Nicole Paquette

Experience

• 

  Born Free USA

  Jan 1999 - Jan 2009

  Senior Vice President & General Counsel

  Planned, managed, and continually improved strategic planning, fundraising, budgeting, advocacy, investment strategies, communications, and outreach. Oversaw direct lobbying efforts for local and state legislation. Led a team of 20. Drove success during a time of critical change and growth, the Born Free USA and Animal Protection Institute merger.Highlights:➥ Played a key role in defeating numerous anti-animal welfare bills across the United States.➥ Managed litigation researching lawsuits, drafting litigation material, and writing regulatory comments, FOIA requests, and agency petitions.➥ Drove operational excellence and growth by managing fundraising, messaging, communications, and contracts.➥ Enhanced internal programs by implementing advocacy, communication, and grassroots strategies.➥ Leader on captive and wild animal issues, introducing and passing legislation to protect these animals. Ended the use of wild animals in circuses, restricted commercial and nuisance trapping practice, and many more. Show less

• 

  The Humane Society of the United States

  Jan 2010 - now

  Guide the strategic vision, roadmap, and execution to boost performance and drive change across programs, policy, outreach, training, and investigations including companion animals, farm animals, equine, wildlife, and animals used in research. Maximize a multi-million-dollar budget while capturing resources, funding, and strategic partnerships with organizations, legislators, policy influencers, and government entities to advance the mission and goals.Highlights:➥ Build, develop, and lead a large team of executives and staff guiding strategic initiatives to advance the organizational mission while inspiring a culture of inclusion, innovation, and continuous improvement.➥ Influence future success by coaching, developing, and guiding senior leaders to continually grow and improve.➥ Drive business transformation by overhauling department structure, policies, finances, teams, and programs.➥ Forge partnerships with the board of directors, advisory groups, business partners, and stakeholders uniting cross-functional collaboration to enhance the mission, drive change, and improve program success.➥ Enhance program effectiveness by continually uncovering opportunities and uniting internal and external teams to drive forward the mission. Show less Provided strategic planning and leadership to optimize wildlife campaigns, projects, communications, and publications. Managed a multi-million-dollar department budget and directed, developed, and trained a team of senior leaders and staff.Highlights:➥ Increased awareness and advocacy for programs, projects, and initiatives by creating and implementing media and communication plans, strategic messaging, media strategy, interviews, and campaign development.➥ Boosted success across 117 wildlife sanctuaries by overseeing the Wildlife Land Trust and humane stewardship.➥ Drove improvements to wildlife policies by lobbying federal, state, and local law makers and agencies.➥ Captured awareness, revenue, and growth through fundraising, critical messaging, social media campaigns, conducting media interviews, building a constituent base, and executing grassroots strategies.➥ Built Native Carnivore Protection initiative to end trophy hunting of mountain lions, bears, wolves, and bobcats.➥ United several wildlife organizations and coalitions building alliances to advance wildlife issues. Show less Directed public policy, advocacy, communications, and outreach initiatives across the state of Texas.Highlights:➥ Passed historic legislation during first legislative session by leading lobbying efforts to advance state/local legislation.➥ Strengthened cockfighting laws, regulated puppy mill breeding, upgraded the cost of care legislation, passed responsible pet ownership law, and defeated harmful bills.➥ Enhanced grassroots support and organizational awareness by building coalitions and grassroot support. Coordinated training opportunities to enhance the mission, engagement, and support.➥ Resolved animal cruelty complaints, advocated for animal cruelty laws, and planned emergency/disaster relief. ➥ Established a cooperative network across Texas by partnering with state regulatory agencies, animal care and control agencies, humane societies, and many other groups. Show less

  • Chief Progams & Policy Officer

    May 2019 - now

  • Vice President, Wildlife Protection

    Jan 2013 - Sept 2019

  • Deputy Director to the Chief Programs and Policy Officer

    Jan 2012 - Jan 2013

  • Senior Texas State Director

    Jan 2010 - Jan 2012