Meet our Board Members

Dannette hails from Minnesota and acquired a significant amount of her professional experience in New York and Minneapolis. She received her B.A., cum laude, from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of California Hastings College of the Law Her impressive business resume was built over a legal career of 28 years, where she also served on numerous corporate, trust, charity and society boards of directors. She became a recognized and sought after as a highly strategic and inclusive expert in corporate governance, ESG, securities law, treasury support, corporate security and shareholder and stakeholder engagement. Dannette retired in 2022 and moved to Cottonwood where she lives with her husband Darren and two dogs, dogs Zuku (small) and Gypsy (large). Both are rescue dogs and Zuku came from our shelter! As a lifelong animal lover and adopter, Dannette feels the need “to help our community's most vulnerable dogs and cats who cannot advocate for themselves.” Her outside interests include hiking, travel and fishing.

Karin Burnett came to Arizona in 2023 from the much colder and less sunny state of Michigan. After graduating from Eastern Michigan University, Karin spent her career in retail sales and management, where she was often involved in fundraising and employee giving programs. She also organized and supported numerous fundraising events at the hospital where her husband served as president of the hospital foundation. Karin’s passion for animals and fundraising naturally led her to volunteer with animal welfare organizations. Before moving to Arizona, she served on the board of an animal shelter in Michigan. After discovering Verde Valley Humane Society, Karin quickly became involved and now serves on the board, where she focuses on fundraising and helping advance the organization’s mission. Karin has always been drawn to helping those who cannot speak for themselves and is passionate about making a difference in the lives of animals and the community.

Dr. Linnea Axman is a lifelong animal advocate whose passion for animal welfare has inspired decades of rescuing, adopting, fostering, and supporting abandoned and neglected animals. Throughout her life, she has opened her home to cats, dogs, and even the occasional farm animal, believing that every animal deserves compassion, safety, and a loving home. She is honored to serve on the Board of Directors of the Verde Valley Humane Society and is committed to advancing its mission of protecting animals, promoting responsible pet ownership, and strengthening the bond between people and their pets. Professionally, Linnea serves as Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the College of Nursing at the University of Phoenix. She retired from the United States Navy as a Captain (O-6) after 25 years of active-duty service, where she held senior leadership positions in healthcare, research, and women's health. Her military service included deployments to Kuwait and Cuba. She has served on both nonprofit and government boards of directors.