Jill is an accomplished business leader with over 25 years of leadership experience
leading key growth initiatives for both the big-box and specialty retail sectors. She is
known as an expert at devising creative strategies that build brand awareness,
customer engagement, employee loyalty, and business growth; consistently setting new
company standards. Jill's commitment to making a positive impact extends beyond the
corporate world. She has dedicated a substantial portion of her career to nonprofit work,
including serving as the President of the Board for PAWS Shelter of Central Texas.
Throughout her career, Jill has championed causes close to her heart, leveraged her
leadership skills to drive meaningful change, and advanced the missions of many
organizations.

Jill is a visionary leader who combines her extensive industry expertise with a deep
sense of social responsibility. Her ability to navigate the complexities of both the retail
sector and the nonprofit world sets her apart as a multifaceted leader with a rare blend
of skills and experience. With a passion for excellence, commitment to community, and
25 years of leadership under her belt, Jill continues to be a driving force shaping the
future of retail and making a positive impact on society through her nonprofit endeavors.

Charlotte Biggs recently retired as a Business Growth and Development Specialist at The Dog Gurus, where she provided comprehensive education for operating pet care businesses. She has extensive experience as the former COO of the International Boarding & Pet Services Association (IBPSA) and is co-founder of the Professional Animal Care Certification Council (PACCC), which is the only independent certification body for top professionals in the animal care industry.

Charlotte also co-founded Stay N Play Pet Ranch, a holistic pet care facility in Dripping Springs, Texas, which she successfully operated from 1998 until its sale in 2014. Her corporate background includes a 20-year career in sales and marketing management in the pharmaceutical industry.

Since joining the PAWS Board in 2000, Charlotte has been instrumental in its growth from a small shelter to a No-Kill Shelter with expanded facilities, foster and volunteer programs, and a spay/neuter surgical suite. Her dedication has significantly increased the number of animals receiving care and love in the community.

Please share what you do for a living:  I work for IBM in the Cyber Security Division.  I am responsible for our Global Teams who deploy IBM Security Software.  I have been with IBM since 2006 in numerous worldwide leadership positions.

Share an interesting fact about yourself! Well, not sure if this is a good sign or a bad sign but I have over 2,000,000 air miles flown on United Airlines.  That’s the equivalent of four round trips to the moon, in an airplane.  Needless to say, I enjoy travel and I am happy to be back at 35,000 feet.

Brief info on family and hobbies:  I am married to the wonderful Stephanie who volunteers in transport at PAWS and the father of two children, Ryan, 23, electrician and Kristina, 20, currently a college student. I am a huge college sports fan and have been a season ticket holder for University of Texas football since 1996.  My love of UT sports is only matched by my love for dogs.  We have three rescues, all of which are from PAWS. 

Describe your involvement with PAWS! I have been a board member since January 2022 and thoroughly enjoy the mission of PAWS.  I do some of the IT work on behalf of the board, volunteer when I can and bring snacks to the employees in the Dripping Springs location most weekends.  I love the people and the commitment at PAWS.  It’s a super organization and I am grateful to be able to lend a hand.

Dogs or cats?! 

I am SO a dog person, as evidenced by my four K-9s.  Love dogs!

Jorge is a passionate advocate for animal welfare and has been a dedicated member of the board at Paws Animal Shelter since 2023. With a background in the financial industry, customer service and marketing, he brings a wealth of experience in building relationships and networking to the organization.

Having raised his daughter surrounded by animals, Jorge understands the profound impact that pets have on our lives. After rescuing his first dog, an abandoned dog from the streets, Jorge and his family decided that all future dogs in their family would be rescued.  The next dog his family rescued was a dog from Paws Animal Shelter.  During the first visit to Paws Animal Shelter, Jorge and his family developed a love for the organization and saw the need to get involved. This personal connection fuels his commitment to improving the lives of homeless and abandoned animals in our community.

In addition to his work with Paws Animal Shelter, Jorge is involved with the J.P. Morgan Chase Austin Culture Council and organizes volunteer opportunities and events for J.P. Morgan Chase employees, along with bringing awareness to cultural events.  He is also involved in several business resource groups at J.P. Morgan Chase, including VETS, ADELANTE, BOLD, ASPIRE, and PRIDE. His leadership on the board focuses on assisting with fundraising and enhancing the shelter’s outreach efforts.

When not advocating for animals, Jorge enjoys golf, running with his dogs and spending time with his wife and daughter.

Jorge believes in the mission of Paws Animal Shelter and is proud to be a member of the board

Susan is a Partner at the employment law boutique firm of Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton. She
is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and
serves as an Arbitrator in employment law cases for The American Arbitration Association.
Susan advises employers across many industries on human resources and employment law issues.
She collaborates with employers on risk prevention strategies such as review and revisions of
employee handbooks, non-competes, and employment agreements. She also provides advice and
counsel on employment issues such as terminations, ADA and FMLA leave, discrimination and
harassment, and wage and hour issues. She also provides supervisor and employee training.
Susan also has extensive experience representing employers in administrative proceedings and
litigation in state and federal court in employment law matters.
She has served as a volunteer for many charitable causes and served on many non-profit boards
throughout her career, in officer capacities and as a Board member, including Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Central Texas, Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, and the Travis County Women
Lawyer’s Foundation. She is currently on the Board of the YMCA of Greater Austin, Greater Austin
Sports Foundation, and PAWS Shelter of Central Texas.
Susan is a native Austinite and moved to Dripping Springs about fifteen years ago. She has always
had animals in her life and has adopted many rescue animals, including a dog and a cat from
PAWS.