Suzanne Roy, Executive Director
Suzanne Roy, Executive Director, has spent most of her career pursuing her passion for animal protection. Over the last 30 years, she has worked to improve the plight of elephants, chimpanzees, marine mammals, and other animals both in captivity and in the wild.
In the 1990s, she launched the fight to save America’s Air Force Chimpanzees, an effort that ultimately led to the retirement of these deserving animals to a Florida sanctuary. An avid horse lover and mother of a horse-crazy daughter, she turned her attention to the fight to save America’s wild horses and burros in 2010.
Prior to entering the animal welfare field, Roy was a political consultant, working on a variety of campaigns including as New Hampshire press secretary for Senator Gary Hart’s 1988 presidential bid. She currently resides in Davis, CA with her family, including a big gray warmblood horse named Cobalt.
Melissa Tritinger, Deputy Director
Melissa Tritinger, Deputy Director, received her B.S. degree in Finance and is a Certified Wealth Strategist. Her long career in the financial industry is where she focused her time building collaborative working relationships that centered around uncovering and executing the needs and goals of businesses, nonprofits and other complex relationships. Additionally, as a passionate animal advocate and fine art photographer, Melissa began using her lens to bring awareness to the wild horses across the country where she fell in love with the Onaqui Mountain HMA mustangs. When the Onaqui 2019 roundup occurred, she along with several other dedicated individuals founded the Onaqui Catalogue Foundation whose mission is to use citizen science to document and inform the public about the herd. Drawing upon these roles will be the foundation of experience for Melissa's purpose with AWHC where she will be managing the organization and staff as an integral addition to the leadership team.
Melissa’s family includes Ruby, an adorable red roan pony who suffers from Lyme Neuroborreliosis, as well as several other beloved furred and feathered family members. Melissa and her husband also adopted and reunited two bonded Onaqui mustangs that were separated in the 2021 roundup, Stargazer and Nora.
Scott Wilson, Director of Strategy and Marketing
Scott Wilson, Director of Strategy and Marketing, is an experienced business leader with more than twenty-five years experience in brand-building, communications and regulatory affairs, primarily with Molson Coors Brewing Company where Scott held UK, European and global leadership positions. He has also served on the Boards of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and Visit Denver. Scott’s parallel career in landscape and wildlife photography introduced him to the beauty and plight of America’s mustangs and he has become a committed photo advocate, most notably through the roundup of Colorado’s wild horses in September 2021. Scott is a resident artist at Gallery 6 in Denver and was named Open Photographer of the Year at the 2022 World Photography Awards.
Fernando Guerra, Legal Affairs Director
Fernando Guerra, Legal Affairs Director, is an attorney with years of experience in litigation and advocacy. He has presented on the topic of animal law to various public interest organizations and regularly contributes to national publications writing about animal-related issues. Mr. Guerra obtained his undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland, College Park in Environmental Science and Policy, with a concentration in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology. He obtained his law degree from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law with a certification in Environmental Law.
Tracy Wilson, Nevada State Director
Tracy Wilson, Nevada State Director, fell in love with horses as a small child and eventually fulfilled her dream of owning her own horse when she bought a Spanish Mustang. Eventually, she married, had a son, and began a career as a certified muscular therapist, but the love of horses never left. When she moved to Nevada, wild horses captured her heart and ignited her passion.
Tracy joined AWHC to assist with fertility control data, database setup for new projects, and land trust projects. She lives in Reno, NV with her husband and owns two adopted Virginia Range mustangs.
Nicole Hayes, Nevada Conservation Operations Manager
Nicole Hayes, Nevada Conservation Operations Manager, has always been passionate for animals and conservation. She earned her bachelor’s degree in marine science from the University of South Carolina, with an emphasis in biological oceanography. Following this, she spent a month conducting research in Indonesia, an experience that solidified her commitment to conservation. Nicole then received her master’s degree in marine biology from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. While in Florida, she worked directly on the conservation of Florida’s Coral Reef, concentrating on coral restoration, assessment, and monitoring. As a community ecologist, she worked extensively on numerous research projects and published 2 peer-reviewed papers on the impacts of disease on the coral community.
Nicole grew up riding, and never lost her passion for horses. She is excited to bring this passion, extensive research experience, and understanding of resource management to the Virginia Range. Nicole recently moved to Reno with her partner, 2 rescue dogs Harley and Harlow and 3 cats Buttons, Maggie, and Little Foot.
