Home › About Us ›

ACN Principle Officers and Board of Directors 2010

Sue Barnett - Chairperson of the Executive Committee

 

Sue Barnett is an original founder of ACN, serving as Vice-President in 1998, 1999 and 2004 and President in 2000 and 2005. Sue recognized a great need in this area for an organized, no-kill rescue organization. She used her business experience and background to get ACN recognized and established in the community. Sue continues to be a vital resource for the organization and has served on the Board of Directors since 1998. 

 

Jennifer Berkowitz - President, Board of Directors

 

Jennifer Berkowitz is President and CEO of PRoactive Solutions, Inc., a public relations firm with offices in Asheville and Wilmington, NC and Birmingham, AL. Before founding the firm, she served as Director of Public Affairs and Marketing for the Pacific Research Institute and as Vice President of John Adams Associates, a Washington, DC-based public relations agency representing some of the world’s largest trade associations and corporations.

A native of the District of Columbia, she earned  an M.A. from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a B.A. from Dickinson College. She resides in South Asheville, NC, with with her husband Mark and her two dogs, Bunter and Petey.

Ann Barron - Vice President, Board of Directors and Dog Coordinator

With 31 years of experience in Federal Service, Ann’s attention to detail, organizational skills and ability to interpret rules and regulations have been invaluable in managing the in-take, medical records, temporary placement and adoption of dogs in the Network.

 

While her degree in Sociology served her well in working with human welfare, her plan for years had been to work in animal welfare upon retirement.  Her love for all animals and passion for helping homeless, abused and neglected cats and dogs led her to ACN, where her desire to make a difference has come to fruition.

 Colleen Snyder - Secretary, Board of Directors

 

Colleen Snyder is an auxiliary board member, equipment coordinator and phone team member for ACN A full-time real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Kasey since 2005, she specializes in matching people and their furry friends with their ideal Asheville area homes. She and her husband Chris have four rescued bulldog mixes of their own and foster ACN dogs on a regular basis.

 

  Mary Cowert, Treasurer, Board of Directors (bio coming soon!)

Eileen Bouressa - Executive Director

Eileen Bouressa came on board with Animal Compassion Network as our first Executive Director in August 2003. She had previously served as the Executive Director for the Haywood Animal Welfare Association, where she successfully implemented an Adoption and Volunteer Program with the local shelter and doubled the amount of public spay/neuter assistance available and distributed.

Eileen brings to us a background in non-profit management, public relations and fundraising, as well as a deep-rooted personal passion for improving animal welfare. She is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and has personally rescued and fostered over 80 dogs and cats. In addition to supervising the organization’s 17 lifesaving programs and Pet Harmony, ACN’s pet store for rescued pets, Eileen serves as the ACN spokesperson, grant writer, copywriter and development director. She has also been a driving force for legislative change to our county and city animal control ordinances. 

 

Eileen has lived in Asheville since 1993 and shares her life with her husband Brian; sons Jack and Ben; cats Moxanna, Lucy, Magpie and Mac; and dogs Angel, J.B., and Mimi. 

Cate Rheney - Board Member at Large

Cate is a pharmacist and served as the clinical manager of an inpatient hospital pharmacy in Asheville. She has been a member of ACN since 2002 and has served in a variety of capacities that take advantage of her excellent organization skills, including co-chair for several fundraising events and grant writer.

Krista Luck - Past President, Board of Directors

 

Krista Luck is a pharmacist and runs an anticoagulation clinic in Asheville. Since 2002, she has provided a loving foster home for numerous dogs in ACN. She has excellent organizational skills and a strong leadership ability. Krista also serves as ACN’s Volunteer Coordinator, as well as the co-chair of ACN’s signature events, including the Subaru Pet Adoptathons, Taste of Compassion and Dine to be Kind.

ACN's Auxiliary Board

Marcia Allen

 

Marcia Allen is an auxiliary board member and Cat Coordinator.  A retired Chemistry teacher and Duke graduate, she has lived in the Asheville area since 1979.  She has two adult daughters, Sara and Molly, 5 dogs, and a perfect cat named Stevie Nicks.  Her favorite part of this volunteer position is connecting cats, dogs, and people in the true belief that rescued pets bring unconditional love into our lives.

 

 

Melissa Chapel 

Melissa Chapel is originally from central Florida, where she completed a B.A. in Psychology, volunteered for an HIV/AIDS organization, and worked in the mental health field for a few years before moving to South Carolina in 1996 with her husband and 2 wonderful cats.  There she returned to school for a change of career, rescued a scared but sweet dog, and volunteered for a no-kill shelter.  Since moving to Asheville in 2002, she has worked at a local hospital and volunteered for ACN in a variety of ways, from staffing adoption events to providing animal care and submitting weekly ACN ads to local newspapers.

