The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement Learning Center
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Includes a Live Web Event on 11/13/2025 at 2:00 PM (EST)
Learn about the CAWA Exam and program, the only leadership credential in animal welfare.
Curious about the Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) Exam?
Interested in expanding your knowledge and boosting your skills? Looking to power up your future career opportunities? Then the CAWA credential may be for you!
CAWA is the only leadership credential in animal welfare. You earn your CAWA by studying for and taking a rigorous exam.
Join a conversation with the CAWA program director and several CAWAs. Ask us anything about the program — from eligibility to studying tips to why the CAWA credential is a boon to your leadership ambitions. Learn about the new exam and how the program works.
Have questions that can't wait? Visit the CAWA webpages or email Valerie Sheppard at learning@theaawa.org.
This conversation will take place 2-3 pm ET and will be recorded.
Panelists:
- Jennifer Bennett, DVM, CAWA, Director of Shelter Medicine Access to Care, UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program
- Kim Brown, CAWA, COO, Animal Protective Association of Missouri
- Katie Ingram, CAWA, Animal Services Manager, County of Placer Animal Services
- Katie Parker, CAWA, Chief Operating Officer, Humane Colorado
Dr. Jennifer Bennett, CAWA
Director of Shelter Medicine Access to Care, University of California-Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program
Dr. Jennifer Bennett is the current Director of Shelter Medicine Access to Care at the University of California-Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program where she works with an outreach team to support shelter veterinarians and access to care programming. She has been a shelter veterinarian and administrator for the majority of her career, with a focus on developing shelter medicine programs, leadership-veterinarian dynamics, shelter and general practitioner partnerships, and lower barrier operational processes. She has worked with multiple municipal and private animal welfare organizations to provide training in HQHVSN, forensic and large-scale legal case management, and context-centered care and communication.
Kim Brown, CAWA
Chief Operations Officer
APA of Missouri
Kim Brown has been working in animal welfare for over 15 years and is the COO of APA of Missouri. Kim has a MA in Non-profit Administration, a BA in Human Resource Management, and is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator. She spent eight years in the US Army Reserves as a Combat Medic.
Katie Ingram, CAWA
Animal Services Manager, Placer County Animal Services
Katie has worked in the animal sheltering industry for more than 18 years, serving previously as the Assistant Director at OC Animal Care in Orange County, CA. Beginning in 2016, Katie joined Placer County as the Animal Services Manager at Placer County Animal Services in Auburn. Since joining the team, she has been responsible for the opening of the new, state-of-the-art animal shelter, increasing community engagement, and developing new and progressive shelter programs. These programs have not only been recognized repeatedly, they have proved incredibly successful for lifesaving, allowing Placer County Animal Services to achieve a live release rate of more than 90% since 2017!
Katie Parker, CAWA
Chief Operating Officer, Humane Colorado
Katie Parker, CAWA, is the Chief Operating Officer for Humane Colorado. In 2006, Katie joined our organization as our Customer Care Manager, a position she held for three years. Over the next decade, she filled a variety of leadership roles, including Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act inspector for the Colorado Department of Agriculture, and Executive Director of the Animal Assistance Foundation. During this time, she also served on the boards of the Colorado Pet Overpopulation Fund and the Grey Muzzle Organization. In 2020, returned to Humane Colorado, first serving as our Vice President of Sheltering before becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2024. In addition to her work at Humane Colorado, she is a board member for the Denver Animal Foundation and will soon be rejoining the board of the Animal Welfare Association of Colorado.
Valerie Sheppard
Senior Director, Professional Development & Credentialing
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
Valerie Sheppard has spent more than 20 years helping professionalize animal welfare staff, first as the head of HSUS' Humane Society University, the first online learning program in animal welfare, and then managing the ASPCApro's elearning and webinar program.
Valerie has been with The Association since 2018. She leads the CAWA credential program, The Association's Conference Committee, and our online professional development site, The Learning Center. She has hosted more than 500 webinars, and counting.
Valerie has a Bachelor's degree in Theatre from Smith College, and a Masters in Counseling plus a Post-Masters Certificate in Career Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.
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Register
- Animal Welfare Professional Member - Free!
- Student Member - Free!
- Industry Partner Member - Free!
- Learning Member - Free!
- More Information
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Includes Credits Includes a Live Web Event on 10/21/2025 at 3:00 PM (EDT)
Participants will learn how to envision strategies that center accountability, community partnerships, and systemic change in their operations.
