Joe Angelo, Chief Human Resources Officer, City of San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
Joe Angelo served as interim director of the
City of San Antonio’s Animal Care Services from September 2011 to August 2012. As the interim director, Joe was responsible for advancing the three key objectives detailed in the department’s newly revamped strategic plan: enhanced enforcement, improved animal population control and increased live releases.
Prior to his temporary assignment with Animal Care Services, Joe served as the city’s assistant director for the Office of Innovation and Reform. There, he led a team that served as the city’s “consultants” in creating process improvements and operational efficiencies.
Joe holds dual undergraduate degrees from Drexel University and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, as well as an MBA and MPA from the University of Miami and the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University, respectively. The city manager of San Antonio recently added Joe to her executive team as the chief human resources officer.
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Mike Arms, President, Helen Woodward Animal Center
Michael Arms became president of
Helen Woodward Animal Center, located in Rancho Santa Fe, California, in 1999 after serving 10 years as district manager for the ASPCA in New York and 20 years as director of operations for North Shore Animal League.
He developed the Home 4 the Holidays adoption drive, which has found homes for more than seven million orphaned pets since its inception in 1999. Mike also established the center’s Animal Center Education Services program to teach “the business of saving lives” to animal organizations worldwide.
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Amanda Arrington, Director, Pets for Life at the Humane Society of the United StatesAmanda Arrington is the director of
Pets for Life at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and previously served as the HSUS North Carolina state director. Amanda currently leads initiatives designed to reach and improve the lives of people and pets in underserved communities by expanding animal welfare resources, services and information. The work and approach of meeting people where they are is a novel concept for many in the companion animal welfare field and Amanda is determined to push the field in a new, exciting and diverse direction.
Amanda is the founder and executive director of
Coalition to Unchain Dogs, which lobbies for tethering restrictions, builds relationships in communities by providing free spay/neuter and free fences, and provides mentorship to others interested in doing similar work.
Amanda served three years as the chair of the Durham County Animal Control Advisory Committee. She has been on the board of the Durham Interneighborhood Council and has received many awards for her community outreach work.
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Rich Avanzino, President, Maddie's Fund Widely viewed as the father of the no-kill movement, Rich Avanzino has had a major influence on companion animal welfare during his 36 years in the industry. As president of
Maddie’s Fund, Rich directs the $300 million family foundation in three major areas: building community collaborations to create successful models of lifesaving; funding veterinary colleges to create shelter medicine programs; and implementing a national effort to promote accountability and transparency in animal shelter operations. Maddie’s Fund has awarded $106 million in grants since 1999.
Before joining Maddie’s Fund, Rich was president of the San Francisco SPCA from 1976 to 1999. He led San Francisco to become the first city and county in the nation to offer an adoption guarantee for every healthy shelter cat and dog, and brought euthanasia rates down to the lowest of any urban center in the nation. He also created adoption, animal behavior, feral cat and spay/neuter programs that have become models for the nation.
Before joining the humane movement, Rich applied his law and pharmacy degrees to other work in the not-for-profit sector.
Back to top Francis Battista,
Co-founder, Best Friends Animal SocietyFrancis Battista is one of the founders of
Best Friends Animal Society. He has served as director of animal care, outreach programs and Los Angeles programs. Francis managed the Best Friends rescue shelter in Tylertown, Mississippi, for four months following Hurricane Katrina and was involved in the negotiations with federal agencies and courts that brought 22 of Michael Vick’s dogs to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
In 2011, Francis was instrumental in launching No-Kill Los Angeles (NKLA), a Best Friends initiative to take the city of Los Angeles to no-kill. He currently serves on the board of directors of Best Friends, advises its Community Programs and Services division and works with the Development division.
Back to topBrenda Barnette,
General Manager, Los Angeles Animal ServicesBrenda F. Barnette has been general manager of
Los Angeles Animal Services since August 2010. Los Angeles Animal Services is one of the largest municipal shelter systems in the U.S., with six shelters serving approximately 60,000 animals annually and responding to 20,000 emergency calls each year involving animals or people in danger.
Brenda is fighting severe budgets cuts by forging an innovative partnership with Best Friends. Together, with the help of animal-loving Angelenos, Los Angeles is on track to become a no-kill city, with a 90% live save rate, in five years.
Before moving to Los Angeles, Brenda served as CEO of the Seattle Humane Society, increasing the save rate from 77% to 92% in four years. Previously, Brenda was the CEO of Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, the executive director of Pets In Need and the development director at the San Francisco SPCA.
Back to topKatie Bray Barnett,
Program/Legislative Analyst, Best Friends Animal Society Katie Bray Barnett is a program/legislative analyst for
Best Friends’ pit bull terrier initiatives. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law, where she was awarded the Walter Hiersteiner Outstanding Service Award. She is the founder of the Kansas University Student Animal Legal Defense Fund and was awarded the 2010 Advancement in Animal Law Scholarship by the Animal Legal Defense Fund. She also interned for Best Friends for two years while in law school.
For the last 10 years, Katie has worked in high-volume spay/neuter clinics, and she has coordinated the successful adoption of hundreds of pit-bull-terrier-type dogs. She has also traveled to various locations to help with large-scale animal rescues and dogfighting seizures, assisting law enforcement with the evaluation of seized dogs. Katie is on the board of directors for Game Dog Guardian and has two Delta Society therapy pit bull terriers. Katie believes a better life for dogs starts with a better life for people, and a better life for people can be advanced through the human-canine bond.
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Lindi Biggi,
Founder, Loving All AnimalsLindi Biggi is a practicing “bird-a-holic” who shares her life with 50 exotic birds. Some are disabled and most are rescues from people who no longer wanted them. Linda’s home is a sanctuary of love for birds from around the world, plus frogs, fish, turtles, lots of dogs and even seven flamingos. Every corner of her two-acre property was designed to accommodate the resident animals.
Lindi was an escrow officer for 19 years, owning escrow agencies in Oregon. After she married, she left the escrow industry and helped her husband run Beaverton Foods, Inc., a family-owned food manufacturing company and also Gene Biggi Properties, a commercial rental real-estate management company.
After Lindi retired, her passion to serve homeless animals became all-consuming. She exchanged membership on the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce and the Oregon Escrow Council for board membership with Animal Samaritans and PetSmart Charities.
In 2008, Lindi founded
Loving All Animals, a California nonprofit formed with the intent of helping animal welfare organizations work together toward the goal of a no-kill society.
Back to topJoyce Briggs,
President, Alliance for Contraception in Cats and DogsJoyce Briggs has worked at the national level of animal welfare since 1995, focusing on what makes local programs successful, and on creative partnerships between companies and nonprofits to help animals. She has served as senior director of marketing and public relations for the American Humane Association, as executive director of PetSmart Charities and, since 2006, as
ACC&D’s president. Joyce feels so lucky to be able to pursue her dream of reinventing the tools we have to humanely control dog and cat populations, making sterilization easier, less expensive and less invasive, with the end result of saving far more lives.
Joyce volunteers with the leadership of the Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland, which, by the end of 2011, had reduced euthanasia in Portland by 44% in four years. She holds a master's degree in advertising from Northwestern University. Based in Portland, Oregon, Joyce shares her household with her husband, daughter and two each of the following: dogs, cats, hens and rats.
