Board Of Directors

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STEVE KAUFMAN
President
Board Member Bio
Steve grew up in Sarasota, Florida where his family always had dogs and horses. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Florida in 1990. His first job after graduation landed him in Ft. Myers working for an agricultural chemical manufacturer. He is currently the area manager for Mayo Ag Services, conveniently his office is just down the street from the CHS clinic, while residing in Alva with his wife Karla. The couple have adopted numerous animals over the years from dogs to cats, horses, cows and a donkey. Steve always says that if an animal crosses their cattle guard, then it has probably found it’s forever home.

Steve Kaufman’s email for inquiries: steve@caloosahumanesociety.org

Toni Peck
Secretary
Board Member Bio
Toni is a trial attorney who carefully evaluates a matter to find individualized resolutions to each client’s unique case. She prides herself on keeping her clients well informed, and maintains the integrity to give a prospective client an honest assessment to the strengths and weaknesses of their position, and providing a low-cost or free alternative to litigation if available.

Currently a general practice lawyer at Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., Toni’s mission is to meet the legal needs of the community.  She is committed to public service through acceptance of pro bono cases, self-represented litigant assistance and presentations in area schools.  Prior to her election to the CHS Board of Directors in 2017, Toni served as pro bono counsel to CHS.  Toni received her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota and her law degree from the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, MN, and she is licensed to practice law in both Florida and Minnesota.

When not practicing law, Toni is playing the oboe or flute with various community bands, training for her next triathlon, or out on an adventure with her husband and four children.  If you don’t see her there, you might inquire after her with the family master, Sir Fred the basset hound.

Rebecca Crum
Executive Director
Board Member Bio
Rebecca Crum is a born and raised 4th generation Hendry County resident and graduate of LaBelle High School.

With a lifelong love of animals, as a child, her mother had no limits as to how many animals she could foster as they shared an equal love of animals and saving their lives. While she had no limits, though maybe she should have, as this included dogs, cats, hogs, calves, birds, hamsters, gerbils, and even an opossum.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and her 3 girls at home. Her 3 girls being Jack Russell’s are named Happy, Deetdeet, and Mavis with Happy being the oldest at 18 years old.

She also comes with a love for her community previously serving on the Swamp Cabbage Board as the Treasurer and previously serving as the LaBelle Cattlewomen’s Vice President.

TIM HALEY
Honorary Director
Board Member Bio
Tim Haley has been a LaBelle resident for the last 30 years. A long time Humane Society supporter, served as a past President and a current Board Member. Tim and his partner are the parents of three adopted dogs.
KARLA KAUFMAN
Director
Board Member Bio
Karla is a native of Ft. Myers, also having lived in Gainesville, FL, Reno, NV and San Antonio, TX. She has been a registered nurse for 32 yrs. A lifelong animal lover, she has always had multiple rescue animals at any given time. Her first encounter with CHS was going to one of their monthly garage sales several years ago, where she bought tickets for the Peace, Love and Paws Gala. This led to volunteering and ultimately joining the board in December 2016. Karla and her husband, Steve, reside in Alva. They share their home with 6 dogs, 5 cats, 3 cows, 2 mustangs and 1 burro, all rescues of course. Steve loves animals just as much as she does.
Tom Parrish
Vice President
Board Member Bio
Tom is an original Floridian, being born in Fort Myers and residing in LaBelle since 1988. He and his wife, Becky, raised their three sons here in LaBelle. He has five grandchildren who are his pride and joy. He has one handsome boxer, named Andrew Tucker. He has owned several boxers and beagles throughout the years. Tom has worked at Family Eye Care for the past 30 years. He also has a background as a Registered Nurse. Tom loves animals of all kinds but is especially fond of dogs.
Toddy Kean
Director
Board Member Bio
Toddy grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and moved to Florida 13 years ago. As a child, she was often bringing stray animals home. As an adult, not much has changed.

Toddy attended John Carroll University, where she earned her Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in English literature.
Her first career was in fundraising and grant writing; before she transitioned to her true calling – training dogs.
Toddy owns a dog training business. She loves working with shelter dogs to find them a forever home. Under her guidance, many of these dogs go on to do therapy work in our community.

Toddy is married to her high school sweetheart, Brian. They have 3 adopted dogs who are their pride and joy.

Toddy began volunteering for CHS in 2017; and was instantly hooked. She is very proud to be a member of the Board of Directors.

DEIRDRE PURVIS
Treasurer
Board Member Bio
Deirdre Purvis recently became a board member of Caloosa Humane Society.  She is a teacher, wife, and mother.

Deirdre has been married for 20 years to Douglas Purvis and has two wonderful children; Jaxon, who is 18 and attends the University of Florida, and Jaelyn, who is  just finishing her freshman year at LaBelle High School.
She also has two fur babies, Zoey and Twiggy.

Although Deirdre is an accountant by trade, she  traded in her calculator to pursue her passion as an educator. She has been teaching for 17 years with the last two years being a sixth grade ELA teacher at LaBelle Middle School.

MELISSA MUSIC
Director
Board Member Bio
Melissa Music is a life-long resident of Hendry County, graduating from LaBelle High School and attending Edison State College. She is currently the Programs Manager at the Hendry County Economic Development Council, previously working for the Hendry County School Board and Hendry County Sheriff’s Office.

She has devoted her private life to being a wife to her husband Robby, and mother (to teenagers and animals alike), but loves to volunteer for local organizations in her free time. She has volunteered for Relay for Life of LaBelle, held many positions for the Swamp Cabbage Festival, arranged entertainment for the 4th of July Red, White & Tunes in LaBelle, and she is excited to be the newest Director on the Board of Directors here at the Caloosa Humane Society.

Melissa has adopted from the Caloosa Humane Society in the past, and she’s proud to say that she is still the human of her 15 year old Maltese Penny. She has two other dogs, Hank and Toby, along with two cats, Conway and Loretta.