Conference Speakers

Collin Akemoto is Manager of Outreach and Partnerships at the Hawaiian Humane Society. He leads the Pet Kōkua by Hawaiian Humane Community Outreach team to bring veterinary care and pet resources directly into Oʻahu’s underserved communities. With 15+ years of community engagement and management experience, he has helped build wellness clinics that offer families no-fee vaccinations, microchipping, preventatives, and spay and neuter services, care that keeps pets and people together and, for unhoused guardians, can help them qualify for housing. Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, Collin knows these communities firsthand, and he brings that understanding to every partnership and resource the team builds to reach families and pets in need.

Raissa Allaire is the Chief Executive Officer of Tree House Humane Society, where she leads innovative efforts to expand access to veterinary care, strengthen feline welfare, and advance the organization’s vision of a world where every cat thrives. She also serves as Board Chair of the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and is passionate about building partnerships, advancing practical solutions, and exploring human-centered AI to improve the lives of cats and the people who care for them.

Shafonda Davis Allen, CAWA, is a national animal welfare leader, governance strategist, and equity-driven leadership developer with more than 27 years experience strengthening boards, building leadership pipelines, and advancing inclusive organizational cultures. She is Founder and Principal Consultant of Back to Basics Animal Welfare Leadership Consulting, a former member of The AAWA’s Board of Directors, and current DEI Ambassador and DEI Council member for the Association. She also serves as an educational consultant and former board member with CARE (Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity), where she mentors traditionally marginalized and underrepresented leaders. Shafonda is featured in Humane Perspectives: Leadership in Animal Welfare as one of the field’s trusted voices.

Abigail Appleton, CAWA, PMP, CACI, leads Charleston Animal Society’s statewide initiatives, including the historic No Kill South Carolina 2024 campaign, which made South Carolina the first no-kill state in the southern US, saving 90% of animals entering shelters and rescues. She also leads Pick Me! SC, one of the largest annual statewide adoption events in America. Before joining the Charleston Animal Society team in 2016, Abigail spent 10 years in senior management at the Humane Society of Pinellas where she helped lead the organization through a variety of natural and manmade disasters, including Hurricane Katrina and three executive transitions.

Dina Bailey advises leaders navigating complex institutional environments and periods of transition. Drawing on more than two decades of experience across cultural institutions, nonprofits, and international networks, she helps leadership teams clarify direction, align values with decision-making, and guide principled action.

Keith Berglund (he/him) is a human resources leader with over two decades of experience spanning corporate and nonprofit sectors, with a strong focus on animal welfare. Whether supporting frontline teams or senior leaders, Keith is dedicated to building inclusive systems that value people, uplift communities and protect animals. As Employee Engagement Manager at San Diego Humane Society, he has been instrumental in shaping a thriving, mission-driven workplace culture for one of the nation’s largest animal welfare organizations.

Christal M. Cherry, known nationally as The Board Pro, has spent two decades equipping nonprofit boards to lead with purpose, clarity, and confidence. Through retreats, training, and coaching, she helps boards move from confusion to clarity, from tokenism to true inclusion, and from fundraising fear to confident ambassadorship. A sought-after speaker and author, Christal has trained thousands of board members and CEOs nationwide, with clients including YMCA, World Animal Protection USA, and the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.

Laura Clark is the Director of Colleton County Animal Services in Walterboro, South Carolina, where she oversees an open-intake shelter, animal control, and mosquito abatement. She began volunteering with the Friends of Colleton County Animal Shelter in 2010 and joined the county staff in 2017, after earlier work as a high school Spanish teacher, in corporate computer sales, and as manager of a university Computer Science department. A nationally certified Animal Cruelty Investigator with a Master’s Degree in Education, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and the Best Friends Animal Society Executive Leadership Certification, she also serves on the board of the South Carolina Animal Care and Control Association.

Kawenaonālani “Kawena” Correa believes that great storytelling can change lives for both pets and their people. As Communications Coordinator for the Hawaiian Humane Society, she brings more than six years of marketing and communications experience, along with her perspective as a Native Hawaiian woman, connecting with communities across Oʻahu and beyond. Whether she’s highlighting teams rallying to support a pet in need or celebrating the joy of an adoption day, Kawena sees every moment as an opportunity to build compassion and create lasting connections.

Rachel Delport is the Chief Executive Officer of the Greenville Humane Society, a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator, and a passionate leader in animal welfare and organizational development. With more than a decade of leadership experience, Rachel focuses on building strong teams, driving organizational growth, and creating meaningful community impact. She is passionate about inspiring leaders, challenging the status quo, and turning vision into lasting change.