Back to topKristi Brooks,
Operations Manager, Cat Adoption TeamKristi Brooks is the operations manager for the
Cat Adoption Team, the Northwest’s largest cat-focused shelter. She started with CAT in 2002 as a foster volunteer before joining the team as the coordinator of the foster program in 2005. In 2008, Kristi was promoted to volunteer manager, and in 2009 she became operations manager. The foster program remains under her management. Kristi lives with her husband, daughter and two adopted cats, Tigger and Kate.
Back to topBonney Brown,
Executive Director, Nevada Humane SocietyBonney Brown has been the executive director of
Nevada Humane Society in Reno, Nevada, since 2007. In her first year there, she increased adoption rates by 53% for dogs and 84% for cats and increased the save rate for dogs and cats countywide by 50%. Nevada Humane Society currently has a 93% save rate and Washoe County, Nevada, has a 91% save rate for all animals coming into area shelters, making it one of the safest communities in the country for homeless animals.
Bonney is a former chief operating officer, communications director and national No More Homeless Pets director for Best Friends. In 1992, Bonney founded Neponset Valley Humane Society in Canton, Massachusetts, and served as the organization’s executive director for seven years.
Bonney is a recipient of the 2009 Henry Bergh Leadership Award and the 2007 No Kill Advocacy Center’s 2007 Shelter Director of the Year Award.
Back to topSeth Casteel, Photographer and Founder, Second Chance PhotoSeth Casteel is an award-winning pet photographer with a passion for working with animals. His series of underwater dog photographs have brought him worldwide attention, entertaining and bewildering millions of animal lovers. He is based in Los Angeles and Chicago and is the proud "dad" to two dogs, Nala the mini-Labradoodle and Fritz, the Norwich terrier.
As an established member of the animal rescue community, Seth has been recognized by Time Magazine and the Today show. By teaching photography workshops at shelters throughout the U.S. and beyond, he hopes to educate and inspire other passionate animal ambassadors to improve the image of rescue and adoption, striving toward ending pet overpopulation and unnecessary suffering. To learn more about Seth, visit
Little Friends Photo and
Second Chance Photos.Back to top Gregory Castle, CEO, Co-founder, Best Friends Animal Society
One of the founders of
Best Friends Animal Society, Gregory Castle now serves as the CEO of Best Friends. Gregory created No More Homeless Pets in Utah. No More Homeless Pets is a campaign involving animal welfare and rescue organizations, animal control officers, veterinarians, schools, and animal lovers from across the state in aggressive spay/neuter, adoption, and public awareness programs.
Gregory also initiated Utah’s Week for the Animals, now in its 15th year. The week includes educational and public awareness programs, special discount spay/neuter services, pet adoption fairs, and public service awards. Supported by the governor of the state, Utah’s Week for the Animals has become a model for cooperative efforts in the humane community throughout the country.
Gregory grew up in England and is a graduate of Cambridge University with a master’s degree in philosophy and psychology. His background includes extensive administrative and accounting work for nonprofit human services and church organizations.
Jon Cicirelli, Director, of Animal Care and Services, City of San Jose
Since 2003, Jon Cicirelli has been the director of Animal Care and Services in San Jose, California. Jon has also been on the board of the California Animal Control Directors Association for more than six years and the legislative coordinator for four years.
Jon began working with animals in a pet store. His interest in animals caused him to volunteer as a wildlife rehabilitation transporter and then as a volunteer assistant at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. His first job in animal welfare was as an animal control officer in Arlington, Virginia, in 1994. That position led to chief of field operations four years later. His first experience as director of an agency was in the city of San Bernardino, California. Jon holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from George Mason University and a master’s in public administration from California State University.
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Stacey Coleman, Executive Director, Animal Farm Foundation
Stacey Coleman is the Executive Director of Animal Farm Foundation, New York. The Foundation’s mission is to secure equal treatment and opportunity for “pit bull” dogs. As Director, she is responsible for all aspects of the Foundation’s operations including a grants program for shelters and rescues, an Assistance Dog Training Program for shelter “pit bull” dogs, an internship program for humane workers, and a shelter for “pit bull” dogs. Before joining to Animal Farm Foundation in 2008, she co-founded Indy Pit Crew, an Indianapolis not-for-profit dedicated to ending the cruelty and prejudices suffered by “pit bull” dogs. In her role as president of Indy Pit Crew, she worked with her community to twice defeat the Indianapolis Mayor’s attempts to ban “pit bull” dogs in the city. She has presented at several national conferences, holds a degree in American Sign Language and shares her home with 7 dogs and 5 cats.
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Sue Cosby, Executive Director, Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia
Susan Cosby is the executive director of the Animal Care & Control Team of Philadelphia, the region's largest animal care and control service provider. Armed with common sense, data-driven philosophies and a sense of humor, she has dedicated her career in animal welfare to saving the lives of shelter animals.
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Tim Crum, Founder, CEO, Animal Shelter Fundraising
Tim Crum is one of the country's premier experts on animal shelter fundraising. In the last 15 years, he has raised over $150 million for more than 50 different animal welfare groups across the U.S. Through the Smart Dog School of Fundraising, Tim has taught more than 1,000 animal welfare professionals in the past three years alone.
In his 25-year professional career, he has been the executive director of two animal shelters, director of one government-run animal care and control agency, and development director for one animal shelter. As director of development and marketing for PetSmart Charities, he transformed the organization from one with $10 million in annual contributions to one with $30 million in just four years.
Tim is the founder and CEO of Animal Shelter Fundraising, a fundraising and marketing consulting company designed to help animal shelters, humane societies, SPCAs and rescue groups. He has presented at a dozen national conferences and is regularly asked to speak at statewide conferences and workshops.
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Susan Daffron, Founder, National Association of Pet Rescue Professionals
Susan Daffron is the founder of the National Association of Pet Rescue Professionals, which provides tools and information to help humane organizations save more companion animal lives.
She is the president of Logical Expressions, Inc., a book and software publishing company in Sandpoint, Idaho. She has authored 12 books, including Funds to the Rescue: 101 Fundraising Ideas for Humane and Animal Rescue Groups, Publicity to the Rescue, and two adoptive pet care books, Happy Hound and Happy Tabby. Susan has a background in publishing, graphic design and Web design.
She was a volunteer, employee and board member at a small rural animal shelter and a vet tech at a low-cost spay/neuter clinic. For the shelter, she created hundreds of promotional materials (banners, brochures, websites, forms, flyers, press releases, a quarterly newsletter) and helped organize many fundraising events.
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Denise Deisler, Executive Director, Jacksonville Humane Society
Denise Deisler joined the Jacksonville Humane Society in September 2011 as executive director. She has worked in nonprofit management since 1996 and on behalf of homeless animals for more than 14 years. Denise most recently was the executive director of the Humane Society of Manatee County in Bradenton, Florida. Under her guidance, the county embraced and recently announced its commitment to becoming a no-kill community.
In Richmond, Virginia, she was a member of the leadership team that raised $14.2 million, created a nationally recognized, state-of-the-art humane care and education center, and brought an end to the killing of adoptable homeless animals. She also served as the president of the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies and was the chair of their first strategic planning initiative.
