Advisory Committee

Debbie Grand

Critical Care Program Administrator

A native New Yorker, Debbie Grand comes to  PACC911with a diverse background from the financial security industry to work at Cablevision, Silverstone Luxury Senior Community and finally to the PV School District as the College and Career Coordinator.

Her love for her two cats and the many ways PACC911 engaged in the community was the draw that inspired Debbie to join us. Her role as an Executive Assistant has grown to oversee such key programs as our Critical Care Program and other projects, allowing PACC911 to expand our public awareness and reach into the community.  Debbie’s organizational skills are greatly valued within our PACC911 family.

Dee Umpleby

Rescued Treasures Store Manager

Deanne was one of the original board members for PACC911 and is store manager for our Rescued Treasures Charity Boutique. Dee’s creativity has been the perfect ingredient to make our boutique one of the best thrift stores in the valley. Her touch and sense of design make it a unique and fun place to stop and shop, all while supporting PACC911. Dee also creates decorative baskets for our many silent auctions affiliated with our fundraisers. A past member of Fast Dogs Fast Friends,  Dee was a foster for Many A Greyhound and now helps to foster Basset Hounds with AZ Basset Hound Rescue. She and her hubby Joe enjoy their 5 dog family.

Marcia Schafer

Cyber Manager

An active board member since 2005, over the years Schafer designed many of PACC911’s special program graphics to develop a branded image and spearheaded a website overhaul that marked a new phase of growth for the organization. She is our managing web and marketing guru.

When she’s not working with PACC911, Marcia is an award-winning author and MBA business consultant mentoring humanitarian entrepreneurs around the world with an unusual approach. By blending her professional expertise and intuitive skills she helps people understand the hidden world around us, including what goes on within an animal’s consciousness. Her psychic animal communication ability has aided rescues in times of need and she has a striking record resolving difficult issues, helping challenged pets get adopted.

An animal advocacy division within her company Beyond Zebra enlightens about pet awareness as she works to change society’s perception to bring about the international life rights and legal protection these beings deserve. Inventive and trendsetting, she is a devoted animal lover providing a home for rescued persian cats. Her current companion is a catnip snorting girl named Truffles. Devoted to getting people to better understand the not-so-silent world animals live in, she brings all her creativity, passion and savvy to PACC911.

Valerie Schulte

Chuck Waggin Pet Food Pantry Administrator

Kim Sasso

Our Critical Care Program Assistant, Kim has been involved with helping homeless pets for as long as she can remember. Over the years she’s volunteered at Southwest Wildlife, the Phoenix Rescue Mission and other local rescues. Kim also serves on the board of the FETCH Foundation, where she assists with Fido bags and other needs. During Houston’s deadly Hurricane Harvey, Kim traveled there to aid and bring comfort to the overwhelming number of tragically displaced dogs. A Homesmart Realtor, she donates a portion of her commissions back to the community. Kim shares her life with her husband of 36 years, two children and one very happy Labrador Retriever.

Meagan Gipson

Our onsite Adoptathon Volunteer Coordinator, Meagan is a fifth-generation Arizonan.  She grew up loving her Cocker Spaniel, Bo, and dozens of pet fish. In 2006, she adopted her boy, Scruffy, from Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. Their bond placed her on a long path of rescue awareness, desiring to make a difference in the lives of the many voiceless pets in need.

Meagan is a former foster care social worker, retired singer-songwriter, and graphic designer. She once owned a multimedia business and co-authored a children’s book based on Scruffy. Her love for animals inspired her to create live TV segments covering vegan recipes, pet ownership and animal rescue, where she highlighted adoptable pets. Meagan serves as PACC911’s on-site adoptathon volunteer coordinator and is a member of the partner management team. Her commitment to making a difference in the world of animal rescue continues to drive her efforts and contribute to the well-being of countless pets.

Diane Kirkpatrick

Diane spent 25 years in the corporate world owning businesses in Illinois and Arizona.  She retired in 2016 and turned the businesses over to her children.  Diane has been rescuing animals on a small scale for as long as she can remember.  It was in the back of her mind that once she retired, she would pursue her passion on a larger scale and joining PACC911 helps her achieve that goal.  She currently serves on the Glimmer of Hope Fundraiser Committee. Diane and her husband Jim live with their three rescue dogs. All are different breeds, colors, and sizes, but they do have one thing in common.  They are all equally loved.

