Please visit our volunteer page for information about serving on our Board of Directors.
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Jim Crimmins, Veteran USN - President (2019)
Jim is a native New Englander that moved to the Maryland countryside in 2006 along with his wife, Shannon, and their black lab, Zora. He is a Navy veteran, having spent five years in the submarine force on USS San Juan (SSN-751). Jim has spent the past fifteen years as a business strategy and acquisitions professional, working in management roles in the energy and industrial manufacturing fields. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and an MBA in Finance and Strategic Management from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife have been active with Hero Dogs since its inception, and were the first puppy sitters for the organization. Being puppy sitters turned into being puppy raisers for Theodore Roosevelt, who still lives with family and now serves as both an Ambassador dog and Therapy dog for Hero Dogs. Jim, Shannon, and their kids continue to sporadically puppy sit, and enthusiastically support Hero Dogs and its mission.
Jim is a native New Englander that moved to the Maryland countryside in 2006 along with his wife, Shannon, and their black lab, Zora. He is a Navy veteran, having spent five years in the submarine force on USS San Juan (SSN-751). Jim has spent the past fifteen years as a business strategy and acquisitions professional, working in management roles in the energy and industrial manufacturing fields. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and an MBA in Finance and Strategic Management from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife have been active with Hero Dogs since its inception, and were the first puppy sitters for the organization. Being puppy sitters turned into being puppy raisers for Theodore Roosevelt, who still lives with family and now serves as both an Ambassador dog and Therapy dog for Hero Dogs. Jim, Shannon, and their kids continue to sporadically puppy sit, and enthusiastically support Hero Dogs and its mission.
J. Blair Fishburn - Vice President (2018)
Blair is a financial executive with over 18 years of experience serving state and local government transportation agencies in the areas of roadway tolling and public transit. For the first half of his career he worked for the IBM Corporation in various marketing and financial management positions. Blair holds an MBA from the Hagan School of Business, Iona College, NY and a bachelor of science in Biology from Trinity College, CT. He has three grown children, two sons and a daughter; and one grandson. His younger son is a U.S. Navy Lt. and P-3 Orion aircraft pilot. Blair coached youth baseball and softball, and served 13 years as a youth travel and high school ice hockey coach. Throughout his professional life, Blair has lived in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia and now resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland with his miniature schnauzer, Linus. As a lifelong dog lover and owner, Blair is eager and enthusiastic about his new role serving Hero Dogs, Inc.
Blair is a financial executive with over 18 years of experience serving state and local government transportation agencies in the areas of roadway tolling and public transit. For the first half of his career he worked for the IBM Corporation in various marketing and financial management positions. Blair holds an MBA from the Hagan School of Business, Iona College, NY and a bachelor of science in Biology from Trinity College, CT. He has three grown children, two sons and a daughter; and one grandson. His younger son is a U.S. Navy Lt. and P-3 Orion aircraft pilot. Blair coached youth baseball and softball, and served 13 years as a youth travel and high school ice hockey coach. Throughout his professional life, Blair has lived in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia and now resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland with his miniature schnauzer, Linus. As a lifelong dog lover and owner, Blair is eager and enthusiastic about his new role serving Hero Dogs, Inc.
Bess Amerman - Treasurer (2019)
Bess is a native Upstate New Yorker. She moved to Washington D.C. after college for a change of scenery and has lived in the DMV area for 10 years. Bess was formerly an auditor with CohnReznick in Bethesda Maryland, specializing in Non-Profit clients. Most recently Bess was hired as the Grants and Contracts Manager for a DC non-profit College Summit. She received her Master’s in Accounting from American University. Bess is a lifelong dog lover and grew up with her family Labs Gigi, Sadie and Chaz. She now lives in Silver Spring with her teacup Chihuahua named Diamonds and her Boxer named Monday. Bess is looking forward to her fourth year working with the Board in order to support the mission of Hero Dogs!
Bess is a native Upstate New Yorker. She moved to Washington D.C. after college for a change of scenery and has lived in the DMV area for 10 years. Bess was formerly an auditor with CohnReznick in Bethesda Maryland, specializing in Non-Profit clients. Most recently Bess was hired as the Grants and Contracts Manager for a DC non-profit College Summit. She received her Master’s in Accounting from American University. Bess is a lifelong dog lover and grew up with her family Labs Gigi, Sadie and Chaz. She now lives in Silver Spring with her teacup Chihuahua named Diamonds and her Boxer named Monday. Bess is looking forward to her fourth year working with the Board in order to support the mission of Hero Dogs!
Missy Grello - Secretary (2019)
Missy is a special education teacher at Patterson Elementary School located in Washington, D.C. She has been teaching in the DC public school system since August 2012. She graduated from Vanderbilt University in May 2012 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education. Immediately following graduation, she joined Teach for America for two years while earning a Master of Education at George Mason University. Missy has been volunteering as a kennel helper every Monday at Hero Dogs, Inc since May 2016. In addition, she has volunteered as a surgical assistant at the Spay and Neuter Clinic at the Humane Rescue Alliance. She has also volunteered in the low cost vaccine clinic at the Humane Rescue Alliance, assisting with animal handling and administering of vaccines. She and her fiancé, Gavin, live in Washington, DC with their six-year-old rescue dog named Roo. They have recently started fostering kittens through the Humane Rescue Alliance. Missy is very passionate about working with animals and is very excited about her new role at Hero Dogs, Inc.