Denise is currently a board member of the Florida Association of Animal Welfare Organizations. She shares her life and home with husband Bernie, son Tony and shelter alums Yogi, Oscar, Ziggy and Rocky.
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Susana Della Maddalena, Vice President and Executive Director, PetSmart Charities
Susana Della Maddalena joined PetSmart Charities, Inc., in July 2003 as vice president and executive director. She is responsible for ensuring the long-term growth and success of the organization's fundraising and grant-making programs to achieve the PetSmart Charities vision of a lifelong, loving home for every pet. Over the past nine-and-a-half years, she has successfully led the organization to more than $40 million in contribution income.
Before joining PetSmart Charities, Susana worked for 15 years in senior marketing and advertising positions in Chicago, Los Angeles and Phoenix. She holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Iowa and a master’s in business administration from the American Graduate School of International Management. She is a pet parent to four rescued dogs, Meg, Finnegan, Scooter and Sam; four horses named Cash, Orson, Shelby and Envy; and a pony named Walter.
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Gabriel de Peyer, Co-founder, Best Friends Animal Society
Gabriel de Peyer is a co-founder of Best Friends Animal Society and the former chairman of its board of directors. In establishing the Sanctuary, he was its chief designer, organizing the layout of roads and the positioning and design of the animal areas. He was responsible for the cohesion and aesthetics of the Sanctuary as a whole. Currently, he is engaged in contact work via the telephone and speaking engagements. He lives at the Sanctuary with 15 cats and two dogs.
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Jana de Peyer, Co-founder and Donor Stewardship Specialist, Best Friends Animal Society
Jana de Peyer is one of the co-founders of Best Friends Animal Society and has performed many functions over the years, including initiating the Sanctuary’s first off-site adoption and membership programs. She has been involved with leading the How to Start an Animal Sanctuary Workshop since 1998. Jana helped develop the major gifts program for Best Friends and is currently a donor stewardship specialist.
Jana was born in New York City and graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a degree in fine arts. She lives at Best Friends with her four rescued dogs.
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Elizabeth Doyle, Senior Creative Copywriter, Best Friends Animal Society
Elizabeth Doyle is the senior creative copywriter for Best Friends Animal Society, and head of the copywriting department. After having her romantic manuscript pulled from a “slush pile” at Random House during somebody’s coffee break, prompting a phone call that she suspected at first was a prank, she became one of the youngest published romance novelists of the 1990s, and soon had seven books published in three different languages.
In her spare time, Elizabeth became one of the earliest members of Austin Pets Alive, an organization dedicated to stopping the deaths at the primary animal shelter in Austin, Texas. She ran their daily publication, called the No-Kill Handbill; created an Austin pet-friendly rental list; and for a few years, wrote a profile-of-the-day about an animal in danger at the shelter. In 2002, she accepted a job with Best Friends Animal Society.
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Rick DuCharme, Founder and Director, First Coast No More Homeless Pets
Rick DuCharme is the founder and director of First Coast No More Homeless Pets, Inc. (FCNMHP), an organization that has been successful in decreasing shelter admissions in Jacksonville, Florida, by more than 35% and decreasing shelter deaths by nearly 70%. These advances have been accomplished through targeted sterilization programs that have spayed or neutered more than 110,000 animals since 2002. FCNMHP operates one of the largest spay/neuter clinics in the country and performs 24,000 surgeries annually.
FCNMHP has also pioneered many different types of targeted spay/neuter programs, always striving to find more effective ways to keep pets out of shelters. Collaborating with the city of Jacksonville and Best Friends Animal Society, FCNMHP developed Feral Freedom, a program that is quickly becoming the best practice for dealing with community cats. Feral Freedom has saved the lives of more than 4,000 community cats in the Jacksonville area.
Rick currently works as a consultant for organizations throughout the country that want to reduce shelter admissions and deaths, helping them to implement lifesaving programs.
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Cathi Eagan, Founder and Organizer, CanINE Express Transport Project
Cathi Eagan is the founder and organizer of the CanINE Express Transport Project located in south central Indiana. Since December 2004, Cathi and her team of volunteers have transported more than 8,100 Indiana shelter dogs from locations with high euthanasia rates to partnership shelters in need of healthy, well-socialized dogs. Each month, she transports dogs from 15 Indiana shelters to 16 receiving shelters in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Ohio.
Cathi has volunteered in animal welfare for more than 30 years, including serving on study groups and committees that work to change or adopt county and state animal welfare laws and ordinances.
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Jessie Earl, New Media Manager, Best Friends Animal Society
Animals and communication strategy are two of Jessie Earl’s greatest passions, which is why she has found her nirvana combining the two. She began her work with Best Friends Animal Society as a volunteer in 2006, finally joining the staff in early 2012. In her role as new media manager, she oversees social media strategy and online community management for the organization. She doesn’t go anywhere without her smartphone.
Before joining Best Friends, Jessie worked in various marketing, editorial, social media and public relations roles for nine years in the nonprofit health-care and publishing sectors. When she’s not playing with her two dogs, Jessie enjoys sports, music and travel with her husband. Jessie received a B.A. in communications from the College of Charleston in South Carolina.
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Jackson Galaxy, Cat Behaviorist
A cat behaviorist with more than 15 years of experience and the host of Animal Planet’s hit show My Cat From Hell, Jackson Galaxy specializes in helping individuals whose “out of control” cats are turning their lives and homes upside down.
In 2007, Jackson established a private consulting practice in Los Angeles. Working one-on-one with cats in their homes, using his unique Cat Mojo approach to cat care, he offers his clients a deeper understanding of why their cats act out and the tools to resolve their cats’ behavioral issues.
Jackson also works closely with animal shelters and rescue organizations, teaching his Cat Mojo lecture series to volunteers, staff and adopters, and helping with both behavioral and environmental enrichment programs for their feline residents. He currently sits on the board of directors for Stray Cat Alliance and Fix Nation in Los Angeles, as well as the Board of Advisors for Neighborhood Cats in his hometown of New York City.
Jackson has written a memoir called Cat Daddy: What the World’s Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love and Coming Clean.
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Karen Green, Senior Director, Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs
Karen Green joined ACC&D in 2006, bringing knowledge and experience gained during 10 years of working in animal welfare. As senior director, she manages the Organizational Partners Program, Zeuterin/EsterilSol projects and communications. Additionally, she contributes to the management of the organization, including development, planning and program administration.
Previously, Karen worked for Best Friends Animal Society, most recently as assistant director of the national No More Homeless Pets campaign, and earlier as manager of the Animal Help department, where she managed admissions requests and focused on pet retention, rehabilitation and rehoming.
Karen serves on the board of the Cat Adoption Team, the Northwest’s largest cat-focused shelter, and is a member of the marketing committee for the Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland. She holds a B.A. in organizational communication and a certificate in conflict resolution and mediation from Marylhurst University. She shares her home in Portland, Oregon, with her very large cat, Sterling.
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Michael Hand, Sr. Manager of Imagery, Best Friends Animal Society
An animal lover all his life, Michael Hand jumped at the opportunity to work at Best Friends eight years ago and has never looked back. During his time at Best Friends, he has been an animal caregiver, an adoption coordinator and a vet tech. He was ultimately able to find a way to incorporate his love of video production into his work at Best Friends and is now the senior manager of imagery.
