Melanie Sadek, CAWA, President
Melanie Sadek is the President of Valley Humane Society (VHS). She has worked in both for-profit and non-profit environments, including 20 years of corporate and small business management. As manager of the traffic safety department for the California State Automobile Association, Melanie worked to develop education and outreach programs and build volunteer coalitions. She was also instrumental in governmental affairs activities, facilitating effective marketing outreach programs, and screening non-profit funding requests. Melanie opened Murphy’s Paw, a retail store in downtown Pleasanton selling dog and cat supplies in 2007. During the four years she owned the store, Melanie created strong brand recognition and great community support, which she passed along the new owners in late 2011. Melanie’s excellent relationship-building skills coupled with her marketing and public relations experience have allowed VHS to step out of the shadows and become a more visible animal welfare leader within the TriValley region. Melanie’s dedication to supporting the community was recognized in 2016 when she received the TriValley Hero Award for her Community Spirit.
Dr. Nozomi Watanabe, Medical Director
Nozomi has been a staff veterinarian at East Bay SPCA for the past 9 years. She graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2006 and has always had a special interest in shelter medicine. She joined Valley Humane Society in October 2021 and is excited to be a part of such a compassionate and innovative organization. Nozomi is passionate about providing medical care to homeless pets and protecting the bond between people and their pets. Her family includes her husband, 2 children, 1 cat and 2 dogs.
Tracie Cota, Surgery Center Manager
Tracie has worked in the veterinary industry for over 15 years. Her background in hospital business management, shelter management, and finance provided her hands-on technical and medical skills. Tracie has experience working with local SPCAs, including Monterey, East Bay, and most recently, San Francisco. She is passionate about providing excellent medical care to shelter animals and keeping pets with their people. Tracie joined Valley Humane Society May 2021 to oversee shelter and spay/neuter operations. She is excited to be part of the Valley Humane family.
Melissa Adkins, Marketing Communications Manager
Joining Valley Humane Society in February 2012, Melissa is in her second stint with VHS, having also worked for the organization from 2005-2008. In the interim, she worked as a marketing coordinator for Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek, where she honed her writing and social media skills. A San Diego native, Melissa has lived in the Tri-Valley since high school. She shares a home with her husband, daughter, and two black cats named Olive and Simone.
Shoshannah Reed, Volunteer Programs Manager
Shoshannah’s love of animals led her to become a volunteer for VHS in 2007, when she helped care for the beloved dog of one of our early Hope Hospice partnership clients. She officially joined staff in 2010 as Humane Education Manager, developing the humane education and Critter Camp programs. In 2015 she assumed the role of Volunteer Program Manager. Shoshannah also oversees the Canine Comfort Pet Therapy Program. Her current dog, Peach, is a VHS alumni pet adopted in 2018.
Emily Scholz, Adoption and Foster Manager
Emily started volunteering with Valley Humane in February of 2012, providing customer service at the front desk, as an adoptions counselor and at off-site events. In November of 2014, Emily became a staff member continuing to focus on customer service and adoptions. Emily starting fostering dogs and puppies in 2015 as well as managing the foster program at Valley Humane. Emily earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering at Santa Clara University and worked for Accenture for 15 years prior to joining Valley Humane. Emily lives in Pleasanton with two Cocker Spaniels, Poppy and Lillie (adopted from Valley Humane), and two cats, Salty and Olive.
Melissa Wright, Manager of Finance and Administration
Melissa started at Valley Humane Society as a kitten foster before joining the team as Bookkeeper in October of 2017. She has worked in accounting and bookkeeping since her teen years, starting as an office manager at a sign shop and working in offices doing accounting for car dealerships and construction companies. Melissa also owned a daycare and preschool for five years and was a stay-at-home mom for 14 years to raise her two children. She loves working at VHS because it has allowed her to marry her expertise in accounting with her love of animals. Melissa is originally from Kingston, New York and moved to the Bay Area as a child where she has enjoyed the diversity and opportunities the Bay Area has to offer. She shares her home with her husband of 18 years and her two teenage children as well as three kitties, a 600 lb pig, and chickens. When not at work, she can be found at basketball tournaments and horse shows cheering on her kids.
Aminah Ameeri, Shelter Operations Manager
Aminah Ameeri joined Valley Humane Society as the Shelter Operations Manager in 2023. Before coming onboard at Valley Humane, Aminah earned her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Human Resources in Pennsylvania, and worked as a vet assistant at VCA and a vet practice manager in the Middle East. She was also the intake manager and offsite adoption manager for the Humane Society Silicon Valley. With this wealth of experience, Aminah is excited to help as many animals as she can and do what is ethically right to better their lives. A life-long animal lover, Aminah used to rescue tree frogs, lizards and snakes while growing up. Currently at home, she has a 17-year-old Siberian cat named Boo, a rescue from the Middle East, as well as a 15-year-old Ball python named Bob, and a 2.5-year-old Siberian dwarf hamster named Muffin. Aminah loves collecting anything Disney themed with an animal motif, especially with dogs, cats, mice, or birds. She also collects stamps, loves to travel, and enjoys baking.