Anthony Dodson, MBA, is the Founder and CEO of The BTB Method, an international keynote speaker, leadership strategist, and author of the Reaching and Teaching book series. He helps organizations strengthen workplace culture, improve staff engagement, and develop confident leaders through practical strategies rooted in emotional intelligence, accountability, and personal growth.

Jake Edinger is a writer who loves when ideas make a difference. For APA Adoption Center, his work has earned creative acclaim, international attention and most importantly, pet adoptions. His dog Arlo–a graduate of the APA transfer program–was unanimously voted best dog by his son’s fifth grade lunch table. A proud dad, Jake and his family enjoy roadtrips, bleacher seats, yard games, recitals and any adventure, planned or unplanned. His St. Louis-based agency, Darling Brand Makery, proudly serves animal welfare brands, healthcare organizations, tourism and telecom clients from coast to coast.

Joe is President and CEO of Charleston Animal Society, bringing more than four decades of nonprofit leadership experience across nine states and three international deployments. Since joining the Society in 2012, he has transformed an organization in crisis into a nationally recognized leader in lifesaving excellence, establishing the first No Kill Community in the Deep South. Having served as CEO of five nonprofits and COO of a national nonprofit, he specializes in crisis management and organizational turnarounds, with a lifelong commitment to protecting vulnerable people and animals.

Britt Peterson Fero is the founder and CEO of PB&, a Seattle-based strategy-first creative agency named AdAge’s Small Agency of the Year twice and one of the 1% of women-owned agencies in the country. With a career spanning Fallon, Cole & Weber, and Publicis Seattle, she has built a reputation for helping recognized brands reenergize their businesses, with clients including the International Olympic Committee, United Airlines, and Oregon Humane. Her work has been recognized by Cannes Lions, the Clios, the Webbys, and Communications Arts, and she has written and spoken for Forbes, Fast Company, and beyond.

Rachel D.K. Finney is a consultant and coach specializing in nonprofit executive leadership and animal welfare. She spent 21 years leading animal welfare organizations most recently at Columbus Humane for 16 years where she served as CEO. A Certified Animal Welfare Administrator for 18 years, Finney was recognized as a Woman of Influence by Columbus Business First in 2023 and Nonprofit CEO of the Year by Columbus CEO in 2015.

Diana has 45 years of experience in non-profits, including 32 as a front line fundraiser. Now with Veritus for 13 years, she helped design their Mid-Level relationship management program and has worked to implement it with numerous organizations. She is an avid reader, somewhat lapsed runner, and mom to Ortely, an American Stafordshire Terrier.

For nearly two decades, Sharon Harvey has served as President & CEO of the Cleveland Animal Protective League. Under her leadership, the Cleveland APL has expanded beyond traditional animal sheltering to develop innovative programs addressing the root causes of pet homelessness, including access to veterinary care and spay/neuter services, community pet wellness, housing insecurity, and support for pet owners living in underserved areas of Cleveland. She has championed progressive advances in humane law enforcement, animal sheltering, and the level of care provided to shelter animals, while advocating for humane public policy, collaboration, and sustainable solutions that improve the lives of both animals and people.

Laura Holloway is Big Sea’s Director of Marketing Strategy. For more than 15 years, she has helped brands, nonprofits, and cultural organizations sharpen their voice and strengthen their impact. Before joining Big Sea, she founded The Storyteller Agency, where she found creative partnership opportunities like the campaign pairing Alaqua Animal Refuge with national pet food brand Wellness Pet. Trained in journalism and marketing, she brings rigor and creativity to every campaign. Laura lives in Tennessee with her husband, two sons, and their chihuahua-terrier, Tate. Off the clock, she writes plays, hunts vintage shops, and roots for her sons from the dugout.

Sarah Javier has been leading the Animal Protective Association of Missouri since 2016, spending the better part of a decade solving complicated problems, raising millions of dollars, and resisting the urge to ask everyone she meets, “So…have you considered adopting?” She serves on national and regional animal welfare boards and has been recognized as a St. Louis Business Journal Most Influential Business Woman, a St. Louis Titan 100 honoree, and a recipient of the University of Missouri-St. Louis Distinguished Alumni Award. Her favorite professional title continues to be a “matchmaker for pets and people.” If you ask about nonprofit leadership, community impact, or pets, be prepared to stay a while.

