In 2023, I helped envision, create, launch (and currently lead) BluePearl Cares, the named charity of BluePearl Pet Hospial. With a mission of making emergency and specialty veterinary care accessible for all, BluePearl Cares works to increase access to critical care inside and outside of BluePearl hospitals.

In 2020, I helped reimagine and refresh VCA Charities, the charitable arm of VCA Animal Hospital. As the Executive Director, I am responsible for setting and bringing to life the strategic direction and mission of the organization, overseeing program and partnership development as well as communications, managing and supporting the team and innovating how VCAC expands and builds out grant programs and community initiatives. VCA Charities supports the joy of pet ownership by helping pets find a remain in loving homes. Through grants and partnerships with shelters and animal welfare organizations, VCA Charities helps remove barriers to pet ownership and help keep pets in loving homes by funding emergency and specialty veterinary care; supporting adoption readiness and surrender prevention programs; enabling the care and feeding of pets belonging to underserved families; and, responding to our local communities in crisis. For more information, visit VCACharities.org.

In 2015, I helped create and launch the Banfield Foundation, the charitable arm of Banfield Pet Hospital. As the Executive Director, I am responsible for the strategic direction, mission and vision of the organization while overseeing program and partnership development, hiring and growing the team and innovating how we expand and build out our offerings. I have worked hard to elevate the importance of pets when it comes to disaster relief and preparedness by raising awareness and providing direct financial assistance to impacted communities and pets. After creating the disaster relief program model, the foundation has been able to provide financial support to nonprofit animal organizations and local/state government agencies whose communities have suffered the impact of natural or other disasters. To further increase awareness of the importance of disaster preparedness, we coordinated a partnership and PSA with TV personality Sean Lowe ahead of the 2018 hurricane season.I have also helped launch multiple new programs at the foundation including the Safer Together Initiative, joining forces with NFL Super Bowl Champion Russell Wilson to help raise awareness of the link between domestic violence and animal abuse. In addition, the Care Knows No Boundaries (CKNB) Grant Program was launched in 2019, enabling any veterinarian or certified veterinary technician within any Mars business segment in the United States to apply for a grant to do global volunteer work that supports the Mars Petcare purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.Under my leadership, the Banfield Foundation has awarded more than $13 million in grants and improved the health, safety and wellbeing of more than 6 million pets in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam. Since making changes at the PIN Pad system within Banfield Pet Hospitals in 2017, the foundation has increased the amount of donation dollars received by 25%.

I am one of the founders and current president of the Better Together Fund (BTF). This program is a associate relief program that grants financial assistance to associates who have been severely impacted by natural or manmade disasters, domestic abuse, or most recently, COVID-19. ⁣⁣Since 2016, the Better Together Fund has raised nearly $1M in funding and granted more than $250,000 to associates in need. ⁣Between Banfield Pet Hospital, VCA Animal Hospital, and Blue Pearl—48,000 Mars Veterinary Health associates—from across the United States, are able to support each other, and receive support, when they need it most.⁣The fund is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity led by a Board of Directors and Grant Selection Committee comprised completely of associates who volunteer their time to support these effort. All contributions are tax-deductible and go toward assisting associates in need.

As the Director of External Communications for Banfield Pet Hospital I was responsible for enhancing the reputation and profile of Banfield with external audiences such as media, key stakeholders and consumers as well as Banfield associates. In my role I managed external communication for the practice, including crisis and issues management, consumer and trade PR, corporate partnerships, as well as the Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, implementation and communications. In addition, I was responsible for external message development and thought leadership strategies.I helped create and manage the annual State of Pet Health Report in 2011 as well as the Banfield Issues and Crisis Management Team (ICMT).

Responsible for and managed all aspects of regional and national food, beverage and tourism accounts including annual and project specific planning, national media relations outreach, consumer engagement programs including microsite and collateral development, sampling initiatives and loyalty programs, as well annual budget creation and team management and mentoring. I also assisted with new business development and outreach and helped the agency win three key accounts. Client portfolio included Dagoba Organic Chocolate, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Redhook Ale Brewery, Kona Brewing Company, Tourism Walla Walla, Astoria Warrenton Chamber of Commerce, Castor & Pollux Pet Works, Oregon Mentors and the Wordstock Festival.

Responsible for all aspects of media and public relations including: strategic planning, media outreach/tours, story development, corporate key messages, media training, public relations plans, crisis communications, internal and external communications, implementing community outreach programs and events to various socioeconomic and ethnic groups, and developing strategic relationships with non-profit organizations as well as business and community leaders. Developed, facilitated and pitched ideas and in-depth story angles to local and national media. Successfully placed feature stories in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times (cover story) Associated Press, Newsweek, and BusinessWeek (cover story), among others. Client portfolio included Whole Foods Markets, Heathman Hotel, Whole Health Management, COAST Cutlery and Hartmann & Forbes.

Accountable for all aspects of public relations including: media outreach, developed public relations plans, crisis communications, press releases, event planning, arranged publicity for clients in print, TV, and radio, arranged media meetings and roundtables, pitched new business, implemented community outreach programs, and developed relationships with chambers, workforce development organizations and business and community leaders. Responsible for placing in-depth story angles in local and national media including Arizona Republic, USA Today, Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Seattle Times, Orlando Sentinel and CNN. Clients included Shamrock Farms (Arizona’s hometown dairy), Bashas’ Family of Stores and University of Phoenix, among others.

Developed intriguing articles around all forms of art, non-profit organizations, local residents, public information, community businesses, travel, design, celebrity interviews, the "Best Of" and more. Pitched stories, produced timely features, conducted interviews and edited articles for a variety of publications including mainstream consumer magazines and trade publications. Attended national press junkets and movie premiers for article development and storylines. Interviewed local business leaders, CEOS of companies, foreign dignitaries, small business owners and celebrities including: Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson and Matchbox Twenty for full-length feature stories. Clients included: The Arizona Republic, America West Airlines Magazine (regular monthly column), Desert Living Magazine, Arizona Foothills Magazine, SHADE Magazine, Ahwatukee Foothills Magazine, and more.

Responsible for all aspects of media relations including press releases, media alerts, arranging all publicity in print, TV, and radio. Responsibilities also included developing and pitching ideas to local media, coordinating all media feeds, and preparing faculty and staff for live TV shoots or print interviews, in addition to tracking all media success stories and monthly PR efforts. Worked along side the Director of Public Relations and Marketing in all aspects of communications throughout the school, faculty, staff and student body. Assisted with the coordination of all open houses, gallery openings, culinary workshops, Sommelier courses, specialty classes, on and off site events and other school related communication and publicity promotions.

Created developed and pitched ad campaigns to clients including print materials, newspaper and magazine ads, billboards, radio and TV spots, and collateral and direct mail pieces. Client list included Del Webb’s Anthem, Wilshire Grand Hotel in Beverly Hills, Hotel Nikko San Francisco, Ironite, Summit School of Ahwatukee, AAA Arizona, Cypress Bayou Casino, Point Moorea, The Bonita Bay Group, Rancho Viejo de Sante Fe and The Cottages at Prescott Lakes. Received Two Gold and One Bronze Award for 2002 Wilshire Grand Hotel Campaign at the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI). I was also awarded Best Direct Mail Piece in the Nation by the 2001 National Association of Home Builders.