Christine has been President of Humane Society Silicon Valley for the past 15 years. During her tenure, Christine has led a progressive spay/neuter program that has dramatically reduced the number of incoming animals to the shelter from 45,000 in 1993 to approximately 9,000 in 2006. Under her leadership, the shelter instituted a spay/neuter at adoption policy, pediatric spay/neuter, an affordable spay/neuter vaccination clinic, and encouraged local municipalities to offer discounted spay/neuter voucher programs. Christine has also instituted policies that have substantially increased the number of animals adopted. Today, 99 percent of the animals available for adoption find new homes; ten years ago, less than 15 percent found new homes. Under Christine's management, the Humane Society's volunteer base increased from 50 to more than 450, and the shelter's donor base increased from 300 to 30,000 donors.

In addition to her passion for animals, Christine has a strong business background, having spent four years as an auditor with Arthur Andersen & Co. and 15 years with Hewlett Packard Corporation. At HP, Christine held several managerial positions both domestically and in Europe. Christine is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an M.B.A. degree from Stanford University. She serves as a board member of the State Humane Association of California and is a volunteer consultant to various nonprofit boards. In 1989, Business Month magazine named Christine to its list of "100 Women to Watch in Corporate America." Christine owns four dogs, all of which were adopted from Humane Society Silicon Valley.

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Elena joined HSSV in 2007 with 12 years experience in healthcare and animal welfare. As COO, Elena directs the management of several key functions and their associated programs, including Animal and Customer Care, Education, Clinic and Retail Operations, and Partner Relationships.

Previously, Elena was Director of Process Excellence at Stanford Hospital & Clinics, where she was responsible for driving large-scale, interdepartmental projects for sustained and measurable process improvement. Prior to this role, Elena was an operations manager at Central Brevard Humane Society in Florida.

Elena has a BS in Physical Therapy from the University of Florida and received her MBA from Stanford University. Her family includes a feline HSSV alum named Theo, and an adopted beagle named Trini, who was the inspiration for her career change and accompanies her to work each day to make sure Elena is doing a good job.

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Beth joined HSSV in 2001 where she oversees all animal care at the shelter including kennels, medical care and special needs. Previously, Beth was Director of Animal Care at Peninsula Humane Society from 1996 to 2001. There, she oversaw six programs: Animal Care, Veterinary Services, Spay Neuter Clinic, Vaccine Clinic, Feral Cat Co-op Program, Wildlife Rehabilitation and Exotic Animal Program.

Prior to working at Peninsula Humane Society, Beth was Office Manager at Aguajito Veterinary Hospital and the owner of a Pet and Tack Supply and Grooming business. Before running her own pet supply business, Beth was a Manager at Oxton Kennels and Exotics. Beth earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation Administration with a minor in Animal Sciences and holds certifications from numerous animal training programs. Beth and her family own a menagerie of pets including dogs, cats, chickens and two miniature horses. In her spare time, Beth is a manager and coach for three ASA Junior Olympic softball teams and volunteers as an umpire for ASA in the East Bay.

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Stephanie Ladeira Vice President, Development Stephanie joined HSSV in 2006 with more than 10 years of experience in development, sales, marketing and event planning to the position. At HSSV, Stephanie oversees the development department, where she stewards the major gifts and planned giving programs, and oversees direct mail programs, special events, and HSSV's capital campaign.

Prior to working at HSSV, Stephanie spent two years with Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) in Walnut Creek. There, she was responsible for all aspects of fundraising, planned special events and managed all direct mail campaigns. During her stay, Stephanie grew ARF's direct mail program by $150,000 in one year, established a major donor program, developed an ARF ambassadors program to expand the knowledge and reach of ARF and spearheaded the Wine and Whiskers cultivation event. Stephanie also raised more than $100,000 yearly in grant funding for ARF.

Prior to ARF, Stephanie worked in sales and event management in the hospitality industry. Stephanie earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Carolina in 1992. Lucy, her rescued German shorthair pointer and Ruby, a schipperke mix, accompany her to work every day. Stephanie's cat, Minnie prefers to stay home and sleep.

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Cathy oversees all functions of the finance department. Her responsibilities include implementing long-term financial strategies designing financial controls, reporting on financial results, supervising the finance department, managing the assets and liabilities, and raising financing for HSSV's planned new Animal Community Center. Cathy is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an MBA in Finance from New York University. Cathy has more than 20 years of experience in financial management, business planning, corporate development and equity and debt financing for several technology-based companies and venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. She also has 13 years of public accounting experience, culminating in partnership status at Coopers & Lybrand (now Pricewaterhouse Coopers), an international accounting firm. She served on the Board of the San Jose Symphony from 1987 to 1994 and was elected Chairman of the Board in 1992. At the end of her chairmanship in 1994, the Symphony had resolved their labor disputes and completed two years with operating surpluses resulting in a complete elimination of all accumulated deficits and debt. Cathy has also served on the Boards of several other nonprofit organizations in the Bay Area. An elderly gray tabby cat named Missy rules Cathy's home.

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Laura joined HSSV in 2002 with more than 16 years of experience in the investor relations, corporate communications and journalism fields. At HSSV, Laura oversees all marketing, advertising, and public relations at the shelter.

Prior to joining HSSV, Laura managed investor and public relations accounts for technology companies in the semiconductor, telecommunications, Internet and optical electronics markets.  Before working in high-tech PR, Laura was an award-winning radio journalist holding jobs as news director, anchor, reporter, producer and editor.

Laura earned her Master's degree in Telecommunications Financial Management from Ohio University in 1992. Over the years, she has adopted numerous animal companions from HSSV, including a golden retriever named Harriet and two cats named Chuy and Cinnamon. In her spare time, Laura enjoys playing USTA team tennis.

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Dr. Julia joined the veterinary staff at HSSV in February 2008, where she provides preventative and clinical care to the shelter’s animals. Additionally, Dr. Julia will develop training seminars for staff and volunteers on aspects of veterinary medicine and infectious disease prevention. She will also develop educational seminars for the pet-owning public on preventing zoonotic infectious diseases.

Prior to joining HSSV, Dr. Julia worked in veterinary medicine at the UC Davis Veterinary School at Medicine, the Veterinary School at Cornell University, UCSF, and a pharmaceutical company. She has also worked in private practice in Sacramento, Calif.

Dr. Julia received her doctorate of veterinary medicine from UC Davis in 1994. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her Rottweiler named Chance, a three-footed, longhaired Chihuahua named Cricket, and two cats named Mo and Syd.