2024 Board of Directors

Laura Johnson

President

Laura came to Tallahassee in 1994 to attend Florida State University, and she loved the city so much that she made it her new home. She has worked for the local Florida Blue office for more than 15 years and
has a long history of community volunteerism, beginning with the local shelter in her hometown of Crestview, Fla. She spent 10 years on the board of directors at Big Bend Cares and is an active volunteer with the TMH Animal Therapy Team and the Disaster Animal Response Team (when needed).

Laura and her partner Brian have been volunteering at Humane Society events and fostering LCHS dogs since 2012 with the help of their furry “home team,” including: Miho, their ornery rescue Siamese Cat from the Muskogee Co. shelter; Wren, the formerly feral rescue dog from LCHS; and Callie, the Bainbridge Humane Society dog with whom Laura makes Animal Therapy visits.

Megan Federico

President-Elect

Megan brings 15 years of dog experience from her dog daycare, Camp MoJo’s. While her original intent was to use her FSU degree in psychology to study law, she fell in love with dog care in 2006 and grew from an inexperienced dog lover to business owner, even earning her CPACO certification (Certified Professional Animal Care Operator) in 2018 showing her dedication to animal care and continued learning.

Megan and her partner, Jerritt, are proud rescue parents to two handsome beagles, Taako and Magnus. Their average is four dogs at a time, though sometimes they’ve had up to six (if you include fosters)!

Though dogs and rescue are her passion, Megan also makes time for running, reading, travel, meditation practice, bird watching, and trying to keep her houseplants alive.

Mallory Davis

Secretary

Mallory Davis and her husband James began fostering shortly after they lost their bullmastiff, Gibbs, in 2014. Their first foster was a 175-lb English mastiff named Tank that needed a foster after opening a fridge and cleaning out the contents. Since then they’ve fostered more 50 dogs and have only failed twice, keeping Catan and Boss. In addition to fostering large dogs, Mallory volunteers with the kitty care program and serves on the Furball committee.

Beyond her work with the Leon County Humane Society, Mallory volunteers with the City of Tallahassee Animal Services as a Level 4 and playgroup volunteer. She is also a member of the Pilot Club of Tallahassee and serves in various board positions, including the state district level as the coordinator for the youth division.

A graduate of Florida State University’s Dedman School of Hospitality, Mallory has been in the hospitality industry for more than 15 years and recently moved into human resources.

Jan & Bill Dobson

Treasurer

Jan’s compassion for animals developed early. Her childhood household included dogs, fish, turtles, guinea pigs and more. While a teen, this longtime Tallahassean was a Leon County Animal Shelter volunteer. Since then, she has found joy in volunteering with many local organizations.

Jan and her husband Bill have two grown sons. The couple currently shares their home with two adopted pups – senior terrier mix Abby and rambunctious Declan, a soft coated wheaten terrier. There is a special place in Jan’s heart for feisty terriers of any kind and most especially for wheatens. Today she serves on the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of Greater Tampa Bay board of directors.

Before retirement, Jan was a certified not-for-profit executive and communications professional. She also taught obedience classes to dogs and their humans, apprenticing for one of Tallahassee’s premier animal behaviorists.

These days Jan and her friends (human and furry) hike (and in some cases sniff) local park trails together. She also enjoys gardening, traveling and making pottery.

Amy Roach

Board Member

Amy moved to Tallahassee 37 years ago from Greensboro, Fla., a small country town just west of Leon County. She began working at Florida State University in the Controller’s Office for several years, then accepted a position with the Florida Department of Revenue, where she currently holds the position of Auditor. She’s been with the agency for 35 years.

Amy’s love of medicine for most of her life earned her a spot with Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, where she began volunteering in the Emergency Department. She currently holds a position in the Pediatric Department/Children’s Center where she has worked for 13 years.

She enjoys animals immensely and currently has Annie, a rescue Miniature Schnauzer, and two rescue kitties, Harley and Ethel, who was adopted from Tally Cat Café. Amy is a frequent volunteer at the Café, which houses beautiful adoptable kitties in partnership with LCHS. She always encourages everyone to come experience a relaxing atmosphere while getting lots of kitty cuddles and enjoying some wonderful drinks and pastries.

Paying it forward and helping others is something Amy strongly believes in. In addition to her active support of LCHS, she has been a Disaster Services volunteer with the American Red Cross for the past 18 years. As a strong advocate for children, she served the 2nd Judicial Circuit as a court-appointed Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) for 7 years. At the end of her time as a GAL, Big Bend Hospice welcomed Amy for several years on the team of volunteers in the very special position as a member of the Vigil Watch Team, which is the group of people who are with patients in their final days of life. Amy has also been able to share some wonderful evenings with the Tim Tebow Foundation, Night to Shine events, celebrating people with special needs for a lovely Prom night.

