Brad Shear is the Chief Executive Officer of the Potter League for Animals in Rhode Island, and is one of three Certified Animal Welfare Administrators (CAWA) in the state. During his tenure, Brad has expanded existing programs and created new partnerships, including acquiring the state's largest spay and neuter clinic and the state's largest full-service non-profit veterinary clinic. In addition to his work at the Potter League, Brad has served as board chair of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, chaired their Best Practices and Emerging Trends Committee, and serves on their Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee. He also serves on the Hill's Pet Nutrition Shelter Advisory Council and the New England Federation of Humane Societies' advisory committee.

Karen S. Walsh, CAWA, LVMT, CFE, is the Senior Director of Animal Relocation for the ASPCA and the former executive director of the McKamey Animal Center in Chattanooga, TN. She graduated from Blue Ridge in Virginia with a degree in veterinary technology and has achieved designations as a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator and a Certified Compassion Fatigue Educator. Karen has held leadership positions in both veterinary and animal welfare organizations and was appointed to serve on the Tennessee state Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. 

Jerrica Owen joined the National Animal Care & Control Association in April 2021, as the Director of Partnerships and Programs and was named Executive Director in December 2021. She brings with her nearly 20 years of experience in emergent animal welfare, engaging and developing a diversity of staff, shelter operations, and leading successful initiatives in Animal Welfare in a cross-cultural environment. Previously the Director of Strategic Initiatives for San Diego Humane Society, Jerrica supported achieving success on the organization’s primary strategies. 

Sarah Thompson, CAWA, is the Director for Rescue & Recovery with San Diego Humane Society.  She has held several positions over a 12 year span with SDHS, including oversight of Guest Relations and Adoptions at the San Diego Campus, and several organization wide programs including Retail Operations, Livestock, Alternative Placement (Foster and Rescue) and Animal Transport.  Sarah is also a member of the SDHS Emergency Response Team, providing support to the community in times of disaster or other emergencies. 

Dr. Erin Doyle is a Senior Director of Shelter Medicine in the Shelter Medicine Services team within the ASPCA’s Shelter Outreach division.  The Shelter Medicine Services team provides shelter medicine expertise and consultation both internally and with the ASPCA’s external shelter partners.  Dr. Doyle is board certified in Shelter Medicine Practice through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.     

Dr. Doyle received her DVM from Tufts University in 2004 and spent three years immediately following graduation in general small animal practice in Worcester, Massachusetts.  Dr. Doyle left private practice to join the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) where she worked for over ten years.  During her tenure at the ARL, Dr. Doyle was promoted to the head of the shelter medicine department and assisted with the forensic and law enforcement program.  She also completed a fellowship with the Koret Shelter Medicine program at UC Davis in 2012.  Dr. Doyle is serving her second term as president of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians and is an adjunct faculty member in Shelter Medicine at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.

As HSUS Director of Shelter Outreach and Policy Engagement, Kim Alboum has worked to create nationwide partnerships resulting in the placement of thousands of animals that were victims of animal cruelty, natural disasters, and overcrowding. Kim also works with HSUS State Directors to strengthen relationships between community animal shelters and animal advocates. She created the Shelter Ally Project, an outreach initiative to connect strong progressive shelters with shelters in need of support and training. The program also allows for funding of HSUS partners to travel and mentor shelters in creating lifesaving programs and address the homeless pet population disparity nationwide. 

Gina Gardner founded the Humane Society of Tulsa and uses her law degree to assist Oklahoma law enforcement and District Attorney offices in animal crimes including how to recognize them and obtain search warrants, execute humane seizure of animals, set a bond and forfeiture hearing and assist in the prosecution of offenders with evidence collection.  Gina manages the Tulsa County animal response team and is heavily involved in the Oklahoma state animal response team where her work in disasters has been recognized with awards by the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corp and US Department of Health & Human Services.  She has a decade of experience in pet transport and in 2018 established the Pet Transport Hub for Humane Society of Tulsa which has moved over 4000 pets from municipal shelters in Oklahoma and Texas to Shelter Ally Program partners.