Meet the Team

CO-FOUNDER & BOARD PRESIDENT

A graduate from the renowned Colorado State University Veterinary Program, Dr. Kwane has been a California practicing veterinarian for over 22 years. He has worked in nearly every part of the profession - honing his clinical and business expertise. Many years ago during a five-year tenure as a shelter veterinarian in a struggling, depressed area of California, Dr. Kwane began to form a true understanding for those that struggle to afford health care for their pets.

Over the past 10 years, Kwane has quietly volunteered his time traveling city streets of California giving free veterinary services to the pets of individuals experiencing homelessness.

“For the past decade, I've been passionately motivated to impact the lives of pets and people experiencing homelessness. When I have spare time or if I happen to be driving home and see a pet and owner in need, I offer some assistance. A quick check-up for the pet, maybe some medication or food...it isn't a lot but sometimes giving a little can make all the difference. During my time volunteering, I've experienced some of the most genuine stories of love, compassion, struggle, and hope, and learned a lot along the way. For example, it is estimated that anywhere from 10%-25% of people experiencing homelessness have a pet. This work has been life-changing and truly inspiring, but has also come with many challenges. Some of the pets I come across need treatment, sometimes life-saving treatment, that can be very costly and it's hard to say ‘no’ to a pet that’s truly in need. That is why we started Project Street Vet - to shine a light on these stories and encourage others to give back a little, too.”

Dr. Kwane estimates that he has cared for over 1,000 pets through volunteer work prior to 2020, when Project Street Vet was formed. Today, he continues to lead the Project Street Vet mission with his inspirational message of “no judgment, just help” and hopes our growing team can continue to find and care for these families. You can listen to more of his personal story and journey here. In addition to his work at Project Street Vet, he also serves as a Fetch Pet Insurance Veterinary Advisory Board member which provides guidance, recommendations and feedback to Fetch Pet Insurance based on frontline perspectives as leaders in the veterinary field, and Fear Free’s Chief Veterinary Professional Relations Officer.

Contact: drkwane@projectstreetvet.org

BOARD TREASURER

Lisa spent the first 40+ years of her life in fear of dogs.  After finally getting a family pet – a Corgi named Waffles – during the Pandemic, her entire outlook on pets and the importance in people’s lives has completely evolved.  Now, she is known as the woman in her neighborhood who throws a birthday bash for her dog each year.  Professionally, Lisa is a personal finance expert, author and speaker who brings over two decades of experience in wealth management and financial planning to the Board of Project Street Vet.  Additionally, Lisa has over a decade of experience serving on non-profit Boards focused on individuals, families and now pets experiencing homelessness. She is excited to bring her financial acumen to help Project Street Vet as they expand their suite of services to the unhoused community, providing important medical care for pets in need, thereby prolonging the strong family tie that exists between owner and pet on the street. Lisa lives in the suburbs of Atlanta with her husband, three children including a set of twins, and Waffles (who rules the family at 13 inches tall).

BOARD CHAIR

AJ Albrecht (she/her) is a licensed attorney and nonprofit executive who has held leadership roles at multiple national and global animal protection organizations. Currently, AJ is the Chief Operating Officer of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, where she oversees the organization’s external communications, strategic planning, fundraising and operations. Prior to joining ALDF, AJ was the inaugural Managing Director of Mercy For Animals US & Canada, where she led a team of approximately 60 staff members and oversaw the organization’s programmatic work. 

AJ is a past chair of the American Bar Association’s TIPS Animal Law Committee, as well as the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee, and has also been involved in direct animal rescue for many years. She is the founder and past president of the East Orange Animal Alliance, serves on the advisory board of Partners in Animal Welfare, and shares her home in San Diego with her two rescue dogs, and a continuous procession of senior foster dogs. 

AJ is thrilled to bring her unique background and experience in the animal protection space to Project Street Vet as the organization grows and expands its impact.

BOARD SECRETARY

Kevin Kosik (he/him) has more than 30 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector and has held senior leadership and resource development positions with national, regional, and local organizations including the Sierra Club, American Lung Association in California, Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS), Chicago’s Navy Pier, YMCA of the Central Bay Area, and Peralta Colleges Foundation. He is currently the Executive Director for the Book Club of California.

Kevin received his Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential in 2009 and his Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA) credential in 2023. His non-profit board experience includes service with The Crucible, Contra Costa Humane Society, Killing My Lobster, and Theatre Bay Area.

Kevin lives in Alameda, California and is honored to bring his nonprofit management experience and fundraising expertise to Project Street Vet. 

CO-FOUNDER, BOARD MEMBER, & MANAGING DIRECTOR

A pet lover since childhood, Ian grew up caring for many dogs within the family. He spent the last several years as a film producer, including on “The Street Vet,” documenting the hardships and hope that individuals experiencing homelessness go through and the lifesaving gift that pets provide them. He hopes to continue to tell these stories through Project Street Vet while improving the lives of pets and their people.

