FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nancy Willis, Maui Humane Society, (808) 877-3680 ext. 218 nwillis@mauihumanesociety.org
Maui Humane Society Names New CEO Steve MacKinnon
Puunene, HI (October 22, 2019) – The Board of Directors of the Maui Humane Society (MHS) announced today that Steve MacKinnon has been appointed to the position of CEO for the nonprofit agency. He will start at the shelter in Puunene on November 4, 2019.
Steve holds a Master’s Degree in public administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice. During his career Steve has worked to integrate his love of animals with his enforcement and community outreach experience, most recently as Chief of Humane Law Enforcement and Vice-President of Community Response at the San Diego Humane Society. Steve believes strongly in the concept of a humane community, which seeks to facilitate collaboration between the animal shelter and the community so that everyone is working together to find the best possible solutions for our Island’s animals. “The opportunity to serve as CEO for the Maui Humane Society aligns strongly with my professional and personal aspirations to create a better world for animals, their owners and the greater community. It will be a privilege to work with the outstanding MHS team whose lifesaving work has already accomplished so much for Maui’s animals”.
“We are very excited about the breadth of experience that Steve brings to MHS,” says MHS Board Chair Ron Schmidt. “In addition to animal welfare and humane enforcement experience, he has impressive management and strategic planning expertise and is dedicated to expanding community outreach and involvement. We are confident that Steve will be an exceptional leader for our agency and a compassionate advocate for the animals on our island. We hope the community will join us in welcoming Steve, his wife Dianna and their rescue dogs to Maui.”
MacKinnon’s appointment is the culmination of an extensive search process to fill the CEO position vacated by Jerleen Bryant, who left MHS in August to take the position of Executive Director with the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation. With the assistance of a professional executive search firm, MHS sought qualified candidates both locally and nationally. Through a multi-level screening process, applicants were eventually narrowed down to those with the highest level of expertise and credentials within the Animal Welfare and Humane Enforcement field, and after multiple interviews, the final selection was made this week.
For more information about Maui Humane Society, visit www.mauihumanesociety.org.
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About Maui Humane Society
Maui Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, serving the community for 67 years and is Maui’s only open admission shelter. Our mission is to protect and save the lives of Maui’s animals, accepting all in need, educating the community and inspiring respect and compassion toward all animals. The Maui Humane Society takes in more than 5,600 animals annually, and serves many times that number through community outreach programs. Equally important, through the many programs and services offers, MHS provides support for Maui’s approximately 90,000 pet owners as well as Animal Management Services for the County of Maui.