Mary & John Garbaciak

 We get double the talent with this dynamic couple. Mary, a former dental hygienist and John, a semi-retired physician, have brought their help to many charity boards and organizations, both here and across the country. Appreciative of all creatures great and small, they bring all their gala fundraising expertise to us.

Cathy Davila

Cathy helps out with our Partner Management team, and  brought her lifelong love for all animals with her from Southern California. With over twenty years in a career in the human healthcare field, she decided to also share her passion for the human animal bond and founded the Phoenix Dog Magazine in 2016. Animal non-profits now have a showcase to reach the pet-loving community and the magazine inspires readers to see animals in a different light. She shares her home with Boxer-Rottie dog, Roxie, Quarter Horse Jackie and Burro Norman.

Stephanie Stead

Our prior volunteer coordinator, Stephanie is an ardent animal lover and brings all her devotion behind the scenes as a modern day gal Friday, always ready to lend a helping hand.

Maria Brunner

Providing assistance with marketing and publicity, Maria is President and Founder of Insight Management, and has spent over 40 years in the entertainment industry. Her company provides strategic marketing, tour promotion and artist management services to legendary celebrities the likes of Eric Clapton, The Moody Blues, George Thorogood, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Clint Black, Donna Summer… the impressive list goes on.

Maria helped found the entertainment business program at the University of Montana and previously held an advisory role at California State University’s Entertainment Business Program, where she was a past visiting instructor. She’s served on numerous charitable boards that provide aid to both people and animals; her commitment to improving the lives of others extends to helping homeless pets in need of rescue. With many years of expertise in the entertainment industry, she brings us precious invaluable counsel.

Sara Rowley

Sara Rowley is a true Arizona native. She was born and raised in Scottsdale, briefly escaping to the mountains of Flagstaff for college where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations and Advertising from NAU. Sara describes herself as a digital marketer turned company culture fanatic. She began her career in marketing specializing in social media advertising. Her career began to transform when she started doing internal marketing, focusing on the employee experience. Sara soon found her true passion in HR. She is now the Director of HR for a technology company in Scottsdale. In her non-working time, Sara enjoys cooking, wine, watching movies with her husband, searching antique shops for treasures and of course snuggling with her two pups, Norman and Howard. Sara’s love of animals has been lifelong, starting at a young age where she was often found singing lullabies to the family dogs.

Sara is so honored to join PACC911 after working with them for many years and seeing the incredible impact they have made for animals in need.

Cheri Moreno

Married with dog-children, Cheri has over 35 years in marketing, with an extensive background in media planning and buying. Having many long-term relationships in the industry opens up opportunities to support PACC911 events and fundraising efforts through low cost or no cost media exposure. Volunteering at the events provides a chance to see first-hand, and appreciate the 24/7 efforts of those involved in the animal rescue community. Involvement with PACC911 is an opportunity to give back to all the dogs I’ve loved and love all the dogs who have so much to give.

Lise Brovitz

Lise has always loved animals. As a child, her mother welcomed fish, cats, dogs and guinea pigs into the family home, instilling a connection with animals from her earliest years. She has volunteered for shelters in Alabama, New York and even London, and worked for a large veterinarian practice for fifteen years to learn more about different animals and their behavior.

While living in Alabama, Lise developed an animal program for the Alabama special education district, which the local children enjoyed for many years. Crimson, Lise’s first three legged cat, helped her with this memorable project. Since living in Arizona, Lise has helped a number of local animal groups with fostering and fundraising, and she continues to feed orphaned birds in need for Liberty Wildlife. Lise spends her time with her cats, teaching and pet sitting.

Nancy Drake

Always a proponent of the underdog, while living in Illinois, Nancy worked for a nationally recognized equine humane society. Also a state licensed investigator through the Illinois department of agriculture for several years, she had the rewarding experience of rescuing and rehabilitating many animals. Drawn to the mission of PACC911, Nancy brings her heart and insights to PACC911.