Contact: ian@projectstreetvet.org

BOARD MEMBER

Sandy has had a lifelong relationship with animals growing up in a small ranching community in Northern New Mexico and is excited to support Project Street Vet’s mission. She believes their trust in us as caretakers should never be violated. Sandy works as a psychiatric nurse and is completing her licensure as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.

BOARD MEMBER

Dorit and her husband Al are the Directors of Lilly’s Place, Affordable and Workforce Housing. In addition to her community work with Project Street Vet, she is on the board of My Dog is My Home and is a co-founder and project director at SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition. Dorit has worked in social services for more than 30 years. Most of that time has been with organizations that assist unhoused individuals and families. She has a BA in Organizational Psychology from CSULA and a Master of Public Administration from CSUN.

Dorit and Al share their home with five cats, two inside and three simi-feral who rather stay outside (who of course have been fixed!).

BOARD MEMBER

Carson is a lifelong animal lover and a firm believer that pets are truly family. A graduate of the University of Southern California (BA: Psychology) and the University of Colorado School of Law (JD), Carson is excited and grateful for the opportunity to support Project Street Vet's invaluable work enabling those in need to provide their pets with the care they deserve in order to keep their family happy and healthy. Carson has worked in an uncommonly wide range of positions and industries and looks forward to applying this broad scope of experience to help Project Street Vet continue its growth and fulfill the mission of providing help without judgment.

BOARD MEMBER

Bob Terry is a marketing and communications executive with decades of experience on both the brand and agency sides of the table. He has not only built brands and bottom lines, but he also built capabilities and functional expertise at every organization he has been. Bob has been in and around the pet food space for the bulk of his career, developing go-to-market strategies for brands you know and love and engaging consumers and retailers across all classes of trade. 

Another of Bob’s passions is working with mission-based and non-profit entities. He has been a board advisor and developed brand positionings, communication strategies and fundraising collateral for organizations like Share Our Strength, The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Dean Kamen’s FIRST, and Paul Newman’s SeriousFun Children’s Network.

Inspired by Dr. Kwane’s ethos and “No Judgment. Just Help.” mantra, Bob is excited to help advance PSV’s work and achieve the vision of creating a world where veterinary care is available to every pet family.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

With nearly a decade of experience within the animal non-profit sector, Danae enthusiastically joined Project Street Vet as our Executive Director in late 2021. After graduating from U.C. Santa Barbara, Danae was determined to find work in the non-profit space with an aim of making the world a better place. Her love of animals drew her to a San Diego based animal organization called the Foundation for Animal Care and Education, which provides support to pet families experiencing medical emergencies. From programs, to education, to event management, Danae spent years in multiple roles at FACE, and ended up serving as their Executive Director and a Board Member. Danae created the organization’s Community Outreach Program, which focused on bringing awareness of FACE’s programs to unhoused pet parents, which is how she met Dr. Kwane.

Dr. Kwane expressed his passions and desire to help more pets and families through his work at Project Street Vet. After volunteering with at Project Street Vet, Danae and Kwane had a shared desire to develop the organization to its full potential, and she was offered an opportunity to join the team as our first Executive Director in late 2021. Since then, she has been focused on implementing organizational structure at all levels for a new charity and has helped grow Project Street Vet from a one veterinarian led operation to multi-vet, multi-city organization assisting hundreds of pets and people per year. Danae is eager to continue to grow the team and make the biggest impact possible.

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Liz Wagner is the first Operations Manager at Project Street Vet, bringing 18 years of experience in veterinary medicine, including 14 years as a hospital administrator. Liz is a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager and a Professional in Human Resources. She combines clinical insight with operational expertise and is passionate about animal welfare. Liz believes deeply in the healing power of the human-animal bond and is honored to support Project Street Vet’s mission. She’s excited to make a meaningful impact by helping expand access to veterinary care for pets and the people who love them.

Contact: liz@projectstreetvet.org

COMMUNITY SUPPOPT SPECIALIST

Val is an animal lover to her core. She found her passion while growing up and seeing all the dogs in Tijuana suffering on the streets. It was then she knew her purpose in life was to be the voice for the voiceless.

Val is very excited to be a part of the Project Street Vet team and to help so many pet parents and their deserving pets get the help they need with no judgement. As our Community Support Specialist, she spends most of her time assisting pet parents reaching out to PSV for help, routing them to the best solutions possible including those who qualify for our programs. She believes that the human-animal bond is something to be cherished and protected. Her favorite part about working with Project Street Vet is helping the pets and their families. She tries to help everyone she encounters to the best of her ability. 

She has a BA in Rhetoric & Writing Studies and just graduated from USD with her MA in Nonprofit Leadership and Management. Val has three rescued dogs at home named Ghost, Dexter, and Pancho who she loves as though they are her children. She hopes one day she can have a small sanctuary for the ones who struggle to find a forever home.

Contact: val@projectstreetvet.org