Leadership Team
Susan Lee Vick
Chief Executive Officer
Susan brings to her role as CEO a lifelong passion for the human-animal bond and a diverse set of leadership, business, and management skills. In the course of her career, Susan has successfully led local, regional, and national nonprofits and socially responsible businesses serving sectors ranging from human services to conservation science, urban renewal, endowment management, and the arts. She attributes her achievements to shared inspiration, commitment to mission, and teamwork.
Prior to joining Joybound, Susan served as Chief Operating Officer at Hugh Futrell Corporation, Chief Advancement Officer at Point Blue Conservation Science, and Chief Development Officer at Church Investment Group. As National Director of Advancement at Canine Companions, she oversaw 66% revenue growth in under three years, fueling collateral surges in mission and impact.
Susan takes particular pride in having raised a Canine Companions service dog who successfully partnered with a wounded U.S. Army Veteran of the war in Afghanistan. She has served her community in leadership roles with organizations such as the Santa Rosa Symphony, the Living Room shelter for homeless women and their children, Roseland University Prep, and Sonoma County Tourism. Susan earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with highest honors in English from the University of California at Davis. She has two dogs, Sophie and Jax, and in her free time enjoys the company of her children, hiking, running, and trekking.
Miguel Abi-hassan
Chief Program Officer
Miguel has more than two decades of animal wellness leadership and consulting experience with regional, national, and international organizations and is a regular speaker on topics related to compassion fatigue prevention, strategic leadership, and impact analyses. Before joining the Joybound team, Miguel led all hands-on programs for the Humane Society of the US/International as the Chief Animal Rescue, Care, and Sanctuaries Officer and served on leadership teams for various well-known animal welfare organizations ranging from Ohio to Florida. Miguel is DEI framework trained and a certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA), Grantwriter and National Public Information Officer (PIO), and Risk Management Professional. A lover of all types of animals, his current pets include a senior Sheltie mix, an umbrella cockatoo, and a blue-tongued skink.
Raul del Barco
Chief Talent Officer
With extensive experience in talent acquisition, employee relations, organizational and leadership development, and DEI initiatives, Raul plays a pivotal role as Chief Talent Officer, cultivating talent, and steering our team’s growth and continued success. As Chief Human Resources Officer at the California Academy of Sciences — one of the Bay Area’s leading educational and cultural institutions — Raul was instrumental in leading the organization through multiple changes as it transitioned from a temporary location to a newly rebuilt world-class museum and industry leader. Raul personally learned the depth of joy through the human-animal bond during his time at Joybound, adding rescue kitten Chaski to his family.
Cheryl McKenna
Chief Financial Officer
Cheryl joined Joybound in 2019, bringing with her 20 years of accounting experience. She spent 15 of those years as a CFO in the non-profit arena, cultivating strong financial, human resource, and information technology systems within her organizations. She thoroughly enjoys providing leadership and has served on local, state, and national committees. Cheryl loves doting on her grandkids, travelling, and exploring all that the greater Bay Area has to offer.
Lisa M. Moore
Chief Advancement Officer
In more than two decades of professional fund development, Lisa has built a proven track record of leading successful campaigns, including a historic campaign that raised over $136 million for Saint Mary’s College of California, where she served as Vice President of Advancement. While she has extensive experience leading development, marketing and community engagement within higher education and healthcare sectors, Lisa’s enthusiasm and commitment to the human-animal bond is guided by her passion to elevate healthier, happier communities by sharing the joy and unconditional love of animals, such as that she receives from her own dog, Stella.
Wendy Taylor-Tanielian
Chief of Staff
Wendy’s background as a marketing and communication strategist includes creative engagement work for brands such as AT&T, DIRECTV, Tenet Healthcare, and a roster of political clients. A born storyteller (aka a Texan) she also is a dedicated problem-solver and passionately committed to our mission. When her nose isn’t in a pile of research or animal statistics, she’s often puzzling her teammates with obscure lyric references. Wendy and her husband share their Bay Area home with Joybound rescue dog, Max, and rescue cats, Bella and Vougie.
Dr. Heather Budgin
Director of Veterinary Medicine
A graduate of the University of California, Davis and one of the longest-tenured Joybound team members, Dr. Budgin joined the organization in 2003. Her areas of expertise include shelter medicine and high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN). When not working, Dr. Budgin’s hobbies include sewing, rock climbing, and volunteering at her children’s schools.
Amanda Conlon
Shelter to Service Program Director
Amanda recognized the healing force animals have on people at a young age, and now works to share that joy with those who need it most. Before joining the Joybound team in 2007, her diverse animal wellness experience included roles as a shelter volunteer, certified dog trainer, and veterinary assistant. As the head of our Shelter to Service department, Amanda now works to maximize the impact of the human-animal bond.
Caitlin Gutoff, RVT
Director of Veterinary Services
Caitlin has worked in veterinary medicine and animal sheltering for the past fifteen years, leading San Francisco SPCA’s shelter medicine department for a decade. A registered veterinary technician (RVT) and Fear-Free certified veterinary professional, her passion is using her expertise to empower people to be the best pet guardian — or pet advocate — they can possibly be.
