Mark Dunn, Executive VP AKC
Canine Genetic Testing: The Path Forward
Mark Dunn has been with the American Kennel Club since 2009 and his current role includes overseeing breeder relations and DNA operations. Before the AKC, Mr. Dunn was Director of Engineering and Quality at Qualex, a subsidiary of Eastman Kodak Corporation, and Operations Manager for Lerner Processing Laboratories. He holds an MBA from Michigan State University and a BA in Political Science and Business Administration from Trinity University of San Antonio, Texas.

Arnold Goldman, DVM, MS, MPH, NAIA Vice President
Protecting the Veterinarian/Client Relationship from Misguided Legislative Intrusion: What’s at Stake
Dr. Arnold L. Goldman is a practicing veterinarian and founder of Canton Animal Hospital in Canton, CT. He’s served as a leader of local, state, regional, and national veterinary medical associations, and is currently treasurer of the American Veterinary Medical Association. He also serves on the board of directors of the Capitol Region Emergency Planning Committee, the Connecticut Dog Federation, the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Foundation, and the National Animal Interest Alliance. In Connecticut Dr. Goldman is known for successful advocacy on behalf of animal owners and their animals. In 2007 Dr. Goldman advocated for passage of Connecticut Public Act 07-11, mandating evacuation of household pets along with their owners during disasters, and was subsequently honored as the 2008 Connecticut-Veterinarian-of-the-Year. In 2011 Dr. Goldman advocated for passage of Connecticut Public Act 11-187, which gave the Connecticut Department of Agriculture much stronger control over the burgeoning rescue dog importation industry. Dr. Goldman is a graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He’s also been honored by the American Kennel Club, the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Connecticut’s HAVEN Program, the Canton Chamber of Commerce and the Capitol Region Council of Governments. He is recognized as a Certified Emergency Manager by the International Association of Emergency Managers, presently the only veterinarian worldwide with that distinction. He speaks frequently on a wide range of topics including animal welfare, disaster response, municipal government, organized veterinary medicine and the WW2 Ardennes Counteroffensive, in which his father participated.

Marthina Greer, DVM, JD, NAIA Board Chair
Canine reproduction: Maximizing brood bitch fertility
Marthina Greer, DVM, JD, has run the Veterinary Village Small Animal Clinic in Wisconsin since 1982, and International Canine Semen Bank-Wisconsin/Illinois since 2002. She works extensively with clients who breed and compete with their dogs. She frequently lectures on canine reproduction and published Canine Reproduction and Neonatology, a book for veterinary professionals and breeders. In 2010, Dr. Greer completed her JD at Marquette University and is involved with Animal Legal Resources LLC. She has also served on the Wisconsin Veterinary Examining Board and AVMA Judicial Council

Sheila Kessler, JD, NAIA Board Member
Know your rights when faced with overzealous, untrained and/or corrupt animal cops
Sheila Kessler, JD, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1982 with a degree in behavioral disabilities. Her work with disabled adults and children led her to seek an advanced degree in Law when she saw the disproportionate number of individuals with mental health and cognitive disorders being swept up into the criminal system. In 1988, Sheila graduated from the University of Wisconsin-School of Law and first worked as an associate at Gregory Wright Law Office in Central Wisconsin. She later went to work for the State of Wisconsin where she practiced criminal defense for over 20 years. Sheila’s favorite hobby and the one that consumes the majority of her free time is showing and breeding AKC registered pugs. Sheila is the current President of the Board of Directors for the Portage County Humane Society, partner at Animal Legal Resources, President of the Great Lakes Pug Club; serves as a Director on the National Animal Interest Alliance, and the National Animal Interest Alliance Trust. She is a Past President of the Portage County Bar Association and also served as an elected member of the Stevens Point Area Public School District.

