Here’s the press release from the Asheville Humane Society:
Asheville, NC, September 3, 2013 – Asheville Humane Society President/CEO Katherine Shenar will depart at the end of September, having accepted a new position as Senior Vice President of Communications and Community Engagement at San Diego Humane Society & SPCA in southern California. With a national reputation for innovative and lifesaving programming, San Diego Humane Society is one of the largest animal welfare organization in the United States with nearly 300 employees.
After nearly six years at Asheville Humane Society, Shenar will be returning to her professional roots of marketing communications and public relations as she heads up those efforts in San Diego beginning October 7. Asheville Humane Society Vice President of Operations and Government Relations Jennifer Brehler will serve as interim president/CEO until a replacement for Shenar is named. “With a high degree of collaboration with other animal rescue groups in the area, Asheville Humane Society has been able to make a significant impact on improving the lives of countless numbers of animals each year,” said Shenar. “I love our mission. I love this organization, and I’m sad to be leaving an extraordinary place with such dedicated Board, staff, volunteers and supporters. But I look forward to seeing Asheville Humane Society continue to lead the way as one of the most progressive communities in the country for animal welfare.”
Shenar began her career in animal welfare more than 20 years ago as head of Marketing and Public Relations for the Humane Society of Missouri. Shenar first came to Asheville Humane Society as a consultant to help transition the organization into the new Animal Care Campus. In 2010, Shenar became president/CEO, leading Asheville Humane Society through a time of tremendous growth and change as it built a new adoption facility and with the ASPCA as a Community Partner.
Shenar also implemented several innovative and forward-thinking programs that resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of animal lives being saved annually in Buncombe County. Shenar oversaw the joining of Asheville Humane Society with Animal Compassion Network, to effectively create the first merger of open intake and no-kill shelter philosophies in the region. “It has been a tremendous privilege to serve the residents of Buncombe County over the past six years,” said Shenar. “It’s so gratifying to know that together, we have made helped make all the difference to the homeless, the sick, the injured, the abandoned and the neglected animals in our community.”
About Asheville Humane Society
Asheville Humane Society is the largest lifesaving animal welfare organization in Western North Carolina. Nationally recognized for its innovative animal care programming, Asheville Humane Society has been saving local, homeless animals since 1984 through a public-private partnership with Buncombe County. Recently, Asheville Humane Society and Animal Compassion Network joined forces to maximize their missions of working toward a no-kill community. For more information, please visit www.ashevillehumane.org and join their mission on Facebook and Twitter.
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