BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Linda Blick, MSW
President and Co-Founding Trustee, Tails of Hope Foundation, Inc.®
Founder of the K9☤ER™ Project
Linda Blick, President and a Founding Board Member of Tails of Hope Foundation (TOHF), has achieved international recognition throughout her career in trauma and investigative services as a domestic and international lecturer and consultant to military, law enforcement, judiciary, and professionals of many other disciplines. Mrs. Blick has chaired or co-chaired such high-level events as the September 11th Tenth Anniversary National K9 Recognition Ceremony (2011), the inaugural Military Working Dog Contingent in the 2012 New York City Veterans Day Parade (approved by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta), K9 Veterans Day ceremonies in New Jersey and Connecticut (inaugural event in 2013 to the present) and TOHF’s Youth Ambassador K9 Career Program™ at The White House Conference Center in 2014. She participated in the NATO Expert Military Working Dog Conference in New York City in 2018 and America’s first large interoperability K9 training in 2019 that was attended by all branches of the military, NATO members from four countries, and over 400 federal, state and local canine teams. Also in 2019, Mrs. Blick served as co-designer and co-shower runner for the inaugural Animals in War and Peace Medal of Bravery Ceremony on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC. Mrs. Blick is the co-creator of the K9☤ER™ Project’s cutting-edge advanced K9 training (2022) and is serving as an international consultant in K9 combat situations. Mrs. Blick received the United States Department of Justice’s Victim Service Award for her invited testimony before Congress, as well as many other forms of recognition from government leaders ranging from multiple White House administrations, state officials, communities and service agencies. Additional recognitions have included Certificates of Appreciation from New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Special Operations Canine Division (the largest canine counterterrorism division in the US), NYPD’s K9 Transit Division, the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs (a Chapter of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs) as a “Woman of Achievement”, a “Letter of Excellence” from David Kontny (formerly of the US Department of Homeland Security Headquarters and the recently retired Chief of Staff, Joint Program Office for Countering IED, FBI) a “Letter of Appreciation” from First Lady, Michelle Obama and 2023 recognition as “Woman of Influence: Shining Star”, CT. Mrs. Blick holds a Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Connecticut and is a graduate of the War College National Security Seminar program and Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension Non-Profit Sustainability Program.
Ernestine Picone
Treasurer, Tails of Hope Foundation, Inc.
Ernestine Picone, Treasurer of Tails of Hope Foundation began as a supporter at TOHF’s founding in 2006. At that time she was a Branch Manager, and later became an Assistant Vice President of Citizens Bank in Newburgh, NY. Ernestine has helped guide TOHF since its founding. She is motivated by her great love and respect for dogs and national security 2- and 4-legged professionals. Ernestine was already familiar with, and understood, the important role the explosives detection K9s who swept the bank daily behind the scenes. She is a major contributor to the success of TOHF’s National September 11th Tenth Anniversary K9 and Veterinarian Recognition Ceremony and with her appearances with TOHF’s Pediatrics and Pets Copying with Cancer program. Ernestine’s strong faith and compassion for all living beings has brought a special strength to TOHF. Her “can do” spirit has been of immense help through challenges such as the Covid pandemic.
Amanda Reck
Secretary, Tails of Hope Foundation, Inc.
Amanda Reck, Secretary is an animal lover who began working with Tails of Hope Foundation (TOHF) in 2006 at the age of 15, achieving her Girl Scout Gold Award with TOHF by designing and building a four-season meditation garden to provide people, pets ill with cancer, and the treating veterinarians and vet techs a place of respite. Amanda has many stories of the “miracles” that happened in her garden. Please feel free to ask her about them! After high school Amanda attended Johns Hopkins University and Oxford University graduating Magna Cum Laude. Amanda is now a branding and marketing specialist and the lead creator of many TOHF’s campaigns. After graduating she became a TOHF Board Member and assisted in the change of our mission to supporting the national security canine field. Amanda has been critical in advancing TOHF’s mission, including providing support for its National September 11th Tenth Anniversary K9 and Veterinarian Recognition Ceremony, volunteering for search and rescue K9 teams, as the co-creator of our Youth Ambassador K9 Career Program™ (YAP-K9™), supporting military working dogs, and in our newest endeavor; the K9☤ER™ Project. Amanda helped develop YAP’s educational components and led its educational launch in Delaware to over 900 students and rave reviews. That led to her being invited to the annual AKC Westminster Dog Show in New York City to meet with AKC’s Youth Director and tour AKC’s Junior Division. YAP-K9’s growing recognition and accomplishments further led to an invitation from President Obama’s National Security Staff, including the Director of the Aviation Security Council, Office of National Drug Control Policy and Dept of Homeland Security for a White House Conference on the YAP-K9 program. Amanda led the youth delegation to that conference as Conference Co-Chair. Amanda is proud of YAP-K9s achievements and its tenth anniversary milestone in 2022 (Video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GzPgGdK7pA). Amanda joined TOHF in its infancy and is proud to contribute to its growth and achieved national recognition status.
Kerri Meehan
Member-at-Large, Tails of Hope Foundation, Inc.
Kerri Meehan, Member-at-Large joined Tails of Hope Foundation in 2007 as a volunteer to “help animals and people have a better quality of life” and is now a TOHF Board Member. She was key to the success of the National September 11th Tenth Anniversary K9 and Veterinarian Recognition Ceremony. During the early years, before TOHF’s mission changed to supporting national security K9 teams and disabled veteran and their service dogs, Kerri served TOHF with her Certified Therapy K9 partner, “Sammy”, a sweet and gentle rescued Shih Tzu. They made many appearances including with TOHF’s Pediatric and Pets Copying with Cancer Program at Gilda’s Club and appearances in multiple fashion shows sponsored for TOHF by Macy’s. Kerri has also used her fashion expertise to help design TOHF’s line of duty injury first-aid K9 trauma bag incorporating safety features to protect the K9 and handler in high-threat situations.
BOARD MEMBERS EMERITUS
Dr. Victor Rendano, Jr., VMD, MS, DACVR, DACVR (RO)
Board Member Emeritus
Dr. Victor Rendano, Jr., VMD, MS, DACVR, DACVR(RO) is a Founding Board Member of Tails of Hope Foundation and the inspiration for TOHF’s very existence. Dr. Rendano is board certified in both radiology and radiation oncology. He is known worldwide for publications of over 100 papers and the many lectures he has given. Dr. Rendano has been defined by the veterinary medical community as the “gold standard” in radiology. Tails of Hope Foundation will never be able to adequately express its gratitude for Dr. Rendano’s trailblazing work, tireless dedication to the veterinary field and his on-going support of Tails of Hope.
Helen Baril
Helen Baril served as Tails of Hope Foundation’s Treasurer for many years until shortly before her death in 2022 from complications of COVID. Helen was a bona fide math genius, recognized as a Mathematics Emeritus at Quinnipiac College and honored with a Chair in their Mathematics Department. Helen rescued dogs for nearly forty years, including TOHF’s Certified Therapy K9 Ambassador “Casey”. Helen’s heart and soul were with TOHF. We miss you dearly Helen, every single day.
