We’ve always known where we wanted to go with the Show Your Soft Side campaign, but we haven’t always been so clear about the best route to get there. Not surprising, considering the organization began with three people working on a volunteer basis while straddling other responsibilities and even full-time jobs. When you’re that small and thin on assets, it’s easy to get lost in the weeds. Knowing that we set out to expand our resources and, over the past few years, have built an all-volunteer team of passionate “do-ers.” They’re the reason we’ve been able to not only hold on through the pandemic but also launch a number of new programs. We’re thrilled to introduce you to the individuals who make up our board and help us maximize our efforts to end animal abuse before it starts.
Sande Riesett, Co-Founder & Executive Director
After 30 years as a copywriter and creative director in D.C., Baltimore, and London ad agencies, Sande now directs her talents toward helping defenseless cats and dogs. Mom to a former street cat named Chonk, Sande’s days (and a lot of nights) are focused on crafting Soft Side’s communication and expanding the campaign’s reach through partnerships with Softies and other like-minded businesses and organizations.
Caroline Griffin, Co-Founder, Vice President & Program Director
Caroline practiced law for 20 years before devoting herself full-time to animal protection. In 2009, she was appointed Chair of the Mayor’s Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission in Baltimore, following the brutal burning death of a dog named Phoenix. Caroline is the chair of the Maryland Spay Neuter Advisory Board and is a Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. She devotes much of her time to overseeing programs and shares her home with a former street cat named Julius.
Tanya Keitz, President
A Program Manager by trade with degrees in Program Management, Information Technology, and an MBA, Tanya uses her powers optimizing programs, modernizing communications, developing metrics, and making sure Soft Side’s systems actually do what they’re supposed to do. Her favorite role, however, is serving as an administrator for the Street Kitty Medical Fund, where she works to make sure community cats receive the care they need when it matters most.
Tanya and her husband live with an undisclosed (and constantly fluctuating) number of resident and foster cats – and occasionally foster dogs – which has sharpened her signature combination of efficiency and sarcasm. (When asked how many cats and kittens she’s fostered over the years, she replied without blinking, “186,232.”) When she’s not wrangling programs, policies, or cats, Tanya spends her time traveling, reading, drinking wine, and cooking….while always being judged by at least one animal.
Genny Resch, Treasurer
Genny is responsible for Soft Side’s finances being in such impeccable order. (She’s the only treasurer we know who can demand you follow processes, whip you into good financial shape, and make you laugh while doing it.) Mom to four rescue dogs (Skye, Shadow, Tito and Bentley) and two cats (Yoda and Stanky Leg) Genny has been a dedicated foster for the past 25 years.
Her specialty is caring for large litters, orphaned and/or unsocialized kittens, as well as senior hospice cases who get to live out their final days being loved at the Resch compound. Recently retired from her job as VP Finance of major ad agency, her husband is now lobbying for them to move south. As you might imagine, we’re lobbying just as hard against it.
Carrie O’Meara, Secretary
Talk about a trial by fire – Carrie not only survived Pawject Runway and Softie Homecoming, but she has been absolutely critical to the success of both. Not surprising given her 15 years in advertising, a pit stop in professional fundraising, and a full-time gig in the C-Suite at a national experiential marketing agency where she leads the development of consumer engagement and brand activation programs. Translation? She can organize an event with her eyes closed, has more ideas in an hour than most people do in a lifetime, and is always finding innovative, new ways to maximize returns, so we’re thrilled that she’s agreed to bring those talents to bear for the homeless cats and abused/neglected dogs of Maryland. And as if that wasn’t enough, she’s also Dog Mom to Parker, a former street dog who now graciously accepts (okay, demands) his meal-prepped chicken and cookies, while her husband is often left to fend for himself.
Robin Boyle, Board Member
Robin has spent her life raising funds and organizing activities for a long roster of schools and colleges. With her kids now grown, she’s refocused her efforts 24/7 on behalf of Soft Side and is the brains behind our online auctions and fundraising events. Mom to two rescue dogs, Chloe and Louie, when she isn’t pitching sponsors, sweet-talking new Softies on board, planning events, or administering The Phoenix Fund, Robin somehow still finds time to volunteer for Pets on Wheels and is a Wish Granter for Make A Wish Foundation.
Susan Ridge, Board Member
You’d think holding down the job of SVP of Marketing and Communications for the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, along with balancing a home life that includes one husband, 2 dogs (including one rescued from a South Korean dog meat farm), and 7 former street kitties, there wouldn’t be a lot of time left in Susan’s schedule to do much else. Yet, over the past two years, Susan has found time to put in countless hours volunteering for Show Your Soft Side and recently accepted a seat on our Board. In addition to her marketing and communications knowledge, Susan has a long history of animal welfare advocacy in CT, VA, and DC (translation – wherever she goes, she helps animals) and we couldn’t be happier that she’s now sharing that expertise with the cats and dogs of Baltimore.
In Memory of our Co-Founder, Lori Smyth
For those who never had the pleasure of knowing her, Lori Smyth was a force of nature. Without her, we wouldn’t have ambassadors from every field of radio, TV and sport. We wouldn’t be in countless classrooms across the country. We wouldn’t be able to provide cat and dog food to people in need. And we wouldn’t have programs that have become a lifeline to homeless cats and abused/neglected dogs across Maryland. With Lori’s passing in May of 2023, she left behind one wife, six dogs, six cats and a raft of broken hearts, but her legacy will live on forever.