Celebrating her Native American Heritage, Amy greatly enjoys attending Pow Wows of the Eastern Band Cherokee Nation and Intertribal Pow Wows.

Margarette Bayron-Arcelay

Board Member

Margarette arrived from the beautiful island of Puerto Rico to pursue a PhD at Florida A&M University (FAMU) School of the Environment and has called Tallahassee her home for nearly five years. Her love for animals developed early, sharing her childhood farm house with dogs, cats, sheeps, horses, ducks and chickens among other four-legged critters. She also always felt a connection with the environment and was eager to learn about conservation and preservation of the ecosystem.


Margarette expects to defend her Dissertation in Fall 2022 and currently spends much of her time in white robes working on her research and mentoring undergraduate students at FAMU. In addition to her career, she enjoys volunteering with her husband Jose, who she met while he was pursuing his graduate architectural studies at FAMU. They both are active volunteers with the Humane Society and enjoy spearheading fundraising events so LCHS can continue its important mission. Margarette is eager to help shape the future of LCHS and offer a different perspective to the board and the organization. She also wants to help build a robust foster community in Tallahassee and Leon County.


In her spare time, Margarette enjoys fostering LCHS pets, gardening, cooking, crocheting for her small business, Fil Sur Crochet, and supporting local businesses in Tallahassee. They currently share their home with two LCHS “graduates,” Enzo – a hound mix – and Pinot – the boss lady chihuahua mix.

Carla McClellan, MPH, CPPS

Carla McClellan, MPH, CPPS.

Carla is a Tallahassee native, small business owner, community advocate, and lifetime animal lover. She holds collegiate and graduate level degrees from TCC, FSU, and USF. Prior to making animal welfare a career, Carla worked in social work and public health. In 2016, Carla founded Tallahassee Lassie Pet Care, a pet concierge business. In their 8th year, she has a dedicated team of employees and created their prestigious Active Retiree Program.

While Carla spends a lot of time growing her business, the highlight of her life is volunteerism and philanthropy. She is active in the community, serving as a commissioner on the Tallahassee/Leon Commission and Status of Women and Girls. Carla is mom to three rescue pets, enjoys spending time with friends and family, and traveling between the beach and the mountains.

Susan Aarons

Board Member

Mrs. Aarons is the VICE PRESIDENT, TREASURY MANAGEMENT BANKER for Capital City Bank. Mrs. Aarons has spent 20 years as a Treasury Management Solutions Consultant specializing in Corporate, Government, and Non-Profit Organizations throughout Florida. Mrs. Aarons is a graduate of the University of Louisiana Monroe with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. Her criminal justice background has allowed Mrs. Aarons to take a special interest in helping protect, educate, and publicly lecture about the risks associated with fraud and cyber threats.

Susan is highly dedicated to serving and giving back to her community. Along with her responsibilities as an LCHS Board Member, Susan and her family have volunteered and fostered for LCHS for several years. Susan also serves as the Chair for Foundation for Leon County Schools as well as various board seats and coordinator roles with several other school system support organizations. Mrs. Aarons is also a member of Leadership Tallahassee Class 40, a Community Catalyst for Knight Creative Communities Institute, a member of the Bicentennial Task Force for the City of Tallahassee, a past recipient of the Julian V. Smith Community Service Award.

Susan and her husband Doug have two children Connor and Riley and have lived in Tallahassee for over 20 years. They currently have four Australian Cattle Dogs (2 foster fails). Susan and her children can regularly be found working Kitty Care at the Humane Society and have a special place in their hearts for LCHS.

Rick Figlio

Board Member

Rick Figlio is a shareholder with the Ausley McMullen law firm. Before joining the Ausley firm, Rick spent several years in state government, including stints as an appellate lawyer for the Office of the Attorney General and as Interim General Counsel and General Counsel to Governors Rick Scott and Charlie Crist. Rick’s private practice continues to focus on state and local government, both in litigation and in the regulatory and legislative realms.

Rick earned his bachelor’s degree from Davidson College, and his law degree from the University of Georgia. Rick initially practiced in northern Virginia, then served as a law clerk for a judge on the federal Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Alabama, before moving to Tallahassee in 2004.

In addition to practicing law, Rick helps manage the family business, Paws & Claws Veterinary Hospital, which is owned and primarily operated by his wife of nearly thirty years, Dr. Dawn Figlio. Rick and Dawn are deeply committed to LCHS’s mission. They have been avid supporters of the LCHS since moving to Tallahassee twenty years ago, which has included legal and veterinary support and prior stints (both Rick and Dr. Figlio) on the LCHS Board of Directors. It has been a pleasure watching LCHS grow from a small, local nonprofit into an organization capable of making a significant impact in the lives of companion animals in need both locally and regionally.

In addition to legal, veterinary, and volunteer work, Rick enjoys running, travel, kayaking, and spending time with his seven rescue animals, including four cats and a "tea cup" Great Dane that were adopted through LCHS.