Joybound People & Pets Board of Directors Elects Jennifer Hall as Board President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Joybound People & Pets Board of Directors Elects Jennifer Hall as Board President

Steve Degnan, Morgan Forsey, and Kevin Fick Round Out Leadership

WALNUT CREEK, CA – Feb. 10, 2025 – Joybound People & Pets is excited to announce the unanimous election of Jennifer Hall (Incline Village, NV) as its new Board President. In addition to Hall, the Board of the 32-year-old organization focused on creating and elevating the human-animal bond elected Steve Degnan (St. Louis, MO), Morgan Forsey (Los Angeles, CA), and Kevin Fick (Orinda, CA) to leadership roles.

“Along with the entire Board, I’m thrilled to announce this leadership team. Their combined deep organizational knowledge and diverse professional expertise are ideal for Joybound’s continued growth and innovation in the sector,” said Joybound Chief Executive Officer, Susan Lee Vick. “Jennifer and the Executive Committee’s strategic guidance will be invaluable as Joybound forms and supports more pet families.”

Hall has been an active leader in the Walnut Creek, California based Joybound for almost two decades, including her most recent role as Board vice president. A former Bay Area resident, she brings decades of leadership to her new role, including a 27-year career at Intuit, Inc., where she held key roles such as Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President of Customer Success. Jennifer also played a leading role in driving customer-focused innovations for QuickBooks and TurboTax. During her tenure on the Joybound Board, she has played active roles on the Finance and Strategic Growth Committees, while chairing the Governance Committee. Hall is graduate of San Francisco State University with a Bachelor’s in Computer Science Information Systems.

Degnan, a St. Louis-based human resources advisor, was elected as Board Vice President. He served as Chief Human Resources Officer North America for Nestle Purina PetCare from 2004 to 2023 and currently leads the Joybound Board’s Advancement Committee. A U.S. Army Veteran instrumental in development of Joybound’s Shelter to Service and other Veteran’s support programming. Degnan earned his Bachelor’s in Business Management from La Salle University in Philadelphia and holds an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. In addition to his commitment to Joybound, he also serves on multiple boards in St. Louis, including Guardian Angels Settlement Association, Starkloff Disability Institute, and Catholic Charities.

Forsey, an employment litigator with ArentFox Schiff, will continue her service in her role as Board secretary. Recently recognized among the 2024 “Top Labor & Employment Attorneys in California” by Daily Journal, the state’s premier legal publication, she specializes in defending employers in wage-and-hour class actions and regulatory audits involving the DOL, DOJ, and EEOC. Forsey, who earned her law degree from the University of California, Davis – School of Law will also elevate to chair the Board’s Governance Committee, where she has served two terms.

Fick, who joined the Joybound Board in 2018, was elected Board treasurer. A veteran of the pet products industry, he is currently Executive Chair of OKAVA, a biotechnology research firm developing focused pharmaceuticals for dogs and cats. Prior to his current role, he held the role of CEO at Petwise (formerly Worldwise), where he served on the Board from 2012-2025. Fick, who will chair the Joybound Board’s Finance Committee, holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and General Management from the University of Northern Iowa.

For more than three decades, Joybound People & Pets has been at the forefront of improving the lives of animals and the people who love them. With this new chapter in its leadership, the organization looks forward to continuing its mission with strength and innovation.