A licensed realtor since 2003, Julie Baldino started her own business, Front Door Realty, in 2011. Front Door Realty is unique in that it’s a Certified Woman Owned Business.

“Although female realtors outnumber male realtors, there were and still are very few women who own the brokerages,” Julie explains. “Our agents work in SW Washington and the Portland Metro areas. We specialize in residential listings, are loud and proud allies of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities and are passionate about helping people build wealth in real estate. Handing keys to someone who’s the first in their lineage to own a home is such an honor!”

Originally a remodeler in Los Angeles and San Diego, CA, Glen bought some old warehouses which ultimately led him to open a storage business in Vancouver, WA in 1987. He now has 10 storage facilities and three warehouses: two in Oregon and one in Washington.

In 2008, Glen was building a new facility in Vancouver and Furry Friends was located in a cramped little warehouse next door. “I approached Furry Friends founder Nancy McMartin,” he says, “to tell her about my plans. Not only did I see 10 or more cats and a cluster of cages, I also saw that the roof was leaking. It was such a sad sight. They were clearly struggling and I felt obligated to help out.”

We would like to thank Dr. Marci Koski of Feline Behavior Solutions for wearing several proverbial hats when it comes to helping and supporting Furry Friends.

Boasting a highly impressive scholastic and professional background, Marci Leah Koski received a BS in Biology/Ecology, an MS in Ecology, and a PhD in Fishery and Wildlife Biology. After completing her education, she worked for 10 years with the US Fish and Wildlife Service as an endangered species biologist in their recovery program, supervising a team of biologists. But she eventually sought out a greater challenge, one where she could witness the results of her work more quickly. She received two Feline Training and Behavior certificates through the Animal Behavior Institute, then started her own cat behavior consulting business, Feline Behavior Solutions, in October of 2014 so that, as Marci says, “I could help kitties live their best lives.”

We at Furry Friends consider Dr. Huang to be one of life’s true treasures. Not only has she and her business partners Dr. Richard Green and Dr Namkung of Salmon Creek Plastic Surgery donated countless items valued at thousands of dollars to our annual auction, but she has also provided us with invaluable guidance and support throughout the years.