Stash is a passionate believer in the power of the animal-human bond and a dedicated animal welfare advocate. She earned her MBA from SDSU’s Fowler School of Business and has held executive-level leadership positions in both non-profit and corporate/private environments. Prior to joining FACE, she was the Director of Guest Service Operations at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Safari Park for many years. She lives in San Diego with her two sons, their rescue puppy, Freya, and two bottle-raised rescue cats, Dragon and Angel.

Annamarie joined FACE as Director of Development because she has a lifelong long love of animals and was inspired by the opportunity to help both people and their pets. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for more than 25 years, primarily as a grant writer and fundraiser for arts organizations, including San Diego Repertory Theatre, The Old Globe, and La Jolla Playhouse. Her career in the nonprofit sector began after working in the film industry, in both film development and production. Annamarie has a BA in English from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the University of San Diego, and a Certificate in Professional Fundraising from Boston University. She is a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE). Over the years, Annamarie’s households have included many adopted and fostered animals, including dogs, cats, rats, hamsters, birds, snakes, and horses. She wishes that the two currently in residence, a very old cat and dog, would consider welcoming one or two others.

Patty has been in the animal welfare sector for nearly 2 decades. She worked for the SPCA of Tampa Bay for three years prior to moving to California. She then worked for the San Diego Humane Society for eight years. Patty has extensive experience in guest relations in the animal welfare sector, veterinary care, animal behavior, and grief counseling for pet owners. She enjoys spending her free time outdoors kayaking, camping, and playing softball. She has two beloved pups: a mini-Dachshund named Karma and a Yorkie mix named John Wayne.

At FACE, Patty manages our Save-A-Life Program. She assists pet owners and veterinary hospitals in applying for FACE’s financial assistance, guiding them every step of the way. She oversees all incoming cases and inquiries. Patty also handles FACE’s Community Outreach Program, which currently partners with local homeless organizations to provide resources to pet owners in need.

“I love FACE because we don’t hope to make a difference, we know that we can make a difference. We may be small but we have HUGE hearts, we are strong and we fight to make an impact on what we believe in. We help the community, help families and their pets stay together, and end economic euthanasia.”

With three decades of experience, Karen has made a career in non-profit animal welfare. In 1992, she moved from Indiana to Southern California where she obtained a degree in Urban Geography and Environmental Studies from UCLA. Karen worked full time while in school in a variety of animal related jobs including grooming, pet sitting, and work in an emergency animal hospital. She also volunteered at a wildlife organization caring for neonate wildlife and enriching captive chimpanzees. It didn’t take long for her to realize that she wanted to pursue a career making a difference for animals. In 2006, Karen made San Diego her permanent home and began working for the San Diego Humane Society as a Mobile Adoptions Coordinator and then as their Foster Coordinator. She fostered dozens of kittens herself, many of which were medical cases. Her concern for animals with medical needs led her to a position with a canine rehabilitation facility assisting dogs with degenerative disease, injuries, and surgical recovery in the treatment pool. After 12 years of helping companion animals, Karen extended her passion to wildlife and worked in wildlife rehabilitation as the Operations Coordinator for the San Diego Wildlife Center where she handled animals from hawks to squirrels and raised neonate cottontail rabbits under special permits.

Karen has had animals all her life. She enjoys spending her free time walking her dog, spoiling her cats, and making pet beds for a nonprofit near and dear to her heart. She knows first-hand how upsetting it can be to have a pet that is not well and is excited to help make a difference for animals and people through her work with FACE.

Tyler Morningstar is an experienced development and fundraising professional with a track record of securing philanthropic support, cultivating meaningful donor relationships, and driving mission-aligned growth. With more than a decade of experience fundraising and living overseas, Tyler brings a global perspective to philanthropy, fostering connections across diverse communities at home and abroad. His experience in global and multicultural settings has shaped his approach to donor engagement, emphasizing collaboration, adaptability, and the power of philanthropy to transform lives. He holds B.A.s in Geopolitics and Social Science and an M.Ed. in Organizational Leadership.

As FACE’s Senior Major Gifts Officer, Tyler is dedicated to expanding philanthropic partnerships that support life-saving veterinary care for pets in need. His fundraising expertise spans major and planned giving, multi-year campaign development, and building donor pipelines that ensure long-term sustainability. Passionate about connecting donors with causes that create lasting impact, he will focus on strengthening FACE’s individual giving program and deepening engagement with supporters committed to animal welfare.

