Board of Directors
Running a nonprofit requires time, interest, and many different skills and areas of expertise. Add to that, the speciality of our mission and dedication to pets during a disaster, we have a special group of people supporting the goals and vision behind DARTCC.
Deb Shelby,
Executive Director
Deb has been developing custom web applications since 1993 launching her company Interactive Ensemble in 1997 in Austin, Texas. In 2007 she moved to Vermont and began developing mobile applications in addition to the custom business and state agency online applications her team continues to design and produce. In 2018 she joined CVDART bringing her technical expertise to the care and management of pets during a disaster. From 2019-2022 she was on the board of CVDART and VDART, focusing on the use of technology to the benefit of pets during a disaster. In May, 2022 she gave a presentation on using technology to help manage temporary shelters at the semi-annual conference of the National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP). When she is not working, Sadie keeps her company on hikes, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing.
Officers
We are fortunate to have the talent and support of our Executive Committee members. The variety of experience and skills of the Executive Committee, combined with their compassionate leadership bring a unique quality to our team.
Chris Allbright,
President
Chris Allbright graduated in 1985 from Southern Illinois University with a degree in Sociology and Administration of Justice. After attending the University of California King Hall School of Law, she worked in Humboldt County as a Public Defender for twenty years before managing her private practice for ten years. While continuing to take court appointed cases, she specialized in criminal defense and juvenile law. From high school, throughout college and her career, she held leadership positions in many local and state-wide non-profit boards. Since retiring in 2022 and returning to Southern Illinois, she remains active with volunteer activities.
Dr. Sue Kelly,
Vice President
Dr. Susan M. Kelly graduated from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1988. She owned and operated Burlington Veterinary Hospital in Massachusetts for 10 years before relocating to Vermont and opening a house-call-based referral practice for 20 years. Dr. Kelly is licensed to practice in Vermont and Massachusetts.
Dr. Kelly joined the Windham County chapter of VDART in 2019 and currently serves on the board of directors. She has been a volunteer and board member of the Windham County Humane Society in Brattleboro, Vermont for over 10 years and has volunteered as Town Health Officer since 2001, fielding all types of public health questions for the public. She also provides veterinary care for several wildlife rehabilitators. When not at work, she enjoys all things outdoors — from canoeing to cutting firewood. She shares her home with two greyhounds and the occasional wildlife patient.
Damon Kopplin,
Treasurer
Damon retired from software implementation consulting in 2020. After receiving a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas, Austin in 1975, he worked as a hands-on engineer for a steel-fabrication shop in Austin. He then joined IBM as a Manufacturing Engineer in 1977. Over the years he worked on implementing manufacturing processes within IBM.
Damon’s career was closely woven into the fabric of process improvement techniques and technologies as they became more tightly integrated through the implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. After 17 years with IBM, Damon worked for other companies in both direct support and consulting roles. He retired after 16 years with a software consulting company. As a consultant, Damon worked with clients in business process design, configuration, testing, and training for their procurement, supply chain, and warehouse systems. This included the testing needed to ensure all the functional areas worked together seamlessly
Damon moved to Burlington, Vermont with his wife and young daughter in 2005. He and Evi, his wife, still happily live in Burlington. He enjoys occupying his time with stress-free cooking and gardening adventures.
Teresa McCarthy,
Secretary
Teresa graduated in 1987 from SIU-Carbondale with a degree in Vocational Education Studies and has worked in the non for profit world, mostly with at risk youth, for many years. She now works for the Springfield School District as a Transition Specialist, assisting High School students with disabilities in figuring out their future plans after graduation. She lives in Springfield, Il. with her husband Tim and her 3 rescue pups, Frankie, Bean and Lola. They also have two grown kids: Jack, 27, and Meg, 24. She has been involved in transporting rescue dogs for 10 years, which is her greatest passion. She hopes to become more involved in rescue once she retires.
Board Members at Large
Kimberly Hailey
Kimberly Hailey is an accomplished business leader and successful sales and marketing professional. Her expertise includes sales and marketing strategies, product launches, and conducting national meetings and international training forums.
Kimberly is currently at T-Mobile as an Enterprise Account Executive and has held prior positions at Verizon, Dell, and Pitney Bowes. Other experience includes providing consulting services for small businesses, organizing award and fundraising events recognizing a Presidential First Lady, a top athletic coach and respected community activists, with support from high-level corporate executives.
Kimberly holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Florida A&M University, along with other professional training and certifications.
Lisa Lemieux
Lisa retired from education in 2015 after 36 years. Since then, Lisa fills her days by volunteering with the American Red Cross, the Humane Society of the United States, Habitat for Humanity, Helping Paws Across Borders, Vermont Disaster Animal Response Team, the Central Vermont Disaster Animal Response Team and the Central Vermont Humane Society.
Lisa lives with her wife Jan and her All-American Dog, Karma.