 

Jen Charlton

 

Jen Charlton is a New Orleans native who has made Asheville her home since 1998.  She’s a graduate of LSU with degrees in psychology and art history, and since opening Sensibilities Day Spa in 1999 has happily made being a small business owner the focus of her professional life.  The addition of a second location of Sensibilities as well as her latest project, Sparrow Spa, has allowed her to connect with many wonderful  organizations in Asheville, including the one closest to her heart, ACN.  As an auxiliary board member and volunteer she looks forward to helping adoptable animals find the loving homes they deserve.

 

Jen and her two rescue boys, Gable and QBear, live in the French Broad/River Arts District.

Kimberly Evans (bio coming soon!)

Lisa Fox

  

Lisa Fox is a native to Asheville and works as a book-keeper for her husband's dental practice.  She and Kevin have two daughters, Sofia and Annika, who both were born to be animal lovers/advocates just as their parents are.  Their family includes seven dogs and five cats ~ all rescues.  Over the years they have helped lost dogs be reunited with their families and picked up unwanted kittens from the side of the road to help them find forever homes.
 
Lisa is a current member of ACN, ASPCA, American Humane, Best Friends Animal Society, and Humane Society of the United States.

Anne Jordan

Anne Jordan and her husband Robert moved to Asheville from Atlanta, Ga. in 2006.  Anne was hoping to find part-time employment, but in the meantime was enticed to walk a rescue dog who was being kenneled and also to help out at the PetSmart adoption events.  From there, she fostered and then adopted Chevy, the same dog she walked and took to the vet for 10 weeks for a broken toe. She has been the Volunteer Coordinator for Pet Harmony since it opened until Tricia Ruscoe took over earlier this year.  She now volunteers doing whatever needs to get done at the store/rescue facility twice a week and orients volunteers on those days. When anyone expresses an interest in fostering a cat, Anne follows-up to try to get some of our longer residing Pet Harmony cats into a home.  

Shari Rafferty

 

Shari Rafferty lives in Arden, NC with her wonderful husband, two boys, two rescued dogs, and one cat. A native of Georgia, Shari received her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from The University of Georgia, a Master’s Degree in Human Resources from The University of Tennessee, and is finishing up a second Master’s Degree in Library Science. Shari currently works as a Library Assistant for Buncombe County Schools, and is a part of Membership Services at the YMCA. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with her family and volunteering for ACN. Shari creates many of the print publications and multimedia projects for ACN. as well.

Tricia Ruscoe

 

Tricia Ruscoe is the very proud Gram to Rylan, Haven, and Brandt, and shares her home with her dog Blue, pet Khaki Campbell duck Ducky Lucky, and three rescued bunnies, Shaggy, Kizzy, and Mr. Whiskers. I have rescued dogs and cats in my home but am profoundly happy to coordinate volunteers for Pet Harmony and to have a hand in the Pet Food Donation program with ACN.  I dog-sit and, recently, fish-sit, at home and enjoy kid-sitting as well! 
 
It is more than a privilege to volunteer with ACN and to work with everyone involved.

Karen Shuart (bio coming soon!)

Chris Snyder

Chris Snyder is an auxiliary board member and equipment coordinator for ACN. and has been active in animal rescue since the early 90’s. He works as a swim coach for the YMCA Piranhas and is developing his portfolio as a wildlife photographer. In his spare time he enjoys mountain biking with his wife Colleen, also an ACN. volunteer, and hiking with their four rescued pit bulls. 

 

 

  ACN's Advisory Board

Margee Moncure, DMV

 

Margee Moncure lives in Fairview, NC with her wonderful husband, two beautiful kids, two marvelous dogs, and nine really bad cats.  She and her husband moved to the Asheville area upon her graduation from NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine and have loved the area so much that they intend to stay forever. 

 

After several years of doing low-cost spays and neuters at Humane Alliance and the recent addition of human children to the family, Margee has transitioned to being a relief veterinarian for many of the local veterinary practices.  She also volunteers with Animal Compassion Network to help ensure that all of our animals receive thorough and compassionate veterinary care.    

Suzi Katz

 

Suzi Katz is a web developer in Asheville.  Her company, Alice Web Design, donated the new ACN web site.  She lives with her sweetie, Jerry Hudgins, and their two rescued dogs.  Kiko (dog-right) was adopted from the Buncombe County shelter in 1996 and Riley (dog-left) came from ACN in 2008.

 

Her DOG IS LOVE web site is the source of the DOG IS LOVE series of bumperstickers; the proceeds of all sales are donated to ACN and other organizations working to help end the suffering of homeless pets.