Meet the Team


Elaine Starks
Executive Director
Elaine@azpowerpaws.org
Specializing in nonprofit philanthropy, Elaine is a seasoned nonprofit professional with more than 20 years of expertise in developing and executing successful programs in philanthropy. She focuses on the financial needs of each program and provides a structured theoretical and practical applications approach to meeting the agency’s highest financial priorities.

Patricia Coyle
Associate Director
Patricia@azpowerpaws.org
Patricia has enjoyed a comprehensive career as a Business Educator as well as in Management and Marketing for Corporate, Educational and Non Profit organizations in her native New Zealand, Sydney, Australia and Phoenix, Arizona. She spent two years as a volunteer Business Mentor with Greater Phoenix SCORE specializing in Non Profit and Creative Organizations. Patricia has herself, managed a large base of Volunteers for a prestigious Phoenix venue as well as operating a small Marketing Consultancy. Patricia has a Masters in Management (Non Profit/Creative Arts) from the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Jamie Smith
Director, Training and Placement

Ida Deleon, CCPDT
Project Manager, Trainer Education

Ida has an extensive background working with people with disabilities. For over 30 years she has worked directly with injured employees and employers to coordinate and manage return to work programs. Ida’s professional experience includes case management for disability management programs. Ida holds a bachelor’s in psychology and completed the Safety and Health certificate program at University of California (Irvine). Ida holds a CPDT-KA certification from the Certifying Counsel of Professional Dog Trainers and has worked with training and placement of services dogs since 2015. She worked at Power Paws as a volunteer training intern since 2018.


Susan Kryn
Volunteer Coordinator
Susan has dedicated over 26 years to professional Volunteer Services Administration in the arts, social services, and healthcare. She has built and managed large volunteer programs to support diverse initiatives including:
• Museum visitor services (Phoenix Art Museum)
• Shelters and food support for homeless and underserved (Phoenix Rescue Mission) and
• Hospital volunteerism (Banner Health, Honor Health, and IASIS Healthcare).
Susan served three years in executive roles with the Arizona Society of Volunteer Administrators in Healthcare. She has a master’s in theology from the University of San Francisco at Kino Institute and has earned the Certified Administrator of Volunteer Services designation.

Mary Melby
Reading, Literacy and Life skills Program

Danae Smith
Trainer 1

Kelsey Coia
Trainer Intern