Meet the Board and Leadership

Board and working leadership

The people accountable for the mission.

Dalo Acres is guided by people who bring animal care, education, health care, skilled trades, business leadership, and lived resilience to the same table. Their job is to keep the sanctuary focused on humane care, responsible stewardship, and practical service to the Cache Valley community.

Animal firstCare decisions begin with safety, dignity, and quality of life.

Donor accountableNeeds, priorities, and financial information are shared plainly.

Community rootedLeadership combines local service with trusted animal-industry partners.

President and founder

Paula Gilsdorf

Paula leads Dalo Acres with a long record of service and a deeply personal understanding of resilience. In March 2016, during her third humanitarian trip to Senegal to support Lions Club International eye clinics, she was seriously injured in a taxi crash. Surgeons in Paris amputated both legs below the knee.

Paula returned to Utah, adapted to a changed life, and kept serving. That combination of compassion, persistence, and practical problem-solving shapes the sanctuary today. She keeps Dalo Acres centered on the animals, the people who care for them, and the donors who make that care possible.

Read Dalo's mission Paula's recovery story

Community and program support

Justin and Dani Gilsdorf

Justin and Dani bring hands-on problem-solving and a youth-centered perspective to Dalo Acres. Justin works in the tile trade, where precision, durability, and finishing the job matter. Dani is a school counselor who understands how consistency, boundaries, and patient support help young people feel safe enough to grow.

Together, they strengthen the practical and people-facing side of the sanctuary's work.

Treasury and administration

Joe Gilsdorf and Katherine Reid

Joe helps protect financial stewardship, while Katherine supports organized, responsive administration. Joe, listed as Joey Gilsdorf in Dalo Acres public filings, serves as treasurer. Katherine is a nurse whose professional habits bring calm observation, clear communication, and steady follow-through to the team.

Their combined perspective helps turn donor support into practical care and accountable operations.

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Marketing, recruiting, and stewardship

Jon Conklin and Leigha

Jon and Leigha connect family stewardship with disciplined outreach. Jon leads marketing and recruiting for Dalo Acres and is the founder of Draw It Out® Horse Health Care Solutions, where his work centers on product standards, practical animal care, and building trust with the people doing the work.

Leigha brings family history, day-to-day perspective, and a grounded voice to decisions about the sanctuary's future.

Jon at Draw It Out® Jon on LinkedIn Jon on Substack

Equestrian and partnership perspective

Russell Fomby II

Russell brings third-generation horsemanship and real-world equestrian business experience to Dalo Acres. Raised around horses and hard-use equipment at F-Bar Ranch in Gainesville, Texas, he helps lead K&D Equestrian with an emphasis on practical standards and gear that earns its place in the barn.

His perspective helps Dalo evaluate partnerships, equipment, and care decisions through the lens of actual daily use.

Russell at K&D Equestrian Russell on LinkedIn

Governance and accountability

What does the Dalo Acres board do?

Protect the mission

Keep animal welfare, safe care, and responsible placement at the center of decisions.

Steward every gift

Review priorities, direct resources toward real needs, and communicate clearly with donors.

Build useful partnerships

Work with people and businesses whose standards fit the sanctuary and strengthen long-term care.

Dalo Acres is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) animal-welfare organization, EIN 87-2485109. Its public 2024 Form 990-EZ reports $0 compensation for its named officers and key personnel. Review Dalo Acres transparency information.

Give with a clear view of the people behind the work.

Your gift helps provide feed, shelter, veterinary care, safe facilities, and the daily essentials that keep sanctuary animals secure.

Donate to Dalo Acres See current needs