March 2019 by Rebecca Guinn and Ed Jamison

Audience: Executive Leadership, Shelter/Rescue Staff & Volunteers, Veterinary Team

Video Length: 58:04

Build Team Resilience - panel

Does your team seem to fall apart when difficulties seem insurmountable in times of crisis? No-kill leader's Rebecca Guinn from Atlanta, GA and Ed Jamison from Dallas, TX, know first-hand what it means to be leaders of change in difficult municipalities. Join this presentation and get the insider tips on how to cultivate a team of resilience and how to build strong teams that will rally around you. This presentation was recorded by Maddie's Fund® at the 2019 American Pets Alive! Conference.

About Rebecca Guinn

Rebecca Guinn left behind a successful law career after visiting a county shelter where the majority of animals had been euthanized. Thinking there had to be a better way for a community to address its homeless pet population, she founded LifeLine Animal Project in 2002 and implemented a long-term strategy to redefine metro Atlanta's practices and philosophies regarding caring for companion animals. In 2013, LifeLine was awarded the management contracts for Atlanta's Fulton and DeKalb County animal shelters, where the organization has more than doubled lifesaving rates and positioned Atlanta to become a no-kill community. Rebecca is active in the animal law section of the state bar of Georgia and is a member of Best Friends Animal Society's No-Kill 2025 National Steering Committee.


About Ed Jamison

The animal situation in Dallas has been the center of scrutiny over the years due to large roaming dog populations, high profile dog attacks, and low positive save rates from the shelter. With over 34,000 dogs and cats entering Dallas Animal Services yearly, the city has the 4th largest intake in the United States. Since 2017, Ed has been tasked with increasing public safety by getting lose animals off the streets while at the same time increasing positive outcomes. To accomplish that, he is leading a staff of around 200 employees, maximizing the relationships with the rescue community, rebuilding the volunteer base, and instituting new, progressive programming. Prior to coming to Dallas, Ed was the Chief Animal Control Officer for the City of Cleveland, Ohio, but he entered the Animal Care & Control World in the mid 2000's while he was the Animal Warden for the City of Garfield Heights, a suburb of Cleveland.