Brandi Winkleman is the President and Executive Director of A HOPE. She has two beautiful girls, three dogs, one cat, and multiple rescue fancy rats. Her previous experience is in accounting, hospitality, retail, and event planning. She has trained with Austin Pets Alive, through scholarships from Maddie's Fund, to achieve certificates in the Systematic Feline Lifesaving Master Class, Clinic Manager Apprenticeship, and Contagious Disease and Trauma for Clinic Managers Apprenticeship. She was awarded the scholarship to attend the Neonatal Kitten Nursery and Foster Apprenticeship scheduled for April 2020 in Austin, Texas, but COVID hit so she studied online to gain the education necessary to further the A HOPE foster program. Brandi has a certificate in Animal Shelter Management from University of the Pacific, by way of a scholarship from the Humane Network and recently graduated from the Humane Education Tools & Techniques Course led by the Charleston Animal Society and funded through Maddie's Fund. She is an active member of the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and completed numerous course credits and continuing education classes revolving around leadership and animal welfare. Brandi is actively involved in local ordinances and state laws, so she travels to expand her knowledge and effectively lead change. She finds excitement in attending expos and conferences, such as the Humane Society of the United States Animal Care Expo, VMX (Veterinary Meeting and Expo), and the ASPCA Cornell Shelter Medicine Conference. In her free time, she enjoys expanding her knowledge in marketing and design, leadership skills, and public speaking....seeking to improve herself in order to be a better leader, animal advocate, and community member.