Meet The Team

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.