Meredith Jones is Chief of Staff at Operation Kindness Humane Society, where she provides strategic leadership for development, marketing and communications, community resources, emergency response, and national initiatives. She has helped lead transformative initiatives including organizational mergers, innovative community programs, and the organization’s ambitious capital campaign, all focused on expanding access to care and strengthening the human-animal bond. Meredith is passionate about reimagining the future of animal welfare through collaboration, strategic partnerships, and bold, community-centered solutions.

Justin Jones-Fosu is a husband and proud dad of four who brings energy, humor, and insight as an international speaker and author. As CEO of Work. Meaningful., he delivers 50-60 keynotes a year, engaging Fortune 500 companies and classrooms alike. Author of Your WHY Matters NOW, The Inclusive Mindset, and I Respectfully Disagree, Justin inspires people to build bridges over barriers through meaningful dialogue. He’s been featured on NPR’s The Takeaway and is among the 15% of speakers worldwide with the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation. He is passionate about education in underserved communities in Ghana and the U.S., believing real impact matters more than accolades.

Delaney is passionate and enthusiastic about researching and writing curriculum, content and training material for a purpose. She has her has her Master’s Degree in Adult Education & Global Change and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Cognitive Diversity with Elmbridge University. She currently resides in Canada with her three children and husband and loves travelling, reading and learning from others.

Rachel Levine is the Director of People Development for Humane Colorado and has worked extensively in Human Resources and Training & Development in both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Rachel currently serves on several non-profit boards and on the DEI Council for the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement. Rachel has a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Colorado and an M.Phil from the University of Cambridge.

Cary Lieberman has been the Executive Director of Greenhill Humane Society in Eugene, Oregon since 2007 and holds a Master’s degree in Social Psychology from the University of Oregon. Under his leadership, Greenhill has built a life-saving campus that includes state-of-the-art animal housing and veterinary care; operates a community-wide trap-neuter-return program; prioritizes pet-retention and maintaining the human-animal bond; and takes the lead on disaster response and sheltering during natural disasters and severe weather emergencies. A Certified Animal Welfare Administrator since 2009, Cary is devoted to saving lives, strengthening the animal welfare system, and bringing a humane perspective to community well-being.

Dr. James Lloyd is CEO and senior consultant for Animal Health Economics, LLC. He served as Dean of the University of Florida-CVM and Associate Dean at Michigan State University- CVM. With both a DVM and a PhD in agricultural economics, his consulting centers on economics, strategy, and workforce in veterinary medicine and animal health.

Dr. Susan Lovelle is a physician, TEDx speaker, and Executive Performance Strategist whose work is built on one core belief: your biology determines the ceiling of high performance. A former professional ballet dancer and award-winning plastic surgeon, she is the founder of Balanced Performance and author of Thrive! The Five-Week Guide to Mastering Your Energy at Any Age.

Nancy McKenney is the CEO/President of Marin Humane, a position she’s held since 2011. Her career in animal welfare and non-profit management began in 1983 and includes working for Seattle Humane, the Petfinder.com Foundation, and King County Animal Care and Control. She has a Masters in Nonprofit Leadership, is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator, and a fan of the core values at Marin Humane, especially the pursuit of learning, courage with compassion, and celebrating differences.

Ashley Mikulsky has more than 10 years of experience in philanthropy and has worked for several mission-based nonprofits in Pennsylvania including The Animal Rescue League of Berks County (ARL), Junior Achievement of Southeastern PA, and Alvernia University. She currently serves as the CEO at the ARL. Ashley’s passion to turn her love of animals into a career led her to professional fundraising when she realized how transformative advocating for animals was versus hands-on animal care. Ashley’s experience includes major gifts, direct mail, grant writing,  and comprehensive campaigns. She has significant experience working for growing organizations and has raised over $10M for animal welfare, higher education, women’s issues, and financial literacy.

Zebulon Miracle is the CEO of Roice-Hurst Humane Society in Grand Junction, Colorado. A Colorado native, Zeb has a passion for building stronger communities through nonprofit work as well as connecting people, organizations, and ideas through collaboration. His nonprofit leadership has spanned work in arts and culture, health and human services, advocacy, and animal welfare.

Maria is a globally recognized organizational development practitioner specializing in culture change for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As CEO of MSM Global Consulting and a faculty member at American University’s School of International Service, for over 24 years Maria has supported leaders and organizations around the world to foster competent and respectful workplaces where everyone thrives.

Tiffini Mueller is the Chief Advancement Officer at Oregon Humane, where she leads fundraising, marketing, communications, and events, raising more than $25 million annually in philanthropic support for one of the nation’s largest and most complex animal welfare organizations. A strategic communicator and fundraising leader, she has spent her career helping mission-driven organizations tell compelling stories that inspire action, with experience spanning healthcare, disability advocacy, affordable housing, and animal welfare. She began her career as a television news producer at KOIN-TV, where she developed a deep appreciation for the power of storytelling, clarity, and connecting with audiences.