The animal welfare profession has made meaningful strides toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). However, many are realizing that DEI alone is not enough to address the deeper systemic barriers that shape who has access to animal care, animal welfare services, and leadership opportunities in the profession.
This session will explore what it means to shift from DEI in theory to justice in action. Participants will learn how to envision strategies that center accountability, community partnerships, and systemic change. We will also discuss common pitfalls that keep organizations stuck and provide actionable steps towards justice. Whether you lead a shelter, work with diverse teams, or engage in community-based animal care, this session will equip you with ideas and tools to take the next step toward making meaningful, long-term change.
Objectives:
- Examine traditional ways of defining DEI in animal welfare
- Define justice in action and how it strengthens efforts to foster inclusion and belonging
- Identify strategies to leverage DEI and justice in action at your organization
Presented by:
- Maria Morukian, President, MSM Global Consulting
- Jasmin Robinson, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
This session, both live and the recording, has been approved for:
- 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit
- 1 NACA CE
Maria Morukian
President and Founder
MSM Global Consulting
Maria Morukian, the president of MSM Global Consulting, has twenty years of experience as a facilitator, coach and consultant on leadership, diversity, equity, inclusion, and intercultural competence. Maria hosts a podcast on critical DEI issues called Culture Stew. She is author of the book, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Trainers: Fostering DEI in the Workplace and co-author of ATD’s Handbook for Training and Talent Development.
Jasmin Robinson
Director of DEI Initiatives
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
Jasmin M. Robinson is The Association's Director of DEI Initiatives. She is also the CEO and Founder of I.D.E.A.L. Education, LLC., and a consultant with MSM Global Consulting. She has over 10 years of experience leading efforts to foster and maintain inclusive work environments that welcome, embrace, empower, and celebrate people. She is actively pursuing a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Indiana State University.
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Register
- Animal Welfare Professional Member - Free!
- Student Member - Free!
- Industry Partner Member - Free!
- Learning Member - Free!
- Industry Partner - Non-Member - Free!
- More Information
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These learning opportunities are designed to further the eradication of systemic discrimination and racism in animal welfare.
View our DEI Resource Library found on our main site.
Discover all of our DEI learning opportunities.
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement is committed to action on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in animal welfare and we want you with us on this journey. As part of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Commitment to Action, The Association will continue offering resources and learning opportunities designed to further the eradication of systemic discrimination and racism in animal welfare.
We thank The Life of Riley at Spring Point for their support of The Association's DEI initiatives.
Gain skills for navigating challenging conversations around DEI and get practice presenting to colleagues. This program includes a 3-day in-person training and online coaching.
All participants will enjoy full scholarships, including travel and accommodations.
Check back for 2026 Ambassador cohort opportunities.
Participants in this four-part workshop series, designed for individuals in leadership roles, will explore why and how to advance DEI at their organization.
Low-cost registration fees for the Fall 2025 have been made possible thanks to the generosity of our sponsors.
Learn about the Fall 2025 program.
Check out The Association’s DEI Pride Store, where your purchase of tees and hoodies helps to support our Conference Scholarship Fund.Review the 2024 animal welfare survey on diversity, equity, and inclusion in our profession. The survey data provides insights into where the animal welfare industry has made progress since the original 2021 DEI survey and offers recommendations to further address systemic discrimination and racism in animal welfare.
Download The Association's DEI 2024 Survey analysis report
To learn more about the survey results and how to apply them in your organization,
- Watch the recording of this session: Assessing the State of DEI in Animal Welfare: Where do we go from here? (01-29-25)
- Read about 6 detailed findings from the report
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Register
- Animal Welfare Professional Member - Free!
- Student Member - Free!
- Industry Partner Member - Free!
- Learning Member - Free!
- Industry Partner - Non-Member - Free!
- More Information
- Watch the recording of this session: Assessing the State of DEI in Animal Welfare: Where do we go from here? (01-29-25)
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Includes Credits
This course is designed for individuals with more than 2 years of professional fundraising experience. These six self-paced modules provide a fundamental level of fundraising knowledge to animal welfare leaders.
* Designed for individuals with more than 2 years of professional fundraising experience. These six self-paced courses provide an advanced level of fundraising knowledge to animal welfare leaders, especially Executive Directors and development team leaders.
