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 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 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 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.