Our Staff

LAURA POLESHUCK, PhD, OTD, OTR/L,
Founder and Executive Director

Board Members

JOHN RIGNEY, LCSW, Vice Chair

• Assistant Director of Wellness Outreach and Education, Nazareth University

KIM FERRIS-CHURCH, MS Ed., CHES,Secretary

• Humane Education Manager, Humane Society of Greater Rochester, Lollypop Farm

JENNIFER TRACHTMAN, DVM, Animal Health and Welfare

• Founder of Bayside Veterinary Care (Fear Free certified hospital and staff)

TAYLOR CHASTAIN GRIFFIN, PhD, Communications

• Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals (AAAIP) Executive Director, National Director of Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI) Advancement, Pet Partners

EMILY PERECHOV, Treasurer

• The Bonadio Group, Accounting, Consulting & More; past treasurer of the IPAW Club

MELISSA REED, MS Ed, MT-BC, Honorary Member at Large

• Clinical Associate Professor of Music Therapy

LAURA POLESHUCK, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, Chair