, Inc. and partners in preservation, the Zoofari Foundation located in Bonsall, California, which is the home to CCF’s ambassador cheetah, Victor, along with other animals used for education and conservation programs.

Born, raised and is now residing in her hometown of San Pedro, California, along with her husband, Joe .  They are surrounded with their own small zoo of three spotted hybrid cats (two Savannahs and a Bengal), a Pug, and an African grey parrot.  Though a native Californian, Marisa is first generation Croatian and speaks the language fluently. 

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Caitlin Curry
Communications Officer

Caitlin is currently a Research Coordinator in Conservation Genetics at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. She has been an Officer for CCF So Cal since it's founding, even while getting her PhD in Conservation Biology and Population Genetics at Texas A&M University and being a postdoctoral researcher at the Omaha Zoo in Nebraska. If you have any suggestions for the website, please contact her!

Caitlin had her first face to face experience with a cheetah at the age of 17 when she had the opportunity to meet 9 month old Karoo at Hunte’s Pavillion during a special behind the scenes tour at the San Diego Zoo.  Caitlin is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science in animal behavior and a certified dog trainer through the Animal Behavior College.  During her undergrad, she was an intern for Dr. Laurie Marker in Namibia and has been in close contact with her ever since.  After graduating from UW, Caitlin was a volunteer researcher for the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research for five years.  Caitlin has heard Laurie speak in nine cities in three countries and is very excited about CCF being a part of her hometown.

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Chris Liebenberg is our former Marketing Officer. He left the CCFSoCal Officer Team to focus on his African Destination Specialist company Piper & Heath Travel, named one of Travel+Leisure's A-list of Travel Professionals!

Born in Northern Namibia, Chris has always had a passion for conservation. Chris has worked on the front line of Namibian conservation projects from a young age and has spent time working in anti-poaching, rhino-dehorning, large carnivore rehabilitation and large mammal relocation. More than 15 years in tourism has taught him the value of tourism as a conservation tool and he works tirelessly in the promotion of the Conservation Tourism Concept. Chris now lives in San Diego with his wife Emily and together they are the owners of Piper & Heath Travel.

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