The Apex Team

PAULA FICARA, Executive Director  &  STEVE WASTELL, Lead of Operations

In 2009, Paula Ficara and Steve Wastell discovered a place that would change the course of their lives forever; a young wolfdog rescue just getting its start in Los Angeles County. With a lifelong love of wildlife, particularly wolves, they found themselves volunteering as much time as possible to the growth and development of the small rescue, eventually leaving their former careers behind to become full-time staff members. In 2014, with their true passion being realized and a strong desire to fulfill their mission, Paula and Steve created Apex Protection Project. Since then, they’ve continued to help rescue and rehabilitate wolves and wolfdogs, developed educational events and programs, and have been active advocates for both captive-bred wolves and wolfdogs and wolves in the wild. The goal of Apex Protection Project is to continue the quest of protecting wolves and wolfdogs through educational experiences, rescue, and advocacy with the dream of living in a world where the wolf and all species are highly valued, protected and respected for the balance they bring to the ecosystem and for the gifts they offer to humanity.

Ian Winer

Ian Winer is an investor, philosopher, writer and public speaker who connects people to the truth of market places and human behavior. A regular contributor to CNBC, Fox Business, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Reuters, to name just a few, he is known for seeking connections through non-consensus thinking and making it relatable to everyone. 

MARGARETA MORRO, MBA

Originally from Switzerland, Margareta has worked in many industries with responsibilities involving financial compliance and operational processes with Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Public Education. She is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of extensive experience in international finance, administration and accounting with extensive teaching experience. Today she oversees global finance operations for a US headquartered humanitarian not-for-profit organization. Margareta realized from an early age that animals are a critical part of her life. Upon moving to the US in 2009 she started volunteering at the Wetlands and Wildlife Center in Huntington Beach, CA where she soon was leading the weekend shift to ensure that injured wildlife would get the first assessment and proper treatment upon arrival. During that time, she was also appointed to the Board of Wetlands and Wildlife Center.

SUZI LANDOLPHI

PATHH facilitator at Boulder Crest Retreat for Military & Veteran Wellness, Clinical Director and Co-founder at BIG Heart Ranch, Malibu.

Before becoming a therapist, Suzi managed professional theater companies in Boston, directed live theater, wrote several feature film scripts that were produced and directed a short film. In 2003, Suzi earned her Master’s degree in Clinical and Community Psychology at Antioch University and became certified in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. Suzi created her own EAP program called Horse Inspired Growth and Healing (HIGH) and Horse Inspired Psychotherapy (HIP), an experiential horse program that increases personal insight, inspires emotional and spiritual healing and encourages behavior change. In 2006, Suzi co-founded BIG Heart Ranch, www.bigheartranch.org, in Malibu, California that provides HIGH and HIP services to children, families, veterans and treatment centers healing from trauma and mental health issues. Since January 2007, Suzi has been providing horse related activities to Native American youth through her program called Red Horse Nation, www.redhorsenation.org, a division of Lifesavers, Inc. RHN provides Native American Horse Inspired Growth and Healing (NAHIGH) and Psychotherapy (NAHIP) services to Native American youth and families with the support from traditional Native principles, practitioners and culture as well as sound clinical practices.  As Vice President of Lifesavers, Inc., (www.wildhorserescue.org) America’s largest wild horse rescue, Suzi and the Lifesavers staff help veterans, suffering from trauma and PTSD, heal through their Wild Horse Warrior Journey where veterans are taught to gentle wild horses. Suzi also works as a therapeutic facilitator for Boulder Crest Retreat’s Warrior PATHH and for other veteran and military family programs such as Gold Star Families and the EOD Warrior Foundation.

TODD GEORGE, CPA, JD

Todd’s career in corporate finance has included leadership roles in tax, treasury, finance, IT and supply chain management at several publically traded multi-national corporations. In addition to traditional corporate finance responsibilities, Todd participated in the establishment, operation and compliance for both Private Foundations and Donor Advised Funds created by his corporate employers to support the communities in which the respective companies operated. Todd has had a passion for the well being of animals since childhood that has led him to provide a permanent home to numerous rescued pets and provide continuing financial support to numerous animal welfare and environmental organizations. Todd brings extensive business experience to our Board to help guide the continuing expansion of operations as we pursue our mission.