A proud husband and father, Tyler enjoys spending time with his wife, Miriam, and their daughter, Nina. He has traveled to nearly 40 countries and has a deep appreciation for the diversity of ideas that shape individuals and societies. Outside of work, he is passionate about business, real estate, and fitness and enjoys running while listening to books and podcasts.

Kristin is a nonprofit professional dedicated to having a positive social impact on the world and influencing change. She is an innovator and collaborator, committed to helping nonprofits reach their full potential, and holds a Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit Management from the University of Southern California. In addition to bringing a wealth of diverse professional skills, Kristin’s experience also includes five years with the Humane World for Animals (formerly the Humane Society of the United States), primarily managing their conferences and events. At FACE, she will help to optimize workflows; develop & coordinate fundraising events; and oversee Wag N’ Purr Shop operations.

Outside of her professional life, Kristin enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, two daughters, and their rescue pup, Chilli (named after the mum in the famous kid’s show, Bluey). She grew up in a household that rescued many species of animals and her home was often referred to as the “animal house” by her friends.

“Animal welfare isn’t just a passion for me, it’s a commitment. What I love about FACE is that you’re an organization committed to helping people too. I look forward to helping FACE reach even more people and continue saving lives.”

Randy brings a breadth of experience to FACE with over a decade of service to Hawaii’s communities in need. As Face Hawaii's Program Director, he will be focusing on key priorities, such as securing sustainable funding to ensure the continuation of FACE's mission, expanding our vital network of partner veterinary hospitals in Hawaii, and increasing public awareness of our lifesaving impact.

Randy has a Master’s in Global Leadership in Sustainable Development and a B.A. in Applied Linguistics (TESOL). He has been on multiple boards, including Hakipuu Academy Charter School, Sierra Club of Hawaii, Partners in Care, and the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii. Randy also served as a Senior Airman in the U.S. Air Force from 2006–2012.

Cini is an animal lover through and through; she has been a long supporter of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Downtown Dog Rescue, Stray Cat Alliance, Last Chance at Life, Frosted Faces, Soi Dog Foundation and various other animal organizations. She is a co-founder of the FACE Foundation and has served on its board from inception. During the peak of Covid-19 in 2020-2021, she founded Wag N’ Purr Shop, FACE's online resale fashion boutique. In addition to her animal welfare work, she is continually active in her community, and has been a long-time board member of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.

Steven J. Cologne is an attorney at Higgs Fletcher & Mack. He has been an owner at Higgs, Fletcher & Mack since 1999, practicing complex tort and business litigation. Specifically, he advises clients in employment and complex commercial litigation. He has been outside counsel for San Diego Unified School District since 1985. Steve received his B.A. from the University of Southern California in 1981 before earning his law degree in 1984 from the University of San Diego School of Law. He Joined the University of San Diego School of Law Board of Visitors in January of 2006. In 2020, Steve was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of San Diego School of Law. Mr. Cologne contributes to his community and has been the pro bono attorney for San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre in San Diego since 1998.

Before joining FACE, Steve supported FACE for many years and has two dogs, Jackson and Quincy. Steve has a long history of hospitalized pets at Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego (VSH) and personally observed what it takes to treat a sick pet. He believes in going the extra mile to save our precious pets because for many of us, they are the family we want in our lives. Over his lifetime, Steve has always had a passion for dogs, horses and even a Hereford steer that he just couldn’t send to market after his 4-H program. Steve is a wonderful asset to FACE as we look forward to growth and are grateful for his contributions to our organization.

Lana grew up on a farm in Nebraska, developing a strong love and bond with the many animals she has had over the years. So much so, that she intended to become a veterinarian and began her college career at Kansas State University. While a twist of fate led her to find her gift as a financial advisor and ultimately graduate with a B. S. Degree in Business Administration, she remained passionate about animal welfare as well as realizing the importance of helping those entrusted with their care.

Lana is currently a Director/Financial Advisor with The Hock Group at R.W. Baird & Co., where she spends her time offering wealth management and financial planning advice to individuals and small business owners. Her love for the veterinary profession still runs deep, as she supports the local chapters of the American Veterinary Medical Association in Southern California, Arizona, and Colorado, providing expertise and continuing education to their members. It is through this support that Lana was first introduced to The FACE Foundation.

