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| For many people, pets are considered family. |
A Note from Pets America Founder Elaine Acker…
Emergency managers know from experience that the number one
reason people refuse to evacuate during a disaster is that for many people, pets are part of the family. People are simply
unwilling to abandon their family in a disaster. I watched the stories from Hurricane Katrina, horrified that no one had yet
established a system that would allow people evacuate with their pets. And, even when victims of Hurricane Rita were allowed
to bring their pets with them, there was no system in place to house and care for those pets. That is changing, and I'm proud
that Pets America has been among the leaders in this change in policy. I am committed to helping save the whole family during a disaster -- people
and pets. I'm also committed to helping keep pets safe by training pet owners in pet first aid.
We'll reach our goals with the support of thousands of individuals who care about pets as much as
we do. Donations in any amount help implement critical programs, and we deeply appreciate your support! Sincerely yours, Elaine Acker
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| Elaine tends to "Possum" during training in handling large animals. |
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BOARD OF DIRECTORSSusan Culp, DVM, Board Chair
Past
Chair, TVMA Disaster Preparedness Committee Susan is a graduate of the Texas A&M
College of Veterinary Medicine, is past president of the Texas Academy of Veterinary Practice. She has served as Disaster
Preparedness Coordinator for the TVMA, creating a network of veterinarians willing to serve their counties and/or cities in
animal health emergencies. She has training in National Incident Management Systems from the Emergency Management Institute,
and in Disaster Preparedness from FEMA, and served in a primary role during responses to the 2005 hurricanes that affected
the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast regions. Susan formerly owned the Hiway 620 Animal Hospital, and she and her husband Heath have an extended family of three dogs, four cats, and one vocal parrot. G. Elaine
Acker Elaine Acker founded
Pets America in the fall of 2005 to ensure that the hard lessons of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita led to positive changes for
pets and their families affected by disasters. Through Pet First Aid & Disaster Response Workshops she teaches pet owners
how to deal with life-threatening emergencies as well as how to create effective disaster plans to protect the whole family,
including pets. She also works with governmental agencies to provide animal rescue equipment for first-responders and helps
ensure that pets are included in community disaster plans. Elaine currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the American
Red Cross of Central Texas, one of Pets America's first partners. She holds a Master’s degree, and has 16 years
of broad-based management experience. An avid outdoors woman, she has nearly two decades of experience as an outdoor writer,
and as an instructor, editor, and producer of educational and public relations/marketing materials. She also holds numerous
certificates in National Incident Management Systems and Disaster Preparedness. She shares her home with Mina, a feisty "Texas
Terrier" and kitties Freddie and Lamont.
Nicole Daspit, Director of Development and Outreach, Austin Groups for the Elderly,
Treasurer Nicole has a decade of experience in
development directs all fundraising efforts for Austin Groups for the Elderly, which offers much-needed programs for caregivers
and the elderly and their families. Nicole is also a former Board Member of EarthShare of Texas, promoting workplace giving.
As a military child, she moved extensively, and has lived through earthquakes in Japan, hurricanes in Hawaii, and massive
snowstorms on the East Coast of the U.S. She understands and appreciates the need to be prepared in a disaster. She shares
her home with Olive and Dill, two tabby kitties with a taste for adventure!
Sara Boone Hartley, City of Austin
Sara has worked with the City of Austin for
nearly eight years, including roles as Community Preparedness Program Manager with the Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
and as a professional communicator with the Public Works Department. Throughout her career, Sara has
worked numerous City departments, government agencies and community partners to plan, prepare, and respond to potential disasters
in the Central Texas community. Her skills include volunteer coordination, public education and outreach, media relations
and collaborative plan writing.
She earned her bachelor’s
degree in Sociology at a little University down the road in College Station – which she knows earns her no points in
Austin, but is proud of none the less.
Sara became involved with community preparedness in the spring of 2006,
working on projects such as Hurricane evacuation plans (rolling out the red carpet in Austin to those from the Texas coast
line), pandemic flu planning, community relations and consensus building and critical incident media. Sara also coordinated
and chaired the Central Texas Citizen Corps Council – an umbrella organization uniting community partners in preparing
for disaster, especially through volunteer efforts.
