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AKC Board Meeting Minutes

American Kennel Club Board Motions, Actions as recorded by Secretary

Current Meeting held at 101 Park Avenue, New York, NY - April 13-14, 2026

(See Minutes In Their Entirety Below) or Click to see current AKC Suspensions

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Wording is as presented in the Minutes/Secretary's Page, provided by AKC Secretary Sheila Goffe.

The Board convened on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 8:31 a.m. Eastern Time. Present in the New York Office: Dr. Thomas Davies (Chairman), Dr. Michael Knight (Vice Chairman), Ms. Gina DiNardo (President & CEO), Sheila Goffe (Executive Secretary) and Theodore Phillips (Chief Financial Officer), Dr. Carmen Battaglia, Mr. Dominic Carota, Ms. Sally Fineburg, Mr. Eduardo Fugiwara, Dr. Charles Garvin, Ms. Sue Goldberg, Mr. Steven Hamblin, Mr. Jason Hoke, Mr. Dan Smyth, and Ms. Sylvia Thomas. Mr. Robin Stansell joined the meeting at 9:53 a.m.

Copies of the February 6-7, 2026 Board Meeting minutes had previously been provided to all Directors for review. Sheila Goffe presented an amendment to February 2026 minutes to clarify that, in the vote to disapprove the AKC Bylaws Committee’s recommendation to amend Article XIV, Section 1 of the AKC Bylaws (to require a fee to file a complaint at an AKC event), Mr. Tatro voted in opposition to the motion. Upon a motion by Dr. Davies, and seconded by Dr. Battaglia, the Board VOTED (unanimously) to approve the amendment. Upon a motion by Dr. Davies, and seconded by Dr. Battaglia, the Board VOTED (unanimously) to approve the February 2026 Board Meeting minutes as amended.

EXECUTIVE SESSION There were FOUR EXECUTIVE SESSIONS:

#1: was reported out of this session that the Executive Officers were re-elected.

    ELECTION OF OFFICERS The Executive Officers of the American Kennel Club were re-elected to the following positions: President & Chief Executive Officer – Gina M. DiNardo Chief Financial Officer – Theodore E. Phillips Executive Secretary – Sheila H. Goffe

Board Committee Assignments: Upon the motion of Dr. Garvin, seconded by Dr. Knight, the Board VOTED (unanimously) to affirm the following Board Committee Assignments and other Appointments.

    Board Appeals: Mr. Smyth (Chairman), Mr. Stansell, Ms. Fineburg

    Audit: Dr. Garvin (Chairman), Mr. Stansell, Mr. Carota

    Retirement Plans Committee (Pension): Dr. Garvin (Chairman), Mr. Hoke, Ms. Thomas

    Investment: Dr. Knight (Chairman), Ms. Fineburg, Mr. Fugiwara

    Compensation: Dr. Davies (Chairman), Mr. Carota, Dr. Knight

     Finance: Dr. Knight (Chairman), Mr. Carota, Ms. Goldberg

     Communications (Ad Hoc Committee): Mr. Carota, Ms. Fineburg, Mr. Hoke

The AKC Board Chairman and Vice Chairman are ex-officio members of all Board Committees. Additional Board Appointments:

    AKC Reunite Dr. Battaglia, Ms. Fineburg, Mr Smyth (Chair), Ms. Thomas, Ms. Wallin (Vice Chair)

    Detection Dog Task Force Dr. Battaglia (Co-Chair), Mr. Sweetwood (Co-Chair), Mr. Stansell, Ms. Wallin

    AKC Political Action Committee (PAC), Dr. Battaglia (April 2026-2028), Mr. Fugiwara (April 2025-2027), Ms. LaBerge (April 2026-2028), Ms. McAteer (April 2025-2027), Mr. Smyth (April 2025-2027), Mr. Sweetwood (April 2026-2028)

     AKC Canine Health Foundation (AKC CHF), Ms. Fineburg (April 2026-2029), Dr. Garvin (April 2024-2027), Mr. Hamblin (April 2025-2028)

     AKC Purebred Preservation Bank Dr. Garvin, Chair (2025-2028), Mr. Carota (2024-2027), Mr. Fugiwara (2026-2029)

#2 and #3: to discuss business matters. Nothing was reported out of any of the sessions.

#4: to discuss sensitive business matters. Nothing was reported out of any of the sessions.

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Sheila Goffe, Executive Secretary and Vice President, Government Relations, participated in this portion of the meeting. Mari-Beth O’Neill, VP of Sport Services, also participated in this portion of the meeting via video conference. Upon the motion of Dr. Garvin, seconded by Ms. Fineburg, the Board VOTED (unanimously) to adopted the following resolutions.

