Board of Directors

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.

Dave is a retired CEO, having managed non-profit health plans serving low-income folks qualifying for Medicaid, CHIP, and Obamacare. Because of these engagements, Dave and his family have resided in both California and Texas. He has now lived in Tacoma for several years since retiring, and enjoys the area and raising his twin teenage daughters. He and his family are long-time pet owners, and currently have a rescue dog and three cats.

Dave has always been engaged in his communities, working with schools as a PTSA Treasurer, serving on the Tacoma Public Schools Budget Advisory Committee, and as a Director on the Board of the United Way. He strongly believes that he can use his expertise to help guide the Humane Society to fulfill its important mission of animal welfare.

Brenda retired from a 35-year career at Russell Investments, a global investment management firm founded in Tacoma in 1936.  She held many roles during her time there, but she retired as the Finance Managing Director of Financial Planning and Analysis.  While employed at Russell, she participated in many events that were focused on serving the Tacoma Community.  She currently serves as the Treasurer for Quota of Tacoma, a community group that focuses on the underserved women and children of Pierce County.  She also served as the Treasurer for Tacoma Little Theatre, where she leveraged her skills to mitigate financial risk and implemented financial planning best practices.

Brenda was raised in Wyoming and began her life-long journey of caring for animals in need on the family ranch, everything from newborn calves to any four-legged critter that wandered into her life.  She has quite the menagerie of pets, including four rescue bunnies from Tacoma Humane and a 70 lb. Sulcata Tortoise!

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.

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.

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.

Katy Stone was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, where she currently lives with her husband, Grant, and their son, Renn. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy from Western Washington University and has dedicated her career to advancing mission-driven organizations across the South Sound.

Katy is an experienced nonprofit fundraiser and currently serves as Development Director for Communities for a Healthy Bay, a Tacoma-based organization working to protect Commencement Bay, the waters of the South Sound, and the diversity of life they sustain. Her previous development experience includes roles at the Museum of Glass and Charles Wright Academy, where she also spent six years as an educator.

Deeply committed to the well-being of her community, Katy has spent much of her life championing environmental stewardship and educational access in the Pacific Northwest and is proud to support organizations that strengthen and care for the region’s people, animals, and environment.

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.