Colorado Animal Welfare Conference Session

Finney spent 16 leaders leading Columbus Humane, 12 as CEO.  She held a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator title for 18 years and served on several nonprofit Boards.   

Finney was named one of the inaugural class of 2023 Women of Influence by Columbus Business First and 2015 Small Nonprofit CEO of the Year by Columbus CEO magazine. In 2013, she was recognized as a Forty Under 40 award winner. 

Finney is a natural teacher and serves as a guest lecturer for nonprofit management, human resources, and veterinary students at The Ohio State University.  She offers coaching, consulting, and training for corporations and nonprofit organizations inspiring teams to embrace and even benefit from the challenges they face.

Rachel describes herself as an Advantageist: one who expands perspective to find the advantages in difficult experiences.  She operates under the philosophy that we should “never be afraid to do the right thing” and aspires to be a human being, rather than a human doing.  Finney shares her bliss and her home with her husband, 2 children, 3 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 fish. It’s hairy.

Co-Founder, Executive Director, Animal Help Now. Crawford has a B.S. in computer science and mass communication and guides the organization, develops external relationships and collaborations, fundraises, and works closely with staff and volunteers.  He also founded and for many years directed Rocky Mountain Animal Defense – a regional animal rights organization that strengthened Colorado’s anti-cruelty legislation, produced the country’s first video exposing the inherent cruelty of factory farmed egg production, spearheaded the creation of the Prairie Dog Coalition, worked with the citizens of Estes Park to stop a multinational corporation from building a zoo at the east entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park, and exposed the Nalge-Nunc corporation (makers of Nalgene water bottles) for their role in developing inhumane restraining devices used in animal testing.

Caitlin Kuczko brings a strong foundation in animal behavior and a passion for community service and education to her role as manager of the Leadville Lake County Animal Shelter. With experience training working canines in search and rescue and odor detection, a professional background in companion dog training, and service on the ASPCA’s Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team, she is dedicated to advancing animal welfare through compassionate, community-driven care.

 Amanda Wilson has over 11 years of experience in animal welfare, holding various roles at HSPPR before discovering her passion for philanthropy. Now serving as the Senior Individual Giving Manager, Amanda has led the annual giving program for over six years, executing impactful campaigns, generating essential funds, and building strong relationships. Amanda is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management.

Caitlyn Murphy is a registered veterinary technician with 12 years of experience in emergency medicine. She currently serves as the veterinary services manager at Roice-Hurst Humane Society where she combines her passion for animal welfare with a commitment to best practices. At home, she cares for three rescue dogs and a band of misfit cats.

Annie Hillegas is a master’s student in the Professional Science Masters of Zoo, Aquarium, and Animal Shelter Management program at Colorado State University. For her capstone project, she will be creating a cooperative care protocol for horses with the assistance of Dr. Sarah Matlock and Dr. Jennie Willis.