Tandin Chapman, Utah Conservation Operations Manager
Tandin Chapman, Utah Conservation Operations Manager, spearheads conservation efforts for all the Utah HMAs, with a particular focus on managing a fertility control program in the Cedar Mountain HMA. Tandin earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Utah in Civil Engineering. His work experience includes civil site design, land development, and land surveying. He past experience included coordination for projects with clients, architects, city reviewers, and other engineering consultants which will be helpful as he continues to build relationships with the various stakeholders that are in Utah.
Animals are a passion and motivation for everything Tandin does. He has spent countless hours volunteering at Clementine Ranch (formerly Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary), Sage Mountain Sanctuary, Wild Heart Sanctuary, Ellie’s Potbellies, Utah Humane, and Onaqui Catalogue Foundation. Tandin is also an accomplished photographer and videographer. He picked up a camera to start photographing the Onaqui wild horses and it has grown into a burning passion ever since as he recognized that photography is a powerful tool to foster connections between people and animals. Tandin currently resides in Utah on the range with his dog, Pac and cat, Nova.
Amelia Perrin, Investigations Program Manager
Amelia Perrin, Investigations Program Manager, has been an avid horsewoman since the age of five and is a passionate wild horse advocate. She is an International Baccalaureate diploma recipient and is currently pursuing a degree in journalism at the University of Oregon. Amelia brought her passion for horses to the advocacy world in 2018 when she joined AWHC's team. She spearheaded AWHC's investigation into the BLM's Adoption Incentive Program, which led to national outcry and a front-page New York Times exposé. She looks forward to expanding AWHC's investigations program to uncover abuse and mistreatment of America's wild horses and burros. Amelia currently lives in Oregon and is a proud dog mom to her rescued dog, Mac.
Steve Paige, Field Representative
Steve Paige, Field Representative, grew up riding and has kept horses for most of his life. He is an ardent animal advocate and has volunteered and worked at several sanctuaries including Return to Freedom, Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue, The Wildlife Waystation and The Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, in Thailand.
He provides on-the-range support and has relentlessly documented and exposed many BLM helicopter roundups. Steve is an integral part of our in-the-wild management programs, as a certified darter and documenter.
He lives in Reno, Nevada close to the Virginia Range wild horse population.
Allison Hinkle, Virginia Range Fertility Control Program Coordinator
Allison Hinkle, Virginia Range Fertility Control Program Coordinator, is finishing up her B.S. in Environmental Science at the University of Nevada, Reno. As a part of her position, she oversees the Virginia Range and the volunteers that help make our projects possible.
Allison has always been passionate about the environment and wildlife, which is why she cares about her job so much. After graduating, she looks forward to continuing to live in Reno and work on the Virginia Range.
Mary A. Koncel, Special Projects Coordinator
Mary Koncel, Special Projects Coordinator, received her M.S. in Animals and Public Policy from the Tufts/Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine where she is now the adjunct instructor at the Center for Animals and Public Policy.
A long-time lover of horses, she has written extensively about various equine topics, with a special focus on wild horse adoption. At AWHC, she is responsible for researching, preparing, and presenting reports and other materials that will help facilitate the humane management of wild horses and burros. Mary lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and a family of dogs, cats, chickens and of course, horses.
Michele Patterson, Grassroots Advocacy and Outreach Manager
Michele Patterson, Grassroots Advocacy and Outreach Manager, attained her master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from York College of Pennsylvania and her bachelor’s degree in Health Policy and Administration from Penn State University. Michele began seriously advocating for animals in 2016. Since then, she has been involved with state & federal animal welfare organizations to help pass legislation to protect animals in various levels of government. She has 8 years’ of experience in the practice management of veterinary hospitals and has also worked on a state-level political campaign.
Michele has volunteered in various roles with dog, horse, and wildlife rescues. She has been published as a guest blogger for Pennsylvania’s only statewide animal welfare political action committee. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, 3 rescue dogs, Jack, Fiona, and Abbey and her adopted senior horse, Rose Petal.
Madie Honig, Administrative Assistant
Madelyn Honig, Administrative Assistant, is finishing her B.A in History at California State University Sacramento. She is specializing in the history of the American West and Environmental History. Madie's passion for horses and burros came from riding for many years. This led to Madie rescuing her horse Lily in 2019, who she rehabilitated and helped flourish. When not in school or working Madie is with Lily, spending time with her two dogs, family or skiing in Lake Tahoe.