Lana began supporting FACE in 2021, after seeing their ad in the SDCVMA newsletter and curiosity led her to create her own memorial program for her clients in the same manner that many veterinarians follow to celebrate the lives of our pets. The FACE Foundation mission really resonated with her, and her ongoing sponsorships, event attendance, and volunteering resulted in Lana become acquainted with the hard-working staff at FACE. She was invited first to join the finance committee in the Summer 2023, knowing that she has much expertise not only in finance, but also in non-profit support and governance. Recognizing her contributions to the organization could be invaluable as FACE continues to grow to support more animal owners who are unable to afford the cost of their pet’s emergency or critical care, Lana was nominated and proudly accepted the nomination in October 2023 to serve on the board.

Lana and her husband, Andrew Trujillo, split their time between Scottsdale, AZ and La Jolla, CA, along with their current canine companion, Sasha Banks (the dog), who is a rescued American Staffordshire Terrier from Baja Animal Sanctuary (Mexico).

“We have been blessed with the resources to do what we love, and as a communitarian, I feel supporting the community of animal lovers who find themselves in less fortunate financial circumstances is simply the right thing to do!” —Lana

Jarrett serves as General Counsel & Co-Founder at Spearhead Capital, LLC, and focuses his practice on Wealth Transfer, Philanthropy Planning, Income Tax Planning, and Trusts and Estates. His experience includes all facets of wealth and philanthropy planning, specifically pertaining to areas of charitable split interest trusts, private foundations and supporting organizations. Jarrett has assisted numerous affluent families, entrepreneurs and family offices seamlessly integrate both their charitable and wealth transfer planning goals, and design, analyze and implement complex income tax and estate tax planning strategies.

Jarrett earned his Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs Degree at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., his Juris Doctorate Degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington, and his Masters of Law in Taxation Degree from The University of Washington School of Law in Seattle, Washington. Jarrett was named by Worth Magazine as “One of the Top 100 Attorneys in the United States” serving families and family offices.

Jarrett had been supporting the FACE Foundation for several years prior to being invited to join the Board of Directors. He and his wife have three sons, one daughter, and two rescued mini Australian Shepherds.

Dori Slater Vance’s lifelong passion for all animals led her to her career in veterinary medicine. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of California, Davis, and spent nearly 20 years in the veterinary field. She was an influential advisory committee member to the SPCALA as they built their no-kill shelter in Long Beach, and has worked on the design of number animal shelters. In her free time she loves to garden, cook, and considers herself a life-long learner, with particular interests in animal behavior, pet therapy, holistic medicine, and photography. Dori is a strong proponent of FACE’s mission to assist animals and families in need. When she was in college, her beloved cat suffered a spiral tibia fracture and she did not have any money at all. She has been on both sides of the veterinary table… an owner desperate to get her pet help, with nowhere to turn, as well as a veterinarian who knows the strain and sadness of trying to help people with animals with a treatable condition, yet no resources. “Serving on the Board of FACE will be an opportunity for me to help others in those situations, and enrich all the lives of people and their animals.”

“As a practicing veterinarian there is nothing more heartbreaking than a client that is faced with euthanizing their beloved pet for a treatable problem that they simply can not afford. FACE was formed to help people and their animals that find themselves in that horrendous situation. It could be a chihuahua that fell off the bed playing with the children, a cat that slipped out an open door and got attacked by the neighbor dogs, a dog that jumped out of the car and got hit by passing car, a cat swallows a threaded sewing needle, a rattlesnake bite. The list goes on, all unforeseeable events, not in the budget, and it is now a desperate time.

FACE is unique in that we help animals that have already found their forever homes, but may not survive the medical emergency. We network with the veterinarian, the owner, and our people to determine a reasonable plan and fee for the treatment and care, and everyone shares the cost as they are able. We unite people who are all working to provide help so that this animal and owner bond will not be broken, the pet is returned to continue to share the love of their lives. It is a relationship that makes lives better, happier, healthier, and does make the world a better place. When these people realize that FACE can save their pet, their appreciation is boundless and they pass that forward to others. I am proud to be a part of FACE, and show the world that when people work together, amazing things can happen.”

Dr. Erika Sox earned her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from University of California Davis. Following a one-year internship at Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego, Dr. Sox went on to complete residency training at Cornell University and achieved board certification in the specialty of Small Animal Internal Medicine in 2009. She practiced in the San Francisco Bay Area for two years before relocating to Honolulu, Hawaii in 2010, becoming the first board-certified internal medicine specialist to practice on the island of O`ahu. In 2012, she co-founded Veterinary Emergency + Referral Center of Hawaii, the first facility of its kind in the State of Hawaii, where she has continued to practice ever since. She served as medical director at VERC from 2012 until 2022.