Modules in the Fundraising Executive Program:
- Program Evaluation
- Effective Boards
- Prospect Research
- Major Donors and Capital Campaigns
- Grant and Proposal Writing
- Planned Giving
Each module contains:
- A training video which runs 40-65 minutes
- 2-3 relevant articles to read in advance of watching each module’s video. These articles will be referenced and discussed during each video.
- * Course workbook:
- Answer questions and complete activities in each module; Track module activities; Plot your goals for the course; Jot down ideas and insights you gain from the course; Identify your next steps
* Optional but highly recommended!
Upon completion of the course, participants will be provided with two hours of virtual coaching with the course developer, Mike Buckley, to review an in-depth evaluation of their program, discuss the major takeaways, and answer any additional questions the participants may have.
Plan to spend at least 6 hours on this program. You may earn 6 hours of CAWA CE upon successful completion of the Fundraising Professional Certificate Program. This program has also been approved by CFRE for 6 CEs.
Rate for Professional & Student Members: $199 (Learn about Membership); $325 for Learning Non-Members
BULK REGISTRATION: Enroll 5 or more of your staff/volunteers for the program at once and save $50 per person. Not valid with other discounts. Contact learning@theaawa.org for instructions.
Less than two years of fundraising experience? See The Association Fundraising Professional Certificate Program
Modules in the Fundraising Executive Program:
I. Program Evaluation
There are multiple ways to evaluate the health of your fundraising program beyond your total dollars raised. Often times, organizations are so focused on achieving a dollar goal that they are not paying close enough attention to other important metrics within their program. During this course, participants will review the top performance indicators every organization should be tracking, discuss strategies to have a positive impact on these metrics, and learn how this data can integrate into program evaluation. Participants will also run their data through the Fundraising Fitness Test to gain a practical assessment of the health of their fundraising program.
II. Effective Boards
An effective board of directors for any nonprofit organization must be willing to share their time, talent, and treasure. Boards of directors have a fiduciary responsibly to the organization and play a critical role in advancing its mission. During this course, participants will review strategies for board member recruitment and retention, learn about board committees, review and discuss common expectations for board members (including fundraising expectations), and discuss effective board governance.
III. Prospect Research
As organizations become more sophisticated, it is important to work as effectively as possible with donors and prospects. Prospect research is an important tool that empowers staff not only to discover new prospects, but to learn more about their current donors and communicate with them more effectively. During this course, participants will discover cost-effective tools for prospect research, develop individual donor profiles for prospects, and develop individual donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans. Participants will also have the option of screening 100 of their prospects through iWave in order to see firsthand how wealth screening tools work.
IV. Major Donors and Capital Campaigns
Major gift and capital campaigns are monumental opportunities for nonprofit organizations. These efforts are significant undertakings and should be entered into only after careful planning and evaluation. A successful campaign effort will raise funds, exposure, and capacity for the organization. Major donors are often involved in such campaigns, but are an important part of your fundraising strategy and planning at all times.
During this session, participants will discover basic components of a campaign, including feasibility studies, fundamental steps to take leading up to campaign efforts, the advantages of hiring outside counsel, attracting and retaining staff, and board member involvement. A thorough discussion of major donors rounds out this course by delving into the unique strategies and planning required in the process of cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding these important champions of your organization.
V. Grant and Proposal Writing
Grant writing is both an art and a science and requires planning, data collection, and data-based projected outcomes. Grants are also important opportunities to support current programs within your organization. Grant applications aren’t the only times you’ll need to prepare a proposal for support, however! During this course, participants will learn how to research grant opportunities, organize their data gathering and application writing process, select projects most likely to win support, use data to strengthen their application, and more. Other important non-grant proposals such as those for corporations and major donors are also discussed so participants can understand how these types of proposals are similar and different from grant proposals.
VI. Planned Giving
The vast majority of the planned gifts that organizations receive are simple will bequests. These gifts are often received after a donor has passed away with little awareness by the organization until after the donor has passed. Occasionally, nonprofits are involved in more complex gift vehicles (also considered planned gifts) that require outside counsel. Regardless of the vehicle, planned gifts are an untapped opportunity for most animal welfare nonprofits. During this course, participants will review simple will bequest language, discuss gift acceptance policies, creation of planned giving programs (and effective marketing strategies for these programs), and learn about donor advised funds and additional complex planned giving vehicles.