William “Bill” Myatt is the founder and principal of Major Gift Solutions, a Chicago-based fundraising consultancy that helps nonprofits raise major gifts. Since February of 2024, Bill and his team have partnered with Tree House Humane Society in Chicago, where between 2023 and 2025, revenue from gifts of $5,000 or more quadrupled – increasing from just over $976,000 total revenue to more than $4.1 million. Before entering fundraising full-time, Bill earned a PhD in theology from Loyola University Chicago and taught at a number of colleges in the Chicago area. He is the proud father of four almost-adult children and an Australian Cattle Mix named Lucy.

Addie is a classically trained statistician and AI specialist who helps mission-driven organizations turn complex data into clear, ethical, and actionable AI solutions. She focuses on building practical, maintainable tools that enhance digital experiences, streamline internal workflows, and amplify impact for mission-driven orgs and nonprofits.

Colleen Pelar helps pet professionals who worry they aren’t doing enough for the animals and people they serve – even as what they’re already doing feels exhausting and unsustainable. A Professional Certified Coach with nearly 30 years as a dog trainer and behavior consultant, she knows this particular exhaustion firsthand: the kind that comes from caring so much you forget to notice you’re running on empty. She’s the author of three books on human-animal bonds and has spoken at conferences nationwide, always focusing on the humans behind the animal care.

Leann holds a Bachelor’s of Science from York College of Pennsylvania as well as recognized as a SHRM Certified Professional from The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). She is known for her people-centered approach to leadership and operations and organizational culture. Her work is grounded in the belief that supporting the people who do animal welfare work is essential to achieving sustainable outcomes for animals and strengthening teams.

Jasmin M. Robinson, Ph.D., is The Association’s Director of DEI Initiatives. She is also a consultant with MSM Global Consulting and the CEO and Founder of I.D.E.A.L. Education, LLC. She has over 15 years of experience and has contributed her thought leadership across industries, including higher education, p-12 education, nonprofit organizations, government, and corporations. Jasmin is committed to empowering professionals who recognize societal inequities and strive to be better leaders in their communities and organizations. Jasmin completed a Ph.D. in Educational Administration, Higher Education Leadership. Her research interests include Black women’s experiences in historically white spaces, anti-Blackness, and cultural competence. In her spare time, Jasmin enjoys cooking, walking, thrifting, and reading.

Matt Scott is the Cofounder of CauseMic, a technology consultancy that helps nonprofits grow revenue and impact. He is the author of The High-Growth Nonprofit, drawing on his experience leading fundraising at Team Rubicon, where he helped scale annual revenue from $275,000 to $51 million in seven years.

TyAnn Sumpter is the Executive Director of SPCA of Brazoria County and an animal welfare leader focused on building systems that support people, animals, and the communities they serve. With experience in shelter operations, community cat programming, municipal partnerships, and statewide shelter support, she is passionate about removing barriers and creating practical, community-responsive approaches to lifesaving. TyAnn believes that effective sheltering starts with listening to the community, understanding its needs, and building programs and policies that meet people where they are.

Ellen Taylor, CAWA, CDEP, is Chief Project Officer at Charleston Animal Society, where she leads PACT SC, an initiative dedicated to strengthening South Carolina’s animal shelters through collaboration, education, and strategic support. With 30+ years experience in animal welfare, Ellen is known for bringing people together to solve complex challenges and improve lifesaving outcomes. She facilitates meaningful conversations that help shelter professionals collaborate more effectively, build stronger organizations, and better serve their communities. Her leadership style is practical, people-centered, and grounded in the belief that lasting change happens through relationships. Whether facilitating strategic planning sessions, coaching leaders, or building statewide partnerships, Ellen brings authenticity, curiosity, and humor to every room.

Jim Tedford accepted his dream job when he joined The Association as President & CEO in 2015. He has been a member for more than 30 years and served as our Board Chairman some twenty years ago. Jim has been in the animal welfare movement for more than 40 years, having served as CEO for sheltering organizations in New York, Louisiana, and Tennessee, was a regional director for The Humane Society of the United States, and spent six years providing direct response marketing services to animal welfare organizations.

Jessica Umunnabuike (she/her) is the Senior Talent and Diversity Specialist at San Diego Humane Society. With more than a decade of experience in human resources and equity work, Jess is committed to advancing people-centered practices that strengthen hiring, engagement, retention, and organizational impact.