Meet Our Board

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OUR MISSION

Dedicate ourselves and our resources through research, education, and action to the protection and conservation of all wild places and creatures through strategic collaboration to inspire the greater community.

Our Board of Directors

Heidi Deneki

Founder & Executive Director

Heidi Denecke comes from a background in hotel sales, and in 2016 traded her business suits for cowboy boots when she became the Owner and Operator of Maui Animal Farm. She has traveled around the world enjoying riding holidays in over 14 countries, so she understands the value of animal interaction. When Heidi saw a need for animal & equine assisted therapy programs in West Maui, she created the 501c3 Tiny Hoof Animal Therapy of West Maui (T.H.A.T.) in 2019.

James Quine

Board President

James Quine is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience leading teams in publishing, real estate, and entrepreneurship. As the CEO and President of Gecko Group, LLC, James has been at the helm of a multidisciplinary team, guiding the company to become a key player in Maui’s media scene. His leadership has driven over $40 million in revenue for more than 100 companies on Maui.

Dan Skalko

BOARD VICE PRESIDENT

Senior Executive VP/ Fortune 100
Sales, Marketing 30+ Years
International Award for Design and Engineering/ Digital Medical Imaging
National Spokesperson
Consultant/ Adjunct Professor: Startups/ Accelerators

Taylor Zipp

HEAD OF SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING

Taylor is a digital marketing and operations professional with over a decade of experience helping organizations improve their systems, strengthen their online presence, and streamline internal operations. She is the founder of Dream Big Ventures, where she partners with mission-driven teams to optimize workflows, implement digital tools, and build more efficient, impactful operations.

Outside of their professional work, she is an avid traveler, animal lover, and someone deeply committed to personal growth.

Holly Shantara

BOARD SECRETARY

Holly Shantara, MIM, CHT, is a seasoned coach with over 35 years of experience. She specializes in guiding personal and professional growth through transformative decisions and transitions. Holly's client base includes entrepreneurs, small business owners, and executives from leading companies like Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Salesforce. She is also a published author and inspirational speaker

Lori Heinsohn

TREASURER

Laura was a former laundromat and real estate business owner since 1982 in Oregon & Arizona. She is an animal lover who loves to volunteer at the Maui Animal Farm. Laura has been married to Randy for 47 years, who recently retired, and they moved to Maui three years ago to be near their daughter and grandkids. Currently a member of Kihei Canoe Club where she loves paddling in the early morning and snorkeling! They’ve recently biked in 33 states and have a goal of biking in all 50 states by their 50th anniversary which is 5 years away.