Board of Directors


Dr. Jerold Bell – Class of 2026
Jerold S. Bell, DVM, is an adjunct professor of genetics at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. He also practices at Freshwater Veterinary Hospital in Enfield, Connecticut. He earned his DVM from Cornell University and was trained in genetics and genetic counseling at Michigan State University and University of Missouri. Dr. Bell chairs the WSAVA hereditary diseases committee, is on the board of directors for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, and the American Kennel Club Canine Health & Welfare advisory panel. He and his wife Candice are breeder/owners of Gordon Setters, with multiple Best in Show dogs, National Specialty winners, Master Hunters and Westminster breed winners.
Dominic Palleschi Carota – Class of 2027
Dominic has owned and been actively involved in the Pharaoh Hound Breed for 31 years. He serves as the Treasurer of the Hudson River Valley Hound Association (HRVHA), Field Trial Chairman for HRVHA Lure Coursing Tests and Trials and Assistant Show Chairman for HRVHA Conformation Events. He has served as the Pharaoh Hound Club of America Delegate to the American Kennel Club (AKC) since 2011. Dominic served on the AKC Board of Directors from 2017 to 2025 and served as Vice Chairman from 2020 to 2025. Dominic is a Licensed AKC Lure Coursing Test and Trial Judge as well as a Conformation Breeder Judge. His dogs and those that he bred and co-bred compete in Conformation, Lure Coursing, Obedience, Rally and Scent Work. Dominic and the Hallam Kennel were named the 2014 AKC Breeder of the Year in Performance (Lure Coursing). Dominic is the recipient of the Pharaoh Hound Club of America Eastern Honors Sportsmanship Award and has been awarded multiple National Owner Handler Series (NOHS) Best in Shows with Dogs he bred. He is the breeder and co-breeder of 50 Dual Champion Titled Pharaoh Hounds.
Dr. Charles Garvin, Chairperson – Class of 2028
Founding Chairman of the AKC Purebred Preservation Bank, Dr. Garvin has been involved in dogs since 1965 – first in obedience, then in Junior Showmanship and conformation. His Korcula Kennels has produced 90 Dalmatian champions, most of them owner-handled. He has bred and owned five Best in Show winners and several of the top winners, producers, and record holders in the breed. He won the Junior Showmanship finals at Westminster in 1969. An AKC Delegate since 1990, he has served 23 years on the AKC Board of Directors, and eighteen years on the AKC CHF Board, eight as Chairman. He has served 17 terms as President of the Dalmatian Club of America and has been on the Board of Directors since 1981. He has been President of the Marion Ohio KC since 2008, Show Chair, and on the board since 1982. First approved as an AKC Judge in 1981, he has judged at the Dalmatian National Specialty eight times, Westminster, ANC, and at the 1984 AKC Centennial Show. He was a Founding Director of the Dalmatian Club of America Foundation in 1995, and has continued on that board, also serving as President. He is a recently retired ophthalmic surgeon and physician executive: for 25 years he was CEO of a 75-physician group practice.
Dr. Marty Greer – Class of 2027
Dr. Geer is a 1981 graduate from Iowa State University and a 2010 graduate of Marquette Law School. She established the Brownsville Small Animal Clinic in 1982 and has a special interest in Pediatrics and Reproduction. In 2022, she opened a Canine Semen Freezing Center, International Canine Semen Bank – Wisconsin (ICSB-WI/IL) and became Penn-Hip certified. Dr. Greer raises and shows Pembroke Welsh Corgis and Danish Swedish Farmdogs, and her family has raised five puppies for Canine Companions for Independence, a service dog organization. She is active in the community as a member of the AVMA, NEWVMA, AAVSB, APDT, AAFP, SVME, The Society for Theriogenology, the Fond du Lac Kennel Club, The Kettle Moraine Kennel Club, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America, Lakeshore Pembroke Welsh Corgi Kennel Club, and the Lomira Area Chamber of Commerce. She is on the Board of Directors for the Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics, American Veterinary Medical Law Association, and the Society for Theriogenology. Dr. Greer also served on the Animal Welfare Committee and Education Committee for the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association and is president of the National Animal Interest Alliance.