Michael J. Buckley, CFRE
President
The Killoe Group
A career fundraiser, Michael J. Buckley, CFRE is a non-profit consultant, coach, and speaker whose work focuses on small and medium-sized non-profit organizations. As President of The Killoe Group, Mike's extensive experience includes annual campaign audits and management, capital campaign leadership, feasibility studies, interim and ad-hoc program leadership, board governance and capacity building.
Previous to his consulting career, Mike served as the Chief Philanthropy & External Affairs Officer at the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society in Albany, NY. In this role, Mike had overall responsibility for unrestricted, capital and legacy giving as well as strategically increasing the exposure of the organization. Mike lead the organization’s first capital campaign which resulted in a 24,000 square foot state-of-the-art Animal Care Center.
The Association asked Mike to develop two Fundraising Certificate programs after his presentation at our Spring Conference in 2019.
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Register
- Animal Welfare Professional Member - $199
- Student Member - $199
- Industry Partner Member - $350
- Learning Member - $325
- Industry Partner - Non-Member - $375
- More Information
-
Includes Credits
This course is designed for individuals with less than 2 years of professional fundraising experience. These six self-paced modules provide a fundamental level of fundraising knowledge to animal welfare leaders.
Designed for individuals with less than 2 years of professional fundraising experience. These six self-paced modules provide a fundamental level of fundraising knowledge to animal welfare leaders.
Modules in the Fundraising Professional Program:
- Fundraising in Animal Welfare
- Sustainable Fundraising
- Fundraising Methods
- Special Events
- Stewardship & Donor Relations
- Generational Giving
Each module contains:
- A training video which runs 40-90 minutes
- 2-3 relevant articles to read in advance of watching each module’s video. These articles will be referenced and discussed during each video.
- * Course workbook:
- Answer questions and complete activities in each module; Track module activities; Plot your goals for the course; Jot down ideas and insights you gain from the course; Identify your next steps
* Optional but highly recommended!
Upon completion of the course, participants will be provided with two hours of virtual coaching with the course developer, Mike Buckley, CFRE, to review an in-depth evaluation of their program, discuss the major takeaways, and answer any additional questions the participants may have.
Plan to spend at least 6 hours on this program. You may earn 6 hours of CAWA CE upon successful completion of the Fundraising Professional Certificate Program. This program has also been approved by CFRE for 6 CEs.
Rate for Professional & Student Members: $199 (Learn about Membership); $325 for Learning Non-Members
BULK REGISTRATION: Enroll 5 or more of your staff/volunteers for the program at once and save $50 per person. Not valid with other discounts. Contact learning@theaawa.org for instructions.
Module Descriptions
I. Fundraising in Animal Welfare
As a unique subset of nonprofits, animal welfare organizations have both an opportunity and challenge when raising money. In this course, participants will discuss giving trends in animal welfare and about learn basic fundraising tools and resources that will set an important foundation for the following courses. Participants will review important fundraising terminology, discuss common donor motivations for giving, learn about ethical issues in fundraising, and get started on creating a fundraising toolbox for their organization.
II. Sustainable Fundraising
Simply put, nonprofits cannot function without the financial support of others. Our organizations must build long term relationships with donors that will sustain them. During this course, participants will learn the importance of building a robust annual giving plan and integrating their marketing and communications efforts. Participants will discover necessary components of an annual integrated calendar including direct mail, donor acquisition, and digital communication. The course also provides a review and discussion of trackable metrics beyond dollars raised to your giving program.
III. Fundraising Methods
Unlocking diverse funding sources requires an understanding of multiple fundraising strategies, as different donors resonate with different approaches. An integrated fundraising approach that encompasses a spectrum of methods is key and will help enhance your ability to connect with a broader donor base. This course serves as a comprehensive how-to guide, delving into essential fundraising vehicles including: direct mail, email marketing, social media outreach, website development, and the establishment of monthly or consistent giving programs.
IV. Special Events
Special events play an important role at every organization as they can be both important fundraising and friend raising tools. Although special events can be very labor intensive for the organization, there are ways to make these events both effective and efficient. During this course, participants will review and discuss the components of a special events plan, discuss appropriate post-event follow up, discover creative ways to raise funds beyond the typical gala format, and consider some lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on event planning and preparation.
V. Stewardship & Donor Relations
Showing appreciation to donors is the number one way to ensure donors keep giving to your organization. While thank you letters are important, effective stewardship is much more than a simple letter. This course delves into the important differences between donor stewardship and donor relations and how the two strategies work together to support donor retention. Participants will discover new, unique ways to steward donors to ensure donor retention, discuss effective language for stewardship messages, and review best practices. Participants will also learn how to craft an impactful donor relations plan.