YUKA KOBAYASHI

Yuka Kobayashi has over 20 years of experience in the Entertainment Industry and is the Co-Founder of Trifecsome Media, LLC, consulting, creating, and executing high level strategy for digital, social, and original content.  Formerly the Director of New Media and Alternative Content at Stan Lee's POW! Entertainment for the past 15 years she developed and produced content across all verticals: web, social, video, gaming, live events, publishing and consumer products.  With a previous background of 10+ years of on-set experience, Ms. Kobayashi has also transitioned to being a Producer of numerous independent feature films, music videos, web series, and digital shorts as well as an Advisor on several startup companies in Technology, Entertainment and Consumer Products. 

NICOLE WILDE

Nicole is an internationally recognized, award-winning author and lecturer, as well as a professional canine behavior specialist. She has specifically worked with rescued wolves and wolfdogs for over twenty years and is considered an expert in the field. She was Executive Director for Villalobos Rescue Center, a sanctuary for rescued wolves and wolfdogs, as well as pit bulls and exotic animals, and specialized in socializing the fearful wolves who were to live out their lives at the center. Nicole has presented wolfdog education seminars to animal control officers, schools and specialty groups. Her eleven books include So You Want to be a Dog Trainer, Help for Your Fearful Dog, and Wolfdogs A-Z: Behavior, Training and More. Nicole presents seminars worldwide at conferences and for training clubs, humane societies, and other groups. Nicole is also a photographer and artist who loves to use her talents to help animals in need.

Sally SeelEy

Sally comes to Apex with a lifetime love of all animals large and small. Her background includes a 25+ year career with the PA Department of Agriculture in which she was involved with many divisions, including animal health.

She has many years of board experience with the Central PA Arthritis Foundation, including serving in positions of all chairs levels, the most recent being Board Chair and serving as Regional Vice Chair during the Foundations reorganization. Sally currently resides in Arizona with her dog Cooper and visits Paula, Steve and the pack whenever possible.

Bette, Pack Care Manager

Bette has always had a strong love and respect for animals, especially wolves. Although her first path in life was the become an orchestra player, her passion for wildlife grew stronger.

She met Steve in a Lowe's parking lot by chance and didn't hesitate to become a volunteer. Everything seemed to fall into place and she's dedicated to grow with Apex Protection Project, as well as protect these amazing creatures alongside the equally amazing people in this community.

Ana

Ana has been working with wolves and wolf dogs for over 12 years and it is her favorite thing! She was lucky enough to help bottle feed Thor and Loki at weeks old and so snuggle time with them is extra special. When not running with the wolves, Ana is an actor and writer in Los Angeles. 

Brennan

Brennan relocated to Los Angeles in 2017 after growing up in Maryland. He developed a deep love of wolves and wolfdogs after volunteering at another sanctuary for three years. Wanting to be more directly involved in conservation, he joined Apex Protection Project after learning about their ongoing advocacy efforts.

Brennan has worked in several industries including personal training and door-to-door sales, and is currently studying Wildlife Biology at Santa Monica College.

For fun, he enjoys weight training, martial arts, playing guitar and piano, and playing with his dog. Brennan is also a big fan of anything in nature, and can often be found on hikes in the many trails and mountains surrounding Los Angeles.

