MEET
Our TeamWe Have a Heart for Cats
Meet the talented and dedicated individuals who make up Surfcat Cat Rescue • Adoptions • Sanctuary. Each team member brings a unique blend of skills, passion, and expertise, driving our collective mission to help provide a comfortable, loving life to some of the area’s disadvantaged and struggling cats. We believe that our strength lies in our diversity and our shared commitment to excellence.
Leslie Ann Weiss
Executive Director / President
Leslie has been a cat lover all of her life. Her dream as a little girl was to have a place where she could save animals… specifically cats. Leslie has been a vet tech assistant for a cats only veterinary hospital and a volunteer for several local cat rescues including Ventura County Animal Services.
Leslie is a Certified Feline Behavior and Training Specialist skilled in assessing cat behavior, rehabilitation from stress induced behavioral problems, Tiny Lion kitten socialization and cat wrangling. On the rare occasion Leslie is not at Surfcat you can find her with a feather wand on her Catio at home with her own clowder. Walking, kayaking and boating fill up the spaces.
Jayme Grubbs
Board Member / Trapper
Jayme has been involved with cat rescue for many years. Her main purpose is trap/neuter/release (TNR). Jayme is the hardest working human I know saving hundreds if not thousands of street cats and kittens working with Ventura County Animal Services and the communities of within Ventura County.
When not trapping, well, she’s trapping!
Roxanne Vettese
Board Member / Secretary
Roxanne (“Rox”) puts the “surf” in Surfcat Cafe & Adoptions. A diehard surfer and animal lover, Rox has been graced with the company of cats all of her life. When she is not shredding waves at the local breaks, Rox teaches U.S. History, World History, and physical education at the middle school level.
Rox got involved with cat rescue, fostering, and adoptions, through her BFF and roomie Leslie. Rox has sometimes been called the “cat whisperer”, as even the most frightened feline eventually warms up to her. Rox is also Surfcat’s artist in residence, chief writer, and reality checker.
Joy Connell
Accountant
With over twenty years in the accounting and finance industries, Joy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Surfcat. During her career, Joy has provided accounting services to both public clients and private industry. From small start-ups to billion dollar corporations, Joy has always met and exceeded expectations.
Joy is a Southern California native who moved to Ventura County after growing up in the San Fernando Valley. Always a cat lover, Joy has owned cats her entire life.
When not working with Surfcat, Joy devotes her time as the President of JC Accounting & Tax Services, aka JCATS, providing accounting, business and tax services to small and medium businesses in the LA-Ventura-Santa Barbara county metro areas. As part of her business model, Joy made a decision to provide pro bono accounting services to a few nonprofit organizations; Surfcat is thrilled to be among them.
Joy has found that providing accounting services to Surfcat has been one of the most rewarding experiences of her career. This organization represents a cause that Joy truly believes in and provides the amazing benefit of being surrounded by the grateful and loving rescued kitties who help to participate in the board meetings.
We Have a Heart for Cats
Meet the talented and dedicated individuals who make up Surfcat Cat Rescue • Adoptions • Sanctuary. Each team member brings a unique blend of skills, passion, and expertise, driving our collective mission to help provide a comfortable, loving life to some of the area’s disadvantaged and struggling cats. We believe that our strength lies in our diversity and our shared commitment to excellence.
Leslie Ann Weiss
Executive Director / President
Leslie has been a cat lover all of her life. Her dream as a little girl was to have a place where she could save animals… specifically cats. Leslie has been a vet tech assistant for a cats only veterinary hospital and a volunteer for several local cat rescues including Ventura County Animal Services.
Leslie is a Certified Feline Behavior and Training Specialist skilled in assessing cat behavior, rehabilitation from stress induced behavioral problems, Tiny Lion kitten socialization and cat wrangling. On the rare occasion Leslie is not at Surfcat you can find her with a feather wand on her Catio at home with her own clowder. Walking, kayaking and boating fill up the spaces.
Roxanne Vettese
Board Member / Secretary
Roxanne (“Rox”) puts the “surf” in Surfcat Cafe & Adoptions. A diehard surfer and animal lover, Rox has been graced with the company of cats all of her life. When she is not shredding waves at the local breaks, Rox teaches U.S. History, World History, and physical education at the middle school level.
Rox got involved with cat rescue, fostering, and adoptions, through her BFF and roomie Leslie. Rox has sometimes been called the “cat whisperer”, as even the most frightened feline eventually warms up to her. Rox is also Surfcat’s artist in residence, chief writer, and reality checker.
Jayme Grubbs
Board Member / Trapper
Jayme has been involved with cat rescue for many years. Her main purpose is trap/neuter/release (TNR). Jayme is the hardest working human I know saving hundreds if not thousands of street cats and kittens working with Ventura County Animal Services and the communities of within Ventura County.
When not trapping, well, she’s trapping!
Joy Connell
Accountant
With over twenty years in the accounting and finance industries, Joy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Surfcat. During her career, Joy has provided accounting services to both public clients and private industry. From small start-ups to billion dollar corporations, Joy has always met and exceeded expectations.
Joy is a Southern California native who moved to Ventura County after growing up in the San Fernando Valley. Always a cat lover, Joy has owned cats her entire life.
When not working with Surfcat, Joy devotes her time as the President of JC Accounting & Tax Services, aka JCATS, providing accounting, business and tax services to small and medium businesses in the LA-Ventura-Santa Barbara county metro areas. As part of her business model, Joy made a decision to provide pro bono accounting services to a few nonprofit organizations; Surfcat is thrilled to be among them.
Joy has found that providing accounting services to Surfcat has been one of the most rewarding experiences of her career. This organization represents a cause that Joy truly believes in and provides the amazing benefit of being surrounded by the grateful and loving rescued kitties who help to participate in the board meetings.
