Rita
Hoch
President & CEO
Rita is a native Oklahoman, growing up on a small horse farm in Edmond, Oklahoma. She earned her BS and MS degrees in speech-language pathology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and practiced in health care for 11 years.
She has owned and ridden horses all of her life. She showed extensively as a youth and amateur in 4H, AQHA and PHBA, with the highlight of earning national high point and reserve high point awards with her palomino Quarter Horse. She understands and recognizes the value that horses are in her life and wants to see others be able to benefit as well. She currently owns 3 horses and is still involved in riding. She has two miniature horses that she uses for therapy at nursing homes and schools.
She is married with one child and lives in Oklahoma City.
Samantha
Burnett
Sr. Director
Samantha is known as a dedicated and compassionate collaborator with 20 years experience in programmatic operations and human resources. She has launched and managed multiple highly credited programs within both animal welfare and criminal justice reform, proving her love for both people and animals alike.
Samantha brings a deep knowledge of industry standards, human resources laws and regulations as well as strong employee relations, relationship building and communications skills. These drive her in leading diverse work teams, developing organization-wide strategies for program excellence, engaging community partners, and partnering with internal and external stakeholders to further Nexus’s mission.
Samantha graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelors in business administration and holds certifications as an Animal Welfare Administrator, and a Senior Professional in Human Resources.
Cassidy
Vaughn
Programs Manager
As programs manager, Cassidy brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her responsibilities over day-to-day operational management for our Nexus Pets programs.
Cassidy has worked for both local and national animal welfare organizations in a variety of programmatic roles. Her background in adoption programs, foster program management, medical clinics and kennel facility management makes her an invaluable asset to Nexus as we continue to pursue our goals and objectives.
Kalea
Remy
Population Coordinator
Kalea Remy brings a diverse background in animal care to her role as Population Coordinator at Nexus Pets. With experience in doggie daycare, veterinary medicine, and animal welfare, Kalea’s skills and dedication are a fantastic addition to our team.
In previous roles, Kalea has shown a strong commitment to providing the best possible care for animals, including walking dogs, assisting with veterinary procedures, and training new staff members. Her focus on cleanliness and disease prevention ensures that our facilities maintain the highest standards of hygiene and safety.
As Population Coordinator, Kalea manages the internal and external movement of animals within our Pets program, coordinates with partner agencies, and ensures optimal care and housing for our population. Reporting directly to Cassidy, Kalea plays a crucial role in maintaining efficient operations and delivering high-level customer service to both internal and external stakeholders.