Dr. Sox has represented the island of O`ahu on the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association Board of Delegates since 2014 and is an active supporter of several animal welfare organizations in her community. Having witnessed many pet owners confronted with the agonizing decision of economic euthanasia throughout her career, Dr. Sox recognized the need for an organization like FACE in Hawaii. She and her husband, also a veterinarian, partnered with FACE in 2020 to establish a successful, independently-funded Hawaii pilot program to fulfill this need. Dr. Sox joined the FACE Board of Directors in 2023 to lend support to the organization’s life-saving efforts within San Diego County as well as to expand its reach to Hawaii and other communities. Dr. Sox and her husband share two daughters, two rescue Golden retrievers, and two cats.

Dr. Keith Richter is a graduate of Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine. After completing his internship and residency, Dr. Richter served on the Internal Medicine staff of Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston and as Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. His career followed as a professor at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for three years. He has authored several scientific articles and lectures frequently at local, national and international scientific meetings as well as many veterinary colleges around the country. Dr. Richter is a founding member of the FACE Foundation and currently sits as the Board Chair on the Board of Directors. Dr. Richter is also a founding member of Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego, where he has been the director since 1990 until retiring in 2018.

“FACE has been an invaluable organization for many of our patients with life threatening problems, yet have a good prognosis if only the owners had the funds to pay for veterinary care. FACE is unique in not only providing funds, but often fully funding care for very complex problems. As a veterinarian trying to help a loving pet owner faced with “economic euthanasia”, it is so amazingly gratifying to give people hope in a seemingly hopeless situation. These are by far the most grateful people I see. It is so remarkable to be able to help families and their pets, thanks to FACE!”

Cini is an animal lover through and through; she has been a long supporter of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Downtown Dog Rescue, Stray Cat Alliance, Last Chance at Life, Frosted Faces, Soi Dog Foundation and various other animal organizations. She is a co-founder of the FACE Foundation and has served on its board from inception. During the peak of Covid-19 in 2020-2021, she founded Wag N’ Purr Shop, FACE's online resale fashion boutique. In addition to her animal welfare work, she is continually active in her community, and has been a long-time board member of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.

Marie Green is a corporate flight attendant who has decades of customer service and management experience. Having been a FACE volunteer since 2013, she was co-founder of Closets for a Cause, which partially transitioned into WagNPurrshop.org. When not flying or volunteering, she enjoys family time and fitness.

Lana grew up on a farm in Nebraska, developing a strong love and bond with the many animals she has had over the years. So much so, that she intended to become a veterinarian and began her college career at Kansas State University. While a twist of fate led her to find her gift as a financial advisor and ultimately graduate with a B. S. Degree in Business Administration, she remained passionate about animal welfare as well as realizing the importance of helping those entrusted with their care.

Lana is currently a Director/Financial Advisor with The Hock Group at R.W. Baird & Co., where she spends her time offering wealth management and financial planning advice to individuals and small business owners. Her love for the veterinary profession still runs deep, as she supports the local chapters of the American Veterinary Medical Association in Southern California, Arizona, and Colorado, providing expertise and continuing education to their members. It is through this support that Lana was first introduced to The FACE Foundation.

Lana began supporting FACE in 2021, after seeing their ad in the SDCVMA newsletter and curiosity led her to create her own memorial program for her clients in the same manner that many veterinarians follow to celebrate the lives of our pets. The FACE Foundation mission really resonated with her, and her ongoing sponsorships, event attendance, and volunteering resulted in Lana become acquainted with the hard-working staff at FACE. She was invited first to join the finance committee in the Summer 2023, knowing that she has much expertise not only in finance, but also in non-profit support and governance. Recognizing her contributions to the organization could be invaluable as FACE continues to grow to support more animal owners who are unable to afford the cost of their pet’s emergency or critical care, Lana was nominated and proudly accepted the nomination in October 2023 to serve on the board.

Lana and her husband, Andrew Trujillo, split their time between Scottsdale, AZ and La Jolla, CA, along with their current canine companion, Sasha Banks (the dog), who is a rescued American Staffordshire Terrier from Baja Animal Sanctuary (Mexico).

“We have been blessed with the resources to do what we love, and as a communitarian, I feel supporting the community of animal lovers who find themselves in less fortunate financial circumstances is simply the right thing to do!” —Lana

As a child, Rachel was very interested in medicine and always wanted to help animals live long and healthy lives. She knew she was too tall to be a jockey, so she decided to become a veterinarian!

