Board of Directors
A look at our team of volunteer leaders and advisors
About our Board
Our Board of Directors consists entirely of volunteers who come from a variety of backgrounds, bringing their individual experiences and strengths to the organization.
The Board meets a minimum of four times per year to provide direction and oversight to the organization. Meanwhile, members work on projects and issues affecting the organization’s future and day-to-day operations.
Our Board of Directors (2024)
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Mark joined the Southside SPCA Board in 2008. He served as Vice President from 2011-2016 and became Board President in 2017. In addition to overseeing the Board and shelter, Mark teaches full time as a professor at a local State university.
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Dave began volunteering for Southside SPCA in 1996. He served as the organization’s President from 1998 until 2017, when he assumed his current position. In addition to serving on the Board, Dave is responsible for many tasks related to fundraising for the organization. Before retiring in 2018, Dave practiced law in Richmond.
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Sandy’s time with Southside SPCA spans more than 35 years, and her impact is immeasurable. Our Executive Director and full-time volunteer since her retirement in 2000, Sandy has been a driving force for Southside SPCA. Read more about her story below.
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Helen joined the Board in 2004. She has served as Board Secretary since 2010. Helen’s career in public education spanned 32 years, first as a Spanish teacher and then as Supervisor of Foreign Languages for the Virginia Department of Education. She later served on the Board of Visitors of Longwood University.
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Steve has been associated with Southside SPCA since 2011 and joined the Board in 2015. He is also the lead of Southside SPCA’s COOLE Committee, which provides local fundraising activities for the shelter. In addition, Steve holds down a full-time job with the State of Virginia.
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Francee became a Southside SPCA volunteer in 1990. After a brief hiatus, where she concentrated on her career as a Realtor with her family’s business, she rejoined the Southside SPCA as a volunteer and later as a board member. She has served as the Assistant Director for over 10 years and oversees varies aspects of the shelter operations, including dog intakes and the adoption’s programs. Francee lives in Bon Air, Virginia with her husband and two children (when not at college), and their three dogs, Nora, Stella, and Lola and cat George, all Southside SPCA alumnae.
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Marge has been associated with Southside SPCA for over 25 years in many different capacities. Marge retired from the State of Virginia as the Program Director for Low Vision Services.
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Kylie joined the board in 2024. Her background is in fundraising at the higher education level, and she works full time at a local University.
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Bob, and his wife, Leslie, joined the Board in 2016. Prior to joining, both were (and still are) Southside SPCA dog adoption counselors dating back to 2008. Bob is a retired president of a local fuel company, and Leslie’s background is in accounting. In addition to the board participation, they provide financial oversight to the shelter.
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Bob, and his wife, Leslie, joined the Board in 2016. Prior to joining, both were (and still are) Southside SPCA dog adoption counselors dating back to 2008. Bob is a retired president of a local fuel company, and Leslie’s background is in accounting. In addition to the board participation, they provide financial oversight to the shelter.
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Julie joined the Board in 2022. In addition to her Board participation, Julie has had a successful career as a television journalist since 1994. As part of her job, she volunteers to help local charities and was moved to take a more active role with Southside SPCA after adopting the first of three animals from our shelter.
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Jim has been associated with Southside SPCA since 2010. In addition to his Board participation, he is also in charge of Tailwaggers Thrift Store, whose sales support Southside SPCA. Jim is retired from careers in the military and civil service.
Southside SPCA Staff
Our SPCA Staff (left to right): Kiersten Wallace, Janie Schutte, Angel Eggler, Stephanie Drames, Amber Hargis
Our loyal and dedicated staff do a tremendous amount of work at our shelter caring for an average of 88 animals daily. But we need your help, too. One of the reasons why the Southside SPCA is able to do so much with limited financial resources is because of our awesome volunteers. We hope you will consider serving! To learn more about volunteer opportunities, please check out our volunteer page.
About our Executive Director
Few are so ready to commit to a cause that they dedicate their lives to it. Sandy Wyatt is one of those rare individuals.
Sandy’s journey with Southside SPCA began over 35 years ago as a volunteer, while she was still employed by the RF&P Railroad. Sandy took over as director and a full-time volunteer when she retired in 2000.
The Early Years
Times were difficult in those early years. Money and volunteers were scarce, but Sandy never wavered in her devotion to the homeless, neglected and abused animals of Southside Virginia. Working 12 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year, she kept the Southside SPCA going even when it appeared at times that it would not survive.
Times are better today. A new shelter was completed in 2007 and there are now more volunteers and shelter staff to help. Nonetheless, Sandy still continues her seven-day-a-week, 365-day-a-year schedule as a member of the Board of Directors. Sandy has never taken a salary for the work she has done.
A Volunteer Always
Her volunteer day usually begins at 5 a.m. when she arrives at the shelter to greet and check on the animals, dispense medications, respond to emails, and, often, care for dogs, cats, kittens and puppies left in cages or tied to the shelter gate during the night. She spends the rest of the morning responding to calls for help, transporting animals to and from the veterinarians, dealing with shelter operation and maintenance issues, as well as picking up supplies.
Though the board has tried to compensate her for all of her work and efforts, time and again, she has rejected all offers. She even dismisses offers for a day off; her dedication to the animals truly knows no boundaries. In addition, Sandy is one of our financial donors. How fortunate is the Southside SPCA that Sandy came into the lives of the animals of Southside Virginia. The organization would look far different without her participation from the beginning all those years ago.
We hope you are as inspired as we are by Sandy’s selfless devotion to the welfare of the homeless animals of Southside Virginia given all that she has accomplished on their behalf. “Hero” is an overused term these days, but there can be no question that it correctly describes Sandy Wyatt.