Our Team – Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary

The Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary team consists of a group of primarily volunteer workers who donate their time, energy, money, and love to keep CCFS up and running. None of the board members draws a salary for their board duties. Our team is rounded out by veterinarian Dr. Joe Guevara. Though he is officially considered an independent contractor and not a staff member, Dr. Joe has worked with CCFS from the very beginning and works closely with the sanctuary to advise on all manner of health issues. Whether it's walking the fields to remove potentially harmful plants or showing up on a Sunday (and his wedding anniversary) for a sick pig, Dr. Joe has always been there for us.

Erin Amerman

Founder, Board President

Erin founded Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary with three rescued cows in 2016, and is currently president of the Board of Directors. Her road to rescue started where most such things naturally begin: with a rat. At age 7, her mother told her she could finally have her first pet, a hamster. Ecstatic, she went to the pet store to pick out her hamster. But as she held a couple hamsters, who only wanted to pee on her, bite her, or run away from her, a young woman working at the pet store asked her if she had ever considered a rat. She and her mother exchanged looks. A rat? People have pet rats? The young woman explained that rats are wonderful little animals, but no one gives them a chance because they are unfairly judged to be bad and unworthy. Erin held the rat, and he was sweet. There was no biting, there was no running away. He did pee on her, though. Guess which animal she came home with? That rat, named Templeton, taught her a lot about how society can treat very differently two species of animal who would seem to be very similar...

You can read the rest of Erin's bio and story here.

Chris Amerman

Co-Founder, Board Treasurer, and Sanctuary Director

Chris met Erin at the University of West Florida in 1995 and they married in 1997. Always an animal lover, he gave up animal products shortly after they married when he ran out of arguments against it. While in medical school, they began volunteering for a no-kill animal shelter and rescuing cats and dogs, which has continued to this day. Through the years, Chris has usually tried to be the voice of reason about their rescues, but Erin generally isn't very good at listening.

At CCFS, Chris is Treasurer of the Board of Directors and the Sanctuary Director. He has also developed something of a donkey problem. In this case, Erin tries to be the voice of reason, but Chris generally isn't very good at listening, either.

Colin Callahan

Facilities Manager, Animal Care Specialist

Colin joined Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary in early 2020 as a volunteer. A geneticist by trade, Colin has worked as a bench scientist at institutions such as Johns Hopkins University and the University of Florida. However, in 2024, due to his love of animals and dedication to the sanctuary’s mission, he decided it was time for a career change and came to work for the sanctuary full-time.

He is currently the facilities manager and primary caretaker at the Critter Creek facility, where he maintains the grounds, prepares the facility for events, maintains infrastructure, performs vehicle and small engine maintenance, and carefully monitors the animal residents’ health and wellbeing. Colin has a B.S. degree in microbiology and cell science from the University of Florida and a Master of Science in ecology with an emphasis on population genetics from Utah State University.

Meredith Berry

Science Director, Interim Board Secretary

Dr. Meredith Berry is a professor at the University of Florida in the Health and Human Performance department, with special interests in conservation psychology, behavioral research in decision-making, and behavioral economics. She began volunteering for Critter Creek in 2020, and in 2024, she was invited to join the Board. Her background in conservation science and experimental psychology makes her a great asset to the sanctuary’s conservation and science programs, and in October 2024, she directed the first-ever study on sanctuaries as advocacy tools.

Meredith completed her postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University. She has a Ph.D. in forest and conservation sciences from the University of Montana, an M.S. in experimental psychology from Utah State University, and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Florida. The author of over 50 scientific publications, her research is frequently covered in popular press news outlets such as Scientific American, Pacific Standard Magazine, Fast Company Magazine, and The Huffington Post.

Katelyn Braglia

Volunteer Coordinator, Humane Educator

Growing up in Jupiter Farms, FL, Katelyn developed a lifelong love for the outdoors, participating in youth service-learning camps hosted by a local wildlife sanctuary. After relocating to Nevada with her family, she combined her passions for nature and education—working at both a wildlife sanctuary and a preschool center while attending the University of Nevada, Reno. She volunteered at her first farm animal sanctuary in Las Vegas after graduating with her bachelors. The bonds she formed with the resident animals during her time solidified her dedication to activism, humane education, and compassionate animal care.

When Katelyn returned to Florida in December 2023, she was excited to connect with the Critter Creek community after following them on social media. After a year of volunteering, she officially joined the team in December 2024 as Volunteer Coordinator and Humane Educator. With a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies, minor in Developmental Disabilities, and experience as a middle school science teacher, Katelyn now gets to combine her love of teaching with her commitment to animals—creating an accessible and positive experience for humans and animals alike!

Please reach out to katelyn at katelyn@crittercreekfarmsanctuary.org for volunteer and education inquiries.

Gretchen Sumrall

Executive Assistant, Animal Care Specialist

Gretchen joined the Critter Creek team in May 2025 after transitioning from her job as a USDA Chemical Ecology Assistant to pursue her passion for animal care. She now serves as Executive Assistant, supporting the sanctuary through a blend of hands-on animal care and behind-the-scenes business operations.

Gretchen works closely with the team to help ensure the sanctuary runs smoothly—from feeding donkeys to organizing files. While she loves all the animals at Critter Creek, she has a special fondness for the donkeys and knows each one by their quirks.

Outside of work, Gretchen enjoys autumnal walks with her dog, Duckie, taking her cat Sylvie on leash walks, and listening to Taylor Swift.

Samantha M. Bennett-Clark

Equine Manager

Samantha joined the team in December 2019. She found her way to Critter Creek a few months prior when she urgently needed to find a home for two heifers, Jingles and Bella. Samantha graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences and Plant Science and a minor in Agricultural and Natural Resources Law.

An equine wizard, Samantha has been Critter Creek's equine manager since 2021. Samantha is also a bovine wizard, and she remains the only person who can handle our resident terror-bird, Cletus. When she isn’t working on the sanctuary or studying, Samantha enjoys spending time with her cats, steer, and horses.