Sandy Moore, President, Seagrest Farms
Shooting Fish in a Barrel (The aquarium trade is an easy target)
Sandy Moore is President at Seagrest Farms, one of the largest ornamental fish wholesalers on the globe. She serves on many boards that impact not only aquatics but also the wider pet industry. Moore is Co-Chair of the PIJAC Aquatic Committee, Secretary for the Florida Tropical Fish Farmers Association, and a board member of the Executive Board of Ornamental Fish International, Project Piaba, Rising Tide Advisors, and the Non-Indigenous Species /Aquatic Nuisance Species Committee National Aquaculture Task Force. She is a member of the Pet Leadership Council and has been an expert panelist for the FAO assessment of proposals to amend CITES Appendices I and II. Moore previously served on the advisory board of the Human-Animal Bond Research Initiative. In 2017, Moore was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Florida Tropical Fish Farmers Association for her unwavering efforts in education of fish farming and sustainable collection, as well her ability to raise awareness of issues faced by the industry.

Bonnie Pike, Top breeder of Cocker Spaniels
From breeder of the year to target of the year
Bonnie Pike has always loved animals, especially dogs, and knew from a young age that her life would revolve around them. Silverhall Cocker Spaniels was established in 1983 with her husband, Wilson, breeding over 250 champions including the BIS dog at the 2017 AKC Royal Canin show, multiple BISS and group winners, and many top producers. Bonnie and Wilson are life members of the American Spaniel Club and Hall of Fame inductees, and were named AKC Sporting Dog Breeders of the Year in 2018. They share their lives with 15 Cocker Spaniels, eight old horses, and two cats.

Julian Prager, JD, NAIA Legal Analyst and Legislative Coordinator
Know your rights when faced with overzealous, untrained and/or corrupt animal cops
Julian Prager, JD, is an advisor on numerous legal and legislative issues for NAIA, analyzing legislation, drafting amendments when necessary, helping draft model legislation, and speaking at conferences. In addition to his valuable role at NAIA, Julian is a Bulldog breeder and exhibitor, an AKC Delegate and judge who is licensed as an attorney in NY. He has been a Counselor for the Bulldog Club of America, a member of the PA Dog Law Advisory Board and worked as a member of the National Policy Staff in the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in USDA as a subject matter expert on dogs under the Animal Welfare Act. In his professional career he held several Commissioner-level positions in NYC government and was the General Counsel and Executive Director of New York City Animal Care and Control, where he negotiated an agreement with the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC Animals to reduce euthanasia rates and increase placement rates by the City. In its fourth year as a Maddie’s Fund project, this effort has increased adoptions by 96% and reduced total deaths by 49% from the base year. He has been a panel member at the Animal Law Conference of the PA Bar Institute.

John Sancenito, President, INA, an international risk management, intelligence, and security consulting firm
Demystifying the Animal Rights Movement
John J. Sancenito’s international risk management and security consulting firm, INA, provides services to more than 20% of Fortune 100 companies, as well as industries around the world. A retired police officer with more than 25 years of law enforcement and security consulting experience, he is a former County Detective with the Cumberland County Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Office, Criminal Investigation Division. Mr. Sancenito is a nationally renowned speaker and is considered one of the foremost experts on animal rights and environmental extremism. He has lectured internationally on topics including domestic terrorism, animal rights extremism, insider threats, and workplace violence. He is board certified as a Certified Protection Professional through ASIS International, the world’s largest security trade organization, and serves as Chairman of ASIS International’s Central Pennsylvania Chapter. He has performed risk assessments and security consulting services for corporations all over the world and has published numerous articles on risk management and security preparedness.

Elizabeth A. Schuette, Managing Director, The ARK at JFK
International Animal Transportation Challenges: A View from the Front Line
Elizabeth A. Schuette is responsible for managing all day-to-day operations of JFK’s animal health, reception, and quarantine center. The ARK provides safe and humane animal handling and transport services to airlines and their ground handling agents, shippers and brokers, corporate accounts, rescue organizations, and individuals in support of Federal agency requirements for the import and export of all animals. In this capacity, Elizabeth works closely with Federal regulatory agencies, PANYNJ officials, IATA representatives, as well as airline executives. She is an active contributor to various animal transport trade organizations. She received her B.A. and M.A. in Economics from The College of William and Mary and The George Washington University, respectively, and has held positions in banking, equipment leasing, and real estate organizations.

