Meet our Team

Board of Directors*

Helyn Kerr, President Josh Kruk, Vice President
University of Vermont Dwight Asset Management

Eric Hanson, Secretary Marian Fritz, Treasurer
Hanson & Doremus Investment Mgmt. Grandview Farms

Gina Berk, Ed.D
Annie Brabazon, Grand Isle School
Jeanne Chenoweth, Dwight Asset Management
Viola Chu, DVM, CVA, River Cove Animal Hospital
Barbara Cory, Esq., Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew
Laura Dagan
Susan Nussbaum
Renee Reiner, Phoenix Books
Trevor Whipple, South Burlington Police Department

*Employer designation provided for informational purposes only.

Our Leadership Team

Tom Ayres staff photo Tom Ayres, President & CEO

Tom Ayres has served the greater Burlington community for more than two decades as a manager and senior administrator with leading not-for-profit organizations in health and human services, the arts, animal welfare and the public interest. He has been a communications manager and marketing director with the former Medical Center Hospital of Vermont, Fletcher Allen Health Care, the United Way of Chittenden County and the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts. The former executive director of the Champlain Valley Area Health Education Center, Tom took the helm as the new president and chief executive officer of the Humane Society of Chittenden County in April 2011. He is married to Anne Barrett, a web developer, cartoonist and animated filmmaker. Tom and Anne live in Burlington's New North End, along the edge of the Intervale, with their Australian shepherds, Romeo and Sadie, and cats Cayenne and Biryani. In his spare time (such as it is!), Tom enjoys hosting a weekly American roots music radio program on WRUV-FM 90.1, as well as homebrewing beer, judging in brewing competitions, cooking, live theater, traveling and reading. To email Tom, click here .

Robyn Lane, Canine Supervisor

A lifelong Vermonter, Robyn came to HSCC after work in the barns of Shelburne Farms - and a childhood surrounded by companion animals. As canine supervisor, Robyn handles most dog intakes, evaluates and assesses the dogs in our care, and helps to develop plans to treat and rehabilitate health and behavioral issues. Her role includes efforts to see that each dog in our care finds a suitable and successful placement. Robyn works with our dog population from intake to adoption, providing a chance to learn about the personality, demeanor, and quirks of each canine resident. In her several years at HSCC, Robyn has served in several positions, including feline supervisor, and as a member of our animal care and adoption staff. To email Robyn, click here.

Kayla Malzac, Feline Supervisor

As the point person for all things feline, Kayla oversees the cat population from intake to adoption--including assistance with check-in, administration of our feline foster care program, behavioral assessment, and placement decisions. Along with members of the management team, and in particular our medical supervisor, Kayla works to ensure that all of our cats have the shortest, most pleasant, and healthiest stay possible! To email Kayla, click here.

Jen Parker, Medical Supervisor

After a year on our team in 2009 as a member of our animal care and adoption staff, Jen left to pursue an exciting opportunity as a veterinary technician at Shelburne's Ark Veterinary Hospital. A couple of years later, filled with animal hospital experiences, Jen returned to our staff in late 2009 to become our feline supervisor. In August of 2011 she made the switch to the medical world of our shelter and is now the medical supervisor. At HSCC, Jen is responsible for the general medical and health needs of our population, including check-in exams; vaccinations and boosters; the scheduling of spay/neuter surgeries and other veterinary procedures; and tending to some of our youngest and most vulnerable visitors. To email Jen, click here .

Allison Stark, Shelter Manager

Allie joined the HSCC team in February of 2011. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of HSCC's animal and human service activities. Allie brings with her almost 20 years of educational and professional experience in the animal care and welfare world. She has a BS in zoology from University of New Hampshire, as well as tremendous hands-on animal care experience. She has served as care staff and animal care director at the Wildlife In Need Center in Wisconsin; as the director of wildlife services for the Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee, VT; and as a veterinary technician at Ark Veterinary Hospital here in Shelburne. Allie possesses great strength in organizational management, finance and customer service. As shelter manager, she ensures that our animals receive the high standard of care typical of HSCC until their loving, forever homes are found. To email Allie, click here.

