Back Where They Belong 2024 - On-Demand Summit Recording

Dr. Hurley is the founding director of the Koret Shelter Medicine Program and co-founder of the Million Cat Challenge, a shelter-based initiative to save the lives of one million more cats in five years. Over 1,500 shelters more than tripled that goal, between them saving over three million cats against their own baseline before joining the challenge. Hurley’s research interests include welfare of confined dogs and cats, humane and effective strategies to manage community cats, and infectious disease prevention. She will always love shelter work because it has the potential to improve the lives of so many animals and the people who work so hard to care for them.

Christine is a macro social worker with a specialized interest in building programs and policies that recognize the power of the human-animal bond. During her time working in supportive housing, Christine became acutely aware of the barriers people experiencing homelessness with animals face when attempting to access shelter and housing services. Christine’s research and work with human-animal homeless families includes a publication in the pioneering book Animals in Social Work: Why and How They Matter (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014), an exhibition for The Animal Museum called My Dog Is My Home and the founding of the non-profit organization by the same name. She served as the first director of the NYC Mayor's Office of Animal Welfare under Mayor Bill de Blasio, and she is the recipient of the ASPCA’s 2021 Public Service Humane Awards for her leadership at the NYC’s Mayor’s Office during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cole Wakefield is the executive director of The Good Shepherd Humane Society in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. He works with several national organizations, including the Human Animal Support Services Project and the Humane Society of the United States, on rural issues and consults with other animal welfare agencies on management practice and program implementation. He earned his Master of Science in Management and leadership from Western Governors University and is pursuing a doctorate in strategy and innovation.

Cole holds CARE REDI: Bronze certification and serves on the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement's DEI Council. Cole also serves on the Consultive Council of Nonprofit Leaders for Charity Navigator.

Elkie Wills, Sr. Director of Community Engagement at San Diego Humane Society began her career in animal welfare in 2004 with the Humane Society of Yuma. This is where she honed her skills at juggling multiple hats and understanding the importance of cultivating community support via volunteers, staff, media and developing partnerships. Elkie has been with San Diego Humane Society for 14 years where her roles have evolved throughout the years, but always with a focus on sharing the mission with the community whether it be via media or community support programs. In the last year, the Lost and Found initiatives transitioned to Community Engagement, creating a more comprehensive effort with community programming and pet families across San Diego.

Laura’s professional background includes working in the legal field as well as the tech space. She is especially interested in how we can harness technology to help more animals.

Her current work in animal welfare is focused on returning lost pets to their owners through Pasadena Humane’s Animal Resource Center AND community cats to their outdoor homes through their Community Cat Program.

She has spent the past 10 years helping cats in her community through TNR and has improved the existing Community Cat Program at Pasadena Humane by expanding services offered and making the program more accessible to community members.

Michelle has over a decade of hands-on experience at Fulton County Animal Services in Atlanta, Georgia, an open admissions county animal shelter currently managed by Lifeline Animal Project.

Michelle has played many roles in the sheltering industry including Animal Care Specialist, Adoption Counselor, Client Care Representative, Dispatcher, Court Clerk, Field Support Clerk; as well as multiple supervisory and management roles stemming from these positions.

Michelle has an affinity for anything dispatch; and is always up for community events and rescue transports. She is always in search of learning new aspects of the world of animal welfare and forming lasting relationships with community.

Michelle’s commitment to raising awareness and empowering others is the beating heart of her professional life. This commitment has led to her current role as Director of Community Animal CARE with Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE).

Mike Wheeler is the Director of Community Services for Cabot, Arkansas. Over the last 15 years he has been dedicated to animal welfare and public safety while reducing euthanasia and promoting responsible pet ownership in Cabot, Arkansas. Under Mike’s management of his city’s open admission shelter and animal control operations, he has fostered a culture of helping people and animals which has brought about 23 community programs that focused on improving the lives of every person and every pet in his community through strengthening the human animal bond and keeping families together. This philosophy of returning/keeping animals with their families has reduced his annual intake from 3,357 animals in 2019 to 1022 animals in 2022 with a euthanasia rate of less than 1%, counting every animal the organization touched in 2022. His belief that animal control should harbor an environment where they work with the community rather than against the community has resulted in an 87% ordinance compliance without issuing citations in 2022.

His passion for animal welfare and public policy has driven him to a position on the Executive Management Committee for the Human Animal Support Services (HASS), the Executive Board of the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA) and the position of Treasurer (Past President), of the Arkansas State Animal Control Association (ASACA). In this capacity he helps form best practices, trains animals control officers and assists Animal Service Departments and individuals across the country to become better representatives within their communities while providing a higher standard for animal welfare and public safety in those communities. Mike’s philosophy is one that is based on continued learning in an ever-changing world. As well as learning daily from human and animal welfare leaders across this country Mike holds a Masters in Business as well as degrees in Criminal Justice and Public Administration.

