The Louisiana SPCA Board of Directors is responsible for setting the vision, goals and direction of the organization and supporting the senior team members who carry them out. The Board considers trends and issues impacting the state and focuses efforts on strategic long-term outcomes.
Board of Directors
T. Colette White
President
Colette White has volunteered for the Louisiana SPCA as a foster parent for the past 9 years. A practicing attorney, she joined the Louisiana SPCA Board of Directors in August 2016. In March 2017, Colette was elected to serve as Secretary of the Board of Directors. Colette serves on two LA/SPCA board committees – the Trusteeship Committee and the Government Relations and Legal Affairs Committee, for which she is a co-chair. A longtime resident of the historic Algiers community in New Orleans, Colette and her beloved German Shepherd, Max, enjoy exercising and spending quality time together.
Jeff Meckstroth
Vice President
Jeff joined the Louisiana SPCA Board after serving on its Foundation Board. Jeff specializes in financial instruments and asset allocation. Jeff is a graduate of Tulane University, where he was also a doctoral candidate in finance and taught investments to MBAs. Jeff attended Vanderbilt University, and researched his Master’s Thesis in Economics at Cambridge University, England. Jeff is married to Sarah Sharp and together they have twin children, Shelby and Miles. Their four-legged family includes Louisiana SPCA adopted dog LuLu, who loves to dance and Snowflake, an active 17 year old cat. Jeff is completing his third term as St. Martin’s Episcopal School Board Treasurer, Chair of Finance and Chair of Real Estate Committees. Jeff and Sarah also serve on the Board of Directors of Tulane’s Summer Lyric.
Ryan McCabe
Treasurer
Ryan McCabe has volunteered on the Louisiana SPCA’s Government and Legal Affairs committee since 2016 and joined the Board of Directors in 2018. He received his B.S. in Finance and his B.A. in Urban Planning from the University of Albany and his J.D. from Tulane Law School. Ryan is a partner at Dwyer, Cambre & Suffern, APLC, where he practices real estate and commercial litigation. Ryan is the proud parent of two spoiled puggles, Jodie and George.
Lynn Coatney
Secretary
Lynn Coatney is a decades-long community volunteer in New Orleans. After completing her B.S. in Education and a M.Ed. in Special Education from the University of Texas at Austin, she worked as a teacher/consultant for blind and visually impaired students in Austin and New Orleans. The Coatneys support a number of nonprofits through the Mike and Lynn Coatney Family Foundation. Lynn was on the Board of Trustees at St. Martin’s Episcopal School and a founding member of the Board of Directors for Dignity Period. A volunteer with the Louisiana SPCA since 2005, Lynn regularly fosters kittens and puppies, especially those requiring bottle feeding or additional care. Friends and family members all have pets that began as her fosters, including her own dog and two cats.
Machelle Hall
Past President
Machelle Lee Hall has volunteered with the Louisiana SPCA since 2009, and both of her cats and one of her two dogs are Louisiana SPCA alums. Ms. Hall teaches at the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic at Tulane University Law School. She received her JD from Tulane University Law School where she was the Editor in Chief of the Tulane Environmental Law Journal, her MA from Central European University, and her BA from Hamline University in Minnesota. Before becoming an attorney, Ms. Hall was a consulting archaeologist in the Upper Midwest and Gulf Coast states. Ms. Hall also volunteers for the New Orleans Citizen Diplomacy Council, Gretna Historical Society and several Mardi Gras organizations.
Karen Adjmi
Karen Adjmi is the co-owner of Earthsavers Spa + Store and loves to do good. She was born and raised in New Orleans and attended Tulane University. After college she worked for a mid-size marketing agency where she met Jackie Palumbo. Together they opened their own graphic design studio where they developed their skills in marketing and advertising. As a hobby, they opened Earthsavers. What began as an eco-friendly shop quickly evolved into a center of all things self-care and wellness. For the last 30 years she has been privileged to do what she loves and enhance people’s lives in the process. Karen is the loving owner of three dogs: Sophia, Ava and Bear. Throughout her life she has had a huge interest in helping animals and is thrilled to be a part of the SPCA’s board.
Desirée Charbonnet
A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Desirée graduated from Cabrini High School, and went on to Loyola University for both her bachelor’s degree and juris doctor (law degree). She was the first woman elected to serve as Recorder of Mortgages for the parish of Orleans, where she served for 10 years. She was the first woman elected to the bench of Municipal Court in New Orleans, and the first to be elected Chief Judge. Charbonnet has been nationally recognized as an advocate for alternatives to incarceration and has been featured in national publications including The Atlantic. Charbonnet resigned her judgeship in 2017 to run as a mayoral candidate for the City of New Orleans, where she progressed to the runoff. Charbonnet reentered private practice in 2018 and established the Law Office of Desirée M. Charbonnet, where she currently practices.
