OUR BOARD
Aparna Ramachandran
PresidentAparna Ramachandran is the Vice President of Hood River Adopt A Dog. She moved to the Gorge in 2018 after living in New York and Chicago. Hood River Adopt A Dog was one of the first organizations she got involved with after her move and she became a board member in January 2019. Aparna adopted Rocky from HRAAD in the summer of 2020.
When she’s not volunteering for the shelter or working as a Technology Consultant, she likes to spend time outdoors hiking, relaxing at the waterfront, and encouraging friends and family to visit this beautiful place she gets to call Home.
Judy Dutcher
TreasurerJudy Dutcher has a volunteering spirit and is a dog lover. When Adopt a Dog was formed in 2008 , she knew it would be a good fit to join in and has been involved ever since in many different volunteer capacities. She brings her love of dogs, business acumen, Human Resource experience and passion to promote the organization in the vital role it plays in our community with dog rescue, supporting dogs and their humans and dog education.
She and her dog Zeena, a HRAAD alumna, love to be hiking, camping, skiing, and enjoying the great outdoors. When not involved with AAD or having outdoor/dog fun, she spends her work hours at Copper West Real Estate as the General Manager, and also is an active Broker licensed in Oregon and Washington.
Kurt Heslop
SecretaryKurt Heslop joined Hood River Adopt A Dog as a volunteer in 2018, and became a board member in early 2019 with a focus on grant writing and technology support. In his time on the board, he has learned to appreciate the companionship a dog can bring to a home and family, and how that can enhance our community.
Kurt resides in White Salmon, WA with Timber – an HRAAD alumna. Outside of the shelter, he works as a Solution Architect with Adobe specializing in the Adobe Experience Cloud. He enjoys finding new trails to hike, traveling in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, and watching baseball and football.
Susie Margotta
Member At-LargeSusie Margotta is the owner of Hood River Coffee Roasters having moved to Hood River in November 2020 from Birmingham, Alabama. As a career administrator, Susie has worked in the non-profit sector for over 20 years.
Born and raised in Connecticut, Susie is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. In her time off, Susie enjoys hiking, kayaking & skiing with her husband Michael and rescue dog Riley.
Acacia Hall
Member At-LargeAcacia Hall is a dog lover by nature and Mortgage Loan Consultant by trade. She joined HRAAD in January 2023, after gaining 3 years of board experience with a local non-profit. Acacia is passionate about the well-being of dogs and people, and giving back to the community.
Acacia lives in White Salmon, WA with her husband and 4 dogs. They all moved to the Gorge together in 2018 from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Outside of her career and volunteering, Acacia enjoys spending time with her husband, walking their dogs, reading, hiking, and whitewater rafting.
Tammy Cederstam
Member At-LargeTammy Cederstam is the owner of Tammy’s Floral and considers herself lucky to be born and raised in this beautiful area we call home. In her off time, Tammy enjoys hiking, horseback riding and her new found passion – Dog Agility, where she competes with her rescue Border Collie Ruby.
J.R. Windsor
Member At-LargeJ.R. Windsor is the newest member of the HRAAD board. She has lived in Hood River for 20 years, and has been involved with Hood River Adopt A Dog for 10. In her words: “Our home has fostered over 50 amazing pets over the years, and it seemed like a great time to get more involved.”
Volunteering and community building are at the heart of the businesses she operates and the energy she brings to projects in the area. Staying active is another passion. Time spent in the Gorge hiking, skiing, at the river on a paddleboard, or just sitting with a friend and a great glass of wine – it’s always a great way to enjoy the magic and privilege of living here.