John Simpson, JD, Duane Morris LLP
The Wolf is at the Door: Appreciating the Ongoing Animal Activist Threat
A partner in Duane Morris LLP, John M. Simpson has handled complex commercial, employment, regulatory, and appellate cases at all levels of the American legal system for more than four decades. He has conducted numerous jury and bench trials in both federal and state court and administrative hearings before a number of federal and state agencies. Several of his cases have been precedent-setting. In the area of animal law, Mr. Simpson tried a landmark case under the Endangered Species Act to a defense verdict for the client in a case that received international media attention and in which the court made an explicit finding that Mr. Simpson had “pulverized” the testimony of the plaintiff and lead witness on cross examination. In that same litigation, Mr. Simpson obtained an unprecedented ruling that the client was entitled to recover attorneys’ fees because the court found the plaintiffs’ case to be “frivolous,” “vexatious,” and “groundless and unreasonable from its inception.” As a result, the client recovered more than $25 million from the adverse parties, which is the largest lodestar attorneys’ fee recovery by a defendant in the history of the ESA. Mr. Simpson is a 1978 graduate of Columbia University School of Law, where he was articles editor of the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, and a 1972 cum laude graduate of Harvard University. He was a member of the Harvard Varsity Football Team and served as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps.

Kay Johnson Smith, President and CEO, Animal Agriculture Alliance
Securing Animal Industries’ Future: Protecting Against Activist Threats
Kay Johnson Smith is a native Virginian who has worked professionally with agriculture promotion and education for more than 25 years. She joined the Animal Agriculture Alliance as Executive Director in 1994 and was named President and CEO in 2011. Prior to the Alliance, she served as Assistant Director of Public Affairs for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and Director of Public Relations and Marketing for Ingleside Plantation Vineyards. She is a leading advisor to the ag and food industry on farm animal welfare issues, serves as a national spokesperson, and has provided hundreds of presentations and media interviews on related matters. She regularly works to engage media, government, and broader industry stakeholders about the importance of animal agriculture and provides strategic guidance to managing activist campaigns. Smith serves on the Virginia Board of Agriculture, is a member of several other national coalitions, and engages frequently with international organizations on matters of interest to the Alliance.

Patti Strand NAIA president
National and international dog rescue transport programs: The animal health and welfare issue of our time
Patti Strand, NAIA President, is a recognized expert and consultant on contemporary animal issues, most notably responsible dog ownership and the animal rights movement. She often appears on radio and television, and her articles on canine issues, animal welfare, public policy, and animal rights have appeared in major U.S. news publications and in trade, professional, and scientific journals. Patti and her husband, Rod, co-authored The Hijacking of the Humane Movement: Animal Extremism in 1993, the first U.S. book exposing the extremism of the animal rights movement. Patti has been a Dalmatian breeder and enthusiast since 1969, is an approved AKC judge, and was a member of the AKC Board of Directors.

Shelley Wood, Director ABC Animal Training at Gulf World
Will you be next?
Shelley Wood has been training animals and educating trainers for 29 years. Her career flourished with Dolphin Discovery starting in 1994, and she evolved from front line animal trainer to Corporate Trainer Educator for all Dolphin Discovery facilities where she was responsible for the development of curricula, courses, and guidelines used in Dolphin Discovery’s continuing trainer education program. In 2008, she opened her own company, ABC Animal Training, a company dedicated to producing educational material to improve the quality of lives of animals living under human care and to promote career building in the marine mammal training profession. She is the author of ABC Animal Training and Director of ABC Dolphin Trainer Academy. Shelley has been with the leadership of the International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association (IMATA) serving on the Board of Directors as Secretary and President from 2008−2013 and for the last 6 years has continued to serve as Member Services Co-Chair. Shelley has presented several career-building, animal training workshops, and Operant Conditioning formal presentations to IMATA and the training community over the last 17 years.

Legislative Workshop: Strategy, tactics and tools for the 2020 legislative session