Max Adams
Board Member
Max Adams is a technology investor interested in harnessing private sector and public sector tools to promote ethical, environmentally conscious, and healthy food systems. Max is an MBA student at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and an MPA student at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He graduated summa cum laude in finance from Brigham Young University. In his spare time, Max plays and conducts orchestral music, stays active through skiing and SCUBA, and voraciously reads behavioral economics and classic literature.
Caryn Ginsberg
Board Vice President
Caryn Ginsberg provides insight and infographics that help animal protection and other progressive organizations move more people to action. Founder of Priority Visions, she has more than two decades of experience helping nonprofits and businesses set strategy to accomplish their goals. Her nonprofit clients have included Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Rescue League of Boston, the ASPCA, the Fund for Animals, Human Behaviour Change for Animal Welfare (conference), the Humane Society of the United States and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Caryn taught marketing in the MBA program at Johns Hopkins University and for Humane Society University. She earned her AB in economics and math from Dartmouth College summa cum laude and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Her interests include birding, Disney, weightlifting and the latest vegan foods and restaurants.
Che Green
Board Treasurer
Che Green is the founder of Faunalytics, as well as a former analyst, investment banker, and research manager with experience developing and implementing research projects of all kinds. Che has worked and volunteered for a wide range of animal advocacy groups at both the local grassroots and national levels. He is a consultant for animal-friendly businesses and charitable foundations. Che has a BA in business administration with a concentration in finance. He started Faunalytics in 2000 to empower animal advocates through research, and served as its Executive Director for nearly 20 years. In 2020, he co-founded Moonshot Collaborative, a company dedicated to providing market research and consumer insights on plant-based consumers for food innovators and disruptors. When not working, Che spends his time mountain biking, petting cats, gardening, and following his favorite football (soccer) teams.
Sarah Hanneken
Board Member
Sarah Hanneken is an attorney specializing in animal law, policy, and legal issues impacting nonprofits. Sarah currently serves as Associate General Counsel at the Good Food Institute, where she provides legal support to the organization's various programs working to advance the alternative protein industry. In her prior role as an attorney at Animal Equality, Sarah pursued strategic impact litigation and legislation to protect the interests of farmed animals through the legal system, using her creativity and extensive advocacy experience to develop novel legal strategies specifically designed to shift people’s perceptions of animals raised for food. Sarah graduated magna cum laude from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, and she received a BA in linguistics from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, where she graduated summa cum laude with a minor in biological sciences. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys sewing, gardening, reading, and exploring the outdoors.
Sharie Lesniak
Board Secretary
Sharie Lesniak honed her skills in corporate advertising—having enticed consumers to buy everything from Gap clothes to Nissan cars to Absolut Vodka—but came to realize her talents could help animal advocates more effectively sell their message. Sharie spent a decade at Born Free USA as the Creative Director focusing on developing campaigns that convinced consumers to think more humanely and engage in more animal-friendly behaviors. Seeing how integral a healthy earth is for animals (and humans), Sharie jumped back into the corporate world to help aid multifamily communities across the U.S. increase recycling and reduce waste. As the Creative Director at Valet Living, Sharie also helps enable more apartments to provide homes where people can comfortably live with their dogs and cats. Sharie has a BBA from Western Michigan University. If not working on one of her side hustles (warning people about the dangers of hot cars through My Dog is Cool, or putting the “wag” in swag with Shelter Swag), you can find her riding her skateboard or OneWheel, traveling and kayaking or chillin’ at home with her wife and two crazy rescued cats.
Steve Schuster
Board Member
Vegan-ethics advocate Steve Schuster brings deep marketing expertise to Faunalytics, honed by his many decades of experience in technology marketing. He serves as CEO and chief strategist of Rainier Communications, leading the successful marketing of thousands of hardware, software and service products. Steve selectively serves on advisory boards for numerous startups including VeganNation and Billion Vegans, and he regularly serves as a mentor-in-residence for startup incubators and accelerators around the world. Steve holds BSEE and MBA degrees from Northeastern University, is a published singer/songwriter and recording artist, fitness enthusiast, photographer, and he chairs his local YMCA’s board of governors.
Richa Thapliyal
Board President
Richa Thapliyal, born and raised in India, is a seasoned operations leader with over 15 years of experience across Canada, India, and the US. She holds an MBA, an MSc in International Business, and a Bachelor’s in Agriculture, fueling her drive for systemic change to support animal welfare. As VP of Production Research & Operations at Rebellyous Foods, Richa led initiatives to reduce costs and boost production of affordable plant-based meats. At FIAPO, she launched India’s first national vegan campaign, reaching over 35,000 individuals and building a robust volunteer base. Previously, at LUSH Cosmetics North America, she led production operations and launched sustainability and wellness programs impacting hundreds of employees.Passionate about mental health and housing insecurity, Richa also serves on the board of Elizabeth Gregory Homes, supporting women experiencing homelessness. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors with her foster dogs, reading, running, and listening to podcasts.