Megan Stearns, Director of Development and Community Outreach

Megan fell in love with HSCC on her very first visit to the shelter, in early 2010. She began her involvement as a volunteer, and was hired to manage the shelter's volunteer program later that year. After taking on additional responsibilities in event planning, Megan transitioned in August of 2011 to her current position of director of development and outreach. She now relies upon previous professional experience in hospitality, writing and editing, fine art, and acting to collaborate with the press; develop the shelter's social media ventures; create promotional materials; give presentations; and cultivate donor relationships. Megan takes great pride in promoting her colleagues' outstanding work in animal welfare. A former resident of Long Island, New York, Megan graduated with a degree in English from the University of Virginia, and completed a two-year program at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. In her spare time, Megan pursues a thriving pet portraiture business (meganstearns.com). To email Megan, click here.

Program & Administrative Staff

Amanda Blubaugh, Office Manager

A Jill of all trades, Amanda joined the HSCC team in 2006 as an animal care and adoption staff member following her role as a volunteer. In 2008 she was offered a newly created position as operations assistant, which was later revised to office manager. From her first horseback-riding lesson at the age of five--that lead to years in the show circuit, to the small menagerie of critters she currently has (four cats and one dog, to be exact), she has always had a deep affinity for animals. A year after graduating from the University of Vermont, she traded in her job as a waitress at Vermont National Country Club to work at HSCC, where she could apply her animal experience to help homeless and unwanted animals find new homes. Amanda's role involves managing and coordinating administrative and facility operations, including managing facility maintenance and repair; accounts receivable processing; banking transactions; database entry; hardware, software and equipment troubleshooting and upkeep; and nearly all of the correspondence that leaves the shelter. She also serves as our registrar for Camp Paw Paw and dog-training classes. She now resides in Burlington with her five four-legged companions and her beloved husband Scott--whom she met right here at HSCC. To email Amanda, click here.

Shayla MacDowell, Volunteer Coordinator

Shayla re-joined the HSCC team in August of 2011 after a few years spent working in the human services field in a local counseling and treatment center, where she developed a strong affection for working directly with a large number of people. However, during her time away, she greatly missed working with animals. Previous to working at HSCC as animal care staff, she worked in a local veterinary hospital, where she was able to fulfill her need to spend time with animals almost every waking moment! Returning to HSCC as the volunteer and events coordinator feels a bit like a home for her, as the position combines Shayla's love of animals as well as working directly with the volunteer force. What a perfect match! As volunteer and events coordinator, Shayla manages the behind-the-scenes happenings of the volunteers as well as assisting the director of development and community outreach with HSCC events. When she is not working, Shayla loves to spend time with her dog and her horse, or out on the lakes and trails of Vermont and the Adirondack Mountains. To email Shayla, click here.

JoAnn Nichols, Humane Investigator & Educator

A self-described "self-taught activist," JoAnn's career in animal welfare began at the age of 13, when she became a vegetarian and started setting up information tables on animal rights at local flea markets. Her grassroots activism would later expand into undercover photo-documenting of livestock cruelty at factory farms, which she undertook for rescue and advocacy organization Farm Sanctuary. As a direct result of this work, JoAnn committed to veganism. Ms. Nichols delved into the welfare component of animal rights over ten years spent as a volunteer and employee of the Delaware SPCA. This experience led to her employment at HSCC, where she was hired in 2001 to serve as the veterinary assistant (now our "medical supervisor" position). JoAnn began dabbling in humane investigation during this initial period of employment with HSCC. In 2004, JoAnn attended a "Step Up to Policing" course at Vermont Works for Women, and left HSCC to pursue a job as a correctional officer at Northwest State Correctional Facility, an all-male, medium and maximum security prison in St. Albans, Vermont. After serving four years in the prison system, JoAnn sought a return to animal welfare. Her experience in law enforcement now made her an ideal candidate for humane investigation, and she rejoined HSCC in 2007 as our official humane investigator. JoAnn finds her work in this field both highly rewarding and highly challenging; but in the end she feels that if she's able to make one small difference in the life of one animal, she's accomplished her purpose. We can say with conviction that JoAnn has made large differences in the lives of many animals thus far! To email JoAnn, click here.

Animal Care & Adoption Staff

Susie DiDonato
Kristyn Frohock
Christina Santor, Animal Care
Amanda Sorrell, Animal Care and Adoptions, Lost Cat Coordinator
Cara Weymouth, Animal Care & Adoptions, Small Animal Coordinator