Rita Hoch
President & CEO
Rita, a native Oklahoman from Edmond, grew up on a small horse farm and has been passionate about horses her entire life. She has shown extensively in 4-H, AQHA, and PHBA, earning national high point and reserve high point awards with her palomino Quarter Horse. Rita deeply values the impact horses have had on her life and is committed to helping others experience the same connection. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center with a BS and MS in Speech-Language Pathology, Rita practiced in healthcare for 11 years. Rita lives in Oklahoma City with her husband, child, and three horses. She remains actively involved in riding and sharing her passion for equines with others.
Samantha Burnett
Senior Director of Special Projects
Samantha is known as a dedicated and compassionate collaborator with 20 years experience in programmatic operations and human resources. She has launched and managed multiple highly credited programs within both animal welfare and criminal justice reform, proving her love for both people and animals alike.
Samantha brings a deep knowledge of industry standards, human resources laws and regulations as well as strong employee relations, relationship building and communications skills. These drive her in leading diverse work teams, developing organization-wide strategies for program excellence, engaging community partners, and partnering with internal and external stakeholders to further Nexus’s mission.
Samantha graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelors in business administration and holds certifications as an Animal Welfare Administrator, and a Senior Professional in Human Resources.
Jessica Gleason
Director of Equine Operations
Jessica serves as the Director of Operations at Nexus Equine, bringing over 20 years of dedicated experience in animal welfare to the team. With a strong background in logistics, operations, data, and team management, she ensures everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Jessica is also a certified Oklahoma Large Animal First Responder, reflecting her deep commitment to animal care and safety. Residing in Piedmont, OK, Jessica treasures time spent with her husband, daughter, and their beloved animals. Her leadership, expertise, and passion for making a difference are at the heart of what makes Nexus Equine thrive.
Cassidy Rosillo
Director of Pets Operations
Cassidy, the Director of Operations at Nexus Pets, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the management of day-to-day operations across all of the organization’s programs. With a strong foundation in both local and national animal welfare organizations, she has developed a broad skill set through her work in various programmatic roles, including adoption programs, foster program management, medical clinics, and kennel facility management.
Her diverse background and deep understanding of the intricacies involved in animal welfare make her an invaluable asset to Nexus as the organization continues to grow and work toward its mission and goals.Cassidy is passionate about making a difference in the lives of animals and the people who care for them. Her approach to her work is driven by a love for thinking outside the box to develop innovative programs and best practices that not only improve animal welfare but also strengthen the human-animal bond. She believes that fostering a positive connection between people and pets is essential to creating lasting, impactful change.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Cassidy enjoys spending quality time with her family and pets. A devoted animal advocate, she fosters animals on a regular basis, providing them with the care and support they need until they find their forever homes. Her dedication to animal welfare extends beyond the workplace, as she continually seeks to improve the lives of animals both inside and outside of Nexus Pets.