President

Jennifer Hobgood serves as Florida State Director for The Humane Society of the United States' Regional Office in Tallahassee, Florida. During her years with The HSUS, Jennifer has participated in investigations into such activities as puppy mills, animal hoarders, and animal fighting operations. She has been active in The HSUS' Humane Society Veterinary Services Appalachian (formerly RAVS) program that provides pet sterilization and healthcare at no cost to rural and underserved areas. After hurricane Katrina, she assisted The HSUS' response effort in Mississippi. Jennifer has successfully lobbied numerous governmental agencies on a variety of animal protection measures.

President-Elect

Ellen Taylor, CPDT – KA Though she may not have known it then, Ellen Taylor’s animal welfare career began at age seven. After witnessing a relative kick the family dog, Ellen stayed up all night creating posters depicting her feelings on the issue. Ellen’s crayon and construction paper anti-cruelty campaign was highly effective. Her passion for protecting animals has fueled her 20 years in animal welfare.

As Community Initiatives Director for the ASPCA® Ellen’s primary focus is the Partner Communities, Tampa and Miami, FL. She supports the partner agencies there in increasing Live Release Rates of animals by implementing data driven programs. Prior to joining the ASPCA, Ellen spent a year on the Gulf Coast helping human and animal victims of Hurricane Katrina. She has worked with animal shelters across the nation in a variety of rolls from volunteer to Executive Director and many rewarding jobs in between, including the Humane Society of South Mississippi and The Larimer Humane Society in Fort Collins.

Her creation of an animal enrichment program for shelter dogs in Cleveland, Ohio earned her the Premier Shelter Staff Award in 2005. She has created Canine Training & Behavior Programs for two animal shelters and has worked privately as a dog trainer. Additionally, Ellen was appointed by the state of Ohio to perform the duties of humane agent. She served on the Board of Directors for the Certification Council of Pet Dog Trainers (CCPDT), is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT – KA) and is on the Board of Directors for Florida Animal Friends. Currently Ellen is pursing certification as a Dialogue Education ™ Practitioner (CDEP).

Secretary/Treasurer

Lois Kostroski is the executive director of the Florida Animal Control Association and has over 30+ years of association management experience over three states, with retail/service organizations, a national education foundation, business leagues, and professional societies. She has received national recognition for leadership, newsletter production, and seminar performance.

Directors

Laura Bevan began her career with The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in 1987 at the Southeast Regional Office (SERO) in Tallahassee. Laura became SERO Regional Director in 1992. In 2009, her region was expanded to cover 22 states from Florida to Maine when the Eastern Regional Office was created. During her years with the HSUS, Laura has conducted investigations into such activities as animal dealers, animal collectors, horse and dog racing, animal fighting and ritual animal sacrifice. She has been deemed by the courts as an expert in animal cruelty/animal fighting.  Laura has been instrumental in getting numerous animal laws passed in several states, especially Florida where she has lobbied the Legislature since 1988. Laura also has extensive experience in working natural disasters, specifically hurricanes, wildfires and floods. In 2008, she was named Humanitarian of the Year by the Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference for her work helping to develop the state’s disaster planning and response for animals.

Dr. Larry G Dee is co-owner of the Hollywood Animal Hospital, founded in 1947 by his father and uncle; in practice with his two brothers and 18 other veterinarians. He has been involved in companion animal practice for 41 years and is currently a charter diplomat by examination of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in canine and feline practice. Dee has served as president of the Florida Veterinary Medical Association, as president of his specialty college (the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners), as president of the American Animal Hospital Association, and as president of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. He has been named AAHA Veterinarian of the Year as well as FVMA Veterinarian of the Year. He has received the highest award given by the FVMA: the FVMA Distinguished Service Award. He has received Auburn University’s Distinguished Alumnus Award and the WSAVA’s International Award for Service to the Profession. He currently serves as chair of the FVMA College Advisory Committee and represents District IV on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Executive Board.

Dr. Ernest Godfrey is the director of the Pinellas Animal Hospital and Seminole Boulevard Animal Hospitals of St. Petersburg. Since 1988, Dr. Godfrey has been an active leader of the Florida Veterinary Medical Association, serving on the FVMA executive board as treasurer, president, or president-elect. In addition, for the past 29 years, he has been director of the Central Florida Academy, which provides continuing education programs to veterinarians. He currently serves on the FVMA's Advisory Committee for the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida and is Chair of the Continuing Education program for the FVMA's Annual Conference.

Jill Lancon began her career in Animal Control in 1990 and has been employed in Marion County since 1995. She is currently the Animal Services Director. Her department provides all animal control functions from sheltering, adoption programs, daily field services including animal cruelty and dangerous dog investigations. With Jill’s driving force and Commission support Marion County has been actively battling pet overpopulation for over 9 years providing low cost spay/neuter services with the “Neuter Commuter” and in-house program.  

One of Jill’s specialties is mentoring groups and agencies nationally sharing her knowledge and experience in programs that are have been successful in making an impact on the pet community. She participates in educational seminars on building partnerships, low cost spay neuter programs, animal sheltering, and emergency management of animals.

Jill is currently the treasurer for Florida Animal Control Association, an Advisory Board member for the Veterinary Assistant program for Community Adult Technical Education School and actively involved with Emergency Management in improving sheltering plans.

Jill is dedicated to her job, her mission to stop pet overpopulation and to her family of 4 children, 3 grandchildren and pets.

Board of Advisors

Evan Goldman has worked in legislative affairs at the federal, state and local levels of government for 13 years. Since 1998, he has focused on issues that impact Florida’s children and families and currently works as a senior government affairs specialist for the Children’s Services Council of Broward County. He is also dedicated to helping reduce Florida’s unwanted pet population by volunteering at many area shelters.

Tony Palermo has been a CPA at Ahearn Jasco since 1988, and is the primary shareholder in most small business audit engagements, which include specializing in non-profit, employee pension plans, and broker-dealers. In addition, he is responsible for the preparation of numerous corporate and individual tax returns.

Lil Sayre and her mother developed a dog obedience training program in 1962, and since then, their Holmhaven Collies have earned over 100 obedience titles. In addition, Lil Sayre has been a member of the Broward County Large Animal Disaster Committee since 1993, a member of the Pet Overpopulation Focus Group since 1994, and is currently on the Animal Care Advisory Group. She was also a member of the committee which developed Broward County’s Farm Ordinance and the Southwest Ranches Farm Ordinance Committee.

Nan Rich was elected to the Florida State Senate in November 2004. Senator Rich has been a champion on animal issues for many years. During the 2004 Legislative Session she sponsored a bill for an animal license plate in which the proceeds raised from the plate would provide education on the benefits of spaying and neutering pets, and financial assistance to not-for-profit spay/neuter programs in the State of Florida. During the 2005 Legislative Session, Senator Rich passed two bills relating to animals. One bill relating to rabies vaccinations revises the requirements for dogs, cats, and ferrets to be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian against rabies, and the other bill relating to animal cruelty amends the minimum fines and periods of incarceration for certain acts of cruelty to animals.

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