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.

MONICA DAINI , Programs Assistant

JAYME DAVIS , Medical Intern

Board Members
Officers

NICOLE HANEY, Co-President & Chair of the Animal Welfare Committee
Born and raised in Pleasant Hill, Nicole is a graduate of San Francisco State University where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Philosophy and wrote her thesis on animal welfare in politics. She has been in the insurance industry for over 15 years and is currently a management liability underwriter for Nationwide Insurance. Nicole joined the CCHS Board of Directors in 2015 and sits on the Animal Welfare and Advocacy committees. In addition to her role on the board she is also a foster and foster mentor for CCHS, a State District Leader for The Humane Society of the United States, a vegan, and a pit bull advocate.

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 is a partner with Ernst & Young, LLP and is their West Coast Bay Area Advisory Leader assisting the company’s global clients with managing their governance, compliance and risk management programs.   She earned a degree in BS Business Administration in organizational development emphasis at California State University, Fresno, and holds certification in both project management and information systems.  Jan also serves as the Advisory Board chair for the YMCA in Pleasant Hill and is branch representative to the YMCA of the Central Bay Area Board of Directors.  She is a volunteer and member of the Oakland Zoo where she leads Ernst &Young’s teams at annual volunteer events and she is also a longtime volunteer at Kitty Corner, CCHS’s on-site, free-roam cat shelter.  Jan became a member of the CCHS board of directors 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 10 runners who schedule structured runs with the dogs on local trails providing them with much needed exercise and temporary freedom from confinement.  Steve joined the CCHS Board of Directors in 2014.

MIKE REEKERS
Mike graduated Magna Cum Laude from Golden Gate University with a BS degree in business management.  He additionally holds a linguist degree in Korean from the Monterey Defense Language Institute and served with the Naval Security Group during the Vietnam era having received both land and sea assignments throughout the Far East.  In a civilian capacity, Mike spent a 42-year career working as a financial and project manager for Chevron.  He has served on both the Board of Directors for the Moraga Baseball Association and the 30 Fund providing marketing services for charitable organizations and was a longtime supporter of both CCHS and the Lindsay Wildlife Museum before joining the CCHS Board of Directors in 2015.

MYRNA SCHULTZ
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 Vice President of Marketing & Development for a restaurant franchise group. She was on the Marketing Advisory Council for the restaurant brands they owned, representing franchisees and advising the Executive Team on strategic decisions. She has also worked in Brand Management with several Fortune 500 companies and at the largest Advertising Agency in Chicago. Myrna received her Masters of Arts degree from Michigan State University. She is a member of the Women’s Foodservice Forum and, as an animal lover and advocate, is currently a volunteer and member of Best Friends Animal Society and volunteers at the Contra Costa Animal Shelter in Martinez. Myrna Shultz joined the board in 2018 and is the chair of the marketing committee.

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.