Caroline, social media manager

Caroline works as a freelance American Sign Language interpreter in Los Angeles and is a recent graduate from Cal State University, Northridge. Keeping with her namesake, she was raised to love and revere wolves. At a young age, Caroline received her first introduction to wolves with a pet wolfdog named Shayna who taught her the sweet and loving nature of wolfdogs. Working in animal rescue and rehabilitation for years, Caroline was drawn to Apex Protection Project, which has allowed her to continue in combining her passions for both working with animals as well as her love of wolves. In the near future, she plans on returning to Cal State Northridge to earn a master’s degree in public administration in the non-profit sector to further benefit the organizations she serves, like Apex Protection Project. Caroline was born and raised in Sherman Oaks, California but has relocated to the Antelope Valley. When introduced to Directors Steve Wastell and Paula Ficara, she was eager to support their efforts in creating a wolf and wolfdog rescue from its initial concept. Now, Caroline spends most of her days at Apex which has become her “home away from home” working closely with the pack, training the volunteer team, and acting as official “wolf-sitter”.

COLE

Cole grew up with wolfdogs and has developed a deep respect and appreciation for them. For this reason, Cole is committed to working with and supporting Apex Protection Project as they are dedicated to protecting these amazing animals and to educating the public in a manner which will improve the lives of all wolves and wolfdogs.

Cole has worked in several fields including television, radio, customer service, and the restaurant industry. Additionally, Cole was the administrator for a home for disabled individuals, and served as the President of the town council where he resided for two years.

Cole has a twin brother who is Deaf and who afforded him access to both the Deaf community and to American Sign Language from birth. He has worked as a sign language Interpreter for over six years in a variety of settings and for a variety of individuals including presidential candidates. Additionally, Cole is a faculty member at California State University Northridge and is the Department Chair of World Languages and Philosophy at Antelope Valley College. Cole holds a Master’s degree in Humanities, a Baccalaureate degree in Deaf Studies, and four Associates of Arts degrees spanning several disciplines.

Currently, Cole is working on publishing research which examines both the influence of audism (an ideological construct which humanizes hearing people and their perceived associated characteristics while simultaneously oppressing and dehumanizing Deaf people and their perceived associated characteristics) on the identity development of hearing people and the process by which a hearing person replaces an audist, hearing-centric world view as their primary filter with a filter which allows for the development of an identity that rejects audism.

emma

Emma joined Apex in 2021 after finding Apex on TikTok during the pandemic. She quickly became a handler and caretaker and has fallen in love with the pack, especially Thor. She even managed to get a stamp of his paw print so that she can get it as a tattoo. Emma eventually wants to get her MPA and work as a Pediatric Physician’s Assistant, but is working as an EMT until she starts school.  She and her girlfriend live in West LA with their cat, Rigatoni, who was found on the Apex ranch and adopted by Emma. Emma is an Aries, enjoys sewing and crocheting, and loves to surf when she has free time!

EMMY

Emmy graduated from high school in 2023 and plans on committing to a 4-year university to double major in wildlife medicine and sports medicine. She is a big fan of anything outdoors. 

She came to Apex for the first time in 2018 on a Girl Scout visiting trip, and after falling immediately in love with the pack and the team, she knew she had to join. She created the Junior Volunteer Program to earn her Silver Award for Girl Scouts and she looks forward to continuing developing the program as well as spending more time at Apex.

ERIKA, North Carolina Advocacy Representative

Erika Mates has worked as a financial advisor since 2005. She lived in the high desert of California for 4 years where she encountered several abused and abandoned animals that needed help. Because of this, Erika recognized the immediate need for rescue and animal welfare advocacy. She was able to rescue numerous cats and dogs from the desert, getting them the vet care they needed and finding them forever homes. She began volunteering with Apex in 2015 and fell deeply in love with the pack as well as the Apex mission. Her passion for animals has only grown since joining the Apex Team, and she is committed to advocating for wolves until we see them living freely and untouched in the wild. Today she lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband, young son, 3 cats, and 3 dogs. Since moving to North Carolina, she has continued to volunteer with Apex as an animal advocate, focusing on predator advocacy. Currently she is working to end wildlife killing contests in the state of North Carolina and advocating for the endangered red wolf.

Gin

Gin graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in Art in 1997. She has been a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) since 1991, and has been teaching Pilates and Yoga for the past twenty years. She has added many other disciplines to her practice, including Reiki, various forms of bodywork, and neural plasticity.

