Dr. Lisa Davis is the Co-founder and President of the Burleigh Manor Animal Sanctuary and Eco-Retreat (BMASER). She and her husband, Dr. Lawrence Cheskin, founded the Sanctuary with Davis’ father, Edward Davis, Jr. in 2012 in honor of the late Margaret (Peggy) Davis, an avid animal lover and advocate. Having grown up caring for horses and numerous pets, Davis knew she had a calling to help animals. After conferring with her lifelong friends, Davis left her corporate job, where she was Vice President of Scientific and Clinical Affairs at Medifast, Inc., moved to Ellicott City, Maryland, and established the nonprofit animal sanctuary.

Dr. Larry Cheskin is the Co-founder and Treasurer of the Burleigh Manor Animal Sanctuary and Eco-Retreat (BMASER). He and his wife, Dr. Lisa Davis, founded the Sanctuary with Davis’ father, Edward Davis, Jr. in 2012 in honor of the late Margaret (Peggy) Davis, an avid animal lover and advocate. Larry helps out as much as he can on the farm day-to-day. He also is the Founder and Director of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Cate is one of the most dedicated volunteers anyone could ask for. Not only is the Farm Manager and Animal Caregiver, she is also a dear friend to everyone at the farm. Care assists in all areas of the farm from animal care and grooming to housekeeping and grounds maintenance. Cate has an incredibly special bond with each animal and takes care to work with them individually so their specific needs are met. Jake the Donkey (pictured with Cate) hold a special place in Cate’s heart and one of her favorite furry babies to spend time with.

Wendy brings a lifetime of experience and knowledge in farm animal rescue to the board as vice president of Burleigh Manor Animal Sanctuary and Eco-Retreat (BMASER). Wendy owns and operates Cheryl’s Rescue Ranch in Anne Arundel County and has offered so much of her time, knowledge and love to BMASER.

A life-long friend of Co-founder Lisa Davis, Julie has been a huge part of Burleigh Manor Animal Sanctuary and Eco-Retreat (BMASER) since its inception. Julie works as a Systems Engineer at NIST and actually helped the farm build their previous website.

Ellis Richman is a dynamic professional with a proven track record in the non-profit sector, bringing a wealth of experience in developing and implementing strategic marketing initiatives. With a strong foundation in fundraising, website design, SEO strategies, and digital marketing, Ellis excels at creating innovative approaches that drive organizational growth and diversify revenue streams. Highly skilled in building relationships with diverse stakeholders and communicating effectively across all levels, Ellis is dedicated to addressing challenges with a strategic mindset. Known for his strong work ethic and ability to navigate complex situations, Ellis is a valuable asset to the Burleigh Manor Animal Sanctuary's Board.

Elvira McCullough is a mother of three wonderful kids, who loves cooking, gardening, playing tennis, music and traveling. Elvira speaks 4 languages and has lived in Venezuela, Spain, France, England and Italy. She has her own Websites and Marketing Solutions company and is a Spanish interpreter/translator. She has been fully engaged in her community for more than 20 years and has worked with many non-profit organizations in Howard County. Elvira is on the Family Advisory Board for Learning Heroes, is a commissioner for La Alianza Latina of Howard County, Board of Directors for Luminus and website and events coordinator for Howard County NAACP.