VI. Generational Giving
A significant amount of attention has been given to the millennial generation by nonprofit organizations, but in reality, it is important to understand all generations, not just millennials. An understanding of and sensitivity to generational differences will help you to craft targeted messages that appeal to a wider range of donors and prospects while also helping them feel “seen.” In this course, participants will learn about each generation, what matters to them, and how they prefer to be communicated with. Participants will also learn how this information can be used in a segmentation strategy to make each communication as impactful as possible.
More than two years of fundraising experience? See The Association Fundraising Executive Certificate Program
Michael J. Buckley, CFRE
President
The Killoe Group
A career fundraiser, Michael J. Buckley, CFRE is a non-profit consultant, coach, and speaker whose work focuses on small and medium-sized non-profit organizations. As President of The Killoe Group, Mike's extensive experience includes annual campaign audits and management, capital campaign leadership, feasibility studies, interim and ad-hoc program leadership, board governance and capacity building.
Previous to his consulting career, Mike served as the Chief Philanthropy & External Affairs Officer at the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society in Albany, NY. In this role, Mike had overall responsibility for unrestricted, capital and legacy giving as well as strategically increasing the exposure of the organization. Mike lead the organization’s first capital campaign which resulted in a 24,000 square foot state-of-the-art Animal Care Center.
The Association asked Mike to develop two Fundraising Certificate programs after his presentation at our Spring Conference in 2019.
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Register
- Animal Welfare Professional Member - $199
- Student Member - $199
- Industry Partner Member - $355
- Learning Member - $325
- Industry Partner - Non-Member - $375
- More Information
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Includes Credits Recorded On: 09/10/2025
Learn how the Arizona Humane Society is creating big changes with bold ideas
Across the country, shelters are facing one of today’s biggest adoption challenges—finding loving homes for large dogs. But there’s hope, and there are solutions.
Join the Arizona Humane Society for an energizing Lunch & Learn that will show how big changes can start with bold ideas. You’ll discover how their team has not only increased big dog adoptions, but also dramatically reduced length of stay—transforming outcomes for some of their most overlooked companions.
Through a mix of:
- Creative adoption incentives that spark interest
- High-impact marketing campaigns that tell unforgettable stories
- Innovative programs that meet both dogs’ and adopters’ needs
…the AHS team is creating a blueprint any shelter can adapt.
This special Lunch & Learn will take place on Wednesday, September 10, from 2-2:30 ET. Bring your questions—there will be time for a Q&A so you can take actionable ideas back to your own organization. Because every big dog deserves a big story—and a happy ending.
This live event is part of the Innovation Bank. The Innovation Bank is a collection of bright ideas, innovative programs, and research that your organization can use for inspiration.
Doug Ledger
Adoption, Retail, and Concessions Manager, Arizona Humane Society
Doug Ledger began his journey in animal welfare with the Arizona Humane Society in 2012 and is proud to be part of one of the largest private shelter operations in the country. As Adoption, Retail, and Concessions Manager, Doug manages multiple teams, overseeing more than 40 employees and close to $4M annually in earned revenue.
Robby Nisenfeld, CAWA
Senior Marketing Manager, Arizona Humane Society
Robby Nisenfeld has been with the Arizona Humane Society for nearly 12 years and oversees the website, email marketing and paid advertising campaigns. Robby is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator.
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Register
- Animal Welfare Professional Member - Free!
- Student Member - Free!
- Industry Partner Member - Free!
- Learning Member - Free!
- Industry Partner - Non-Member - Free!
- More Information
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A collection of short webinar recordings on innovative topics, research, and bright ideas.
Share this content with your staff, board, and volunteers at staff meetings or lunch 'n learns! Or watch on your own anytime.
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Register
- Animal Welfare Professional Member - Free!
- Student Member - Free!
- Industry Partner Member - Free!
- Learning Member - Free!
- Industry Partner - Non-Member - Free!
- More Information
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Register
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Includes Credits Recorded On: 08/07/2025
Hear about findings from the 2025 State of Shelter Adoptions Report, published by Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
Hear about findings from the 2025 State of Shelter Adoptions Report, published by Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
This annual report is filled with insights that every shelter leader needs to know—from the shifting trends in adoption rates to the growing challenges around large dogs, fostering, and post-adoption support. To bring the report to life, Jim Tedford, President & CEO, will facilitate a dynamic conversation with industry leaders who have their finger on the pulse of adoption trends and sheltering practices.