In his current role, Michael manages a talented team of videographers and photographers who produce compelling video and photos for Best Friends’ websites, magazine, and other fundraising and outreach efforts.
At home, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, and playing music whenever he gets a chance.
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Robin Harmon, Pup My Ride Coordinator, Best Friends Animal Society
Robin Harmon is a long-time animal rescuer who has worked for Best Friends Animal Society since May 2005. Before that, Robin was a volunteer for Best Friends’ Los Angeles programs and occasionally at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. She became an employee when she took a position as the volunteer coordinator for Los Angeles. In 2007, Robin created Best Friends’ Pup My Ride transport program, and she is currently in charge of the continued operation and expansion of the program.
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Linda Harper, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, Founder, Blessed Bonds
Dr. Linda Harper has been a clinical psychologist for 29 years in the Chicagoland area. She facilitates the monthly pet loss support group for the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association. She is the author of two books: Give to Your Heart's Content ... Without Giving Yourself Away and The Tao of Eating: Feeding Your Soul Through Everyday Experiences with Food.
For the past 11 years, she has given workshops on stress and burnout for animal shelters and rescue groups and at animal welfare conferences across the country and around the world, including the Asia for Animals conference in Bali and the MENAW conference in Egypt. She leads the annual “Giving Heart Retreat: Nurturing the Animal Lover’s Soul” with Faith Maloney at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
Through
H.A.R.P.E.R.HELPER , Linda creates and leads workshops designed to help animal-responsible people energize and replenish. She also is the founder of Blessed Bonds, a program of
Animals Deserving of Proper Treatment (A.D.O.P.T.), a nonprofit no-kill animal shelter in Naperville, Illinois. With the mission of preventing owner relinquishment of pets during times of personal and/or medical crisis, Blessed Bonds offers problem-solving counseling, resources and temporary pet foster care with the intent of returning pets to their families.
Back to top April Harris,
Division Director, Salt Lake County Animal ServicesApril Harris is the division director for
Salt Lake County Animal Services. For the past decade, she has worked in the animal welfare world in both nonprofit and government agencies. April has spent the past seven years working for Salt Lake County Animal Services and has been a key element in integrating programs such as community cat TNR, the Pit Crew, Cat Crusaders and the Pet Adoption Center at Trolley Square. April’s innovation has brought about programs such as the free cat adoption promotion, which began in 2009. In the first 12 months of the program, cat adoptions increased by 60%. The overall shelter live release rate has increased from 52% in 2008 to 85% in 2012.
April is the proud owner of two miniature dachshunds and one Chihuahua mix, all rescues. When she’s not at the shelter, she enjoys playing “shoot ’em up” games on Playstation 3 and watching reruns of Seinfeld.
Back to top Ellen Jefferson, DVM, Executive Director, Austin Pets Alive!Dr. Ellen Jefferson joined
Austin Pets Alive in 2008 as executive director and began applying best practices in efficiency and operations to resolve Austin’s problem of killing thousands of healthy and treatable pets each year. Within the first year of her leadership, Austin Pets Alive reduced the killing of homeless cats and dogs in Austin by more than 20%, with the downward trend continuing today.
Ellen’s experience with EmanciPET, a high-volume low-cost spay/neuter clinic that she founded in 1999 and directed for nine years, had already made her a leader nationally as well as in Austin’s animal welfare community. In addition to her position at Austin Pets Alive, Ellen is now also the interim executive director of San Antonio Pets Alive, where she is working to set up the programs needed to make San Antonio no-kill. Ellen graduated from Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in 1997.
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Stephanie Jensen, Executive Director, Humane Society of Truckee-TahoeStephanie Jensen started her career in animal welfare in 1998 as a kennel attendant at the Humane Society of Utah. She quickly became the director of volunteers and education, a position she held for four years until she was offered a position with Best Friends Animal Society. Steph was employed during the following five years as special events and partner development director for Best Friends’ No More Homeless Pets in Utah.
In 2004, Steph became the executive director for the
Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe. Since then, she has grown the organization from a small grassroots group to the leading animal welfare agency in the Truckee-Tahoe region. During her tenure, she has been instrumental in significantly growing the staff, the annual budget, the board of directors and the partnership with local animal control, and in running a multimillion-dollar capital campaign to build a new animal shelter in the Truckee region.
Steph received her bachelor of science degree from the University of Utah in 1998. She lives with her husband, Justin, and their three pets, Wyatt, Rosebud and Leroy.
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Pam Johnson-Bennett, Certified Animal Behavior Consultant, Cat Behavior Associates, LLC
Pam is the former vice-president of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and currently heads up the IAABC Cat Division. She is a professional member of both the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals and the Animal Behavior Management Alliance. She is a frequent guest on national television and radio programs, including CNN and Fox News Channel. Pam owns Cat Behavior Associates, LLC, a veterinarian-referred behavior practice in Nashville, Tennessee. Pam lives with her husband, two children, one cat and a dog.
Rene Karapedian, Founder, Glendale Animal Welfare and Rescue
Rene Karapedian has been a pet store owner in Glendale, California, for more than 10 years. When Glendale passed an ordinance to ban the sale of dogs and cats in retail pet stores, he changed his business model from selling pets to adopting them out. Local animal welfare organizations supply his store with pets for adoption.
Since Rene converted to a humane business model, his profit margin, customer retention and reputation have all increased. In 2011, Rene was recognized by the mayor of Glendale at a media event sponsored by Best Friends as the first rescue-only pet store in Glendale. Late last year, he formed a nonprofit organization called Glendale Animal Welfare and Rescue to help other pet store owners make a successful transition to a humane business model.
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Mike Kavaini, Dog Behavior Program Manager, Austin Pets Alive
Mike Kaviani began working with shelter animals at the Irvine Animal Care Center (IACC) in California when he was 18. His Third Chance for Pets Program received national recognition when IACC was given the 2007 Shelter of the Year award primarily because of this program.
In 2010, Mike became the director of training and behavior at the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation. He worked under the guidance of Aimee Sadler, and together their work resulted in the shelter consistently reaching one of the highest save rates in the country.
Earlier this year, Mike joined forces with Dr. Ellen Jefferson and became the dog behavior program manager for Austin Pets Alive, which has already achieved a 90% save rate for the city of Austin. Mike’s focus is to save the last 10%, which primarily comprises dogs with behavior issues. At Austin Pets Alive, he conducts daily dog play groups; provides training and behavior modification, adoption follow-up and support; and teaches weekly volunteer training classes.
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Jean Keating, Founder, Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates
Jean Keating is the founder of the Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates (OCDA) and president of the Lucas County Pit Crew. Jean founded OCDA to unify Ohio dog lovers in grassroots legislative efforts. She was instrumental in removing breed-discriminatory ordinances in Toledo and Cleveland, and was then able to finally push forward a repeal of Ohio’s 25-year-old breed-discriminatory law.
Seeing the significant need in her community for providing support to responsible pit bull owners, she co-founded the Lucas County Pit Crew and currently serves as president. As a special education teacher and mother of five, Jean shares her love of pit bulls with children and volunteers her time to offer dog safety education programs throughout her community. She also serves as the trainer for her local humane society.
