Colorado Animal Welfare Conference Session

Mila Monteiro is the shelter manager at NOCO Humane where she brings years of experience in animal welfare and team leadership. Her background spans frontline shelter work and organizational leadership, giving her a well-rounded, grounded perspective on the field.

Montiero is passionate about creating spaces where staff feel supported, empowered, and encouraged to grow. She’s especially committed to mentoring emerging leaders, building trust, and leading with empathy and clarity.

She brings a thoughtful, solution-oriented approach to every conversation—and, more often than not, a little bit of cat hair too.

Lizann Risk, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is a seasoned human resources professional with over 20 years of experience across nonprofit and membership-based organizations. She currently serves as the human resources director at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley where her work blends her passion for animal welfare and her expertise in people operations. Risk’s career began hands-on in animal sheltering – as a kennel technician – and evolved through various roles including a stint as a thrift store manager, giving her a broad understanding of shelter operations before transitioning fully into human resources.

Prior to her current role, Risk supported a national higher education membership association further expanding her perspective on organizational development and employee engagement. She has served on the board of the Boulder Area Human Resource Association (BAHRA) and is a recurring panelist for a class within the University of Colorado’s human resources program, sharing insights with students pursuing human resources careers.

Rhiannon Rowe has been the Animal Shelter Manager at the Eagle County Animal Shelter for nine years. She has worked in animal welfare for 14 years, mainly in county government. She is a registered veterinary technician and a Bureau of Animal Protection Agent. Rowe is currently the secretary for the Western Colorado Animal Resource Group. She has served on the AWAC Education Committee for the past four years and recently joined the AWAC Collaboration Committee.

Jennifer Schwartz is the director of human resources at Foothills Animal Shelter bringing over 15 years of dedicated experience in the animal welfare sector. Her career journey began at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley in 2007 where she developed a foundation in shelter operations before advancing to shelter management in 2012 and specializing in human resources since 2015.

As a solo human resources practitioner, Schwartz manages the full spectrum of human resources functions for her organization. Her areas of focus include developing and maintaining comprehensive time-off and employee benefit plans tailored to the unique needs of shelter employees, providing guidance on employment law compliance, supporting performance management processes, and facilitating effective recruiting and onboarding. She excels at balancing the diverse responsibilities that come with being the primary HR resource in a mission-driven environment.

A certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Schwartz was drawn to animal welfare by her commitment to public service. She remains motivated and inspired by her colleagues who dedicate themselves daily to improving the lives of pets and the people who love them.

As a volunteer and advocate for animal welfare for over 25 years, Britney Tennant, CAWA, brings an expertise and passion to her position as the CEO of the Cheyenne Animal Shelter.

Tennant is a native of Wyoming and graduate of the University of Wyoming with degrees in animal and veterinary sciences and a master’s degree in non-profit management. Prior to her leadership of the Cheyenne Animal Shelter, Tennant founded Black Dog Animal Rescue and built it to become Wyoming’s largest, private companion animal welfare organization.

In her free time, Tennant is writing a book, running long distances, and most importantly, parenting her 16-year-old son Cameron, a student at East High School.