CENTRAL POINT, OR – On Monday, July 28th during Dogs for Better Lives’ (DBL) quarterly meeting the National Board of Directors unanimously approved new director, Sam Donaldson (GA).
Sam Donaldson
DBL’s national board also recognized board member and former chair Tom Dobry (OR) for his service, who’s term will be ending in September. Tom was acknowledged with a kennel plaque and an opportunity to name a future puppy, all recognizing his national board service over the last six years.
With the new appointment of Sam Donaldson, DBL’s national board moves to 22 voting members. Outside of three directors from across Oregon, the national board includes members residing in eleven other states across the country, including California (3), Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Massachusetts (4), North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington (4).
“DBL’s National Board is thrilled to welcome Sam Donaldson, whose distinguished expertise in tax law and estate planning will be a tremendous asset,” stated incoming Board Chairman Tim Cibula. “His invaluable experience will significantly strengthen our national board and accelerate DBL’s expanding presence throughout the Southeast region.”
The July board meeting helped kick off the new FY25-26 fiscal year with new officers, including chair Tim Cibula, vice chair CarrieJo Hoelzel, secretary Emily Nelson, and treasurer Stephanie Deines.
“As DBL strategically expands its national footprint, Sam Donaldson’s invaluable expertise will be crucial in solidifying our board presence in the Southeast region,” stated CEO Bryan Williams. “His deep knowledge of estate planning and commercial law will provide critical support for our expansion and development initiatives.”
Sam Donaldson
Samuel A. Donaldson is a law professor at Georgia State University in Atlanta, where he teaches courses in federal tax law, estate planning, commercial law, and property law. He has also taught law school classes at the University of Washington, Northwestern University, Emory University, and the University of Florida.
Sam has received nine “professor of the year” awards at three different law schools. He is a popular speaker on federal taxation and estate planning at academic and professional conferences around the country, and the author of several textbooks and professional references on those subjects.
Sam lives in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia, with his spouse, Shelly, and their two rescue dogs, Patty and Barley. They also have two adult sons. Sam’s main hobby is constructing crossword puzzles. He has published over 40 puzzles in The New York Times and hundreds of others in outlets like The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. He grew up in Oregon and attended school in Arizona and Florida.
“Dogs make all lives better, but the work that DBL is doing is truly extraordinary,” Sam said. “I’m excited to be joining the Board at the same time as the launch of the From Shelter to Service Dog program here in Atlanta. This program is life-changing for both dogs and people, and it’s taking place in an area where those needing assistance have been underserved. Hopefully we can grow this and other key DBL programs.”
To learn more about DBL’s National Board of Directors and/or with inquiries in joining the board, visit… https://bit.ly/2BrQZfU. You can also visit DBL’s profile on cariclub and Boardlead to learn more.
