Meet The Team

Current Board of Directors and Officers

Officers

Sue James - President

Mike James -  Treasurer

Brooke Bruns - Secretary

 

For accounting questions:

  • email: business@tvar.org

Board of Directors

Callie Baird - Client Executive at Armanino LLP.  Former event planner with 10+ years experience.  Vice chair of Armanino's Staff Advisory Board, and committee member on the Armanino Foundation. Callie and her husband Barrett, their son Ward and their brand new baby boy Wells share their home with two rescue dogs who are a big part of their growing family.

Brooke Bruns - Audit Partner at Armanino LLP who works with nonprofit organizations, including animal welfare organizations, and was a board member of Armanino’s women’s network, The Bridge. Brooke recently adopted a dog, Hutch (a mix of chihuahua, pit bull, and many other breeds), who has quite long legs, is quite mischievous, but is the sweetest boy.

Debby Pedro - Debby Pedro worked as a Licensed Vocational Nurse at Kaiser Permanente in Pleasanton for 33 years. Debby has been fostering kittens for TVAR since 2017. During those years she has fostered over 200 kittens - and loves and remembers each of them. But she has a special place in her heart for special needs kittens who often are with her a little longer than usual.

Mike James - Ran a successful business for 45 years as CFO & CEO.  Now retired. Mike has had various roles at TVAR from dog walker to chief Mr. Fix it at the East County Animal Shelter, foster dad and now Board member and Treasurer. He and his wife Sue live in Danville with their two beloved rescue dogs.

Sue James - Retired CPA, Partner and Executive Board member of Ernst & Young.  Retired board member of: Yahoo; Coherent; and Applied Materials. Sue has been involved in many programs at TVAR - starting as a dog walker at the East County Animal Shelter, running the Shelter Dog Program and now President. Sue and Mike fostered a number of dogs but became failed fosters on several occasions including with their current dogs Ozzie and Lexi.

Janine Collins Lappin - 30 year career in sales and sales operations leadership. Currently employed with AT&T. Janine has fostered many dogs over her years with TVAR, and became involved with TVAR when she was leading the NCL operations that helps TVAR with adoption events. But when she started fostering little Kevin - we knew he was never going to be leaving her house.

Chris Shackelford - West Regional Vice President of Customer Success at SAP. Chris spent his childhood surrounded by dogs (and cats, and rabbits, and hamsters, and snakes, and in-house birds...)and wanted to do the same for his kids, but his job requires too much travel. As such, he dogsits 30+ dogs every year so they get to enjoy a variety of furry friends. Volunteer with Tri-Valley Animal Rescue teen program (family bonding!) in 2019.

Stephen Wickersham - Successful Attorney in the Tri-Valley for 39 years.  Now retired. Steve is a proud father and grandfather - but is also very proud of his adorable Grand Puppy who spends a lot of time with him and his wife Donna at their home. We aren't quite sure if Bentley spends more time with his parents or Steve and Donna. Steve and Donna have also been proud parents of many cats over the years.

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Key Team Members

stevie for website

Lisa Grade

TVAR Foster Dog Program
I have always had a passion for animals and joining TVAR as a volunteer in 2007 gave me the opportunity to care for homeless shelter pets and provide a foster home for those in need.

Working with the foster dog program for the last 5 years has been a very fulfilling experience as we have been able to save so many that may not have had a chance otherwise. It is amazing to see the dogs transform and flourish once they have been placed in a loving, foster home. But we don't stop there.  Finding a wonderful and caring forever home for these deserving dogs is incredibly rewarding.   And watching people experience the joy of adopting and saving a rescue/shelter dog is priceless.
jeff's kittens

Jeff Lool

Kitten Foster Coordinator
Born and raised in Los Angeles, I was the child of two Guatemalan immigrants looking for a better future for my family. As a child I always wanted to bring a positive effect to the world around me, whether that was by being generous to those in need, or by providing care to the animals around me.This led me to my passion in animal care and animal rescue. Having worked for open admission shelters, partnered with no kill rescues, and organizations in between, I have been exposed to a variety of experiences, but the goal always stayed the same. To help the orphaned, lost, sick, or scared homeless animals in need. I am happy and proud to be with TVAR as the Kitten Foster Coordinator as we continue perusing our mission to end the unnecessary euthanasia of homeless animals and to help them find their forever homes.