Board of Directors
Marc Johnson
President & Board Chair
Raised as a teen in Belgium and educated at the University of London, Marc Johnson was a potter and an art teacher with a studio in Cambridge, Massachusetts when, in the early 1980’s, he answered an ad and bought his first parrot, a blue and gold macaw named Wally. As fate would have it, on the very same day he bought Wally, he rescued his first parrot, “Bill”, an unwanted mitred conure. The relationship he formed with these birds in the early 1980’s lead him down the path he still walks today as the founder and CEO of Foster Parrots, Ltd. Marc’s drive and dedication to parrot protection and avian welfare issues have brought him before audiences across the country to speak on topics including the captive parrot crisis, wild parrot conservation efforts in South America, and controversy surrounding non-native parrot species in the U.S.
James P. Hahn, O.D., Ph.D.
Board Secretary
Dr. Hahn is currently a full time staff Optometrist at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, a large multi-disciplinary medical practice with multiple locations in the greater Boston area. Dr. Hahn provides full scope medical optometry, specializing in custom therapeutic contact lenses for patients with a myriad of different corneal diseases. James graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA with a degree in Experimental Psychology. He received a Ph.D. from Brown University where he studied experimental psychology and color vision science. James received his second doctorate, this one in Optometry, from the New England College of Optometry.
Born in New Jersey and raised in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania James had a deep love and empathy for animals, but chronic allergies precluded him from having mammalian pets. He was able to keep goldfish, however, and he cared for them diligently - so much so that one lived for almost 20 years! In January of 2001 James and his husband, Stephen Coady, purchased their first bird, a parrotlet named Niblet, from a local breeder. This tiny, dynamic little ball of joy and energy changed their lives forever. Niblet taught James and Stephen about the true meaning of loving a parrot… and also about the devastation and heartbreak of losing one. Niblet was only 5 years old when he suddenly passed away.
It was their love for Niblet that drove James and Stephen’s quest for information – and brought them to Foster Parrots. It was their pain over losing Niblet that jumpstarted their education about the transgressions of the breeding industry and the challenges faced by parrots in the pet trade. James and Stephen have been avid Foster Parrots volunteers, activists and advocates for over a decade. Through the years they have adopted and loved 10 birds from Foster Parrots, including the beloved ChiChi, a male eclectus loved and celebrated nationwide, and more recently, Lady Walter who passed away on September 13, 2014, breaking the hearts of countless fans and followers across the country whose lives were so deeply touched by her insurmountable spirit.
Susan Sheridan, MSW, since 2007
A dedicated psychotherapist in practice with humans, Susan Sheridan’s spiritual journey on behalf of captive parrots began over 20 years ago with one very special cockatoo named Jules, who captured her heart and soul, and gradually brought her to understand how challenging it was for him, every day, to repress his wild nature and conform to life as “a pet” – even though he was treated like “a prince”. Susan’s search for a better life for Jules led her to Foster Parrots many years ago and inspired her quest to ensure that other wild spirits like Jules would have a place to go. Her dedication to the future for difficult cases like Jules has resulted in the establishment of the New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary.
Susan has been an animal enthusiast and advocate “forever”, and for over ten years has been involved with the Wildlife Conservation Society as well as with Foster Parrots, supporting programs as close as the Bronx, New York and as far as Gabon, Africa.
Roy Dubs, since 2007
Mr. Dubs has devoted himself to helping people and animals over the last decade. Mr. Dubs has personally provided rescue services to a variety of animals over the years including horses, parrots, geese, peacocks and several varieties of exotic and endangered turtles. He became familiar with the work of Foster Parrots in 2005 during a collaboration to help Quaker parrots under siege in Connecticut. He subsequently extended the use of his land for the establishment of the New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary.
Ann Bourke, DVM, ABVP, since 2020
Known throughout the region as the Traveling Bird Vet, Dr. Ann Bourke has been in veterinary practice for 30 years and has been treating avian patients exclusively for 13 years, bringing her services directly into her client’s homes and growing her reputation as one of the best loved vets in New England. Ann stepped in as Foster Parrots’ lead sanctuary vet in November of 2019, following the “semi-retirement” of long-time NEEWS vet, Dr. Hank Wietsma. Taking charge of the health and well-being of 400 parrots at The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary would be a daunting prospect for most, but Dr. Bourke has embraced the opportunity to work with such a diversity of avian species and feels right at home at the sanctuary.
Joseph Correia
since 2009
Stephanie Wood
since 2012