Together we’ll dive into:,
• What the data tells us about current adoption trends
• How shelters can address financial and housing barriers
• Innovative programs shaping the future of pet placementBring your questions as there will be ample time for Q&A.
Presenters:
- Dr. Chelsie Estey, US Chief Veterinary Officer, Hill’s Pet Nutrition
- Sydney Mollentine, CNP, President & CEO, The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City
- Ellen Taylor, CDEP, CAWA, Chief Operating Officer, Humane Society of Charlotte
Moderated by Jim Tedford, CAWA, President & CEO, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
This session, both live and the recording, has been approved for:
- 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit
- 1 NACA CE
Chelsie Estey, MSc, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)
U.S. Chief Veterinary Officer
Hill's Pet Nutrition
Dr. Chelsie Estey is the US Chief Veterinary Officer for Hill's Pet Nutrition, a role she assumed in April 2025. With a robust background in veterinary leadership and care, Dr. Estey brings a wealth of experience and a proactive approach to advancing veterinary medicine to Hill’s.
Most recently, she served as Vice President of US Pet Care at Parnell, where she made significant strides in advancing their pet health business. Before Parnell, Dr. Estey built a distinguished career at Elanco. She began as a Specialty Consulting Veterinarian, progressively advancing within the organization to ultimately serve as Senior Director of US Pet Health Specialty Sales and Specialty Consulting Veterinarians.
Dr. Estey has also enriched the veterinary neurology field through scholarly contributions, with numerous articles published in scientific journals and several book chapters to her name. She is the recipient of the 2025 High Flyer Award from the Feather in Her Cap Association. Dr. Estey's academic background includes a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Atlantic Veterinary College and a small animal rotating internship at Georgia Veterinary Specialists, complemented by a Neurology and Neurosurgery residency at Cornell University. She also holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Brunswick.
Sydney Mollentine, CNP
President & CEO
The Humane Society of Greater KC
Sydney Mollentine has spent over 20 years in the animal welfare world. As CEO of The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, she’s led the charge to create community-focused programs that keep pets out of shelters and in their homes where they belong.
She’s been featured in The New York Times for her work in pet ownership, is a two-time recipient of the Trailblazer DEI Award from The Humane Society of the United States, and has served as an expert panelist for the Hill’s Science Diet Shelter Report. Sydney’s uncommon approach to sheltering and public-facing affordable veterinary care is rooted in realism and meeting communities where they are at and building meaningful relationships all community members.
Ellen Taylor, CDEP, CAWA
Chief Operating Officer
Humane Society of Charlotte
Ellen Taylor is the Chief Operating Officer at the Humane Society of Charlotte, bringing over 30 years of animal welfare experience. She’s known for her down-to-earth, people-first leadership style and her passion for helping teams grow, collaborate, and make a true difference—always with a bit of humor and heart.
Her journey into shelter leadership started with a frustrating personal pet adoption experience that lit a fire in her to challenge the system. Today, she’s driven by a simple goal: to create more welcoming, inclusive shelters where both people and animals thrive.
Ellen is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA). She has worked as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and is a Certified Dialogue Education™ Practitioner (CDEP).
Jim Tedford, CAWA
President & CEO, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
Jim Tedford accepted his dream job when he joined The Association as President & CEO in June of 2015. But Jim is no stranger to the organization. He has been a member for more than 30 years and served as our Board Chairman some twenty years ago. Jim has been actively engaged in the animal welfare movement for more than 40 years, having served as CEO for animal sheltering organizations in New York, Louisiana and Tennessee. He served as a regional director for The Humane Society of the United States and then spent six years providing direct response marketing services to animal welfare organizations. Jim presents frequently at national and regional conferences on various animal welfare issues, organizational development and not-for-profit management.
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Register
- Animal Welfare Professional Member - Free!
- Student Member - Free!
- Industry Partner Member - Free!
- Learning Member - Free!
- Industry Partner - Non-Member - Free!
- More Information
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The members-only Leadership Summit is three power-packed 90-minute sessions—just one per day over three days—where you are invited you to sit down, roll up your sleeves, listen to some big ideas, and work through them together.
