Board of Directors

Daniel resides in Houston Texas and started his legislative career in 2011 on Capitol Hill and has not looked back. He became involved with the Board of THLN after learning of its existence while doing other animal related non-profit work in the Houston area. Daniel graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science/GS and secured a MBA in finance from Houston Baptist University. He has worked in the law field, oil/gas field and logistics field gaining a plethora of experience and connections. Daniel has one rescue animal, a colorful Maine Coon cat named Geoffrey, who is part of the family and loved dearly.

Kathy Davis has more than 24 years of experience in the field of humane welfare. She recently retired from the City of San Antonio as their Director of Animal Care Services after serving almost four years. Prior to San Antonio, she served the City of Los Angeles in the same capacity. She also held the title of Director of Code Enforcement and Animal Services for the cities of Dallas, TX and South Bend, IN. Kathy graduated from Indiana University. She has committed her life to serving the needs of pets and the people who love them.

Steve has spent his professional career in real estate development and finance. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Real Estate from Southern Methodist University and a Masters in Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin. Steve and his wife Vickie, began volunteering as a foster home for dog rescue organizations more than 15 years ago. In that time, they have helped several dogs find loving homes. Steve is also an active fundraiser and grant writer for several Dallas area rescue organizations. He helps plan events for these groups to raise funds, promote humane education and get dogs adopted. Before becoming a board member, Steve was a longtime volunteer with the Texas Humane Legislation Network and enjoys helping with humane education, legislative advocacy and fundraising. As chairman of the THLN grassroots committee, Steve is committed to connecting people across Texas to their elected officials to help advocate on behalf of animals. Steve knows there’s nothing more important than having neighbors talk to neighbors, reaching each other where they live, work, learn, worship, text and tweet. Steve and his wife share their home with their four rescue dogs and occasional foster dogs.

Natalie Lynch, who is active in the State Animal Law Section, does workplace investigations and practices small business law at the Lynch Law Firm (https://www.lynchlf.com). Ms. Lynch attended the University of Denver and South Texas College of Law for law school and is licensed in Texas and Colorado. She earned her undergraduate degree at the Universidad de Granada and Texas A&M University. Ms. Lynch formerly sat in the welfare position on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s Breeder Advisory Board and has been active with THLN for over a decade. Ms. Lynch participates in guiding THLN on regulatory affairs and maintains her connections with rescue organizations across the state. She can typically be found in Austin with her personal herd of cats and dogs, a husband, a human child, and a foster critter.

Jaime is currently Senior Counsel with the law firm Skiermont Derby, practicing patent and commercial litigation. Before that, she worked as Legal Advocacy Counsel with the ASPCA, focusing on animal welfare litigation, animal cruelty prosecution support, and equine welfare issues. She’s taught courses and given dozens of presentations on animal cruelty laws, the LINK, and various other animal law topics. She earned her BA in Psychology/Biology (focus on animal cognition) from New College of Florida, her MS in Animals and Public Policy from Tufts University, and her JD from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!). She’s lived in Dallas since 2009. Jaime’s rescue dogs, Parker and Benny, are admittedly somewhat pampered, but they motivate her to work hard to improve the welfare of all Texas dogs.

Steve is a native Texan and an Austin resident of over 40 years. He, his spouse, and his children have rescued, fostered, and “adopted” countless furry and feathered family members over many decades. He is a self-proclaimed activist for the causes of those who cannot speak for themselves (whether humans marginalized by societal forces or animals). He uses his past experiences with founding, funding, and operating non-profits, and his experience with the state law and rule making machinery, to further THLN’s objectives. Raised from birth on a farm on the South Plains, Steve was surrounded by domestic animals and livestock from the day he was born. (It is not well known that one of his Southdown show lambs took a blue ribbon in the Hale County Livestock Show in the spring of 1976.) Steve is the Senior Partner and CFO of a law firm he founded, Phillips Golden LLP. He is a board certified tax lawyer (Texas Board of Legal Specialization) and has practiced tax, business, and corporate law for over 30 years. He received both his law JD and accounting BBA degrees from the University of Texas School at Austin.

Jennifer Bassman Rogers hails from the great Hawkeye state of Iowa. Animals have always been a part of her family. She grew up caring for family pets that included dogs, fish, gerbils, a hamster, and three siblings. After graduating with degrees in Journalism and Psychology from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, Jennifer worked for The Dallas Morning News. To get her animal fix, Jennifer began petsitting for friends. When she rescued her Corgi-mix, Claire Bear, from the streets of Clarendon, Texas, she was hooked on rescuing animals and animal welfare. Jennifer has owned businesses in the pet care industry for 15 years, a marketing/creative firm that focuses on small business needs, and speaks/teaches workshops about marketing small businesses and keeping your sanity as a business owner. Jennifer has worked with various rescue organizations helping dogs find forever homes, as well as, volunteering to bring awareness to local animal welfare issues. Jennifer currently resides in Dallas with her husband, Mark, and her four incredibly spoiled rescue dogs – Claire, Cooper, Herbie, and Ranger.

Elisabeth Rutledge combines a passion for animal rights with experience in public affairs and advocacy communication to help THLN further its mission. Currently working as a communications consultant for the Jeff Eller Group, Elisabeth helps clients large and small protect and enhance their brand equity and stakeholder relationships. Her clients have included some of the country’s best-known names in advocacy, energy, health insurance, retail, private equity and transportation. Before joining the Jeff Eller Group, Elisabeth was a senior vice president with Hill+Knowlton Strategies and a managing director at Public Strategies. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in American Studies. Elisabeth is also a graduate of the Leadership Texas program.

Sharon Hotchkiss is a sole practitioner and has been practicing law for over 25 years. A majority of that time was with a mid-sized law firm in Century City, California, for which she is still Of Counsel. Sharon moved back to her home town of Dallas in 2014, and started her own firm (Hotchkiss Law Firm). Currently, her primary areas of practice are in business transactions and intellectual property (copyright and trademark). Sharon’s clients are primarily start-ups and non-profit organizations, including animal welfare and rescue groups. Sharon has always felt a special bond with animals and enjoys volunteering for organizations who help them. She also loves spending time with her own rescue dog. Sharon received her BBA from the University of Texas at Austin and her JD from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, and is licensed to practice law in both Texas and California.

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