Tina Vernon
RüF President, Past Treasurer

Tina is current Board President and founding member of the Rüdiger Foundation.  She began as the Treasurer of the Western Nevada County K9 Association and in 2017, became the Rüdiger Foundation’s first Board Treasurer.  

Tina is the elected Nevada County Treasurer & Tax Collector with over 19 years experience in county government finances, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.   

She is actively involved and holds executive positions on both governmental and non-profit boards including current elected President of the California Association of County Treasurers & Tax Collectors, current Treasurer of Red Moon Ranch and Board member for Nevada County Pets in Need.  Tina enjoys horseback riding, spending time with her husband Kent, their three grown children, and when possible getting out to explore the Pacific Northwest and pursuing her passion for animals. 

Joey Jordan
RüF Vice President, Past President

Joey is the Western Nevada County K9 Association (WNCK9A) and Rüdiger Foundation founding board president and current Vice President.   Joey is a retired professional fundraiser and political consultant    She enjoys world travel.

Shauneen Deschaine
RüF Treasurer

Shauneen has been the Rudiger Foundation Board Treasurer since February 2019, and has worked as the Nevada County Treasury Manager for over eight years where she manages the County's daily banking and investment activities.  Shauneen has earned the designations of Certified California Municipal Treasurer and the Certified Fixed Income Practitioner and is pursuing a higher education in Business Administration and Accounting. Prior to working for Nevada County, she spent nine years working in the banking industry.

Shauneen was born and raised in Nevada County and currently resides in Smartsville, CA with her husband and two dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the National Parks, and outdoor activities including hiking, biking, camping, kayaking and gardening.

Marsha Burch
RüF Secretary

Marsha graduated from Nevada Union High School in Grass Valley, California, and earned her undergraduate degree from U.C. Davis.  She received her J.D. degree from the University of Colorado School of Law, in Boulder, Colorado in 1991. It was during law school that she developed her interest in natural resources law.  She is an attorney and focuses on the areas of land use, water, natural resources, and environmental law.  She represents public agencies, water agencies, citizens and environmental groups and private entities.  She currently provides contract general counsel services to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.  Marsha is a member of the 49er Breakfast Rotary Club of Nevada City and also serves on boards of community theater and youth services non-profits. 

Marley Mueller
RüF Board Member

Marley is a seasoned technical writer who holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of West Los Angeles and Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis.  Marley has successfully assisted nonprofit organizations and government agencies in sourcing, securing and managing grant funding, as well as designing, developing and implementing strategic plans. She has served as funding project manager and lead grant writer for multi-million-dollar projects throughout California.

After working in the corporate sector as a financial consultant, Marley saw a tremendous and unmet funding need in the nonprofit arena. As a result, she made a deeply rewarding career move and dedicated herself to partnering with public service organizations to raise money to expand their service capacity and create new programs.  She now leads a team of professionals who serve the needs of large municipalities and nonprofits, while still being able to help smaller organizations secure funding and flourish.

Marley works with her husband and business partner Doug Fleming as co-founders of MD&M Consulting, an organization designed to help nonprofits and government agencies achieve their missions and reach their funding goals. When she’s not in the office working, Marley can be found on the ski slopes, running ultra-marathons, and swimming in the South Yuba River with her 10-year-old son, Max.

Linda Emanuel
RüF Board Member

Linda joined the Rüdiger Foundation Board in 2019.  She has owned her own business, Bears End Carpet Barn, was Past President of Penn Valley Rotary, Founding Board member of Gold Country Kennel Club and the Border Terrier Club of the Redwoods. She works with the County during elections and otherwise is retired.

In her spare time she loves to walk daily in the woods with her Spanish Water Dog, Buster. Together they also do K9 nose work, a sport for dogs to distinguish certain scents and alert their partner. With Gold Country Kennel Club she helps put on a yearly All Breed dog show. Linda enjoys working with good people and helping to keep local officers safe by working with the Rüdiger Foundation.

Alex Palm
RüF Board Member

Having a love for our dedicated 4-legged K9 companions, Alex joined the RüF board and team in 2019. He’s currently president of Electrical Design Technology, Inc., and industrial electrical engineering firm servicing large electrical distribution infrastructure projects, in the Bay Area and around the globe. He holds a degree in International Business Management with more than 20 years as an executive in the science/technology sector.

Alex cherishes the community and bounty of outdoor activities that Nevada County has to offer. From paddleboarding, hiking, exploring the Yuba, and much more with his loyal pooch Josie. 

Taylor Wolfe
RüF Board Member

Taylor Wolfe joined the Rüdiger Foundation Board in 2019. She was drawn to the Rüdiger Foundation due to her love for dogs and respect for both law enforcement and working dogs. 

Taylor was born and raised in Nevada County and is grateful to be able to live, work and contribute to the community she loves. Currently, Taylor works at the County in communications and lives in Penn Valley with her boyfriend Justin and her fur-babies, Maddy the hound dog and Coyote the cat.

Keri Knecht
Keri Knecht
RüF Social Media Manager

Keri was born and raised in Nevada County. In 2013, she left home to attend Sonoma State University, graduating in 2017 with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. Since that time Keri has made Sonoma County her home, living in the small town of Sebastopol where when she’s not creating RüF social media posts, she can be found managing "The Nectary", or  performing various duties for individuals as a personal assistant.  When she does grab some down time, Keri can be found gardening in her wonderful yard with her two dachshunds, Stewart & Dobbie or crafting essential oil potions & herbal body care products for her small business,“myApotheKeri”.