Yvonne Bodley
Before moving to Texas in 2012 and joining AAR in April 2013, Yvonne worked for Comerica Bank for 20+ years. With a background in banking and finance, she will be invaluable for her role as Executive Director in guiding AAR’s fundraising and finances. She also volunteered for Leader Dog for the Blind in Michigan as a puppy trainer/raiser.
After deciding that she was tired of the corporate world, she found AAR and the rest is history. Yvonne has adopted 6 dogs (Hank, Lola, Redford, Ryder, Yuki and Mister) from AAR over the last 10 years and also has 2 cats (Mini and WeeOne).
Expanding the volunteer base and volunteer development is a priority for Yvonne. She wants to “develop an internal plan to help volunteers gain new experience throughout and within the shelter”.
Yvonne is passionate about AAR and all of its amazing volunteers. When not volunteering, she enjoys walking her dogs, reading and spending time with her family.
Dr. Jessica Quillivan
Dr. Jessica Quillivan has been volunteering at AAR on and off since 2013. After retiring from owning 2 hospitals in the Magnolia area, she is glad to be more available to help with animals at AAR. She has served animals and the veterinary profession in many ways including serving on the Board of Directors for the American Animal Hospital Association, alternate delegate for the AVMA Animal Ethics and Welfare Committee, and Presiding Officer of the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.
Dr. Quillivan also visits the TAMU College of Veterinary Medicine regularly to help with student discussion regarding ethics in veterinary practice as well as rules of the TBVME.
Dr. Q lives here in Magnolia with her family, 3 dogs, 3 horses, and 4 cats. She enjoys riding horses, jogging with dogs, and family time.
Julie Devlin
Julie started volunteering with AAR in 2018 as a small dog volunteer. She fell in love with a little senior girl name Beth and realized her passion was for these sweet seniors (especially those with medical issues). She has fostered numerous seniors for AAR as well as other rescues. She currently has four of her own seniors at home (Chip, Bruno-AAR alum, Tex and Olive). She is also the Training Coordinator and is on the Dog Adoption Team.
Originally from Pennsylvania, she moved to Virginia and worked for Bon Secours healthcare system for their Foundation and Marketing Department. Julie moved to the Houston area, saw an AAR billboard and has been a passionate volunteer ever since.
Outside of the shelter, Julie is the Executive Director for her family foundation and works as a photo assistant for a well-known photographer. Wherever she is and whoever will listen, Julie is always spreading the word about AAR which she refers to as “The Greatest Place on Earth!”
Dianne Alavarez
Dianne joined AAR in 2018 after retiring from the Houston Independent School District. She worked in public education for 36 years as a teacher, curriculum specialist and a Curriculum Director. She and her husband Ramon, moved to Tomball on 2005 shortly after getting married.
Dianne has always loved cats and rescued several who became lifelong companions. After the loss of her last cat she found AAR. Fostering helped to fill the void. She fosters kittens from two weeks to 6 months. Fostering eventually led to volunteering as an adoption counselor and most recently becoming a part of the intake team.
Outside of AAR, Dianne works as a curriculum specialist for McGraw Hill Publishing traveling around the country providing training and onsite coaching for teachers.
Laura Feray
Laura Feray has always been passionate about animals, but it was her deep love for dogs and her desire to make a tangible difference in their lives that led her to begin volunteering at AAR in 2019. What began as a few shifts per week quickly evolved as Laura’s commitment grew, and she took on the role of scheduling coordinator. Today, she serves as the liaison to the shelter’s veterinarian, ensuring seamless communication and high-quality care for the animals.
Before dedicating herself fully to animal welfare, Laura spent several years in human resources at a large public accounting firm. After leaving corporate America to focus on raising her 3 children, Cotton, Gilda and Grace, she later worked alongside her husband in his medical practice, where she honed her skills in both administration and caregiving.
Outside of the shelter, Laura continues her work at Feray Family Practice in Tomball. She lives in Spring with her family, Lydia, her dog who is an AAR alum and a foster failure, and Mew, her sweet senior cat.
