CCHS Staff
SUZANNE COWHERD, Programs Manager
Suzanne was born and raised in Pleasant Hill. She earned her Bachelors degree in Organizational Communication Studies from California State University, Sacramento and has since worked in the non-profit sector with a background in behavioral therapy and support for people on the Autism spectrum. She is passionate about animal rescue in hopes to reduce animal homelessness within our community. Suzanne began her work managing our cat adoption center at Pet Food Express in Danville and is now the CCHS Programs Manager. In addition to her role as Programs Manager, she is also a foster for our organization.
KATRINA DAW, Office Manager
Katrina is a Concord native and has spent the last 7 years serving as a PTA board member of her children’s elementary school serving as President, Treasurer and Event Coordinator. She has a background in Customer Service and Sales. She has many years of volunteer and board experience.
SUANNE PENNEY , Programs Assistant
JAYME DAVIS , Medical Intern
Board Members
Officers
NICOLE HANEY, Co-President & Chair of the Animal Welfare Committee
Nicole Haney is Co-President of CCHS, focused on overseeing all Animal Programs. She is an active volunteer in our Dog Foster Program, helping to place rescue dogs into their forever homes as well as being a foster herself. Nicole is passionate about the welfare of ALL animals: companion, domestic, and wild. She also volunteers with the HSUS in two roles: 1) as a State District Leader working to pass animal welfare legislation for ALL animals, and 2) as a member of the Animal Rescue Team where she deploys to various locations to provide care for animals during natural disasters, hoarding or cruelty cases. Nicole is a Management Liability Insurance underwriter, providing coverage to Fortune 500 companies across all industries. She is a graduate of San Francisco State University where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Philosophy. She and her family have adopted two kittens and a dog named Brix from CCHS, who join a very patient cat she rescued 14 years ago. Nicole joined the CCHS Board of Directors in 2015.
TEMMA ROBY, Co-President & Chair of the Personnel Committee
Temma is the Chief Financial Officer and law firm Administrator for Angius and Terry LLP in Walnut Creek. She has over 15 years of experience in Human Resources Management and is Chair of the CCHS Personnel Committee. Temma earned her BA in Political Science from San Francisco State University and is the past Board President for the Benicia Stingrays Swim Team. Temma also served as a Commissioner for the City of Benicia, Civil Service Commission. Temma is a long time animal welfare advocate and has done some volunteering for the Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek and the Benicia/Vallejo Humane Society. Temma became a member of the CCHS board of directors in 2017.
JAN BONO, Secretary
Jan Bono is the CCHS Board Secretary and Kitty Corner Program Sponsor. She is also a passionate volunteer at Kitty Corner where the memory of her favorite special needs friend, Divot, is kept alive with his 12 Days of Christmas annual adoption sponsorship. Jan is the West Consumer Risk Markets Leader for Ernst & Young, LLP where she has been a Partner for over 20 years. She supports her global clients with managing their governance and risk management programs. Jan is also the Advisory Board Chair for Pleasant Hill YMCA and serves on the East Bay YMCA Board of Directors Diversity Committee. Jan is also an enthusiastic volunteer and member of the Oakland Zoo where she leads Ernst & Young teams on annual volunteer events. Jan was honored to be the 2012 IDF YMCA Volunteer of the Year and was recognized as the CCHS Volunteer of the Year in 2018. Jan earned a degree in BS Business Administration, Organizational Development Emphasis at California State University, Fresno; and holds certifications in both project management and information systems. Jan and her husband Chris live in Martinez and are owned by six rescued kitties and one rescued dog named Scrimmage. Chris is also a CCHS volunteer and runs the CCHS AniMeals program which distributes pet supplies to needy recipients in conjunction with the FoodBank. Jan became a member of the CCHS Board in 2014.
CHRISTINE BURKE, Treasurer
Christine graduated from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration and holds an MBA in finance from California State University East Bay. She has spent more than 20 years working in a variety of finance and accounting positions with Longs Drugstores, Central Garden and Pet and most recently with the CSAA Insurance Group. Christine joined the CCHS board in 2009 and has served as its Treasurer since 2012.
STEVE AMOS
Steve is in the financial sector and has extensive experience in companion animal welfare and professional leadership for nonprofits. He earned a BA in accounting from Portland State University. He has spent more than 10 years as a volunteer for Contra Costa Animal Services where he started and manages CCAS’s Running Dog program. The program involves a team of approximately 20 runners who schedule structured runs with the dogs on local trails providing them with much needed exercise and temporary freedom from confinement. Running Dog also now includes several overnight races at pet friendly locations throughout the year. Steve joined the CCHS Board of Directors in 2014.
MIKE REEKERS
Mike joined the CCHS Board in 2015 and is the sponsor for the Spay Neuter Assistant Program (SNAP), along with serving on the Finance and Governance/Organizational Effectiveness Committees. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Golden Gate University with a BS degree in Business Management. Mike additionally holds a linguist degree in Korean from the Monterey Defense Language Institute. He is a Vietnam Era Veteran and had a 42-year career with Chevron as a finance and project manager. Mike has been a longtime supporter of CCHS and the Lindsey Wildlife Museum, and currently resides in the East Bay with his wife Janet and six rescue animals.
MYRNA SCHULTZ
Myrna Schultz is the CCHS Marketing Chair and lead advocate for our AniMeals program. Myrna has had a varied and progressive 30-year career in marketing, advertising, real estate and construction management working most recently in the food service industry as a restaurant franchise consultant. She was also a partner and Vice President of Marketing & Development for one of the largest restaurant franchise groups in the United States. Myrna has also worked in Brand Management with several Fortune 500 companies and at one of the largest Advertising Agencies. Myrna earned her Masters of Arts degree from Michigan State University in Marketing and Advertising. She is a member of the Women’s Foodservice Forum. Additionally, as an animal lover and advocate, Myrna currently volunteers for Best Friends Animal Society and at the Contra Costa Animal Shelter in Martinez, CA. Myrna was elected to the CCHS Board in 2018.
ANITA TAFF-RICE
Anita graduated Magna Cum Laude from Georgetown Law Center in Washington, D.C. and founded iCommLaw, specializing in technology and telecommunications matters for competitive and wireless carriers and broadband providers. Prior to obtaining her law degree she worked as a journalist in Washington D.C. covering public policy, technology and regulatory issues in the computer and technology industries. She joined the CCHS Board of Directors in 2010 and has helped develop the AniMeals program that distributes pet food to limited income companion animal owners in Contra Costa County. Anita also offers pro bono counsel to non-profits providing food and housing assistance for disadvantaged women.
SUSAN PFAU
Susan earned her B.A. in History from U.C. Riverside and her M.A. in Strategic Public Relations from USC. She started her career in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles working in production and for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences when she made the transition to non-profit and corporate work in the following years. She moved back to the Bay Area in 2006 and in 2008 dropped her career in advertising to pursue veterinary medicine. During that time, she interned in wildlife rehabilitation at the Lindsay Wildlife Experience Hospital as well as spending countless hours in multiple vet clinics. After a difficult decision to withdraw her acceptance to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, she decided to focus on animal welfare advocacy. Along with her work as a Board member with CCHS, she is on the California Council for Wildlife Rehabilitators (CCRW) Advocacy Committee, a State District Leader Volunteer with HSUS, and a rescue rep with Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue (GGLRR). In 2014 Susan started her own consulting agency with her husband named after their beloved Black Lab Mix Tessa. She and her husband have two boys that keep them plenty busy outside of work and animal welfare causes. Susan joined the board in 2019 and is chair of the fundraising committee.