We’ve been listening to your feedback and are thrilled to launch this completely redesigned, members-only Leadership Summit. In three power-packed 90-minute sessions—just one per day over three days—we’re inviting you to sit down, roll up your sleeves, listen to some big ideas, and work through them together. Moving away from passive learning methods, in this interactive and deeply engaging experience, you’ll hear some great ideas from experts, learn how they’re playing out in shelters, and then discuss in small working groups how to bring them into your own organization.
Daily Schedule - Eastern Time Zone:
1:00 – 1:30 Keynote
1:30 – 1:55 Panel
1:55 – 2:30 Discussion
Daily Event Topics
July 15: Stress First Aid: The 7Cs of Caring for Yourself and Others
July 16: The Art of Professional Trust
July 17: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World
Event Pricing
Free — our gift to you as part of your member benefits.
Continuing Education (CEs)
The three sessions, both live and the recording, have been approved for:
- 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit
- 1 NACA CE
- 1 CE towards ACO CE requirements per Ch. 829 of the Texas Health and Safety Code by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
- CFRE: Full participation in each session is applicable for 1.0 points in Category 1.B-Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification
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Register
- Animal Welfare Professional Member - Free!
- Industry Partner Member - Free!
- More Information
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Includes Credits Recorded On: 04/22/2025
This roundtable discussion explores the realities of helping animal welfare organizations make progress toward their equity and inclusion goals, despite roadblocks and resistance.
This roundtable discussion explores the realities of helping animal welfare organizations make progress toward their equity and inclusion goals, despite roadblocks and resistance. Learn from industry leaders as they share:
- Experiences creating long-term change at their organizations
- Challenges and successes they faced while addressing inequities in the workplace
- Lessons learned
Panelists:
- Todd Cramer, CAWA, Chief Operating Officer, Potter League for Animals
- Meredith Jones, Chief Community Initiatives Officer, Operation Kindness
- Jennifer Toussaint, Chief of Animal Control, Arlington County Animal Control / Animal Welfare League of Arlington
- Facilitator: Jasmin Robinson, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
This discussion is the second part in a three-part Making Sustainable Change Series which addresses the mindset leaders need to affect change. The series includes a webinar, a roundtable discussion, and an interactive clinic. While you don't have to attend each session in the series, participants who commit to the entire series will benefit the most.
This session, both live and the recording, has been approved for:
- 1 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credit
- 1 NACA CE
Todd Cramer, CAWA
Chief Operating Officer, Potter League for Animals
As the Chief Operating Officer for the Potter League for Animals, Todd oversees the operations and human resources activities across the League’s three locations. Prior to joining the Potter League, Todd was President & CEO at the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society in New York’s Capital District and has also served as the Senior Program Manager, Adoptions, at PetSmart Charities, and Director of Community Initiatives at the ASPCA. Todd has earned the Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE) Racial equity, diversity, and inclusion (REDI) bronze and silver certifications and is a DEI Ambassador for The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement. Todd is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator.
Jasmin Robinson
Director of DEI Initiatives
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
Jasmin M. Robinson is The Association's Director of DEI Initiatives. She is also the CEO and Founder of I.D.E.A.L. Education, LLC., and a consultant with MSM Global Consulting. She has over 10 years of experience leading efforts to foster and maintain inclusive work environments that welcome, embrace, empower, and celebrate people. She is actively pursuing a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Indiana State University.
Meredith Jones
Chief Community Initiatives Officer, Operation Kindness
Meredith Jones has an extensive background in grassroots advocacy and activism, leadership experience with nationally-renowned animal welfare organizations, and has fought passionately for equal access for underserved pets and their people throughout her career. As the Chief Community Initiatives Officer for Operation Kindness, Meredith strives to implement community programs that provide accessible, compassionate, and nonjudgmental assistance.
Jennifer Toussaint
Chief of Animal Control, Arlington County Animal Control / Animal Welfare League of Arlington
Jennifer Toussaint is the Chief of Animal Control in Arlington County, Virginia, at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. Jennifer has been serving Arlington County for over 13 years and accepted the Chief position in 2016. She has expanded the animal control department’s outreach efforts in providing additional support to pet owners to enable high owner-pet retention in her community. Jennifer is a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)-trained officer and has trained animal control and welfare professionals on a variety of topics: active listening, uncovering bias, emergency preparedness, emotional support and service animals, animal neglect/cruelty investigations, and wildlife intake and triage.
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