ANIMAL POLICY - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Executive Assistant
• Member of Our Team

Audrey Gillespie is an important member of our team providing high-level support for Founder & CEO, Mark Cushing. Audrey earned her BS in Education and Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of South Alabama. She started her career teaching 2nd grade in a small private school in Orange Beach, Alabama. Last year, she married Nathan Gillespie and moved to Phoenix. In her free time, she enjoys the sun, hiking in the mountains and spending time with her sweet Malti Poo, Winnie.

Job Titles:

• Consultant
• Senior Advisor

Dr. Eleanor M. Green held the Carl B. King deanship of the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) and the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP). She received a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Animal Science from the University of Florida and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Auburn University. She established a veterinary practice in Mississippi as partner/owner. She became a founding faculty member of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University. Her academic appointments have included: equine faculty member at Middlebush Equine Center at the University of Missouri; head of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and director of the large animal hospital at the University of Tennessee; chair of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and the Chief of Staff of the large animal hospital at the University of Florida She previously served as president of four national organizations: the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP), the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians (AAVC) and, most recently, the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). Her awards include: 2004 Award of Distinction from the University of Florida College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2011 Wilford S. Bailey Distinguished Alumni Award from Auburn University, 2012 Women‘s Progress Award for Administration, induction into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 2013, and 2015 Distinguished Achievement Award for Administration at Texas A&M University. Dr. Green has a special interest in the future of veterinary medicine and the innovations that will help ensure a thriving profession.

Job Titles:

• Research Specialist

Hailey provides high-level research for Founder & CEO, Mark Cushing.

Job Titles:

• CEO
• Founder
• Policy and Research Director
• VP of Legislative

Loren Breen works with the Founder and CEO to develop policy strategies and build strong coalitions to increase veterinary access and advocate for animal welfare. She conducts in-depth research on a variety of topics to support Animal Policy Group clients, and works with the VP of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs to track and analyze national legislation and regulatory affairs. Loren is a graduate of the University of Arizona with her Master of Public Policy degree. She interned at the Arizona House of Representatives as a Research Analyst for the Committee on Regulatory Affairs and the Committee on State and International Affairs, and has taught Introduction to Statistics for the Social Sciences to University of Arizona students. In her free time Loren enjoys camping, kayaking, and bicycling. Loren Breen works with the VP of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs to track and analyze national legislation and regulatory affairs. She conducts in-depth research on a variety of topics to support Animal Policy Group clients, and works with APG O'Hara in data research.

Job Titles:

• CEO
• Founder

Mark is the Founder & CEO of the Animal Policy Group. A long-time political strategist, government regulatory advisor, corporate executive and former litigator, Mark focuses his advocacy practice on providing high-level strategic advice and services to clients with needs at any level of government, and key trade/industry associations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Mark is an Honors graduate with distinction from Stanford University and the Willamette University College of Law. Mark is the CEO and Founder of the Animal Policy Group, LLC, based in Scottsdale, AZ, Portland, OR, and Denver, CO. APG's clients represent a wide range of veterinary and pet health interests.

Job Titles:

• Project Leader
• Senior Project Manager

Sam Geiling is Animal Policy Group's project leader, working directly with clients and the entire APG team to oversee plans to ensure goals are successfully met. She is a credentialed veterinary technician with over a decade of teaching experience at an AVMA-accredited vet tech program. She has passed state legislation recognizing veterinary technicians, and volunteers as co-chair on NAVTA's Government Relations Committee. Sam lives in Minnesota with her husband and two sons. She enjoys summer days on the lake, grilling, and discovering new restaurants.

Job Titles:

• Policy Manager
• VP of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs

Samantha Morse Chessie works with the VP of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs to track and analyze state and municipal regulatory and legislative affairs. Her main area of focus is pharmacy and she manages a variety of research projects in other areas. Sam obtained her Master of Public Administration and Policy from American University. In her free time Sam enjoys reading fantasy novels and spending quality time with her family.

Job Titles:

• Vice President for Legislative and Regulatory Affairs

Scott Young is responsible for the Animal Policy Group's legislative tracking, monitoring and reporting functions in all 50 states. He also works directly with state government officials on issues of interest. He is instrumental in providing highly skilled research and analysis of current events, legislative history, policy and data sets that affect our diverse industry. Scott has worked with legislatures for more than 15 years representing a variety of organizations including the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Entertainment Software Association (ESA), Laureate Education, and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Scott has experience testifying in front of state legislatures, working with states on implementation plans, leading accreditation efforts, and lobbying policymakers. During his time with NCLS, he led a task force investigation of No Child Left Behind and co-authored the final report, which made national headlines and helped lead to the dismantling of the federal law. He has been quoted by CNN, NY Times, Washington Post, USA Today and many other news outlets. Scott graduated from the University of Colorado with a political science degree and lives in the Rockies with his two Labradors.

Job Titles:

• General Manager
• Vice President

Zen St. Clair manages the day-to-day operations of the Animal Policy Group, LLC, provides business development and marketing support, and manages client relations and services. She also works closely with Founder & CEO, Mark Cushing on the launch of his book Pet Nation. Zen earned her degree in Journalism and Communications from the University of Oregon. She started her career in marketing and event planning working in San Francisco for technology and investment firms, including Stifel Financial and Blackboard, Inc. She is a founding board member of the Exploratorium Lab in San Francisco. Zen lives in Lake Oswego with her British husband and 2 children. In her free time, she enjoys practicing a little yoga and traveling.