Home » Board Candidate Profiles - Dane County Humane Society


Board Candidate Profiles

Bridget Bush

Statement of Intent - Policy Interests & Priorities

  • To assist the Board in understanding how its decisions impact the organization financially.
  •  To help guide the organization to be financially self-sustaining.
  • To help increase our community presence and gain more funding opportunities for the organization.

Dane County Humane Society Background and Experience

  • Treasurer on Board of Directors since February 2005.
  • Volunteer member DCHS Finance Committee since 2003.
  • Professional Background & Education/Training
  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Master of Taxation
  • Specialist in tax issues of nonprofit organizations.

Memberships and Affiliations

  • American Institute of Public Accountants.
  • Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

  • Pet Involvement

  • Share household with three very spoiled dogs and two cats.

Cris Marsh

Statement of Intent - Policy Interests & Priorities

  • I have been an active member on the Dane County Humane Society Board of Directors since 2008. In addition, I believe my former six-year employment with the DCHS along with my experience as an information specialist brings a different perspective and set of skills to the Board. In particular, I feel my skills in information management will continue to benefit the Board. My other interests include helping DCHS increase its legislative activities to improve animal welfare laws and to continue developing collaborative partnerships within the animal welfare community that will help to extend needed resources to more animals. Through board support, I also see DCHS further expanding its work in areas, like shelter medicine, animal laws, and pet education to become an even more valued resource to its own local community as well as to the broader animal welfare community.

Areas of Interest and Priorities

  • Expand the volunteer base and explore new ways to use this invaluable resource of compassionate people.
  • Increase the Shelter’s visibility in the community so it is seen as having a vital role in improving the quality of life in Madison and the surrounding areas for its two-legged and four legged citizens.
  • Lobby the county and state legislative offices for stronger animal welfare laws. The success of a community should be, among other things, judged for how it provides for and treats its animals.
  • Continue developing education programs to promote responsible pet ownership and increase awareness related to animal welfare issues (i.e. purchasing pets from puppy mills or the link between human and animal abuse).

Dane County Humane Society Background and Experience

  • Member of the Dane County Board of Directors, 2008- 2011
    • Secretary, 2008 -
  • Committee Co-chair of the Board of Operations Committee Co-Chair, 2010-
  • Legislative Committee member, 2009
  • Dane County Humane Society Employee, 1989 – 1996
  • Caretaker, 1990 – 1996 (included adoption counseling, admissions, cleaning kennels)
  • Veterinary Technician, 1991 – 1996
  • Fostering Animal Program Coordinator, 1992 – 1996
  • On-Call Humane Officer, 1995 – 1996 / Wildlife Rehabilitator Coordinator, 1992
  • Volunteer, 1996-present
  • Veterinary Technician, 1996 – 1998
  • Assisted with development of the new DCHS website, 2010
  • Bark and Wine Committee, 2006 – 2008
  • Developed event program, 2006 - 2008
  • Assisted with organizing website content /Reintroduced a portrait photographer to the event, 2008

Professional Background & Education/Training

  • Master of Arts in Library and Information Studies, 2004
  • University of Wisconsin, Madison
  • Bachelor of Science in Zoology, 1989
  • University of Wisconsin, Madison
  • Memberships and Affiliations
  • Dane County Humane Society – Member

  • Special Libraries Association – Member

  • Meriter Hospital Volunteer – Medical Library Volunteer Assistant

Ellen Markey

Statement of Intent - Policy Interests & Priorities

  • As a board member of the Dane County Humane Society, my intention is to make Dane County a better place for our animals. Some issues that I would like to address are animal cruelty, animal neglect and the cost of animal health care.

Dane County Humane Society Background and Experience

  • Board member – 2005 to present
  • Finance Committee member – Summer 2004 to 2007
  • Legislative Committee Chair and Founder – 2006 to present
  • Volunteer – Barktoberfest (2004 and 2007)
  • Volunteer - Dog Jog (2006 - 2010)
  • Volunteer – Catapalooza (2007)
  • Professional Background & Education/Training
  • Professional Background:
  • December 2002 to Present - Tax Manager at Smith and Gesteland, LLP, Madison, WI
  • January 1998 to December 2002 - Tax Supervisor at RSM McGladrey, Inc. Madison, WI
  • September 1996 to January 1998 – Tax Accountant at Clifton Gunderson, L.L.C., Madison, WI

Education/Training

  • Marquette University Law School - Juris Doctor, May 1996
  • Marquette University School of Business - Masters of Business Administration, August 1996
  • Aquinas College - Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting, 1992
  • Majors: Accounting, Business Administration
  • Memberships and Affiliations
  • Bar Member – State of Wisconsin
  • Dane County Bar Association
  • WICPA
  • WEB (Worldwide Employee Benefit Specialists)
  • United Way of Dane County – 2002 Campaign Loan Executive