Leadership

Amy Mills is passionate about solving tough social problems, both professionally and through service as a board member, volunteer, and consultant to non-profits. Since 2006, Amy has served as CEO of Emancipet, a non-profit building a national affordable veterinary care system to serve the underserved. Under her leadership, Emancipet has opened several low-cost pet health clinics in five cities – Austin, Pflugerville, Killeen, and Houston, Texas and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and launched a national social change training program. Emancipet’s low-cost clinics provide care to over 200,000 pets living in underserved areas every year, keeping those pets healthy, happy, and safe with their families.

Kiyomi joined the Emancipet team in 2017. She focuses on strategies for growth and leads the Data Analytics team. Prior to joining Emancipet, she spent 8 years supporting social sector growth through roles in impact investing, non-profit/social enterprise, and international development. This was a pretty big change from where she began her career – in private sector finance. Kiyomi holds degrees from The Fletcher School at Tufts University and the University of Miami. She also serves on the Board of Capacity Catalyst. She loves spending time with her partner and 2 pups, Dax and Juniper, and is passionate about creating equity of opportunity for everyone with dignity.

Myles joined Emancipet in January of 2013 to work alongside a passionate team of animal advocates helping people to help their pets. He believes that in the world of animal welfare, loving animals is important, however, it’s loving people that is imperative. With more than a decade of working in clinics and shelters across the U.S., Myles has deep expertise in clinic operations, organizational culture, and strategies for creating social change. Day to day, Myles provides support to Emancipet’s growing network of clinics, helping them to meet stringent quality standards, advance the mission and uphold Emancipet’s core values. He envisions a future where veterinary care is accessible to all, so that people and their pets can stay together.

Rabecca Cross serves as General Counsel and as Vice President of Emancipet’s Central Texas region. Her career has focused on meeting the legal and business needs of initiatives that serve low income families and animals, and at Emancipet she focuses on making veterinary care affordable and accessible for everyone in the greater Austin area. She was previously with the Michelson Found Animals Foundation and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, and sits on the board of directors of Foster Village. A graduate of Columbia Law School, Rabecca is currently completing an executive MBA.

Jenna came to Emancipet from the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania where she was their Director of Philanthropy and Director of Strategic Initiatives. She currently serves on the board of directors with two international, social justice nonprofits: Corporate Accountability Lab and Free Migration Project. She co-founded The Natalwork, a nationwide networking group for family care practitioners and families, and has worked as a fundraising and communications consultant for nonprofits nationally. Jenna graduated with her Masters in Law & Social Policy and Masters in Social Work from Bryn Mawr College and currently lives in Philadelphia with her partner, stepdaughter, and their goofy doodle.

Mona worked in finance in the private sector, but she always found balance through helping groups focused on mission-based work. She believes finance can unlock opportunity no matter the organization, and has volunteered throughout her career, from teaching personal financial management to the Dallas community with the YWCA and Junior Achievement, to creating financial models to support solar energy distribution in frontier markets with the Demeter Network. She is excited to fulfill her dream of joining a non-profit, and is dedicated to navigating Emancipet through a financial strategy that allows more people to care for their pets affordably.

Dr. Holly Putnam is a 2003 graduate of The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine. After 6 years of private practice in NY State, she relocated to Austin, TX and joined Emancipet as spay/neuter surgeon, later moved back to NY State to join the Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University and – in 2019 – returned to Austin and to Emancipet to serve as Chief Medical Officer. In that role, Dr. Putnam oversees all medical and surgical protocols and supervises the Clinic Operations team. Outside of work, Dr. Putnam enjoys spending quality time with her husband, two daughters, and their menagerie of pets.

B.J. believes that people are the solution and not the problem. From fundraising for multiple sclerosis research at a young age, to fighting for LGBTQ rights, to thirteen years of work in animal welfare, B.J. is a lifelong learner and advocate. At Emancipet, B.J. oversees marketing, PR, and fundraising strategies as well as all training and consulting services offered through the Emancipet New School. A two-time nonprofit CEO and longtime educator, B.J. is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator, a Certified Dialogue Education Teacher, and holds an Executive Education Certificate in Public Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Angelita Sampaio joined Emancipet in January 2019. She has a background in oil and gas, Spanish-language television production, international healthcare program management, and foreign government trade development. Angelita is actively involved with local animal welfare organizations and efforts like Rescued Pets Movement (a group she has fostered over 275+ dogs for), The Empty Shelter Project, Big Fix Houston, and serves on the Board of Unity for a Solution. She loves spending her time with her husband and 3 rescue dogs. Angelita holds her undergraduate degree from the University of New Mexico and her MBA in Leadership Management from Adams State University.