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 nearly 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 37 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.
Jim and his wife Ann share their world with three terriers and an immortal macaw. Avid lovers of the outdoors, Jim and Ann spend as much time as possible on the hiking trails or camping in their Casita (fiberglass “egg”), often accompanied by all three terriers.
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 animal welfare experience to her role as Vice President of Programs. In this leadership position, Kelly is responsible for overseeing and enhancing programmatic activities in alignment with The Association’s mission and strategic objectives. She provides strategic direction, leadership, and management for our programmatic portfolio, ensuring that our programs deliver value to our members and stakeholders, and contributes to the advancement of the animal welfare profession.
Prior to joining The Association, Kelly worked for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, overseeing programs/projects and community relations for outcomes such as animal shelter operations, adoption and behavior, corporate partnership, and internal communications programming.
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.
valerie sheppard
Senior Director of Professional Development and Credentialing
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 Association's Conference Committee, the CAWA credential program, 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. After-hours, Valerie misses her son who's away at college, and relaxes with her partner, two Shepherd-mixes, a red-eared slider turtle, and a gaggle of fish.
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.
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 has been a dedicated member of the dream team since 2015, bringing over 30 years of experience in customer service and more than 20 years in office and account management. As the Membership Coordinator, she leverages her expertise to support members effectively, playing a key role in communications, maintaining member records, managing registrations for The Annual Conference, and overseeing The Career Center. Zanna seeks insights from members to better understand their needs and works to continuously improve membership benefits, ensuring they align with the evolving expectations of the community. As the primary point of contact via support@theaawa.org, she is known for her responsive, thoughtful assistance and her ability to offer solutions with both care and professionalism.
Outside of work, Zanna enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and their two dogs, Roxy and Benji. Living near the Smoky Mountains and just a short walk from a scenic greenway, she spends much of her free time walking, biking, and hiking. Zanna is also passionate about creating art across various mediums.
Our Staff and Consultants
Back Row: Julanne Rutten, Katherine Shenar, Zanna Poe, Lori Minton
Front Row: Karen Handelman, Jasmin Robinson, Maria Morukian, Kelly Cunningham, Jim Tedford, Valerie Sheppard, Siobhan Coen-Ghormley, Pune Dracker
Not Pictured: Sally Diederich, Andy Roth
Photo by Mark Campbell Productions