Missy is a special education teacher at Patterson Elementary School located in Washington, D.C. She has been teaching in the DC public school system since August 2012. She graduated from Vanderbilt University in May 2012 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education. Immediately following graduation, she joined Teach for America for two years while earning a Master of Education at George Mason University. Missy has been volunteering as a kennel helper every Monday at Hero Dogs, Inc since May 2016. In addition, she has volunteered as a surgical assistant at the Spay and Neuter Clinic at the Humane Rescue Alliance. She has also volunteered in the low cost vaccine clinic at the Humane Rescue Alliance, assisting with animal handling and administering of vaccines. She and her fiancé, Gavin, live in Washington, DC with their six-year-old rescue dog named Roo. They have recently started fostering kittens through the Humane Rescue Alliance. Missy is very passionate about working with animals and is very excited about her new role at Hero Dogs, Inc.
Linda Phipps, Veteran USN CDR (Ret) - Board Member (2019)
Linda is a Principal Professional Staff Analyst at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), Laurel, Maryland. She has more than 30 years of experience in defense analysis. She joined JHU/APL in January 1998 and has held a number of leadership positions in technical and program management. A native of New Jersey, she is a retired Naval Officer and has been a volunteer with Hero Dogs, Inc. since its inception. Phipps earned two bachelor’s degrees in Marine Biology and English Literature from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Florham Park NJ and a master’s degree in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School. She resides in Waldorf, Maryland with her husband Carl and two Black Lab mix rescue dogs, Duchess and Jester.
Linda is a Principal Professional Staff Analyst at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), Laurel, Maryland. She has more than 30 years of experience in defense analysis. She joined JHU/APL in January 1998 and has held a number of leadership positions in technical and program management. A native of New Jersey, she is a retired Naval Officer and has been a volunteer with Hero Dogs, Inc. since its inception. Phipps earned two bachelor’s degrees in Marine Biology and English Literature from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Florham Park NJ and a master’s degree in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School. She resides in Waldorf, Maryland with her husband Carl and two Black Lab mix rescue dogs, Duchess and Jester.
Jeanie Wade, Veteran USMC (SGT) - Board Member (2018)
Jeanie is the Vice President of Human Resources for Northrop Grumman Corporation Aerospace Systems Sector. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Medaille College, completed the Harvard Business School General Management Program, and served in the United States Marine Corps. She is a certified Continuous Improvement Black Belt. She has previously volunteered for the Niagara County (New York) SPCA and for the Tails of Hope Sanctuary. She is a member of the Women Marines Association.
Jeanie is the Vice President of Human Resources for Northrop Grumman Corporation Aerospace Systems Sector. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Medaille College, completed the Harvard Business School General Management Program, and served in the United States Marine Corps. She is a certified Continuous Improvement Black Belt. She has previously volunteered for the Niagara County (New York) SPCA and for the Tails of Hope Sanctuary. She is a member of the Women Marines Association.
Glenn Wasik - Board Member (2019)
Glenn is a Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans Appeals, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, where he has been employed for more than 20 years. Prior to that, he was employed in the private practice of law for six years. He is on the Executive Board for the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 17, and is also on the Board of Directors of his local homeowners association. Other volunteer activities include being a team representative for his local MCSL swim team for the past 4 years and also coaching boys lacrosse for 8 years with the Olney Boys and Girls Club. He is a Maryland native who has an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Juris Doctorate from George Mason University. He and his wife, Kelly, have three children and reside in Brookeville, Maryland with two cats and their rescue dog Fabio. Fabio is a good boy but of uncertain heritage.
Glenn is a Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans Appeals, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, where he has been employed for more than 20 years. Prior to that, he was employed in the private practice of law for six years. He is on the Executive Board for the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 17, and is also on the Board of Directors of his local homeowners association. Other volunteer activities include being a team representative for his local MCSL swim team for the past 4 years and also coaching boys lacrosse for 8 years with the Olney Boys and Girls Club. He is a Maryland native who has an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Juris Doctorate from George Mason University. He and his wife, Kelly, have three children and reside in Brookeville, Maryland with two cats and their rescue dog Fabio. Fabio is a good boy but of uncertain heritage.
Kate Wetherby - Board Member (2019)
Kate works at the US Department of Health and Human Services and has lived in the Washington DC metro for 10 years. She has spent the last 20 years working in Health Information Technology leading organizational change and strategy. Kate spent three years at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration as a subject matter expert on Privacy and Technology Assisted Care, focusing on trauma and veterans affairs, addiction treatment services and medication assisted treatment. In addition to Hero Dogs she is actively involved in the local Boy Scout Troop. Kate lives with her husband, son and Cavapoo Turbo.
Kate works at the US Department of Health and Human Services and has lived in the Washington DC metro for 10 years. She has spent the last 20 years working in Health Information Technology leading organizational change and strategy. Kate spent three years at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration as a subject matter expert on Privacy and Technology Assisted Care, focusing on trauma and veterans affairs, addiction treatment services and medication assisted treatment. In addition to Hero Dogs she is actively involved in the local Boy Scout Troop. Kate lives with her husband, son and Cavapoo Turbo.