Board of Directors - Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin

Board of Directors

Sandy Bennett

Sandy has lived in Janesville since 2000 and is a Director at Data Dimensions in Janesville. Sandy and her husband have two daughters, McKenna and Maddy, and four furry children: Lab mix Bella, chihuahua Lola (adopted from HSSW), chihuahua/min pin mix Oliver and Orange Tabby Romeo (adopted from HSSW). Sandy has been involved at HSSW in various capacities for 20+ years and does rescue/fosters/transports for other rescues as needed.

Her hobbies include volunteering for multiple nonprofit agencies/charities within Rock County and being a softball/volleyball “supermom” to two very busy daughters.

Sandy’s love for animals started at a young age watching her father feed the wildlife in their backyard and taking injured wildlife to a local wildlife refuge. She is a lifelong animal lover and is committed to educating others about rescue versus buying companion animals. She’s a strong believer in “being the voice for those without” and has adopted out many of her fosters to family and friends who previously would have purchased their next pet. Sandy hopes her love of animals and volunteering gets instilled in her daughters, family and friends so that they teach their own children how to give back and help the lives of others. Sandy is a firm believer that “no one life is more worthy than another.”

Sandy’s goal in joining the HSSW board was to bring fresh ideas to the table and for its Board and staff to think ‘outside the box’ when it comes creating new ways for the community to get involved.

Steven Servantez

DVM, Vice President

Born and raised in Mason City, Iowa. Graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. Steve began his career in Geneva, IL for 3 years before moving to Janesville, WI. in 1992. He is currently a Senior Partner at Badger Veterinary Hospital in Janesville; other locations include Cambridge and Beloit. Steve’s passions are community service for animals and humans. He loves to stay connected to my community and help others.

Steve currently serves on many boards including: Janesville Noon Rotary: Past President and on Board of Directors, Kids Against Hunger: Board Secretary, Belize Zoo Neotropical Conservancy: Board member and Veterinary Committee, Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin: Board Member, G.I.F.T.S.: Board Member, The Hive: Board Vice President, United Way: Community Grant Review Committee. In his spare time, Steve enjoys photography, outdoors and spending time with friends, family and pets – Wife Julie, 4 kids, 3 cats and 1 dog.

Jillian Davenport

Treasurer

Jillian is a tax accountant with Baker Tilly. Her and her husband now call Beloit home and are excited to be part of the community. Jillian grew up surrounded by the love of her four-legged friends. That experience drives her desire to help animals find their forever homes so others can experience the love that only comes from man’s best friend!

MaryAnn Burkheimer

Board Member

MaryAnn is a Victim-Witness Specialist in the Rock County District Attorney’s Office. She sites her life-long passion for animals of all kinds as the reason she is a part of a group of dedicated individuals at HSSW who provides education on the importance of pet spaying/neutering to our communities. “I strive to support responsible pet ownership which leads to safe and healthy animal-human relationships,” says MaryAnn. Her pets include three Chihuahua girls all rescued — one from a puppy mill and the other two as strays who were brought to HSSW. “There is nothing better than coming home to my four-legged welcoming committee: Lily, Emma Jane, and Ruby.

Jim Thorpe

Board Member

Jim Thorpe is a partner in the Carney Thorpe Law Firm, and although he is a new addition to our current board, he’s certainly no stranger to us having served on our board several years ago, too. Jim is happy to return because, he says, he strongly believes in the mission of the Society.

He and his wife have had Collies for more than 50 years, and a few cats along the way. Presently they have three grand puppies, a Collie, a Golden, and Labradoodle.

Erik Rozolis

Board Member

Erik is a Solutions Architect with ABC Supply, working with many different technologies and teams. He lives in Janesville with his girlfriend Taylore, and his two dogs Tiny and Tim. Tiny and Tim were recently published in the 2018 Lake Dogs edition of Lake Geneva’s At The Lake magazine.

Jack Hall

Board Member

Jack Hall moved to Janesville in 1976 from Poynette Wisconsin. He has worked at Tri-Cor Mechanical since 2001 and currently serves as the Vice President and General Manager at Tri-Cor Mechanical. He and his wife Lisa have four children, one grandchild, and two dogs – a Yellow Lab and Staffordshire Terrier. He is a member of Janesville Morning Rotary and enjoys spending time with Lisa and their dogs, camping and hiking all over Wisconsin. With his experience at Tri-Cor he feels like he has much to offer outside of the building trades. Jack always looks for the good in people and continues to move them in a direction that they can excel in. He reminds us all to remember you are dealing with creatures of emotion when dealing with people.

Maribeth Lindstrand

Board Member

Maribeth has volunteered walking and training dogs with the Humane Society for 20 years. She loves every second she spends with the pets at the Humane Society and enjoys the process of matching people with those lost and homeless pets. Maribeth is motivated by a desire to give every pet a chance to find their best friend and their forever home.

She lists her most importantgoal as a Board Member as finding positive solutions for community cats and hopefully developing a TNR (trap, neuter, return) program in Rock County. Maribeth recently retired from City of Beloit Police Records department which will give her time to work on a long time goal of building a new HSSW home to better fulfill our mission. Maribeth shares her home with her dog, Maggie, a low key border collie, one chubby orange cat named Leo and Lily, a torti formerly mama cat who was a foster cat Maribeth adopted. It’s a peaceful kingdom, albeit a hairy one.

Maribeth jokes that she is the “numbers” person; not meaning $$ but animal numbers and is extremely proud HSSW has achieved a No Kill status.

JoLynn Burden

Board Member

JoLynn is the owner of Kip’s White Dog Inn LLC in Milton. The White Dog Inn is a kennel boarding facility that offers dog/cat boarding options, stop-in dog walking services, doggy daycare and grooming. She purchased the facility in August of 2019 and is the 4th owner of the facility over a 40 year time period. She previously worked for Forward Janesville and ARISE Now as the Vice President of Development and has an extensive background in community development, leadership, management and non-profit organizational work. She has 2 teenage children, Booker & Callie, and a fur crew of golden retrievers plus a special needs dog named Rex.

JoLynn has been a foster home volunteer for both Paddy’s Paws and Alberts Dog Lounge for over 5 years and has been a volunteer for Gunnar’s Wheels Foundation, an organization founded to assist with the mobility of disabled, insured or senior dogs. Previously she was a volunteer for Therapy Dogs International. Owning a small business was not always in her dreams, but finding a pathway to working with animals has always been in her heart. She is excited to be a part of the Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin’s leadership team!

Kris McDaniel

Board Member

Kris McDaniel has lived in Milton since 2002 and works for the State of Wisconsin as the social studies consultant for the Department of Public Instruction. After marrying an animal lover and getting her first dog, she has become a passionate ally for animals, especially dogs. She has two fur-kids, Zoe, a sassy 13-year old beagle (formerly known as Fat Beagle), and Shiloh, a 9-year old 70-pound pibble mix (also known as Stinkerbelle). Two fur babies in heaven include cocker spaniels Molly (AKA Princess Diva) and Jack (Gomer). Kris’ goals as a board member include low-cost spay/neuter and shot clinics to help our community members keep their pets safe and healthy, and assisting in the trap/neuter/release and “barn cat” program for feral cats.

If you are interested in joining the HSSW Board of Directors, please first read through the rules and expectations, and then fill out this application.

The Board of Directors of the Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin meets the 4th Tuesday of every month. Meetings are open to members; If you wish to speak at the meeting, you must notify the President at least one week in advance, including topic, so that you can be added to the agenda. Speaking time is limited to 5 minutes or at the discretion of the President or acting Chair in case of the absence of the President.