Meet the NATAO Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors brings together business professionals, animal welfare advocates, and nonprofit leadership who share a commitment to advancing the role of therapy animals in our communities. Their guidance and oversight ensure NATAO remains focused on its mission while growing responsibly.

Brian Kroll

President and Co-founder
NATAO co-founder and President Brian Kroll is a transformational IT and business leader with decades of experience in financial services and health insurance. Having previously served as Director and Vice Chair of PAWS for People, and as the human half of multiple pet therapy teams, Brian offers leadership and AAI perspectives to the board.

You found the secret back of the card! Each board member was instructed to write a haiku – a hidden 17 syllable secret.

Brian’s haiku:
 Decades of leading 
All voices, all teams, one path 
One journey forward


Bob Jarvis

Treasurer
Bob has more than 25 years of experience in pet-assisted visits. He has held leadership roles in banking, technology and nonprofit organizations, including board service and governance responsibilities as Treasurer, Vice Chair and Chair. He currently serves as Chair of PAWS for People, a founding member of NATAO.

You found the secret back of the card! Each board member was instructed to write a haiku – a hidden 17 syllable secret.

Bob’s haiku:
Pet visits, board work
Guiding service with care
Leadership serves all

Valerie Robson

Secretary
Valerie Robson; MSW, has worked in the public and non-profit sectors as a counselor, grant writer, volunteer manager, program developer, and partnership creator. She began volunteering with her golden retrievers in 2021 and is currently a member of First Responder Therapy Dogs. She looks forward to working with NATAO.

You found the secret back of the card! Each board member was instructed to write a haiku – a hidden 17 syllable secret.

Valerie’s haiku:

Lynne Robinson

Board Member and Co-founder
Founder and Executive Director (retired) of PAWS for People, Inc., Lynne has invested the last 23 years training people and pets and growing PAWS into the largest pet-assisted visitation organization on the East Coast. Blending skills learned from 23 years of teaching English, coordinating volunteers of all kinds, and sincerely listening to people following Boo’s (1st therapy dog) example, Lynne is proud to be helping to build NATAO.

You found the secret back of the card! Each board member was instructed to write a haiku – a hidden 17 syllable secret.

Lynne’s haiku:
The world was ready.
Harry wrote, planners wrote more.
NATAO has been born.

Edyth Kurzweil

Board Member
Edyth Kurzweil has been a member of Paws for People for over 19 years. She has been a therapy team member in prisons, hospitals, assisted living facilities, and reading programs, and has assisted and trained prospective therapy teams. Her industry experience includes Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Project Manager. Edyth is delighted to help establish NATAO.

You found the secret back of the card! Each board member was instructed to write a haiku – a hidden 17 syllable secret.

Edyth’s haiku:
Nineteen years, nine months
Two feet, four paws, wagging tail
Bringing others joy.

Tracey Kroll

Board Member
Tracey Kroll supports NATAO’s mission by serving as the technical architect behind NATAO’s web presence, having built the organization’s membership platform. Tracey has over thirty years of competitive dog training experience spanning agility, obedience, herding, rally, and Fast CAT, including multiple national events with her Shelties and Aussies.

You found the secret back of the card! Each board member was instructed to write a haiku – a hidden 17 syllable secret.

Tracey’s haiku:
NATAO’s nerd by day,
Dogs trained when the laptops close.
Debug, heel, repeat.