Allison Shapiro Dandry
Allison Shapiro Dandry is Director of Marketing & Technology for her family’s international business, Krispy Krunchy Foods, LLC. She graduated with honors from Tulane University and is currently pursuing her MBA. Allison is a member of the Junior League of New Orleans and has served on the board of the American Cancer Society of New Orleans’ Hope Lodge. Allison has been involved with many other organizations such as Newcomb Alumni Association, The Young Leadership Council, 504Ward, The New Orleans Chamber, and the March of Dimes where she was a Spotlight on Success Honoree in 2009. She has grown with the Louisiana SPCA from fostering, volunteering and working in the clinic as a young child to chairing special event committees and now serving as a Board Member.
Nene Glenn Gianfala
Nene Glenn Gianfala is a Vice President of the Valuation Advisory group with over 14 years of experience in accounting, corporate finance, and business valuations. She joined Chaffe & Associates, Inc. as a Financial Analyst Intern in June 2007, and upon completion of the internship, joined the company. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Accredited in Business Valuations (ABV), Certified in Entity and Intangible Valuations by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CEIV), and an Accredited Senior Appraiser in Business Valuations with a specialty in Intangible Assets (ASA-BV/IA) by the American Society of Appraisers. Prior to her seat on the Louisiana SPCA Board of Directors, Ms. Gianfala served on both Louisiana SPCA’s Finance Committee, and the Louisiana SPCA Advocacy Council.
Susan Guidry
Susan taught high school English before obtaining her juris doctorate degree, cum laude, from Loyola Law School. She had a solo civil litigation practice from which she retired in 2004. Volunteer recovery work following Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the federal levee system led Susan to run for the New Orleans City Council, where she represented District “A” for eight years; serving as Chair of the Council’s Criminal Justice Committee and as a member of the Utility Committee. In those roles, Susan spearheaded numerous criminal justice reforms and was an advocate for energy efficiency and expansion of the green industry in New Orleans. Susan has been a long-time supporter of the Louisiana SPCA both before and during her time on the City Council. Today, Susan is happily retired again. She and her husband Hervin, both New Orleans natives, live in the Parkview neighborhood with their beloved four-legged children, SPCA rescues Emmi and Louis.
Ondina Canales Mendoza
Ms. Canales Mendoza leverages over 15 years of supporting private and public-sector entities with the development and management of grants. She supported the City of New Orleans following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Gustav for a span of 10 years serving as a Grants Manager and then as a FEMA Public Assistance Policy Specialist. In more recent years, she has served as the Grant Writer for Kingsley House and continues to support state / municipal clients across the country in exploring alternative sources of federal grant funding to address the pandemic’s widespread impacts to public health, safety and economy. When not on Zoom calls, Ondina spends her time running around with her 2 Samoyeds and 6-year-old. There is never a dull moment with all her active creatures! Prior to joining the Louisiana SPCA Board of Directors, Ms. Canales Mendoza served on Government and Legal Affairs Committee.
Stephen Morgan
Steve started his work with the Louisiana SPCA as part of the board of its affiliated foundation and has since added SPCA Board membership as part of his commitment to helping animals and the people in their lives. Steve is a Senior Vice President and Investment Director – Wealth Portfolio Management in Hancock Whitney’s Asset Management Group and has been in the investment industry in New Orleans for over 25 years. He has a Bachelor of Mathematics from Carleton College and a Master of Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin. He is the proud pet parent of a rescue beagle mix, Captain Morgan, who is far more well-known about town than Steve.
Jackie Palumbo
Jackie Palumbo is the co-owner of Earthsavers Spa + Store. A New Orleans native, she attended the University of New Orleans. For the past 11 years she has served as a member of the City Park Improvement Association and the Friends of City Park board. Jackie and her husband Vincent share a son, daughter, four grandchildren, and two four-legged children. Jackie has welcomed rescue animals into her home throughout her life. Some found her by chance, and others were adopted from the SPCA. Jackie believes every animal deserves to find their forever home! Jackie is honored to be working with the Louisiana SPCA, and is looking forward to a wonderful year.
Nissan Patel
Nissan Patel is a New Orleans native and the current Compliance Officer for Georges Enterprises. He previously served as regulatory inspector and criminal investigator for the State of Louisiana, where he was an explosives detection canine handler. In 2018, Nissan was appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards as his appointee to the Emergency Response Commission, a position he still holds today. He is a member of the Krewe of Thoth and also serves with the Young Leadership Council and the Exchange Club of New Orleans. He is a Lakeview resident with his rescue dogs, Max and Huey P. Before serving on the Board for the LASPCA, Nissan served on the organization’s Government Relations Committee.
Walker Saik
Walker Saik is the Corporate Controller at Pool Corp. He received his Masters in Accountancy from Wake Forest University and a Bachelors in Economics from Davidson College. He and his wife Margaret adopted two Labradors in 2012 (Abby and Roux) and enjoy every moment with those two! Before serving on the Board for the Louisiana SPCA, Walker served for two years on the organization’s Finance Committee.
Committee Members
Foundation Board
Strategic Planning Committee
Trusteeship Committee
Government & Legal Committee
Development Committee
Finance Committee
Advocacy Council
Our Advocacy Council members are mission-based voices of influence connecting the Louisiana SPCA to a greater constituency and supporting the governance of our Board of Directors by guiding the direction of animal welfare and serving as organization advocates in the state.
The Louisiana SPCA helped more than 3,000 animals find their forever home in 2020.
Many thanks and tail wags to our partners!
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