Her love of animals grew from riding horses as a child and her family’s love of rescue dogs. Even her great grandmother taught her how to help birds that had from fallen from their nests. After moving to California, she spent two years volunteering at The Healing Equine Ranch where she studied natural horsemanship and ground work. Learning how to have a relationship truly built on trust with these magnificent animals using only your body, breath, and energy was a humbling experience.

Gin found Apex Protection Project through a friend and participated in The Alpha Experience offered at the sanctuary. Her life was forever changed during this “Bucket List” moment. She had always loved wolves and felt a connection with them through the Native stories of the Raven and the Wolf. Her last name means Raven, and this affinity, love, and fascination with wolves all made sense in an instant. She knew she had to work with Apex and help with their mission any way she could.

grace

Grace has always had a passionate love for all nature and wildlife. She started at Apex as a junior volunteer in 2019 and has since graduated into an adult volunteer. Grace attends high school and is enrolled in medical-focused classes with the hope to pursue the healthcare field in the future. With weekdays spent studying, her weekends are for the wolves.

JACK

Originally from Idaho, Jack relocated to Los Angeles in 2007. Jack works as a Software Engineer and has been involved in companies ranging from massive scale online advertising to multimedia, specializing in data validation, application automation and product testing. Jack’s first best friend was his dog and that imprinted a deep love and respect for animals for the rest of his life. In 2010 Jack began transporting rescue animals from the shelters to rescues and adoptive homes and volunteering with national rescue organizations specializing in Chihuahua and Pit Bull rescues and helping with large scale adoption events. He and his wife Tracy are the proud parents of a family of four spoiled rescue dogs. In 2017, Jack joined Apex Protection Project as a volunteer after seeing them at a work event.

Jen AKA “WIGGY”

Jen AKA “Wiggy” came to Apex out of sheer love, admiration and respect for wolves and wolf dogs. She has her own pack at home with her two wolf dogs that she raised since they were pups, so it’s no surprise that she feels such a powerful connection to them.

She visited Apex during Sedona Wolf Week as a guest, fell in love with the pack and decided then and there she was going to expand her heart from just her wolfy family at home, to include the Apex pack and become a dedicated member of it.

JOLIÉ

Southern California born and raised, Jolie has been an ASL interpreter in the K-12 school system for over 25 years. It’s Jolie’s passion to facilitate communication to help her students understand and succeed. As a child her family raised a wolfdog but “Banjo” chose Jolie and her father as his own. They shared this bond for years and never forgot their beloved boy. After Jolie’s father passed, she sought out that bond again eventually finding Apex Protection Project where she dialed into that energy and hasn’t looked back. Being a part of Apex lets her connect and honor her Dad and Banjo’s spirits as well as allowing her to be a servant to this wonderful community. “It takes a village…” She truly loves taking part in Apex’s growth and development. Snuggles and kisses from the pack ain’t too bad either!

KERRI LYNN

Originally from Minnesota, Kerri moved to Orange County at a young age. She worked in corporate America as an event planner but currently, she is her parents' primary caregiver. She grew up always having a love for animals of all kinds. When bringing home strays, she always told her parents they followed her home.

She got her first husky off the side of a freeway where a homeless person was trying to sell her - Glacie was the love of her life. She started to advocate for huskies since they are such a misunderstood breed and everyone tends to fall in love with their beauty, not knowing the characteristics of the breed itself. She now has a new rescue Phoenix. This is his 5th and forever home. Huskies being one of the top breeds in shelters, Kerri continues to support her local husky rescues.

Meeting and interacting with wolves was always on Kerri's bucket list which brought her to Apex in 2023. She says being around the pack is very therapeutic and brings out so many emotions. When she shares her experiences, her friends and family can feel her passion for the Apex pack and family.

Lisa, Rescue and Adoption Dept.

