Meet Our Board

Our Board is dedicated to Piccoli Amici's success.

Executive Director: Sofia Lindgren

Sofia Lindgren is the Executive Director of Piccoli Amici. She turned 13 in November, and is currently in 7th grade at Cambridge Lakes Charter School. She was recently elected president of Student Council at her school. She has always loved animals, and her favorite animal is the Blue Dragon, which is a sea slug that eats jellyfish stingers. She loves running, reading, theater, hanging out with her little sister, and golfing. She can speak fluent Italian and she am learning how to speak Japanese. Making Piccoli Amici is a dream come true for her.

Chair: Debra Kutska

Deb Kutska is the Sustainability Specialist at Oakton Community College, where she engages her colleagues, students, and community members in environmental and social responsibility. Prior to this role, Deb worked at Brookfield Zoo managing youth conservation leadership programs and working as a seasonal zookeeper, spent time at the Bronx Zoo in visitor research, and conducted her master’s thesis and internship observing polar bears at the Central Park Zoo. She spent several years volunteering as an animal keeper with Willowbrook Wildlife Center and currently volunteers as a Crisis Counselor with Crisis Text Line. A love of animals is what pushed Deb to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at Eastern Illinois University and master’s degree in Conservation Biology at Columbia University in the City of New York. Deb has been a pet mom to rabbits, fish, and dogs, including her current rescues: Taco and Burrito (chinchillas) and Kogoma (pit bull mix).

Vice Chair: Jackie Taylor

Jackie Taylor has been involved in pet rescue for over twenty years. She has fostered over 100 dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, and small animals. She has had guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, birds, snakes, turtles, and fish as pets, along with dogs and cats. She is very excited for Sofia to start up her rescue, and is happy to help in any way she can.

Director: Lauren Gallucci

Lauren is a recently retired zookeeper with experience caring for animals large and small. She has a soft spot for rodents, and has owned a variety of mice, hamsters, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits over the years. Currently she has 3 dogs, 6 chickens, 8 rats, 3 fish, and a rabbit at home, plus a foster dog or two at any given time. Lauren is married with 3 children (ages 7, 10, & 12). She is an Adoption Counselor for a local dog rescue and is very excited to lend her knowledge and passion for animals to Piccoli Amici’s mission!

Director: Simone Lindgren

Simone is 9 years old and in 4th grade. Her favorite color is blue and her favorite animal is a pony and her favorite food is pizza. Simone's hobbies are dancing, acting, and painting! She loves to play with her dog Puccini! She likes to play outside and to read Harry Potter. She also loves to watch old T.V. shows. Her favorite holidays are Christmas and Dia De Los Muertos! She is really excited to be doing this!

Director: Marie Scarbrough

Marie has two teen daughters that fill her time with a lot of laughter. She works as a middle school art teacher and wakes up each day thankful to have a job she loves. When she has free time, she likes to plan for vacations and loves it even more when she gets to actually travel. Marie has been in a pet free home for a long time but not too long ago she brought home her feisty, grey chinchilla.

Treasurer: Scott Lindgren

Scott currently works with USA Wireless to provide internet and television to condos and apartment complexes. He has always loved dogs after growing up around puppies of all breeds and sizes. He works with his 13 year old daughter on High School math, so he knows how to work with numbers. He also helps his 9 year old daughter with her math homework. He runs his own business, Video Foot Productions, out of his basement. Scott is ready to do what it takes to help Piccoli Amici.

Secretary: Abigail Tatz

Abby Tatz is 13 years old. She cares very passionately about animals, family, and the earth. She believes in anything positive!