Resolution Honoring Christopher L. Sweetwood - WHEREAS, Christopher L. Sweetwood First joined the Delegate Body as Delegate from the Trap Falls Kennel Club and was elected to The American Kennel Club Board of Directors on March thirteenth, two thousand and eighteen, serving until March tenth, two thousand and twenty-six; and

WHEREAS, during his Board tenure, he served as Co-Chairman of the Detection Dog Task Force; and Board Liaison to the Delegate Field Trial and Hunting Test Events Committee and the Delegate Advocacy and Advancement Committee; and

WHEREAS, he served as Vice-Chairman of the American Kennel Club Political Action Committee; as a Member of the Board Investment Committee; and as Founder of AKC Reunites Adopt a K-9 Cop Matching Grant program; and WHEREAS, as an AKC Board Member, he brought to bear the wisdom acquired during his experience in the military and law-enforcement; his lifelong devotion to Field Sports; his time as a Hunt Test Judge and Canine Good Citizen Evaluator/Temperament Tester; and his participation in Conformation, Obedience, Rally, and Therapy Work; and

WHEREAS, we are ever mindful of the substantial contributions he has made to the organization during his years on the Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, we will ever cherish our association with this distinguished sportsman, gentleman, and friend.

NOW THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED, that the Directors of The American Kennel Club extend to him their most sincere best wishes for the years ahead and their deep appreciation for his past and continuing dedicated service to The American Kennel Club.

Resolution Honoring Harold “Red” Tatro III - WHEREAS, Harold “Red” Tatro III First joined the Delegate Body as Delegate from the Fort Worth Kennel Club and was elected to The American Kennel Club Board of Directors on March thirteenth, two thousand and eighteen, serving until March tenth, two thousand and twenty-six; and

WHEREAS, during his Board tenure, he served as Chairman of the Board’s Audit Committee; and as a Member of the Board Finance Committee and the Board Approval Process Ad Hoc Committee; and

WHEREAS, he served as Board Liaison to the Delegate All-Breed Clubs Committee; Board Liaison to the Delegate Dog Show Rules Committee; and Board Liaison to the Delegate Herding, Earthdog and Coursing Events Committee; and

WHEREAS, as an AKC Board Member, his long experience as a breeder, owner, handler of Lakeland Terriers and Whippets; his terms as President of both of his breeds’ Parent Clubs; his time as a respected multi-group judge; his years handling in AKC Obedience, Rally, and Lure Coursing; combined with business acumen acquired during his years as a Certified Public Accountant and Chief Financial Officer, made him uniquely qualified to help guide the American Kennel Club during his Board service; and

WHEREAS, we are ever mindful of the substantial contributions he has made to the organization during his years on the Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, we will ever cherish our association with this distinguished sportsman, all-around fancier, gentleman, and friend.

NOW THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED, that the Directors of The American Kennel Club extend to him their most sincere best wishes for the years ahead and their deep appreciation for his past and continuing dedicated service to The American Kennel Club.

Resolution Honoring Ann Wallin - WHEREAS, Ann Wallin First joined the Delegate Body as Delegate from the Atlanta Kennel Club and was elected to The American Kennel Club Board of Directors on March thirteenth, two thousand and eighteen, serving until March tenth, two thousand and twenty-six; and

WHEREAS, during her Board tenure, she served as Chairwoman of the Board Retirement Plans Committee and Board Liaison to the Delegate Parent Clubs Committee; and

WHEREAS, she served as a Member of the Board Finance Committee; Board Investment Committee; Board Pension Committee; Communications Ad Hoc Committee; AKC Detection Dog Task Force; and an AKC Reunite Board Member; and

WHEREAS, as an AKC Board Member, her terms as Delegate, Board Member, and President of Atlanta Kennel Club, and her varied service on the club’s show committee; her decades as a breeder-owner-exhibitor of Boxers and Rottweilers in Conformation and Obedience; her extensive Delegate committee work; and the business skills that made her an award-winning entrepreneur in real estate and pharmaceuticals, combined to make her an invaluable member of the Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, we are ever mindful of the substantial contributions she has made to the organization during her years on the Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, we will ever cherish our association with this distinguished sportswoman, executive, gentlewoman, and friend.

NOW THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED, that the Directors of The American Kennel Club extend to her their most sincere best wishes for the years ahead and their deep appreciation for his past and continuing dedicated service to The American Kennel Club.

Click for Full AKC April Board Minutes in PDF format (get Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Deceased Judges: Donald Harfst, Judith A. Adams, Mr. Ralph Del Deo, Dr. May Jacobson, Mrs. Annemarie Moore, Ms. Carol Reisman

Emeritus: Mrs. Joan A. Lester, Diana D. Smiley, Jeanne Thomas, Delvyn Lunn, Ms. Georian Bridger, Cheryl Bishop, Bill Craig, Richard Strong, Ms. M. Sue Richey, Susan M. King, Nancy D. Simmons

Resigned Judges: Cynthia Stahle, Mr. Jerry M. Watson, Ms. Patricia M. Mullin

The Board VOTED (unanimously) to adjourn.. (not stated)

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