Tree House Managerial Staff

David de Funiak, Executive Director, is responsible for the overall administration and operation of Tree House. David has been with Tree House since January of 2000, and has extensive fundraising and management experience. Under his direction, Tree House has expanded its programs and services, acquired the Bucktown Branch shelter, and created the BDVM Mac Lean Spay/Neuter Clinic.

Dr. Lynda Ewald, Director of Veterinary Services , is responsible for all aspects of veterinary health care in the Tree House Munder Clinic. Dr. Ewald received her veterinary degree at Michigan State University, and gained her first introduction to shelter medicine at Tree House over a decade ago. She has since worked in private practice at the Cat Hospital of Chicago, and is currently Director of Veterinary Medicine at Tree House. Her supervision of the clinic has greatly increased our level of care, and her knowledge and experience in feline and canine care are extensive.

Jenny Schlueter, Development Director & Feral Friends TNR Program Manager, has consistently increased revenue for Tree House while at the same time greatly expanding shelter outreach activities using a grass roots approach which includes weekly adoption events and partnerships with local businesses and other nonprofits. An avid TNR activist, Jenny first practiced TNR in 1998 in Madrid, Spain, and she continued her work with feral cats here in Chicago by starting Tree House’s Feral Friends TNR Program. Jenny has been with Tree House since November, 2003.

Ollie Davidson, Director of Programs, has worked at Tree House since July of 2000. In his time at Tree House, Ollie has worked as a vet tech, adoption counselor and supervisor. During his time as adoption supervisor, Ollie consistently raised Tree House's adoption numbers and helped to achieve the modern day yearly record of 646 adoptions in 2004. Currently as Programs Manager, Ollie oversees most of Tree House's programs, including the Volunteer program, which boasts over 300 active volunteers, as well as the Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Pet Food Pantry programs.

Mike Rocheleau, Bucktown Branch Manager Manager, started his career with Tree House in 2001 as a caretaker. Currently, he is responsible for the day to day activities and programs the Bucktown Branch has to offer-adoptions, caretaking, clinic support, pet food pantry distribution, neighborhood education and outreach, volunteer support, event support to name a few.

Dr. Rebecca Lederer, Spay/Neuter Clinic Director, received a DVM with honors from University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana in 2007. While in school, she was a member of the Veterinary Student Outreach Program, which provided pet care and veterinary medicine education to local schools and clubs, and took part in A Pet’s Place, a program that provided boarding and care for the pets of women living in local domestic violence shelters. In 2004, Dr. Lederer completed a student summer externship at Banfield Aurora, and in 2005 completed an additional student summer externship in critical care/emergency medicine at VCA Aurora. She is currently a member of the AVMA and previous member of ISVMA, CVMA, and the AAFP.