Bernie Machado
Director of Grooming Academy & Salon Services
As founder and CEO of City Dogs in San Francisco, Bernie has more than 30 years of experience in pet grooming, as well as a deep commitment to community service. Her expertise leaves shelter dogs, as well as community pets, looking and feeling their best — and she is thrilled to pass that knowledge on to the next generation of expert dog groomers at Joybound’s Engelstad Grooming Academy.
Sean McGinnis
Director of Rescue, Care, and Adoptions
Sean knew he wanted to work with animals from a young age. A homegrown talent, he has spent time supervising Joybound’s adoption, intake, and animal care teams in a variety of roles — and quickly climbed our ranks to the leadership team. Sean received his Animal Shelter Management certificate from the University of the Pacific and has completed the CalAnimal Emerging Leaders program.
Rosanna Salgado McDonald
Senior Director of Philanthropy
Rosanna has more than 20 years of experience raising funds for a variety of local and national organizations, with a focus on social justice, food insecurity, and health care. She is inspired by the power of generosity and cementing philanthropic relationships that let donors to see the power of their investments firsthand. Deeply committed to the human-animal bond, Rosanna enjoys the companionship of her two dogs, Cici and Cleo, and two cats, Oscar and Vida.
Alyssa Stone
Director of Community Engagement
Alyssa is an enthusiastic champion for creative, community-centered engagement and experiences. She brings more than 20 years of innovative leadership in arts and culture programs, education, and community engagement through her work at San Francisco Opera, The Crucible, Exploratorium, Mechanics’ Institute, Stern Grove Festival, and beyond. Alyssa is a performer at heart and by training, and now uses those skills to entertain her cats (and any animal that will listen) with silly songs.
Dr. Wailani Sung
Senior Director of Animal Admissions and Wellbeing
Inspired every day by the love people have for their pets, Dr. Sung has dedicated her career to improving people’s understanding of animal behavior. She joined the Joybound team after several years as the Director of Behavior and Welfare Programs at San Francisco SPCA. Dr. Sung is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist, widely published author, and featured guest on pet behavior documentaries by PBS and Netflix.
Jessica Wallace
Director of Community Solutions
Jessica’s deep commitment to strengthening the human-animal bond, combined with her experience in program management and innovation, brought her to Joybound. In addition to having led Research & Development teams in the for-profit sector, her extensive volunteer work spans food insecurity, community outreach, spay/neuter clinics, and more. Jessica witnessed the positive impact pets have on their guardians every day — a bond she personally shares with her own pets, Anna Super Dog and Mr. Big Kitty.
Careers
Bring your expertise and love for animals to our team. As we continue to grow, so does the need for talented, enthusiastic team members in a variety of roles.
Board of Directors
Jennifer Hall
Board President
Senior Vice President at Intuit (retired)
Pleasanton, CA
Steve Degnan
Board Vice President
Chief HR Officer at Nestlé Purina PetCare North America (retired)
St. Louis, MO
Morgan Forsey
Board Secretary
Partner at Arent, Fox, Schiff
Los Angeles, CA
Kevin Fick
Board Treasurer
Board of Directors at Petwise Inc.
Orinda, CA
Gregory L. McCoy, Esq.
Immediate Past President
Gagen McCoy
Danville, CA
Greg Andrews
President of SVP Pet Distribution at Central Garden & Pet
Walnut Creek, CA
Rose Bollman
General Manager and Senior Vice President South Division at PepsiCo (retired)
Palm Coast, FL
Angela De La Housaye Ashley
Founding Attorney at DLHA Law Group
Walnut Creek, CA
Jason Dombrosky, DVM
Medical Director at Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG)
San Ramon, CA
Mark Jennings
San Francisco-based Investor
Sausalito, CA
Dayna Sayres
Community Philanthropist
Orinda, CA
Peter Scott
Chief Executive Officer at American Pet Products Association
Stamford, CT
Alice Tillett
Chief Executive Officer at Petmate
Keller, TX
Eric Willis
Chief Marketing Officer at Nestlé Purina PetCare North America (retired)
St. Louis, MO
Former Members of the Board of Directors
- Bradley N. Blake
- Steven Blanding
- William A. Blase, Jr.
- Sandy Block
- Maria Brunner
- Kara Carter
- Glenn Colacurci
- Brenda I. De La Ossa
- Michael Duffield
- Eileen M. Fagan
- Grant E. Finlayson
- Bill Goldberg
- W. Roger Haughton
- Frank Johnson
- Timothy Krisch
- Neal Mitchell
- Carrie A. Morgridge
- Dan O’Brien
- Steven C. Parrish
- David Pratt
- Cynthia H. Rainey
- George Riggs
- Daniel L. Roberts
- John S. Schiavo
- Marsha A. Servetnick
- Dr. James Sexton
- Jeffrey W. Sposito
- John R. Steiner
- Keith R. Thomas
- Amy Trask
- John S. Watson
- Jill Winspear
- Amy D. Zeifang