Akisha, a recognized leader in the field of animal welfare law and policy, is currently the Chief of Policy for the Environmental Justice Division of CARE.  She brings over a decade of leadership experience at a variety of regional, national and international nonprofits in the area of animal law and policy.  Active in the broader social justice movement, she is a contributor to a number of organizations, including the Black Appalachian Coalition (BLAC) and her local NAACP, for which she chairs the environmental justice, and economic development committees. She is also the past diversity Vice Chair for the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee and is a recent recipient of the Prince and Cora Mack Humanitarian Award. 

Akisha received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, where she was recognized as a Law Center Scholar and her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University where she graduated with distinction.  She lives in Kentucky with her husband and two rabbits. 

In his role, Bobby oversees St. Hubert's organization’s advocacy efforts, community programs, humane education, and public pet services all with the goal of uplifting and keeping people and pets together. Bobby also oversees the WayStation program, St. Hubert’s best-in-class animal relocation program.

With more than a decade of experience at municipal animal shelters, Bobby’s deep operational expertise, leadership, and creativity have helped change the public’s perception of the animal welfare industry. 

In his most recent role for American Pets Alive! as the Maddie’s® Human Animal Support Services (HASS) pilot director, Bobby's work focused on developing programs and protocols to implement community supported sheltering and help keep pets in homes with families who already love them.

Previously, Bobby spent more than a decade working in Sacramento animal shelters, at both the Sacramento SPCA and later at the state capital’s municipal organization, Front Street Animal Shelter. 

Bobby is passionate about implementing and expanding programs that instill a people-first mindset, support youth engagement, further the inclusion of historically marginalized communities, and celebrate the love between people and pets.

Mia Navedo-Williams is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Humane Rescue Alliance.

Mia brings over 25 years’ experience in brand, marketing, and public relations through her work at Lee Jeans, HR Block, GE Energy, and most recently Best Friends Animal Society. While at Best Friends, Mia built the multicultural marketing program and led the Community Center of Excellence team. She’s won awards for brand work at GE Energy as well as for her Hispanic/Latino work at the Y.  She holds a Journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Mia resides in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband, youngest son, and four beloved rescue dogs.

Caroline Malcolm is the Digital Communications Social Media Specialist at San Diego Humane Society. With a background in communications and a passion for animal welfare, Caroline works to develop, implement, and manage San Diego Humane Society’s social media strategy to increase their online presence, improve their digital marketing efforts, and grow public awareness and involvement to further support their mission, programs, services and fundraising efforts. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family and hiking!

Jordan Frey has been with San Diego Humane Society for four years, now in the role of Marketing Manager. She's passionate about supporting animals and people through sharing resources that promote healthier pet communities. Jordan supports educational, programmatic, fundraising and animal marketing campaigns for the organization, as well as media efforts to expand impact in San Diego County and beyond. In her spare time, she goes hiking with her dog Emmy (an SDHS alum) and enjoys fostering.

Nina Stively is the Director of Loudoun County Animal Services in Leesburg, Virginia. She is a Virginia Animal Control Officer, a certified Animal Welfare Administrator, a certified Expert Animal Cruelty Investigator, and has Master's Degrees in Veterinary Science and Business Administration. Nina started out as a volunteer over 20 years ago, and now loves working to improve industry standards in animal welfare, especially in the areas of professional ethics, transport, disease management and quality of care in shelters. She lives with her human family, and an assembly of pets, both permanent and fosters.

Shyanne Schull is the director for Washoe County Regional Animal Services in Reno, Nevada. Her proactive philosophy and approach to animal welfare issues helps to drive successful programs that support the bond between pets and people. With an intake average annual intake of 13,000 animals, Washoe County Regional Animal Services boasts a 40% combined cat and dog return to owner rate over a ten- year average. The success of these programs takes collaboration, dedication, community support and a lot of hard work.

In her 23- year career in animal welfare, Shyanne has worked in a wide array of capacities: kennel worker, dispatcher, officer, shelter manager, assistant director and director. She understands the respective challenges that each division area faces and believes in forging the passion and experience from each into a constructive goal; to develop life-saving strategies for shelter diversion and to support responsible pet ownership and pet retention.

Tori Fugate joined the KC Pet Project team in March 2012 – shortly after the organization took over the Kansas City, MO, animal shelter in January 2012. She is a graduate of Drury University in Springfield, MO, with a B.A. in Advertising and minors in Global Studies, Sports Management, and Women & Gender Studies. Tori’s past work experience includes working with the St. Louis Cardinals’ Double-A affiliate, the Springfield Cardinals, the Kansas City Chiefs, and various retail management positions. Her past non-profit experience includes working with the Missouri Restaurant Association and the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association, and she served on the Kansas City Restaurant Week Committee in 2011.

Dianne Prado is the Founder and President of Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team, also known as HEART LA. HEART LA is a legal non-profit that helps ensure people and their pets remain housed. Dianne is also an appointed public member of the California Veterinary Medical Board, a trainer and consultant for the Stay Housed Los Angeles Eviction Defense Program, and Lecturer in Law for UCLA Law School, teaching Los Angeles Housing Law and Policy.