Jim Tedford, CAWA
President & CEO
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 35 years and served as our Board Chairman 25 years ago. Jim has been actively engaged in the animal welfare movement for more than 41 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.
In addition to adult children and 7 grandchildren, Jim and his wife Ann share their world with three terriers, an immortal macaw and an off-the-track Thoroughbred. Avid lovers of the outdoors, Jim and Ann spend as much time as possible on the hiking trails or camping in their beloved travel trailer, often accompanied by all three dogs.
Katherine Shenar, CAWA
Executive Vice President
With expertise spanning executive leadership, organizational culture development, coalition building, marketing communications, and fundraising, Katherine McGowan Shenar, CAWA, has served as the Executive Vice President for The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement since 2019.
Katherine’s animal welfare journey began in 1996, leading the Public Relations and Marketing Department at the Humane Society of Missouri. Since then, she has held key leadership roles, including Executive Director of the Animal Protective Association of Missouri, Animal Welfare Issues Consultant for The Humane Society of the United States, President and CEO of the Asheville Humane Society, and Executive Vice President of the San Diego Humane Society.
Katherine wrote Coalition Building for Animal Care Organizations, a comprehensive guide to uniting animal advocates through collaboration. She holds a Master of Arts in Media Communications and currently resides in Florida with her husband, three dogs, and a cat. Katherine remains deeply dedicated to advancing the field of animal welfare and welcomes connections on LinkedIn.
kelly cunningham
Vice President of Programs
Kelly Cunningham brings more than two decades of experience in animal welfare to her role as Vice President of Programs. In this senior leadership position, Kelly oversees the Association’s professional development and member engagement portfolio, shaping learning experiences and programs that support leaders and organizations across the animal welfare field.
Kelly provides strategic vision and operational leadership to ensure the Association’s programs are impactful, relevant, and aligned with its mission and long-term strategic goals. Her work focuses on strengthening leadership capacity, fostering connection across the field, and advancing the profession through high-quality education.
Prior to joining the Association, Kelly worked at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), where she led cross-functional programs spanning shelter operations, adoption and behavior initiatives, community relations, corporate partnerships, and internal communications.
Kelly lives just outside Philadelphia with her husband, two daughters, three dogs (Winston, Murphy, and Arlo), and two cats (Bella and Flyer).
Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn.
Libby Davidson, MBA
Senior Director of Partnerships
With more than 25 years of experience in marketing and brand development, Libby Davidson is a relationship builder, results driver, and passionate advocate for the animal welfare field and profession. As Senior Director of Partnerships for The Association, she connects organizations with strategic opportunities that advance both sponsor goals and the critical work of animal shelters.
Libby’s rare combination of deep industry knowledge and firsthand experience bridging the corporate and nonprofit sectors sets her apart. She is one of the few professionals in the animal welfare space who has worked closely with leading pet food brands to build meaningful, ROI-driven partnerships with animal shelters. Her unique perspective allows her to help sponsors identify their distinctive value, align with animal welfare goals, and create high-impact activations that resonate with animal sheltering leaders and professionals.
Libby began her career in Chicago, crafting promotional campaigns for iconic brands like Motorola and Keebler. Her path then led to Nestlé Purina Petcare, where she helped launch household names like Cat Chow Indoor and Friskies Party Mix, reimagined retail product displays, and played a pivotal role in founding the Purina Shelter Champions program. In 2019, Libby began working with Mars Petcare, helping grow Eukanuba and advising on Royal Canin’s shelter feeding strategy. Libby holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). She lives just outside St. Louis with her husband Joe, their daughter Rory, and their dog Walter. Libby loves to travel, enjoys warm weather, and can often be found in the crowd of an Eric Church show.
Connect with Libby on LinkedIn.
Lori Minton
Director of Operations
Lori Minton serves as the Director of Operations for The Association, bringing over 20 years of experience in commercial, government, and non-profit sectors. In her role, Lori oversees the daily operations of the organization, ensuring smooth functionality and operational efficiency.
Lori holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from West Virginia University – Parkersburg. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, discovering new destinations, and spending quality time with her Chihuahua, Ringo (affectionately known as "Little"), and her two cats, Luna and Foxy.
Connect with Lori on LinkedIn.
zanna poe
Membership Coordinator
Zanna Poe joined The Association in 2015 and serves as Membership Coordinator. With more than 30 years of customer service experience and over 20 years in office and account management, she supports members and helps strengthen engagement across The Association’s growing professional community.
In her role, Zanna manages member communications, maintains membership records, manages registration for The Annual Conference, and supports The Career Center. She works closely with members to understand their evolving needs and helps inform strategies that enhance member engagement, retention, and overall membership experience. Zanna serves as the primary contact for member support and is known for her responsive, thoughtful, and solutions-oriented approach.
Zanna lives in Tennessee near the Smoky Mountains with her husband, Kerry, their son, Oliver, and their two dogs, Benji and Harvey. She enjoys spending time outdoors walking, biking, and hiking with her family.
Jasmin Robinson
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
As Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives with The Association, Jasmin Robinson is part of the team working on DEI in animal welfare spaces.
Jasmin is a consultant, educator, and people strategist with more than 14 years of professional experience. She has contributed her thought leadership across industries, including education, nonprofit organizations, government, and corporations. Jasmin is committed to empowering professionals who are aware of the inequities in society and strive to be better leaders in their communities and organizations.
Jasmin is completing a Ph.D. in Educational Administration. 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.