LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE
Board of DirectorsLEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE
Tails of Hope is guided by a nine-member volunteer Board of Directors who work alongside our Executive Director and Shelter Director to set organizational policy, ensure financial stewardship, and advance our mission for the animals and communities we serve.
What Our Board Does
Board members set organizational policy, ensure legal and financial accountability, evaluate and support our Executive Director, and serve as community ambassadors for Tails of Hope. Ours is a working board — engaged, informed, and committed to the animals and the communities we serve.
What We Look For
We seek community members who bring professional skills in areas such as finance, law, marketing, human resources, or fundraising — and who have the interpersonal skills and passion for animals to match. Board members serve three-year terms and attend monthly meetings, with a personal financial commitment to the organization each year.
Learn more about each of our dedicated board members below.
Serve With Purpose
We’re always looking for passionate, skilled community members to help lead Tails of Hope into the future. Board members commit to a three-year term and bring expertise in areas such as finance, law, marketing, HR, and fundraising — all in service of the animals.
Gretchen Goodman
CoChair
boardcochair@rchsvt.org
Three Year Term – 2027
Committees
building | finance | personnel
Gretchen made Rutland County her home in 1983. She loved the sense of community and decided to leave business ownership behind for a career in non-profits. These included BROC, Rutland Mental Health, and Addison County Home Health. Upon moving to Nashua New Hampshire she found a job as Director of Operations at the local Humane Society and learned the challenges and joys of animal welfare. In 2004, she was hired as Executive Diector of Rutland County Humane Society. She retired in 2018 and served as a part-time consultant at RCHS until 2020.
Cathy Sommer
CoChair
boardcochair@rchsvt.org
Three Year Term – 2027
Committees
building | finance | personnel
Cathy brings nearly three decades of healthcare expertise to the Tails of Hope Board, having built a distinguished career as a nurse anesthetist and nurse practitioner — including 14 years at Rutland Regional Medical Center and 20 years of dedication to a single employer, a testament to her loyalty and character. Her commitment to care extends beyond her professional life as well — she freely gives her time as a volunteer at the local free community health clinic, reflecting a genuine desire to serve those who need it most. When she’s not caring for others, Cathy is happiest exploring the world — travel is her true passion — though she also finds joy closer to home through gardening, cooking, and baking. She joined the Board of Directors in 2021.
John Liccardi
Vice Chair
boardcochair@rchsvt.org
Three Year Term – 2027
Committees
building | finance | personnel
John brings more than five decades of legal, civic, and conservation experience to the Tails of Hope Board, where he serves as Vice Chair. During his career he practiced law in Rutland from 1971 to 2013, including four years as Rutland County State’s Attorney, and dedicated much of his professional life to public service — chairing both the Vermont State Fish and Wildlife Board and the District #1 Act 250 Commission. Now retired, John has plenty to keep him busy: gardening vegetables and uncommon fruits, kayaking, fishing, hunting, raising and training bird dogs, doing yoga, cooking, and woodworking. He joined the Tails of Hope Board in 2020.
Jennifer Bertrand
Treasurer
boardcochair@rchsvt.org
Three Year Term – 2027
Committees
building | finance | personnel
Jennifer brings sharp financial leadership to the Tails of Hope Board, drawing on her experience as Chief Financial Officer at Rutland Regional Medical Center and her active service on the board of OneCare Vermont, where she also sits on the Finance Committee. Her expertise in healthcare finance gives the organization a skilled and steady hand as we grow. Outside of work, Jennifer makes the most of her downtime — boating, hopping on the back of a motorcycle, staying active, and escaping on cruises with her husband whenever the chance arises. She joined the Tails of Hope Board in 2025.
Amanda Moore
Secretary
boardcochair@rchsvt.org
Three Year Term – 2027
Committees
building | finance | personnel
Amanda co-owns A&M Vermont Solar, LLC, a small but mighty solar development company that works with businesses and homeowners across the region. Her days are spent navigating permitting, reviewing contracts, and analyzing the financials of the projects they bring to life — plus overseeing more than 50 solar sites each week, benchmarking production and keeping everything running smoothly. It’s safe to say she knows how to keep the lights on. A former Tails of Hope board member and longtime treasurer, Amanda returned to the Board in 2022 and continues to be one of our most experienced voices at the table. When she steps away from spreadsheets and solar panels, you’ll find her outside — horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, or figuring out her footing on a stand-up paddleboard.
Sheri Slack
Director
boardcochair@rchsvt.org
Three Year Term – 2028
Committees
building | finance | personnel
Sheri Slack is a Real Estate Paralegal with Peet Law Group, and she brings nearly four decades of real estate title research and legal writing expertise to the Tails of Hope Board — which means she knows how to read the fine print and fight for the ones who can’t speak for themselves.
When she’s not untangling legal complexities, you’ll find Sheri hitting the trails with her English Labrador Retriever, Noah (who we suspect has strong opinions about the best hiking routes). She’s equally at home on the water kayaking, on the court playing tennis, or curled up with a deep dive into British history. She’s also mastering the art of homegrown tomato cooking and — bravely — teaching herself the banjo. Summers call her to Old Orchard Beach and the family camp in the Adirondacks, where we imagine Noah approves wholeheartedly.
Sheri joined the Tails of Hope Board in 2025, and we’re so glad she did.
Rick Putnam
Director
boardcochair@rchsvt.org
Three Year Term – 2027
Committees
building | finance | personnel
After 37 years in law enforcement, Rick retired, but he never quite lost the instinct to show up when our community needs help. Over the years he was given the opportunity to respond to many animal-related calls. Saving animals, and people, in our community. Those experiences shaped him into the animal advocate that he is today. He and his wife, Carolyn, currently have a Hunt Terrier rescued out of Canada. Every one of the six dogs and two cats that they have had over the years has been a rescue.
Rick is thrilled to join the Board of the Rutland County Humane Society, because it means he gets to keep doing the work that matters most to him; standing up for animals who have no one else to stand up for them. After decades of seeing firsthand what happens when animals are overlooked, forgotten, or simply need someone to notice them, Rick has made it his mission to be that someone. This new role isn’t just a title to him, it’s a continuation of a promise he’s been keeping for years, one animal at a time.
Susan Eckhardt
Director
boardcochair@rchsvt.org
Three Year Term – 2027
Committees
building | finance | personnel
Bio Coming Soon!
Beth Molinero Grenier
Director
Three Year Term – 2029
Committees
building | finance | personnel
Beth Molinero Grenier has dedicated nearly four decades to the banking industry, including more than 20 years proudly serving the Rutland County community. Throughout her career, she has earned a reputation for integrity, compassion, and building meaningful relationships—qualities that have made her a trusted resource for customers, colleagues, and neighbors alike.
When she’s not working, Beth enjoys spending time with her family and friends, relaxing on the waters of Lake George, traveling, tending to the many beautiful flowers in her garden and quality time with her cat, Buttons!