Jean is rarely without her faithful companion, a two-year-old pit-bull mix named Wendy, the youngest of her household of rescue dogs.
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Susanne Kogut, Former Executive Director, Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA
Susanne Kogut is the former executive director of the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA. Susanne joined the SPCA in 2005 when it was facing financial uncertainties and poor public perception about its save rate. Instituting innovative strategies resulting in a 400% increase in animals fostered, a greater than 50% increase in adoptions and a 77% decrease in the euthanasia rate, Susanne transformed the organization and united the community to achieve a no-kill community in less than one year.
Before working for the SPCA, Susanne held several senior positions at Capital One, including associate general counsel, director of corporate finance and director of community reinvestment. Susanne also worked in private practice as a corporate finance and securities attorney in the Washington, D.C., offices of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and Brown & Wood. She received her B.A. in finance in 1986 and her J.D. in 1990 from the University of Houston.
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Shelly Kotter, Cat Initiative Manager, Best Friends Animal Society
As the manager for Best Friends’ cat initiatives, Shelly Kotter advises communities across the country on humane methods of dealing with cat overpopulation. The goal is to keep feral (community) cats out of the shelter system by implementing trap/neuter/return (TNR) programs and relocating at-risk community cats.
Shelly has worked at Best Friends since 1998 and has played a pivotal role in defining its stance toward free-roaming cats. In her capacity as head of cat initiatives, Shelly guides a number of local model programs across the country, including Four Directions Community Cat Program, in southern Utah and northern Arizona, and Feral Freedom, a pioneering partnership between public and private animal shelters, Best Friends, and animal control in Jacksonville, Florida, that aims to stop the killing of feral cats.
For Shelly, the most rewarding thing about her job is helping people make a difference in their own communities and teaching them to take the right steps to reduce cat overpopulation.
Shelly is married with four human kids, several cats and one dog.
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Ben Lehrer, President, Kitten Rescue
Ben Lehrer’s introduction to rescue began in 2002 when one of his co-workers farmed off two kittens on him “for just a few days” while she went on vacation. After she returned and gave him the usual song-and-dance about not taking them back, Ben joined Kitten Rescue in Los Angeles as volunteer foster parent in order to find them a good home.
Two weeks later, after filling out the paperwork to adopt the kittens himself, he decided to try again with some new kittens, and he began a long fostering career. A year later, he was asked to join the board of directors and in early 2004, knowing a sucker when they see one, the board promoted him to president. In his spare time, Ben works as an attorney for UCLA. His only request is that you don’t ask how many cats he has.
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Faith Maloney, Co-founder and Animal Care Consultant, Best Friends Animal Society
Faith Maloney is one of the founders of
Best Friends. She is a consultant in all aspects of animal care at the sanctuary, including the Best Friends clinic and adoption programs.
In the early days of Best Friends, Faith spent much of the day in the direct care and feeding of the animals. These days, she devotes an increasing amount of time to helping people from all over the world who are starting sanctuaries themselves. On any given day, at least one group is visiting Best Friends with plans to start a sanctuary or other local animal-care program. Before working with Best Friends, Faith was involved with animal care in a small private sanctuary in Pennsylvania, and with counseling and social work in New York and Chicago. She has three children, one of whom is also involved in the work of Best Friends.
Faith was born in England and has a degree in fine art. She writes articles on animal issues and animal care for Best Friends magazine and other publications.
Becki Mayberry,
Senior Manager of Stewardship and Donor Events, Best Friends Animal SocietyBeckie Mayberry is the senior manager of stewardship and donor events for
Best Friends Animal Society. She oversees a team of five professionals and is developing and implementing national stewardship strategies.
Before joining Best Friends, Beckie was the director of development for the Children’s Museum of Phoenix. She also served as the chief development officer at Florence Crittenton in Phoenix and was the assistant director of development at the Desert Botanical Garden, where she managed individual giving, membership and planned giving programs. She led marketing efforts for the Arizona Community Foundation, which helped grow the foundation’s assets to $250 million through endowment building. In addition, she held various positions at United Way in the marketing and communications department.
Beckie has two boxers, Bravo and Jasmine, and is a volunteer for Boxer Luv Rescue in Phoenix. She also has four cats, Harley, Roxie, Frank and Chuck, all of whom were once feral.
Back to topRachel McCrystal,
Major Gifts Manager, Best Friends Animal SocietyRachel McCrystal is the major gift manager for
Best Friends Animal Society. Based in Philadelphia, Rachel engages personally with individuals, family foundations and other rescue organizations on the East Coast. She works with her national team to create opportunities for the generous supporters of Best Friends and to maximize the potential of the organization to save more lives.
Rachel has worked and volunteered at nonprofit organizations for more than 10 years, including volunteer board service. She formerly was the senior director of development at the Pennsylvania SPCA, where she served on the leadership and strategy team. Rachel's development expertise is in major donor cultivation, campaigns, strategic planning and issue-based fundraising strategies.
A committed vegan and advocate for the rights of all animals, Rachel and her husband share their home with five companion animals and a revolving door of foster pigeons and doves. On her days off, Rachel does humane education work with her pit-bull-type dog, Mazzy.
Back to topAnne Mejia,
Co-founder and Regional Gift Advisor, Best Friends Animal SocietyAnne Mejia is one of the founders of
Best Friends Animal Society. In the early days of Best Friends, Anne established the Welcome Center, which encompasses volunteer coordination, the gift shop and tours of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. She also helped create Angels Rest, the pet memorial park that honors the passing of Best Friends’ cherished animal residents.
In 2005, Anne was one of the leaders involved in Best Friends’ Hurricane Katrina rescue operation. In 2006, Anne helped to establish Best Friends’ development division, and she is now one of its senior fundraisers. Anne resides at the Sanctuary with her husband, Cyrus, and their family of dogs and cats.
Back to topCyrus Mejia,
Co-founder and Resident Artist, Best Friends Animal SocietyCyrus Mejia is one of the founders of
Best Friends Animal Society. He was born in New Orleans and studied art in Mississippi. In 1984 Mejia was part of the advance team of founders who arrived in Kanab, Utah, to build Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. He later worked with his wife, Anne, to create the Welcome Center and the visitors’ experience at Best Friends.
Cyrus now functions as Best Friends’ resident artist. His artwork has been exhibited nationally, spreading the message of kindness and compassion and serving as a call to action to help animals. Cyrus lives in Kanab with his wife and their family of dogs and cats.
Back to topGretchen Meyer, Volunteer Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Austin Pets Alive!Gretchen Meyer joined
Austin Pets Alive as the volunteer marketing and public relations director in 2008, the year that Ellen Jefferson became the executive director with the intent of making Austin a no-kill city. Since Austin already had extensive spay/neuter resources, the group has focused on increasing live outcomes from the city’s open-intake shelter. In four years, the mostly volunteer-led group has built a rescue program that is on track to save 7,500 dogs and cats from the euthanasia lists of area shelters this year. They also heavily participated in shaping public policy, which helped make Austin the country’s largest no-kill community (as defined by saving more than 90% of intake) in 2011.
Gretchen designs and builds websites and software applications for a financial services company. She is also the founder and president of Firecracker Dog, a company that helps people with high-energy dogs and donates all of its profits to dog rescue programs.