Claire Maniti, Development Manager
Claire joined Valley Humane Society as Development Manager in February 2023. Claire has worked in strategic campaign planning and fundraising in the Bay Area for several years, raising money to support city, county, state legislature, statewide Constitutional officer, and ballot measure campaigns across the state. Claire is a graduate of the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs, and an alumna of UC San Diego.
In her spare time, she is an avid carnivorous plant enthusiast, and enjoys recipe testing vegan Filipino dishes and long-distance running. Claire is a step-parent of Pippin the pup, and has two cats of her own, Space Dust and Ube.
Sally Parsons, Volunteer Programs Assistant
Sally Parsons joined Valley Humane Society as Volunteer Programs Assistant in April 2019. Prior to that, she spent 15 years supporting fundraising and marketing efforts for youth in the greater East Bay. Her most recent position was Director of Development for Oakland Military Institute College Preparatory Academy, a school founded by former California governor Jerry Brown, when he was mayor of Oakland. The proud guardian of a beautiful 15-year-old beagle named Tahoe, Sally loves being part of an organization that can provide support and love for animals in need, especially since they don’t have a voice of their own. Sally has lived in Pleasanton for 25 years and has a daughter, son, and daughter-in-law. She is a fitness fanatic that enjoys hiking and working in the garden.
Shelby Slate, Program Specialist
Shelby joined Valley Humane Society as Programs Assistant in 2021. She has worked in customer service in the past, but has always wanted to work with animals. When the opportunity to join Valley Humane presented itself, she was so excited to be able to combine the two. Shelby graduated from CSU Monterey Bay where she studied Sociology. She grew up in the East Bay Area and graduated from Amador Valley High School. Currently, she lives in Tracy and loves cuddling Storm and Sierra, her two Siberian Huskies. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and attending sporting events.
Glenalyn Hunt, Content Marketing Coordinator
Growing up in Pleasanton around many communities of animal lovers, Valley Humane was a household name for Glenalyn. When she saw an opportunity to join the team as Content Marketing Coordinator in 2022, she jumped at the chance. After spending the last eight years working in communications/marketing for various Fortune 500 companies and earning her MBA in Marketing, Glenalyn is excited to use her skills to support and further Valley Humane’s mission. Her own dog, Norma, is a street dog rescue, and she is passionate that every animal know the love and safety of a family. When not at work, Glenalyn can most often be found reading or watching TV with her husband and Norma by her side. She also loves to sing, try new recipes, and travel!
Tamara Salgado, Operations Coordinator
Tamara started volunteering at Valley Humane Society in late June 2018. A graduate from Amador Valley High School, she had long wanted to volunteer at an animal shelter, so when the organization advertised an urgent need for cat care volunteers, Tamara saw it as the perfect opportunity. Tamara is currently enrolled at Las Positas College. She enjoys hiking, concert-going, and watching movies and TV shows. At home Tamara’s furry companions include a “couch potato” Bichon Frise named Max, a large white cat named Leia, and a rambunctious tabby named Winnie.
Isabel Bouchard, Operations Coordinator
Isabel has worked for Valley Humane since 2021, because she believes and prioritizes the idea that togetherness can make a difference for the animals & people in this community. She is proud to be part of a team of selfless & dedicated people working towards the same goal. Every day is important!
Her family has lived in Pleasanton her entire life – she grew up less than a mile from the Valley Humane, and her mom would bring her by to visit the animals when she was young. She also spent a couple of summers at critter camp. She now has 4 cats: Cadence, Laila, Cy, and Luke, and her dog Gabbana, who was adopted from Valley Humane.
Sheryl Frey, Operations Coordinator
Sheryl previously worked in the industries of healthcare and food. She worked for Kaiser Permanente as a project manager and senior administrative support and her transition from the corporate world to the food industry was for her other love, pastry. Upon completion of her certification, she worked in the pastry division at the Academy of Sciences, later as an assistant to culinary and pastry instructors, and then owned her own online cookie and cake company.
After her daughter was born, she redirected her energies, which led her to Valley Humane in 2022 as a cat care volunteer. Sheryl has always had a love for animals and she wanted to give more of her time to their care and nurturing. She jumped at the chance to take a position at the organization, and she feels that being a part of VHS is very rewarding. Knowing that she can help animals in need makes her heart full.
Alberto Beas, Operations Coordinator
Alberto began working with Valley Humane as a cat care volunteer in 2021. Previously, he worked at a telecommunications company in a warehouse doing basic inventory control and working on data entries. He is passionate about taking care of animals, and believes that working at VHS will be a great start to finally being able to get the animal care work experience he’s always wanted.
Alberto was born and raised in the Bay Area and currently resides in Livermore, where he likes trying out different food spots, and going hiking with his stubborn and mischievous Siberian Husky named Bloo. He is enrolled at Foothill College with a major in Biology. He would like to go to a university to pursue his bachelor’s degree in Zoology; he hopes to become a veterinarian in the future.
