Board of Directors

James Caillouette, MD, retired after a 35-year career as an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacement. Throughout his career, he performed over 15,000 joint replacements on humans and also taught veterinarians how to perform hip replacements in dogs.

Recently, James and his wife, Gabby, relocated to Tacoma to settle on the extended family farm property he has visited since birth. Their home is shared with horses, cattle, chickens, dogs, and cats—much to the delight of their dog, Rocco, who enjoys daily visits with the animals.

He is excited to support the mission of the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County and help create better lives for animals and the people who love them.

Merrill Kelley brings extensive experience in the real estate industry, specializing in asset and project management for both institutional investors and individuals. Her strategic thinking and planning skills are invaluable assets to our organization.

A lifelong animal lover, Merrill grew up in a family that cherished pets and understands the enrichment they bring to our lives. She is the proud owner of a rescue cat named Lulu and enjoys babysitting her daughter’s two adopted kittens.

Nate has been working for the Washington State Investment Board (WSIB) for the past five years, assisting with the management of fixed-income assets for public employees, teachers, law enforcement officers, and others. Before joining the WSIB, Nate worked as a Trader and Treasurer for Citigroup, managing the bank’s interest rate exposure for their Institutional Clients Group.

In his free time, Nate volunteers as co-treasurer for his local PTSA and coaches his children’s summer baseball teams. Both of Nate’s parents worked for the state: his father as a paramedic and his mother as a 911 dispatcher. As a result, Nate grew up with retired law enforcement German Shepherds, who were a large part of his childhood. Continuing this tradition, Nate’s family welcomed their first young German Shepherd puppy last year, joining their cat, Zero.

Valerie retired in 2023 after an impactful career as a public sector attorney. During the last seven years of her legal career, she managed a division of attorneys and professional staff in the Labor and Personnel Division of the Washington Attorney General’s Office. Valerie began volunteering at the Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County in the spring of 2023, where she regularly walks shelter dogs. Spending time with the shelter dogs and the shelter community has become a rewarding new chapter for Valerie.

Valerie has been a lifelong animal lover and animal welfare advocate. Over the years, she has welcomed many rescued animals into her family including horses, dogs, and cats. Valerie and her husband live in North Tacoma, where they raised two children. They currently have three rescue pets: a dog and two cats.

Shannon became a volunteer at the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County in early 2023. Her deep love for animals led to her involvement. Throughout this experience, she is often reminded that the more she learns, the more there is to learn! She has thoroughly enjoyed spending time walking dogs and getting to know all the wonderful people who make this place home to many great stories.

Shannon earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University and a master’s degree from Gonzaga University. She spent 25 years in the classroom, mainly teaching mathematics. For the past 17 years, she has been fortunate to represent many buyers/sellers in their real estate transactions. It is Shannon’s desire to raise awareness of the many services our shelter provides to our community, be a strong animal advocate, and continue to love as many four-legged (or sometimes three!) friends as possible.

Brooke Burbank graduated from Northeastern University School of Law in 1996. After graduation, she moved to Seattle, WA, where she joined the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, handling domestic violence and sexual assault cases until 2008. She then transitioned to the Washington Attorney General’s Office, overseeing the Sexually Violent Predator civil commitments for the State of Washington. In 2019, she began working for the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in Tacoma, WA, where she currently serves as the Assistant Chief Criminal Deputy. In this role, she oversees the appellate unit, the mental health unit, and the general crimes charging and trial units.

In her free time, she enjoys skiing, golfing, swimming, and playing with her beloved dogs. A lifelong animal lover, she is passionate about working to improve the lives of animals in Tacoma and Pierce County.

Dr. Mantovani has been involved with animal welfare organizations in Washington state since 2017, when she began her shelter medicine career at Seattle Animal Shelter. She helped develop their novel shelter medicine program, supporting their vision: “To bring exceptional in-house care to shelter animals and animals from the public through low-cost spay and neuter services for community members in need.” During her tenure at Seattle Animal Shelter, she led the development of forensic protocols, provided expert witness testimony in medical findings for legal cases, and helped define the veterinarian’s role in the overall health and welfare of animals in the shelter environment.

During this time, she also completed a Master of Science in Shelter Medicine through the University of Florida. In 2022, Dr. Mantovani joined the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) as a Medical Supervisor in their forensic department, where she managed medical cases and operations for animal victims of cruelty and neglect. Recently, she joined the Humane Society of the United States as a field medicine veterinarian in their Rural Area Veterinary Services group. In this role, Dr. Mantovani travels nationally to expand access to veterinary care in underserved rural communities where poverty and geographic isolation make regular animal health services unavailable.

Dr. Mantovani is a graduate of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. She enjoys rural life with her native Italian husband, playing in the snow, and cherishing time with her beloved pets: two German Shepherds and a cat named IT.

Laura brings a wealth of knowledge to the board from her diverse professional background and experience as a business owner. Over the years, she has served on executive boards in Kitsap, Mason, and Pierce Counties, covering various topics including land use, education, environmental issues, public utilities, and forestry.

Colin grew up in Tacoma, and after earning a degree from Bowdoin College and beginning his career on the East Coast, he returned to the Pacific Northwest in 2021. Over the past five years, he has gained valuable experience working in and around startups, with a strong focus on software engineering and artificial intelligence.

Passionate about animal welfare, Colin is excited to bring his expertise to the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County, supporting the organization’s mission and contributing to the growth of its programs.

Colin proudly shares his life with his golden retriever, Harper.  Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, skiing, and savoring great food and wine. He looks forward to collaborating with fellow board members to enhance the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County’s impact and make a lasting difference for animals in the community.

Don had a 43-year high-tech sector career in the “original” business of Hewlett Packard Company and has extensive experience in facilitation and construction of business strategies. Don has been a dog lover his whole life and acquired his first “very own” dog in 1970 from the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County. Rescue dogs are one of his family’s main passions!

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Jim also served as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army.  His career has been focused on Facilities and Construction management in the Washington State Community and Technical College system.  Jim and his wife, Nancy, are very dog friendly and have shared their home with their canine companions for many years.  You can see their Shelties participating regularly in agility competitions.

Pamela has been a dedicated dog-walking volunteer at the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County since April 2023. She cherishes the time she spends with the dogs and appreciates the passionate employees and volunteers who support them. Many of the dogs featured on the shelter’s website have Pamela to thank for their profile photos, as she has captured countless images to help showcase them to potential adopters.

A longtime Tacoma resident, Pamela and her family have called the area home for nearly 30 years. She has co-owned and managed a home décor and gift store in Tacoma and is currently a managing co-founder of a private equity company. As a board member, she is excited to help improve the lives of animals through collaboration with fellow board members and community engagement.