Board of Directors
Now accepting applications for new directors!
Matt Bell
Board Chair
Matt Bell is the Business Development Manager at Grand Junction Economic Partnership. Matt’s primary responsibility with GJEP is business recruitment while also supporting existing businesses, providing information and assistance with real estate, incentives, local government relations, and industry connections. Matt joined the Roice-Hurst Humane Society board because of his genuine love for animals and desire to help create a community that embraces love for animals. Matt has adopted two cats from Roice-Hurst, Rizzo and Addison, to go along with his two dogs, Kannah and Lainey.
Chris Hawkins
Board Vice Chair
Chris is happy to be a recent arrival in Grand Junction, having worked for over two decades with a non-profit in Atlanta. After settling into his new home, he wanted to find a companion for Doug, his rescue American Staffordshire Terrier, which is how he discovered Roice-Hurst. Impressed with what he learned about the organization, he felt drawn to become a volunteer and was soon invited to the Board of Directors where his non-profit experience and love of animals could further benefit the organization. Oh, and he found a companion for Doug, adopting a Catahoula Leopard Dog named Olive.
Bill Wade
Board Treasurer
Bill Wade is a Colorado local who grew up in Grand Junction and returned after a 30-year career in investment banking. That career allowed Bill and his wife, Karen, to live in various parts of the United States, but upon his retirement, they always intended to return home to western Colorado. A graduate of the University of Colorado, Bill has been involved in nonprofit work since the early 2000s, focused primarily on assisting homeless individuals and families. That work has shown him how crucial a pet can be in providing support to a person in need.
Dr. Cathlin Craver
Board Secretary
Dr. Cathlin Craver graduated from Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007 and received her Master’s degree in shelter medicine from the University of Florida in 2017. She has worked in a variety of settings, from nonprofit organizations and rescues to municipal shelters, both around the United States and internationally. She has worked as the Director for the ASPCA’s animal relocation program. Dr. Craver joined the Roice-Hurst Humane Society board to cultivate meaningful relationships within our community to improve the health of pets and people. She shares her home with Lotus the cat and Roice-Hurst alum, Pierogi the dog.
Dr. Julia McHugh
Chair Emeritus
Dr. Julia McHugh is a vertebrate paleontologist who has served as the Curator of Paleontology for the Museums of Western Colorado and Lecturer of Geology at Colorado Mesa University since 2014, while also holding a research associate position with the Same Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. She has a B.A. in Geology from Hanover College, an M.S. in Geosciences from Idaho State University, and a Ph.D. in Geoscience from the University of Iowa. Dr. McHugh is also an avid photographer, an enthusiastic kitten foster mom for Roice-Hurst Humane Society, and serves on the board of directors for the Dinosaur Diamond National Scenic Byway, the Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as the steering committee for the academic journal Open Paleontology.
Georgia Rock
Board Director
Georgia Rock is the Chief Operating Officer for HopeWest. Georgia moved to Grand Junction in 2018 and loves the area, with plans to never move again. She is committed to giving back and joined the board at Roice-Hurst Humane Society because of her love for animals and the community. Georgia has four dogs: a golden doodle named Maddie and three golden retrievers, Dexter, Milo, and Katie, affectionately known as the Three Musketeers. Dexter and Milo occasionally visit hospice patients, and Katie spreads love to everyone she encounters.
Amy Jordan
Board Director
Amy Jordan, a Western Colorado native, is the Chief Human Resources Officer for Community Hospital and is deeply committed to community service, with a strong passion for animals. With a background in leadership and human resources, Amy is driven by her dedication to fostering positive change. She has joined the board to create a lasting impact on animal welfare in Western Colorado, reflecting her core values of service, personal growth, and strengthening her community.
Heather Portenier
Board Director
Heather Portenier has lived in Grand Junction for 30 years. She and her husband, Travis, have a son and three dogs. Throughout the years, they have adopted four dogs from Roice-Hurst: Sparky, Mac, Ollie, and Stella. When she became an empty nester, Heather wanted to turn her lifelong love of shelter animals into activism and community support. In 2018, she began volunteering at Roice-Hurst adoption events and discovered a newfound appreciation for the hard work it look to operate an animal shelter. After sharing the joy of a successful adoption match with a family at her first event, Heather was hooked.