Dr. Joellen Gregory – Class of 2028
Dr. Gregory is a 2005 graduate from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. During school, she was a two-time AKC veterinary scholarship recipient, thanks to her involvement with the dog fancy. She has shown otterhounds in conformation, obedience, agility, and tracking since the late 1990s. Dr. Gregory has a special interest in reproduction, genetics, and canine sports medicine. She is currently studying to become a Diplomate for the American College of Theriogenologists. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Society for Theriogenology.
Theodore Phillips, Secretary & Treasurer – Class of 2027
Mr. Phillips joined AKC as an officer in May 2020 being appointed CFO. He has over 30 years of experience in Finance and Asset Management from public accounting and C-suite positions at exempt organizations. Ted serves as a member/presenter of the New York State CPA Society on the Not for Profit and Cybersecurity Committees.
Thomas Powers – Class of 2026
Thomas is a second-generation dog fancier and has participated in the sport as a breeder, club president, show chair and delegate. He has also served on the AKC Board’s Constitution and Bylaws Committee and currently sits on the Southwest Trial Board as Chairman. Thomas breeds and exhibits Irish Wolfhounds with his wife and has also exhibited and finished a number of Dachshunds, Beagles, Mastiffs and Harriers including the number one Harrier in 1990, Ch. Powerscourt Patience DeAmo. Professionally, Mr. Powers has practiced law in California for 35 years, with clients including major Fortune 500 companies. He has also owned and operated a chain of dry cleaners, a chain of retail pet supply stores and a veterinary hospital.
Vanessa Skou – Class of 2026
Vanessa is the American Kennel Club (AKC) Executive, Breeder Development and joined the AKC over 12 years ago. During her time at AKC Vanessa has been the Program Manager for the Retail Program, Special Projects Manager and responsible for new project development as an Internal Consultant within AKC. A third-generation breeder, Vanessa came to the USA from New Zealand as a teenager to learn about the profession of dog show handling. Graduating from college with a B.S. in Marketing and a B.S. in Studio Art, Vanessa worked with dogs during this time afterwards becoming a professional dog handler specializing in hard-coated breeds.
Mari-Beth O’Neill, Vice Chairperson – Class of 2028
Mari-Beth is currently the Vice President of Sport Services, having joined the staff of the AKC in 1990. Positions held throughout her tenure at the AKC include Associate Director of Judges Education, which included the development of the AKC Judges Institutes, Director of Judges, AVP of Customer Service and to current position. Sport Services currently administers Breeder of Merit, Vet Out-Reach, Registered Kennel Names, Breed Standards, Juniors, Foundation Stock Service, PAL applications as well as handling the inquiries through the AKC Direct lines. Mari-Beth was born and raised in Philadelphia. Her family had Dobermans, later joined by Manchester Terriers and Whippets. Mari-Beth competed in Junior Showmanship as well as breeding and exhibiting her Manchester Terriers under the Charmaron prefix. Mari-Beth bred one of the Top Producing Toy Manchester Terrier as well as a top brood bitch in 1979. Currently Mari-Beth is a breeder of English Cocker Spaniels. Prior to joining the staff of the AKC, Mari-Beth was approved to judge, Doberman Pinschers, Irish Wolfhounds, Scottish Deerhounds, Whippets, and Manchester Terriers. Additional involvement has been as the Delegate for the American Manchester Terrier Club, member of the English Cocker Spaniel Club of America, the Doberman Pinscher Club of America, member of the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, Cary Kennel Club, Bryn Mawr Kennel Club, Westbury Kennel Association, Moore County Kennel Club and Morris and Essex Kennel Club. Before joining the AKC staff, Mari-Beth taught elementary school for 12 years and coached at the Junior High level.