Elaine Smith
Elaine, a native Houstonian with deep roots in the Cypress community, shares her home with her husband, Mike, and three beloved rescue dogs—two of whom are “foster success” adoptions. Her family also includes a son and two grandsons, and she treasures spending time with her family and friends.
After retiring from a successful career in the athletic business, Elaine was drawn to volunteer work and found her “happy place” at AAR. Her lifelong passion for animals, especially dogs and horses, has been evident since childhood. An example of patience and passion with animals: she once trained an orphaned baby pig to walk on a harness, much to the delight of her neighbors.
At AAR, she enjoys and is passionate in many opportunities to help with daily shelter life. She volunteers as foster coordinator, is a member of the adoption team, and happily dedicates her time to help the dogs navigate shelter life—helping both their well-being and volunteer safety.
Katie Summerford
Katie was born in Chicago, raised in New Mexico, but moved to Texas as quick as she could in 1999 to follow career advancements for both her and her husband, Dan. She joined AAR in November 2021 to honor the passing of her first rescue pup, Hurley in August of that year.
Katie spent most of her career in commercial lending with various financial institutions. After 18 + years, she left the financial arena, to own her own business, a small ceramics studio in Cypress. After five years, she sold her studio to focus on her family, which consists of her husband, kids (Clay and Sami), two dogs (Charlie and Chewie), and a rabbit named Binky. Katie has always loved animals. She has loved and owned dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, hermit crabs, guinea pigs, turtles, and fish.
Her time at the shelter has been more than rewarding. She has trained in small dogs, cats, quiet room, and transport. Looking to make a broader impact with her volunteer hours, she reached out to be on the board. She is eager to merge her love of animals and her outside skills to best support the AAR effort.
Melinda Goodwin
Melinda started volunteering with AAR in the summer of 2014. Her youngest daughter (age 14) needed service hours for high school and a parent was required to volunteer with her. Melinda just stayed and never left. She started as a small dog volunteer and became a large dog volunteer in 2018. She says she has the best of both worlds getting to work each week with both the small (shift leader) and large dogs (senior handler).
Melinda was the scheduler for our public spay/neuter clinic (at our old location) and then became the vet assistance coordinator to help provide financial assistance for low-income pet owners in our community. She joined the dog adoption team in 2021 and became the coordinator in 2022. She'll tell anyone that AAR is her happy place!
Outside of volunteering, Melinda enjoys spending time with her family (including 3 large dogs). She’s an avid Houston sports fan and enjoys going to the Aggie games. Gig’em!
JACKIE SMITH
Jackie began volunteering with both large and small dogs in 2021 and is also a trusted member of the transportation team. Over the years, she has developed a deep passion for the importance of spay and neuter programs and loves sharing that knowledge whenever she can. Jackie especially enjoys working with misunderstood dogs and is always eager to learn new ways to help them heal and thrive. She has adopted three AAR dogs of her own and has two additional rescues who complete her pack.
Jackie has 20 years of experience working in the golf industry, 9 of which were spent selling both corporate and fundraising golf outings and helping nonprofit organizations raise much-needed funds. She brings that experience, along with creative and innovative fundraising skills, to support AAR’s mission.
Jackie played collegiate golf at Texas Tech University and Sam Houston State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in horticulture. Outside of rescue work, she enjoys landscaping, spending time with her dogs and family, playing golf, and watching all sports.
KIM EKOLA
Kim grew up in West Virginia caring for animals of all kinds on her family’s farms and bottle-feeding many by hand — sparking a lifelong confidence and love for animals.
She began her career managing administrative teams, then spent 25 years in the financial services industry developing solutions and improving operational efficiency.
In 2015 she moved to the Houston area, became a yin yoga instructor, and during her certification’s service requirement discovered AAR — the perfect blend of service and animal care.
Today, Kim volunteers throughout the dog barn, coordinates the large dog area, trains volunteers, and is studying to become a certified dog trainer. She lives in Tomball with her husband, their senior cat, and five rescue dogs, three adopted from AAR.
