BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF – Capital Region Vegan Network

Capital Region Vegan Network’s (CRVN) Board of Directors are charged with setting the overall goals and direction of the organization including setting the budget, creating policies, and authoring the strategic plan.

Our Staff handles the day to day affairs, which includes event planning, membership operations, marketing, and more!

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Claire (she/her) has been volunteering for the Capital Region Vegan Network since she became vegan 17 years ago. She was raised vegetarian and went vegan after the first VegFest by CRVN (held in Saratoga). There she watched a video of a “spent” dairy cow going off to slaughter and learned the cruelty of the dairy industry. Since then she has volunteered in various capacities in the organization to bring programming and vegan education to the Capital region.

She is the mother of 2 children Avi (8.5 yrs) and Anika (5.5 yrs) and raising them vegan with her husband Punit. Claire works as a research scientist and enjoys research and development projects at work and at home. She works on the CRVN merchandise using screen printing, laser and paper techniques.

Valentina Capone (she/her) serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors of Capital Region Vegan Network (CRVN), where she works to empower and engage the community through vegan outreach, education, and advocacy. With a commitment to personal growth and community building, Valentina is dedicated to creating inclusive spaces that welcome everyone from long-time vegans to the veg-curious.

Her role at CRVN includes fostering meaningful connections with local businesses, managing major gifts and grants, and organizing impactful events like Albany VegFest and seasonal socials. Valentina is passionate about helping others discover the benefits of a vegan lifestyle, from health and wellness to environmental sustainability and animal welfare.

In her spare time, Valentina enjoys hiking, kayaking, live music, and comedy shows, and she’s always on the lookout for a great new recipe to try. When she’s not leading CRVN initiatives, she’s traveling or spending time with family.

Brooke (she/her) is a Sr. Global Corporate Campaigns Specialist with The Humane League where she campaigns against major global companies to end the abuse of animals raised for food. She has been campaigning for animals for about two (2) years and prior to that she was an attorney. Brooke is a lifelong resident of the capital region and still resides there with her husband and their rescued companion animals, dogs Archie and Ronnie, cats Olive and Birdie, and chickens Berry, Lemon, and Kiwi. When Brooke is not advocating for animals, she enjoys cooking delicious vegan food, traveling, and relaxing.

Originally from Palm Springs, CA, Morgan (she/her) is a passionate vegan of 7 years with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from The College of Saint Rose. When not working, she enjoys staying active with hobbies like ice hockey, dance, and cooking up delicious plant-based meals. Traveling and exploring new places is another big passion of hers. She loves spending quality time with her two rescue cats, Ness and Mango, and would one day like to own an animal rescue.

JohnPaul (he/him) is a loving animal advocate who went vegan for the animals and has never looked back. They believe in creating a kinder world where all beings are treated with respect and dignity. Since 2011, he has shared his life with his husband, building a home rooted in compassion. Visiting animal sanctuaries is one of their favorite ways to connect with rescued animals and support the lifesaving work of sanctuaries. As a queer member of the community, they value inclusivity and strive to ensure that everyone feels welcome.
As a new board member, JohnPaul is passionate about fostering meaningful connections within the vegan community. They are committed to strengthening community ties and ensuring that resources and collaboration between individuals, businesses, and organizations are accessible and effective. By focusing on outreach and engagement, they hope to build a stronger, more connected network that empowers individuals to make a difference and find value in community.

Patricia R. Thomson, Ph.D. (she/her), aka Dr. T, is the author of WFPB20 (Whole Food Plant Based) and the Food as Medicine Five Day Lifestyle Plan, a certified nutritionist, an experienced speaker, Events Director, coach, consultant, and cancer survivor. As the co-founder of Wellness20, Dr. T is on a mission to create thriving communities around the world.

She earned her Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate through e-Cornell Center for Nutrition Studies, her Plant-Based Culinary Certification through the Rouxbe Culinary School, her Plant-Based Instructor certification through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine Food For Life program, and her Medicinal Plants certification through e-Cornell.

Jim (he/him) is a long-time vegan and animal rights activist who went vegan in 2002 after 14 years as a
vegetarian. Jim is an herbalist by trade and operates a brand making traditionally handcrafted herbal
tinctures.
Jim has a background in non-profits having worked for human services organizations and animal rights
and vegan non-profits. He has volunteered extensively at farmed animal sanctuaries.
For fitness and to keep his wits about him, Jim is a cyclist and an avid hiker. He can be found most
weekends on Catskill mountain trails trying to keep up with his rescued Potcake dog, Tori.

Brandon (he/him) is a passionate animal lover who went vegan in 2021 after gaining a deeper understanding of the immense suffering within the animal agriculture industry. He is excited to get more involved with CRVN and assist in coordinating events and helping continue to build a solid network to connect with the community.
Brandon moved to the Albany area for college in 2011 and has since made it his home. He resides in the Capital Region with his husband and their two beloved cats, Mocha and Coconut. A frequent visitor to animal sanctuaries, Brandon loves spending time with all different types of animals. In addition to his advocacy, he enjoys swimming several times a week and loves to explore new cities and countries across Europe.

Staff

Savannah (she/her) is a passionate leader in nonprofit administration, currently finishing her Ph.D. in human services with a specialization in philanthropic leadership. Savannah, her husband, their 3 children, and cat Raya are new to the Capital Region and have lived all over the country as a military family. With tons of experience leading various community initiatives, Savannah is incredibly excited about CRVN’s mission of advancing veganism through education and community empowerment.