Back to topChristi Metropole,
Founder and Executive Director, Stray Cat AllianceChristi Metropole is a humane leader who dedicates her life to the care and sterilization of free-roaming community cats. She is executive director and founder of
Stray Cat Alliance (SCA), empowering hundreds of volunteers and thousands of community members to care for more than 75,000 cats in need. SCA advocates for humane care and protection of cats, supports the reduction of kill rates for cats in shelters, and helps communities develop cost-effective spay/neuter programs of their own.
Christi is a sought-after expert in reducing cat populations through the proven method of trap/neuter/return (TNR), rescue, targeted spay/neuter and humane legislation. She frequently consults with political and business leaders to develop TNR ordinances, declawing bans, colony care and management policies, and other matters of policy. Christi's leadership has been recognized by numerous large foundations, including the Annenberg Foundation, Laffin Foundation, PETCO Foundation, PetSmart Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, SPCA International and Witherbee Foundation.
Back to topJeff Newman, DVM,
Co-owner, Caring Hands Animal HospitalDr. Jeff Newman is a small animal veterinarian in Arlington, Virginia. He has been practicing for 20 years and is a co-owner of
Caring Hands Animal Hospital, a group of five veterinary hospitals. Jeff and his hospitals have done trap/neuter/return (TNR) projects with Best Friends Animal Society on Tangier Island in Virginia. Additional TNR projects have been done in Chincoteague, Virginia, through Caring Hands Animal Support and Education, their nonprofit organization. Currently, Jeff is also vice president of the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association.
Back to top Laura Nirenberg,
Legislative Analyst, Cat Initiatives, Best Friends Animal SocietyLaura Nirenberg, legislative attorney for
Best Friends’ cat initiatives, has dedicated her professional life to advocating for animal welfare. In 1994, she became a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and educator. In 1998, she founded Wildlife Orphanage, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to the welfare of native wildlife, and later expanded the organization’s services to include humane wild-animal eviction services. In 2012, the organization, now known as the Center for Wildlife Ethics, Inc., was restructured to further expand its mission and provide legal support for the purpose of instilling an ethical voice in wildlife management policies and procedures.
While completing her law degree at Valparaiso University School of Law, Laura participated in an externship with Best Friends. As legislative attorney, she monitors legislative issues, assists in the formulation of the organization's position on legislation, and drafts position statements relating to the cat initiatives. She also lobbies government officials and works with the media to help publicize legislative issues to generate public support. In 2010, Laura became vice-chair of the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee and co-chair of the Wildlife Subcommittee.
Back to topChad Norman,
Director of Marketing, SPARCChad Norman is a digital marketing strategist, interactive designer, speaker and author. As the director of marketing at
SPARC, he is responsible for corporate and product marketing, social media, public relations, events, branding, messaging and dart throwing. Through his previous work at Blackbaud, Chad helped nonprofits from around the world meet their missions.
In 2007, he founded Go Green Charleston, a technology-focused nonprofit helping Charleston-area residents connect, stay informed, and mobilize around the local sustainability community. Chad also serves on the board of directors of Fields to Families, managing web and social strategy. His book, 101 Social Media Tactics for Nonprofits: A Field Guide, was published by Wiley in February 2012. You can follow him on Twitter @chadnorman.
Back to topElizabeth Oreck,
National Manager, Puppy Mill Initiatives, Best Friends Animal Society Elizabeth Oreck is the national manager of
Best Friends' puppy mill initiatives, which confront the puppy mill crisis in the U.S. through education, advocacy and legislation. Elizabeth has worked in animal welfare for more than 14 years, having entered the field as a managing director for spcaLA; she has been with Best Friends since 2008. She is a wildlife rehabilitator who served on the boards of the California Wildlife Center, Pets90210 and the Coalition for Pets and Public Safety.
Because she strongly believes that legislation should be a key component of animal welfare issues and solutions, Elizabeth has worked on various state and local efforts throughout the U.S. She currently serves on the advisory committee for Los Angeles' spay and neuter ordinance, as well as a task force to target illegal breeding and pet sales. She is a member of the judging committee for the HSUS Genesis Awards, and is on the Regional Council of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
A student of martial arts for 16 years, she has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and in her spare time runs marathons to raise money for and awareness of various animal charities.
Kelly Peterson, Co-Chair and Founder, Fences For Fido
Kelly Peterson is co-chair and founder of
Fences For Fido (FFF), an all-volunteer nonprofit that strives to improves the lives of chained dogs living outside in the elements. FFF builds fences so that dogs can be freed from their chains; supplies warm doghouses; provides critical veterinary care and spay/neuter services; and visits homes yearly to ensure the dogs live a safe, un-chained life.
Celebrating its three-year anniversary, FFF already has been named Newsmaker of the Year by KGW-TV, created a family of nearly 2,000 volunteers, garnered 7,000 Facebook fans and unchained more than 360 dogs.
Kelly also serves as vice president of state affairs for the Humane Society of the United States. She works with HSUS state directors throughout the country supporting animal welfare legislation, fighting animal cruelty, and engaging like-minded citizens to promote the protection of all animals.
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Kathy Pobloskie, Director, Lost Dogs of Wisconsin
Kathy Pobloskie is the director of
Lost Dogs of Wisconsin, an all-volunteer group committed to reuniting owners with their lost dogs. Lost Dogs of Wisconsin currently has 50-plus volunteers and more than 11,000 Facebook fans who share postings and help find lost dogs in Wisconsin. Animal shelter employees, animal control officers and shelter volunteers also watch the Facebook page to see if any impounded animals match those that have been reported as missing.
Kathy is also involved with Lost Dogs Illinois. Since their inception, Lost Dogs of Wisconsin and Lost Dogs Illinois have helped reunite more than 4,000 dogs with their owners. Kathy believes that innovative methods to get lost pets back home saves lives. Research has shown that 50% to 70% of animals in shelters are actually lost pets; by reducing this number, kennel space is freed up for animals who truly need it.
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Janice Poleon, Pets for Life Coordinator, Humane Society of the United StatesJanice Poleon is the Philadelphia Pets for Life coordinator for the
Humane Society of the United States. Pets for Life is a groundbreaking community outreach initiative designed to provide animal welfare resources and information to pet owners in underserved areas. The unique Pets for Life approach focuses on respecting each client as a loving pet owner, which has led to notable increases in spay/neuter compliance.
Janice has more than 10 years’ experience as a meeting planner and event manager. While working for employers such as the Marriott Corporation, Robert Half International and Branch Associates, Inc., Janice managed citywide conventions, galas and corporate meetings. She has also coordinated conferences for the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education.
In 2006, Janice started volunteering with local animal shelters, including the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society and the Animal Care Control Team. She holds a degree in strategic communications, public relations.
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Sandy Rees, Founder, GetFullyFunded
Sandy Rees, founder of
GetFullyFunded, helps nonprofit leaders raise the money of their dreams and build successful boards. She’s a coach and consultant who provides clients with the “how to” of fundraising as well as help with personal and professional development.
She started her career in nonprofit work in 1998 at Knox Area Rescue Ministries, then spent five years at Second Harvest Food Bank. During her time at Second Harvest, the organization nearly tripled its budget, based largely on her fundraising efforts.