Rachel grew up in Sherman Oaks, California, and started working in a veterinary hospital when she was 16 years old. She attended UC Berkeley to major in biological sciences before transferring to Cal Poly SLO, graduating in 1992. She went to the University of California Davis’s School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 1997. After a year-long internship in San Diego, she stayed in the area to work. She started work at Carlsbad Animal Hospital in 2003, and she retired in 2021. Rachel always loved client interaction and liked to think of herself as a friend to clients, not just a doctor. At home, Rachel lives with her husband John, a veterinary internal medicine specialist, and their children Cassidy and Nate. They have two dogs, Tucker and Cam Newton; two cats, Jack Sparrow and Booker; two guinea pigs, Patrick and Teddy; a crested Gecko named T Rex; a ball python named DJ; and Sydney the horse. She has been a friend of FACE for many years, donating both time and financial resources to the cause.

Max Jennings is a native of Louisville, Kentucky and a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University. After college, Max moved to Munich, Germany to attend the 1972 Olympics and remained for five years to follow his passion for mountain hiking and snow skiing, working as a ski patrolman on the Swiss Ski Patrol in Zermatt, Switzerland. In 1992, Max fulfilled his passion for the mountains by trekking to the Base Camp of Mount Everest, Nepal.

Upon returning to the U.S., he spent the next 20 years serving the Hospital Corporation of America as Director of Patient Business Services, University of Miami Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute/Anne Bates Leach Eye Hospital. He was also spent 10 years employed by urologists in Florida and continued working with urologists in California for another 15 years after his retirement.

Max has been involved with FACE for three years and also spends much of his time doing volunteer work as a Guest Ambassador at the San Diego Zoo and as an Adoption Counselor Assistant at the San Diego Humane Society. An avid animal lover, Max and his life partner, Alan, share their Soledad Mountain Home with seven turtles.

As a professor of French, Romance Linguist, and native New Yorker, Gina spent 30 years in the field of Education as a teacher of students, teacher training, author of texts and curriculum materials, and as writer and lecturer. Gina has also been a basketball coach, a coach of an award winning Science Olympiad team, a fundraiser for college athletics, and serves on the Parent Admissions Board at Washington University in St. Louis. Her teaching career took her from Michigan State University, to Washington University in St. Louis, California, the University of Michigan, and the Ann Arbor Public Schools. In addition, Gina has always loved raising funds for important causes and had her own golf tournament in Michigan for seven years to raise scholarship money for disadvantaged students.

A lifelong animal lover and parent of one child and 3 black Labrador retrievers (so far!), Gina is a long-time supporter of FACE and a current Philanthropy Committee member. She is also a Board member of the Rancho Santa Fe Tea3 Foundation and has helped the Rady Children’s Hospital and Genomics Institute with many fundraising events. As an active golfer, Gina supports ProKids golf charity, New Haven Youth charity, and has received the Mabel Jessup award from Rady Children’s Hospital for community service. She also been an active volunteer in the University of Michigan alumni club and supports many additional charitable causes in the San Diego area.

Tyler Morningstar is an experienced development and fundraising professional with a track record of securing philanthropic support, cultivating meaningful donor relationships, and driving mission-aligned growth. With more than a decade of experience fundraising and living overseas, Tyler brings a global perspective to philanthropy, fostering connections across diverse communities at home and abroad. His experience in global and multicultural settings has shaped his approach to donor engagement, emphasizing collaboration, adaptability, and the power of philanthropy to transform lives. He holds B.A.s in Geopolitics and Social Science and an M.Ed. in Organizational Leadership.

As FACE’s Senior Major Gifts Officer, Tyler is dedicated to expanding philanthropic partnerships that support life-saving veterinary care for pets in need. His fundraising expertise spans major and planned giving, multi-year campaign development, and building donor pipelines that ensure long-term sustainability. Passionate about connecting donors with causes that create lasting impact, he will focus on strengthening FACE’s individual giving program and deepening engagement with supporters committed to animal welfare. Tyler also serves as a staff liaison on FACE's Philanthropy Committee.

A proud husband and father, Tyler enjoys spending time with his wife, Miriam, and their daughter, Nina. He has traveled to nearly 40 countries and has a deep appreciation for the diversity of ideas that shape individuals and societies. Outside of work, he is passionate about business, real estate, and fitness and enjoys running while listening to books and podcasts.