Board of Directors

Nina Woodard, BOard of Directors | Board Chair

Nina serves as the President and Chief ‘N’ Sights Officer for Nina E. Woodard & Associates. Using customized executive coaching and strategic business consulting strategies, Nina strives to heighten confidence in business leaders as they move into overseas markets. 

Nina’s career has encompassed 32 years in the field of banking. Her HR background includes leadership roles in practical day to day activity as well as significant change initiatives, including M and A work and establishing a shared services center for finance. She has worked across North, Central and South America, in the Middle East, and in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan.

She is the mentor and business coach and an Independent Director for Husys Consulting in India. She is a Board Member for Skill Beyond Boundaries, a UK technology startup and for Safe Pet, in Colorado Springs. She serves as a member of the advisory team for World HR Congress and Asia Pacific HR Congress. 

Richard Maida, BOard of Directors | Treasurer

Richard joins Safe Place for Pets with 20 years experience in finance and commodity trading. As a dad of three rescued pets, Richard holds a special place in his heart for creatures big and small. When Richard is not hiking or traveling with his wife and twin sons, he enjoys learning new languages. Richard recently earned his MBA and is excited to serve such a dedicated, nonprofit organization. 

XAVIER FROST, Board of Directors | member-at-large

Xavier Frost joined Safe Place for Pets in June 2024. Xavier's twenty years of experience as an HR practitioner turned executive inspired him to establish his own HR consulting firm, Colorado Frost LLC. 

Xavier understands firsthand the unique bond between a human and an animal whose owner passed away. While browsing adoptable dogs, Xavier encountered a Pekingese that evoked memories of his beloved companion of fifteen years. Upon meeting Wicket an elderly dog of 10 years, Xavier learned of the dog's unfortunate circumstances: Wicket's owner had recently passed away, and none of the family members were able to take him in. Determined to prevent Wicket from facing further abandonment, Xavier immediately adopted him and the two have been inseparable ever since.

Christina skinner, BOard of DirectorS | Bookkeeper

Christina joined Safe Place for Pets in January 2022. She currently works in Denver as a senior performance and financial auditor for the Government Accountability Office. After hearing about the organization, she fell in love with its mission and purpose. 

Christina’s a mom to a shelter cat named Addison, who loves her role as an only child. Outside of her day job, Christina also plays professional women’s football for the Mile High Blaze.

Kennedy Watson, Board advisor & chair of people committee

Kennedy has been with Safe Place for Pets since 2019. In that time, she has had the role of Operations Coordinator, Executive Director, Board Chair, and is now the acting Chair of the People Ops/HR Committee. She is passionate about animal welfare and believes strongly in the mission of Safe Place.

In her day job she is the Head of People at a visual marketing company in the real estate space where she focuses on curating a strong company culture and people experience. She takes pride in being a dog mom to her 7 year old Dutch Shepherd, Gatsby, and is based in Denver, CO.

Clyde Evans, Board of Directors | member-at-large

Clyde joined Safe Place for Pets in 2019. He was led to the organization after briefly marketing in the hospice arena. Assisting terminally ill patients in finding a forever home for their furry friends is a life changing experience. He is the proud owner of a papillon-poodle dog named Rufus.