Sandy is the author of Get Fully Funded: How to Raise the Money of Your Dreams, Fundraising Buffet, and Simple Success Fundraising Plan. She co-authors the column “Little Shop” for Fundraising Success magazine and writes the blog Get Fully Funded.
Sandy is an accomplished presenter and an Association of Fundraising Professionals master trainer. She has led fundraising seminars for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Chattanooga Center for Nonprofits, and many local and regional conferences. She lives with her family on a small farm in Loudon, Tennessee.
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Becky Robinson, President, Alley Cat AlliesBecky Robinson is president of
Alley Cat Allies, the nation’s only advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. Robinson co-founded Alley Cat Allies in 1990, filling a need for a U.S. based organization providing education and resources to Americans caring for outdoor cats. Robinson helped establish the first best-practice standards for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) in the United States. With more than 260,000 supporters, ACA is the recognized authority on feral cats, and the leader of the movement to protect and improve the lives of cats. Alley Cat Allies is working to overturn policies that kill more than 70% of cats who enter our nation’s shelters.
Robinson holds an M.A. in Public Administration from the University of Missouri and a B.A. in Social Work from Bethany College. She lives with her husband and five cats in Arlington, Virginia where she also cares for a colony of cats.
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Christie Rogero, Targeted Spay/Neuter Manager, Animal Welfare AssociationChristie Rogero has worked in the nonprofit sector since 1997 and in the animal welfare field in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey since 2004. She has been involved in a variety of innovative programs in the region, including Philadelphia’s first mobile HQHV (high-quality, high-volume) spay/neuter program.
Since joining the
Animal Welfare Association (AWA) in 2011, Christie has implemented the first phases of AWA’s PetSmart Charities targeted feline spay/neuter grant, expanded AWA’s community cat initiatives, increased vaccine clinic outreach in underserved communities, coordinated a veterinary seminar on HQHV spay/neuter for local veterinarians, and researched and developed model animal control and TNR ordinances for her county leadership.
Christie serves on the advisory boards of the Harcum College veterinary technology program and the Camden County Animal Alliance. She and her husband are the proud parents of several indoor cats and a small colony of community cats.
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Cathy M. Rosenthal, Animal Welfare Communications Consultant, The Pet Pundit Cathy M. Rosenthal has more than 25 years of experience in public relations, communications and humane education in the animal welfare field. She has worked for local humane societies and national humane groups, appearing on hundreds of television and radio news and public affairs programs to address animal issues. She currently is a consultant for local and national animal welfare organizations, writing grants, annual reports and other marketing materials.
Cathy is a freelance writer for newspapers, magazines and nonprofit organizations, focusing on animal issues and pet behavior. She has been the
pets advice columnist for the San Antonio Express-News since January 2003 and a contributing writer to Dog Fancy, Dogs USA, Natural Dog and Cat Fancy magazines for several years.
Her new children’s book,
The Lucky Tale of Two Dogs (Pet Pundit Publishing, May 2012), traces the lives of two dogs who happen to live “in the very same town, on the very same street,” but who share very different lives with their families. The book tells a simple story that makes it easy for readers of all ages to understand what pets need to be healthy and happy.
Back to topAimee Sadler,
Director of Behavior and Training, Southampton Animal Shelter FoundationAimee Sadler is the director of behavior and training for the
Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF). She is a nationally recognized trainer and speaker specializing in behavioral problems. Her techniques have been derived from 25 years of working with multiple species, from dogs and cats to exotics and marine mammals, as a private trainer and within the entertainment industry and animal sheltering.
Aimee presents at animal welfare and professional dog training conferences in addition to teaching other shelters how to reduce canine euthanasia with the implementation of her Playing for Life! training and behavior program for shelter dogs featuring play groups. Aimee’s training and behavior programs have proven to be successful for the Longmont Humane Society and SASF, which maintain canine live release rates in excess of 95% as open admission shelters.
Aimee resides in Longmont, Colorado, with her three sons, four rescued dogs and two rescued cats.
Back to topKate Schnepel,
Creative Director, Best Friends Animal SocietyDriven by a desire to help the underdog, Kate has worked in the nonprofit sector for more than a decade, and has been instrumental in creating some of animal welfare's most successful advertising campaigns and messaging strategies. In her current role as creative director for
Best Friends, Kate oversees marketing, graphic design, social media, copywriting and online strategy.
Kate volunteers time as president of the board for Wildlife SOS India, which has rescued more than 600 exploited sloth bears from a life of dancing for tourists. While she loves her job at Best Friends, a big chunk of her heart lives in India, with the animals and people she has met on her travels.
Back to topHolly Sizemore,
Director of National Programs, Best Friends Animal SocietyHolly Sizemore entered the animal welfare world in 1991 when she discovered a colony of community cats eating from a restaurant dumpster. The experience inspired her to help found the first trap/neuter/return organization in Utah. In 2000, Holly joined No More Homeless Pets in Utah and served the organization in a variety of roles, ending with executive director from 2007 to 2010. During her time at No More Homeless Pets in Utah, the state saw a nearly 40% per-capita decrease in shelter euthanasia.
In August 2010, Holly joined
Best Friends Animal Society and currently acts as director of national programs in the Community Programs and Services division. Holly has volunteered and worked in many different animal welfare arenas, ranging from very small grassroots groups to large-scale public/private partnership efforts. She and her husband proudly share their home with 10 cats, all former community cats.
Back to topMelissa Steimer,
Sr. Director of Development, Best Friends Animal SocietyMelissa Steimer has been with Best Friends since 2008. As the senior director of development at
Best Friends, Melissa oversees major and planned giving, stewardship and events, and any special campaigns the organization undertakes.
Before being hired by Best Friends, Melissa spent 15 years in fundraising for nonprofit organizations in Omaha, Nebraska. She has raised funds for a history museum, a performing arts center, a hospital system and the Nebraska Humane Society, where she was the first director of development and helped the society realize the dream of a new building for the Omaha community.
Melissa received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She has held CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executives) credentials since 2008.
She lives with her husband, Scott, children Charlie and Grace, two dachshunds, Dixie and Dachs, and parrots Bogey and Woody.
Back to topRuth Steinberger,
Director, Spay FIRSTRuth Steinberger, director of
Spay FIRST, is outreach coordinator for Tulsa-based Spay Oklahoma, and she coordinates rural programs for Oklahoma Spay Network of Durant, Oklahoma. Ruth has coordinated rural pet sterilization programs since 1993, initiating her first program in the Appalachian region of southwestern Virginia. She works to assist at-risk animals through spay/neuter, education and improved public statutes.
Ruth moved to Oklahoma in 1999 to make her home in an area with no existing low-income spay/neuter programs. She has worked closely with volunteer networks, humane organizations and municipalities to develop services for much of eastern Oklahoma. She was a founding board member of SPAY Oklahoma, the first high-volume spay/neuter clinic in Oklahoma.
Believing that education on all fronts is vital to helping at-risk animals, Ruth developed the first accredited anti-cruelty training for Oklahoma officers. In 2006, she received the prestigious ASPCA Henry Bergh Award.