ADVISORY COUNCIL Susan Adair, University of Texas External Relations and Past Chair, American Red Cross
of Central Texas Susan is currently the coordinator of external relations in the development office of The University of
Texas. She is also a graduate of Leadership Austin, and is past Chair of the American Red Cross of Central Texas. She will
be able to advise on ways Pets America and the Red Cross can best coordinate efforts to serve both people and pets.
Griffin
Davis, Vice President
of Marketing, Market Hardware Griffin
Davis is the Vice President of Marketing for Market Hardware, a Web marketing firm. Griffin has served as an officer in several
successful Austin start-ups including Balcones Resources and 13 Colonies Software. He previously worked on Capitol Hill for
United States Senator Alan K. Simpson. Griffin is a founding board member and current Chairman of the Town Lake Trail Foundation.
He has an MBA from UT Austin with a concentration in Marketing and a BA with honors in history from the University of Virginia.
He enjoys politics, running, travel, fishing, scuba diving, and playing with his three dogs.
Rebecca E. Acker, Safety Inspector, Texas Eastman Becky has 10 years
safety experience in a broad spectrum of emergency response. Her training includes fire suppression, basic EMT, HazMat, and
swift water rescue. Her team uses the National Incident Management System model. Becky also serves as an Emergency Response
Team trainer and her experience is beneficial in establishing Pets America response systems, designing volunteer training
modules, implementing training programs, and conducting response drills. Becky lives with two shiny schnauzers,Tuscon and
Treavor, and countless country cats.
Randy Dickson, Managing Consultant, Critical Interaction Associates Randy has served as a responder and trainer in the field of crisis intervention and trauma mitigation
for more than 15 years. He is a graduate of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, a Board Certified
Expert in Traumatic Stress, and a Diplomate of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. In his current
role, Randy travels throughout the United States providing training and consultation to emergency services professionals in
the concepts of critical incident response and management, crisis intervention and peer support, trauma mitigation and victim
assistance. In addition to his prior experience with the Crisis Response Unit of the Austin Police Department
and the Victim Services Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Randy has served nationally as a volunteer responder
in the aftermath of large-scale disasters. Randy, his wife Leisa (also an emergency management
professional) and 14-year-old son reside near Austin with their two Border Collies, Duke and Duchess. Duchess and Randy are
registered as a Pet Partners® team with the Delta Society, and Randy is currently involved in the development of K9 Interaction
Teams™, a non-profit organization
that will utilize animals and their handlers in efforts to mitigate the traumatic impact of crime, critical incidents and
disasters.
Lydia Saldaña, Director of Communications, Texas Parks and Wildlife Lydia has more than 20 years experience in the communications field in state government and as a broadcast journalist. As
Director of Communications for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Lydia is responsible for all facets of agency communications,
marketing, media relations, education, and outreach. She is an ex-officio member of the Texas Travel Industry Association
Board of Directors and currently serves on the national Board of Directors for the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation.
She is an active member and former board member of the Association for Conservation Information and is a member of the Austin
chapter of the National Association of Government Communicators. She also serves on the Advisory Council for the Conservation
History Association of Texas. Lydia will bring her extensive communications experience to her Advisory role with Pets America,
ensuring that the organization conveys an integrated marketing message in all its public relations, development, and media
messages. She often vacationa with her cats.
Denise Meikel, Deputy CEO, American Youthworks American Youthworks (AYW) is an Austin-area nonprofit serving at-risk youth. Denise first served as the
organization’s Development Officer from 1990-2000. She left to become the Director of Development, Marketing,
and Communications for Bat Conservation International where she also became an accomplished “bat wrangler.”
In 2003, she returned to AYW, joining the executive staff. Denise has been on the Board of Directors of the Balcones
Council Camp Fire USA, which serves five Texas counties, for four years and is currently Vice President. A graduate
of The University of Texas, Denise will support Pets America with her considerable development and marketing savvy.
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