Conference Speakers

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.

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.

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.

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, which means she’s spent 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, but her favorite professional title continues to be a “matchmaker for pets and people.” If you ask her about nonprofit leadership, community impact, or pets, be

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. A former HR leader with Fortune 500 experience, he’s been featured on NPR’s The Takeaway and is among the 15% of speakers worldwide with the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation.Beyond speaking, he’s passionate about education in underserved communities in Ghana and the U.S., believing real impact matters

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.