Board of Directors

Maria Kennedy was a long-time SAS supporter prior to starting  as a Canine Care Volunteer in  2017.  She serves on the Gala Committee.  Maria joined the Board of Directors in November 2017 and has served as Chair of SAS's largest fundraiser, the Tails at Twilight Gala, as well as Co-Chair for the 2021 Putt for Pets Tournament in 2021. Parents of two grown sons, Maria and her husband live in Cohasset with their rescue dog  Maverick.

Michelle Cox began volunteering with SAS as a dog walker in 2014, and she and her partner Kerrie have been  very  strong supporters since that time.   Michelle is a realtor with Jack Conway & Company in Hingham, and her career in real estate takes her all over the South Shore.  Michelle and Kerrie lived in Hingham for many years but relocated to Hull where they live with three special needs rescue dogs.

Stacey Weaver began volunteering at the Scituate Animal Shelter after retirement from the investment business.  A longtime cat owner and current mother of two rescued cats, she was impressed by SAS's mission to help both animals and people, its success in finding homes and the hard work and positive attitude of the staff and volunteers.  She worked on the capital campaign to build the facility that opened in 2009, and was instrumental in the establishment of SAS's endowment. She is currently a member of the Finance and Audit Committee and is a longtime resident of Cohasset.

Jay is a Principal at the Boston office of Fish & Richardson PC. She focuses on helping academic and research institutions, hospitals, and startup to mid-sized biotech companies protect their cutting-edge and foundational life science discoveries with strong intellectual property rights, in the US and abroad. Jay has a life-long love of animals, and she and her family are currently owned by 6 kitties, three of whom are over the age of 15.  She joined the Board in 2021.

Heidi Condon is the principal of HC Designs, a Scituate-based design firm founded in 1998 that is one the best known residential design firms in the region. She holds two degrees from the Rhode Island School of Design in both fine arts and architecture.  A longtime supporter of SAS, Heidi joined the Board in 2019.  She lives with husband Rick and two dogs.

Diane Esslinger spent over 35 years in law firm administration as Executive Director, and as Director of Human Resources at two Boston law firms. Now retired, she is pursuing her interests in travel, gardening, birding and other outdoor activities. She first volunteered at SAS in the mid-90s and currently serves on the HR & Nominating Committee.  Over the years she has been adopted by a number of both sheltered and feral kitties, each of whom has added much to her quality of life.

Shane is a dog lover and has had numerous pets over the years, with Brady being the latest.  Shane has previously served on the board of CONNECT (a startup incubator in San Diego, CA) and on the advisory board for the Adventure Guides program of the YMCA in Encinitas, CA.  He is a patent lawyer, the co-founder of Hunter Clark LLC, and general counsel of restorVault LLC.

Jimmy Karas joined the Board of Directors in 2017.  His professional experience includes a role at Boston Private Wealth, as well as serving as a member of the New England Broker Dealer/ Investment Adviser Association. At SAS, he is the serves on the Fundraising Committee.   Jimmy resides in West Bridgewater with wife and daughter and two rescue dogs, Winston and Roxie.

 Bob Karlis joined the Board of SAS in fall of 2019. Previously a director for many years with the Abigail Adams Historical Society, he has an MBA from Northeastern and  an entrepreneurial background in business with both corporate and small business development. He and his wife are ardent dog lovers and have adopted six dogs over the years, including Finnegan, shown at left.

Peter has been a supporter of SAS for many years,  and currently serves as Chair for the Finance and Audit Committee.  Presently, he is the CFO  of Rockland-based Polymer Corporation, a precision plastic parts manufacturer.   Peter resides in Scituate with his wife, and two cats adopted from SAS:  Nemo and Casper. 

Tom Poppey has supported the Scituate Animal Shelter for many years.  He was a past Board member and previously served two terms as President of the Board.   Head of Global Securities Lending at Brown Brothers Harriman in Boston,  Tom serves on SAS's Finance and Audit Committee.  Tom and his wife Elissa Flynn-Poppey reside in Scituate with a menagerie of rescued dogs and cats, including SAS alums. 

Danielle Voss has spent over 25 years working in the public health arena as an event planner and a project manager. Several years ago, she stepped back from her full-time career to focus on various personal interests, including animal welfare. Since 2017, Danielle has volunteered for SAS as a dog walker and by assisting with various events, including serving as co-chair for the 2021 and 2022 Putt for Pets golf tournaments. In addition to her Board duties, Danielle and her late rescue dog, Cruiser, an SAS alum, were a certified therapy dog team that regularly visited schools, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes throughout the South Shore of Massachusetts. Parents of a grown daughter, Danielle and her husband currently live in Marshfield.

Diane Watkins joined SAS's Board in  2022.   A small animal veterinarian who graduated with high honors from Tufts Veterinary School, Dr. Watkins will be opening her own  practice (143 Veterinary Services) in Cohasset in 2023.  In her free time, she is an avid runner who has competed in 4 marathons and 13 half marathons, and a hiker currently making her way through New Hampshire's 48, the 48 mountains over 4000 feet in height. Dr Watkins lives with her husband and three adorable young boys in Cohasset. The family shares their home with three cats, (Smitty, Chicken, and Kiki- all bottle fed orphans), one miniature poodle named Shadow, and a free roaming house rabbit named Snowgrace.