Lisa fell in love with wolves for the first time after hiking with the Apex pack as a guest! After stalking the social media pages for a while, she took the leap to join the volunteer team. Fast forward a few years, and she has formed unique bonds with the different pack members at Apex and is continually learning how to be a better wolf caretaker. She is also supporting the Apex rescue efforts across the country by joining their Placement and Adoption teams. 

Outside of Apex, Lisa owns her own dog training business and runs the adoption program for Live Love Animal Rescue in Long Beach, CA. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and adventuring with her own pack of dogs. 

MERISSA

Merissa grew up in Antelope Valley north of Los Angeles. Her mother worked at a vet office so she was exposed to animals from a young age, growing up with dogs, cats and occasionally pet rats. She recently graduated from Antelope Valley college with a certificate in Deaf Studies: Interpreter Training Program and volunteers for the Deaf Community in Los Angeles. Merissa joined Apex in 2017. “I love working with wolfdogs because each one has such a great personality. It makes me want to protect each and every one of them.” says Merissa.

Pepa

Pepa has had a love for animals since she started rescuing stray kittens in her backyard as a kid. Having grown up on the East Coast, she moved to LA in 2018 to continue her career in post-production. She first started volunteering at an animal rescue when she fostered (and immediately foster failed) her dog, Arya, during the pandemic. Since then, she's volunteered at two rescues and fostered many more pups until they found their forever homes. Pepa first heard about Apex through her tattoo artist and fell in love with the pack after meeting them. 

During the week, Pepa spends her time as an editor and graphics artist working mostly on docu-series and unscripted television. She spends her weekends at Apex, learning to be a caretaker for the wolves and strengthening her connections with the pack.

Rami

Rami is a speech pathologist. She has worked in various hospitals for 12 years and is passionate about rehabilitation, both for humans and animals. Growing up with influences of spirituality in her life, she always had a deep love and respect for nature and animals. She found Apex Protection Project on Instagram, went on their website and scheduled a hike. After meeting the pack, she fell in love and signed up to volunteer. These days she lives too far away to make it over there regularly, but helps out remotely with advocacy work.

Sarah, Pack Healthcare

Sarah is originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin but has called California home for the past seven years. Her commitment to animal welfare is reflected in her career as a vet technician, particularly thriving in the challenging environment of the ER. Over the last three years, Sarah has specialized in caring for wolves and wolfdogs. Since joining Apex in early 2023, Sarah has seamlessly integrated her passion for ensuring animals lead fulfilling lives into her role. At Apex, she is dedicated to providing healthcare guidance and compassionate care to the wolves. Her genuine love for animals extends beyond her professional duties, as she is involved with Canine Rescue Club and The Newfoundland Club of Southern California where she gives her time to fostering dogs on the side.

Sam

Sam has always had a deep passion for (obsessed with) wolves since she was a kid. Originally from the East Coast, she came to LA years back for her MFA in Acting by way of Chicago. While she spent many years missing Chicago's vibrant theatre scene, she fell deeply in love with the Southern California landscape, especially the wild mountains in her backyard. After a few years acting in Chicago and New York, Sam returned to LA in 2022 and couldn't be happier to be at Apex, and continues to learn from each member of the pack how to be a little more wild.

In her other life, Sam is an actress and director, an international yoga teacher specializing in ancient yoga philosophy, and a ceremonialist and psychedelic therapy facilitator, weaving indigenous knowledge with the Western nervous system.

She has a rad old man dog named Guy, runs marathons, likes Tom Robbins and Tom Waits, traveling too much, and really phenomenal whiskey.

Tim

As Owner and Executive Producer for Lockbox Productions (NYC/LA), Tim has been leading teams for over 20 years. Working with many Fortune 500 Companies, and dozens of award-winning Advertising Agencies, he has worked around the globe on major campaigns for television and other media. During those two decades, his production house worked on and completed over 600 projects in over 20 countries, and in all 50 States. Currently based out of Santa Monica, he spends any spare time staying active in the mountains, in the water, and volunteering whenever possible.