The Team Behind the Experience
We’re so grateful to the dedicated professionals who helped shape this year’s Annual Conference. Their time, insight, and expertise were instrumental in creating an agenda that reflects the needs, challenges, and aspirations of today’s animal welfare leaders.
Fundraising
Track Chair
Judy Hunter
VP of Philanthropy & Communications
Cleveland Animal Protective League
Joe Lisella, CAWA
Chief Executive Officer
Animal Protective Foundation
Communications & Marketing Track Chair
Beth Brookhouser, CAWA
VP of Marketing & Communications
SPCA Monterey County
Strategic Workforces Track Chair
Lily Yap, MBA
Executive Director
Stanislaus Animal Services Agency
Alison Fotsch, CAWA
President & CEO, Wisconsin Humane Society
Alicia Hargrove
Director of Fund Development, Spay Neuter Network
Amanda Myers
Director of Development & Community Relations, NOCO Humane
Anastasia Flores
Humane Society Silicon Valley
Andrew Toledo
Operations Manager, Animal Services City of Lacey
Barbara Vass
Assistant Director and Lifesaving Programs Manager, Fort Bend County Animal Services
Beth Brock
Assistant Director of Animal Care, McKamey Animal Center in Chattanooga
Beth Brookhouser, CAWA
VP of Marketing and Communications, SPCA for Monterey County
Brett DeWester
Shelter Manager, Larimer Humane Society
Britney Tennant, MNM, CAWA
CEO, Cheyenne Animal Shelter
Brittany Eiffert-Smith
Intake Manager, Greenville Humane Society
Caitlin Vanderpool
Director of Finance, Wenatchee Valley Humane Society
Cyn Demers
Development & Communications Manager, Saving Grace Humane Society
Darlene Duggan
President, Anti-Cruelty
Edward Schettino, DVM, CAWA
President & CEO, Animal Rescue League of Boston
Elkie Wills
Director of Human Animal Support Services, Austin Pets Alive/HASS
Ellen Taylor, CAWA
Chief Project Officer, Charleston Animal Society
Emily E. Wood, CAWA
Founder and Principal, That Animal Services Transformation
Emily Klehm, CAWA
Vice President of Operations, Anti-Cruelty
Erin Gregory
Director of Development, Humane Society of Missouri
Heather Dolson, CAWA
Vice President of Lifesaving Programs, Operation Kindness
Howard Qualls
Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer, SPCA Tampa Bay
Jamie Gay
Senior Director, Operations, Tree House Humane Society
Jen Self-Aulgur, CAWA
Executive Director, Harbor Humane
Jennifer Barta, CAWA
Executive Director, Saving Grace Humane Society
Jennifer Gurz Stonebraker, CAWA
Chief Operating Officer, SPCA Serving Erie County
Jessica Sale, CAWA
Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, San Diego Humane Society
Jillian Sergio, CAWA
Community Initiatives Manager, SPARC
Joe Lisella, CAWA
Executive Director, Animal Protective Foundation
Joanna Fortin
Director of Community Programs, Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
Jordan Craig, CAWA
Chief Community Initiatives Officer, Operation Kindness
Josh Fisher, PhD, MHA, CAWA
Director, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control
Josh Marcotte
Director, Donor Experience, Humane Society Silicon Valley
Judy Hunter
VP of Philanthropy & Communications, Cleveland Animal Protective League
Julia Bonsell
Volunteer Manager, The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County
Julie Brooks
Director of Business Operations, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue
Katie Jordan
Associate Director, Marketing and Communications, Tree House Humane Society
Katie Lisnik, CAWA
Executive Director, Maine Humane
Kate O'Dwyer
Practice Manager, Animal Protective Association of Missouri
KD Thompson
Executive Director, The FIDO Foundation
Kelley Likes, CAWA, CFRE
President & CEO, Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region
Kim Powell
Communications Supervisor, Maricopa County Animal Care & Control
Kristi Mack
Senior Director, HR and Community Engagement, HSSV
Kylie Solis-McGarity
Senior Manager, National Responder Strategy, ASPCA
Lee Allen
Administrative Specialist, Good Shepherd Humane Society
Leilani Fratis
CEO, Placer SPCA
Lily Yap, MBA
Executive Director, Stanislaus Animal Services Agency
Megan Winters
Director of Shelter Operations, Harbor Humane Society
Meredith Jones
Chief Community Initiatives Officer, Operation Kindness
Meshia Burrell
VP of Human Resources, Anti-Cruelty Society
Michael Macaranas
CFO, The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County
Nancy McKenney, MNPL, CAWA
CEO/President, Marin Humane
Renee Russell
Vice President of Operations, Tulsa SPCA
Robin Vincent CAWA
Consultant, JVR Strategies
Sarah Wees
Executive Director, Pets Alive
Sasha Elliott, CAWA
Director of Operations, Greenhill Humane Society
Spencer Conover
Assistant Director, NACA
Stacey Cole
Chief Development Officer, Animal Rescue League of Berks County
Stacey Price, CAWA
Director of Development and Marketing, Dakin Humane
Stacey Zeitlin
Vice President, Community Impact, San Diego Humane Society
Tricia Sebes, CAWA
Northern Tier Shelter Initiative Senior Director, ASPCA
Victoria Cowper, CAWA
Consultant
Get Involved: Join the 2027 Conference Committee
Serving on the Annual Conference Committee is an opportunity to influence content selection for The Association's Annual Conference by identifying sessions that best align with our audience's needs, strategic priorities, and educational goals.
As a committee member, you'll:
- Review and evaluate conference session proposals using The Association's review framework
- Recommend proposals for The Association team to consider during final content selection
- Support conference speakers, initiatives, and attendee experiences before and during the Annual Conference
Time commitment: A few virtual meetings, several hours of proposal review during Q1, and volunteer support leading up to and/or during the Annual Conference. Committees are formed each December.
Interested? Fill out this form and select “Annual Conference Committee” to be considered.