Back to topBrent Toellner, President, Kansas City Pet Project
Brent Toellner is the author of the
KC Dog Blog and president of
Kansas City Pet Project. Brent started his work for animals doing rescue, then advocacy work against breed-specific legislation. He began his blog to share those experiences. For several years, he was the legislative chair for Kansas City Dog Advocates, a group that focused on pet-friendly legislation on the local level.
In July 2011, he and a handful of others started the Kansas City Pet Project to bid on, and eventually win, the contract to run the city animal shelter. Brent’s wife Michelle is equally involved in the advocacy work and they have three dogs, Grommit, SweetP and Stella, and two cats, Herman and Purrrcy.
Back to topDesiree Triste-Aragon,
Community Cat Program Coordinator, Best Friends Animal SocietyDesiree Triste-Aragon is the
Best Friends community cat program coordinator in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A grant from PetSmart Charities® has enabled Best Friends to partner with the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department in a three-year project to help free-roaming cats in that city. Since the program started, Albuquerque has seen double-digit decreases in euthanasia and intake rates.
Desiree has been involved in animal welfare since 2006 and was the volunteer coordinator for the Champaign Area Trap Spay/Neuter Program (CATSNAP) in Illinois. Her background includes experience in grant writing, volunteer management, program development, disaster rescue and work as a licensed humane investigator.
Desiree received her M.A. at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and is currently working on a dual M.A. in public administration and regional and community planning from the University of New Mexico. Her academic interests include change management and community development for animal shelters.
Back to topLisa Tudor,
Director of Development and Outreach, FACELisa Tudor is the director of development and outreach for
FACE Low-Cost Spay Neuter Clinic. Lisa is also the founder of IndyFeral and has served as the executive director for the past 10 years. During that time, she has spoken at numerous conferences on the topic of community-wide TNR. She passed ordinance revision to allow for TNR in Indianapolis, authored colony management guidelines, launched a Feral Freedom program and established a medical component for neighborhood cats as part of their clinic. These programs and services have resulted in a 47% drop in cat euthanasia at the city shelter.
IndyFeral recently merged with the FACE Low-Cost Spay Neuter Clinic in an effort to increase spay/neuter capacity and medical care for neighborhood cats, creating a one-stop seamless clinic that provides services for pet cats and neighborhood cats.
Lisa received her bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing from Ball State University and spent 15 years in social services before working in the field of animal welfare. Lisa is “owned” by nine cats and she cares for a colony in her neighborhood.
Back to top Ledy VanKavage, Esq.,
Senior Legislative Attorney and Manager of Pit Bull Terrier Initiatives, Best Friends Animal SocietyLedy VanKavage, senior legislative attorney and manager of
Best Friends’ pit bull terrier initiatives, has worked extensively in the humane movement. She joined the ASPCA in 1999 as a Midwest government affairs and public policy associate. In 1985 she organized the Madison County Coalition Against Pound Seizure, successfully stopping the sale of animals for research from her county animal-control facility. She then founded the Madison County Humane Society and served as its president for eight years. In 1992 she co-founded the Illinois Federation of Humane Societies and served on its board for 10 years.
She was also a co-founder of Operation SPOT (Stop Pet Overpopulation Today) in the St. Louis area and served as a board member for eight years. She worked for the ASPCA for nine years as senior director of legislation and legal training. During that time, she spearheaded the passage of over 20 humane bills, making Illinois the best state for animal laws in the nation. Ledy and her husband, Cliff, have adopted three brindle pit bulls, Che, Bella and Karmaand, and also oversee a feral cat colony in their neighborhood.
Back to top Jane Weatherford,
Board Member, Brown County Humane SocietyJane Weatherford has served on the board of directors of the
Brown County Humane Society for 30 years in a variety of capacities, including president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and various committee chairs.
She graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s in biology and from Indiana University with a master’s in biology. After 33 years, she recently retired from a career at a large pharmaceutical company, where she spent the last 15 years working in the animal health division.
Animal welfare is her passion and she is now focusing on state and local legislation aimed at improving the lives of animals as well as continuing her close involvement with the Brown County Humane Society. Jane and her husband, Scott, share their lives with two rescue dogs, a cat and a horse, along with a revolving door of various foster pets.
Back to topLori Weise,
Founder, Downtown Dog RescueWhen Lori Weise started working at Modernica Inc., a furniture factory on the edge of L.A.'s skid row, she couldn't get to work without seeing the homeless being bullied and their dogs or countless other strays being abused. She created
Downtown Dog Rescue in 1996 and began talking to the homeless community, one person at a time, convincing them that their dogs would be better off spayed or neutered.
To date, her nonprofit has spayed or neutered thousands of dogs that live in some of the most underserved neighborhoods of Los Angeles County. In addition to her urban spay/neuter outreach model, she developed an owner retention program called Operation Safety Net to keep dogs from entering shelters. Her organization rescues, rehomes, rehabilitates and adopts out about 250 dogs per year. Lori lives with many dogs, including her lead dog, Clancy, a survivor of animal cruelty who is now a Canine Good Citizen and a therapy dog.
Back to topCheryl Wicks,
Co-founder Sammie's FriendsCheryl Wicks is the co-founder of
Sammie’s Friends in Grass Valley, California. Through Cheryl’s vision and leadership, the Nevada County Animal Shelter has reduced its euthanasia rate from 68% to less than 1%. Cheryl began this change in 2001 by first volunteering and then starting a volunteer program and a nonprofit to pay the medical bills. In 2010, Sammie’s Friends contracted with Nevada County to operate the county shelter and continue the many improvements for the animals.
Before Cheryl’s venture into the animal welfare world, she headed up employee relations for Apple Computer and human resources for Hewlett Packard Laboratories. Cheryl also was an independent consultant providing executive coaching and team-building for high-tech companies.
Cheryl has a B.A. from California State University, Fresno, and a M.A. from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. She lives with her partner, Curt, dogs Teddy and Monnie and a cat, Putter.
Back to topPeter J. Wolf, Founder, Vox FelinaPeter J. Wolf is the founder of
Vox Felina, a blog featuring in-depth analysis of science and policy issues related to the management of free-roaming cats in general, and trap/neuter/return in particular. In just two years, Vox Felina has attracted a devoted audience of feral cat advocates and become an invaluable resource for journalists, including writers from
Animal People,
Conservation magazine, the
San Francisco Chronicle, and
The Washingtonian.
Peter holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in industrial design. His professional/industry experience has focused on the acquisition, analysis and synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data. As a lecturer in The Design School at Arizona State University, Peter teaches courses in product design, visual communication design and qualitative research methods.
Back to top ’s resident animal behavior consultant. As an expert in animal training, behavior and care, she develops resources, provides consulting services, leads workshops and speaks nationwide to promote animal welfare.
Sherry came to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in 1996 as a dog caregiver. Her understanding of animals and insights into their behavior were quickly recognized and, in 1997, she was asked to manage Dogtown, where she oversaw the daily care and medical needs of 600 dogs. Early in 2003, Sherry joined Best Friends’ No More Homeless Pets national team.
Sherry has developed a canine behavior assessment method to help people learn what dogs need so that they can be placed safely in new homes. She is a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and has been certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers as a certified professional dog trainer – knowledge assessed (CPDT-KA).
