Meet Our Team
Katie Westerfield
CEO & Founder
Born and raised in Irondequoit, New York, Katie moved to Ohio in 2004. She attended school in the area for Fire Science, and was an Intern with Dayton Fire’s Investigation and Prevention Department. In 2011, while traveling out in the Bad Lands of South Dakota in the middle of a snow storm – the name of her next adventure came to her: Homeward Bound… How perfect! She has built the company from the ground up, and carefully selects her team to represent everything she has worked for. Today, Katie and her husband, Matt, live in Centerville with their four children. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, traveling, cooking, and coaching soccer for local leagues. She loves coffee, calamari, and is a sucker for a good cheeseburger, too!
Willow and Cypress are her huskies who have very unique names. Willow, is actually named after the unity tree they used in their wedding ceremony. Their dog Paxson was buried beneath the willow tree, and it was a wonderful way to commemorate him when they welcomed her into the family. Cypress is a newer addition, and is named after the bald cypress trees in the bayous of Louisiana – a special place for Katie and Matt. They also have kitties named Siggy and Claire, a bunny named Everest, and a russian tortoise named Boris The Tortoise!
Fun Fact: If you hear her say, “If its all right by you…” she is really saying “bayou” and thinks she’s hilarious!
Christa Knipes
Director of Administration & Lead Care Specialist
Christa grew up in Lebanon, Ohio and is one of our seasonal staff as she attends Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania. She keeps busy with a double major in English and Dance, and a minor in Psychology. She has an adorable dog named Daisy, who is queen of her home. Her love for animals brought her to HWB in the spring of 2019, and she loves working with all different types of pets, and seeing the distinct personalities in each individual pet we care for. When she isn’t busy with her studies or working, you will find her with her nose in a book, snacking on her favorites, or catching a well deserved nap!
Fun Fact: She has been bitten by an Ostrich!
Olivia Lavoie
Lead Care Specialist
Liv came to us late fall of 2019 and grew up in Centerville, Ohio. When she attends college nearby, she loves working one on one with our client’s pets and dedicating her time to know them on a deeper level. She has past experience working in kennels, and much prefers our slower more individualized attentive care. Her photography skills have made her a favorite among clients, and she quickly excelled within our company. Her family currently has 5 dogs and 3 turtles, and her Border Collie, Poncha, is always by her side.
Fun Fact: She fostered dogs for over 3 years, and the only she stopped was because she couldn’t let go of them after welcoming them into her home. They are now all lifetime family members!
Molly Voiles
Lead Care Specialist
Bio Coming Soon
Mikayla Schuyler
Lead Care Specialist
Mikayla was raised in a career Military family and has lived all over the country. She ended up in Centerville when her father retired from active duty, and is currently a student at Ohio University studying Music Production and Business Management. She loves coming back home to work with us over her school breaks and the summers to get her fill of all the various pets in our care. She had many different dogs growing up, and even a leopard gecko. When she settles after college, she dreams of adopting a Golden Retriever! In her past time she loves hiking in Hocking Hills, fall weather, and drinking a chai tea.
Fun Fact: She was a proud member of the Centerville High School Jazz Band and Color Guard for four years.
Grace Mullins
Care Specialist
Lyric Valentine
Care Giver
Bio Coming Soon.