The Board of Directors of Maui Humane Society announced the appointment of Dr. Lisa M. Labrecque, DVM, as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer. She will start work at the shelter in Puʻunēnē on July 19, 2023.

The Maui News : A longtime veterinarian who formerly ran the Maui Humane Society’s spay and neuter program is returning to the island to serve as the nonprofit’s new CEO.Dr. Lisa Labrecque will start July 19, the humane society announced Thursday.

Labrecque holds a degree in veterinary medicine and has more than 20 years of experience in the animal welfare field, according to a humane society news release. She began her career as owner and medical director of a private veterinary practice before realizing her true calling was helping homeless shelter animals and pets whose owners could not afford care.

Labrecque served as the first veterinarian for the Lanai Cat Sanctuary, then took on the role of medical director of Maui Humane Society’s Mobile Animal Surgery Hospital Clinics. Under her direction, more than 6,000 animals were spayed and neutered over two years.

In 2016, she became director of the Maui Humane Society Community Spay/Neuter Program, a position she held until 2019 when she left Maui to serve as director of veterinary services at Humane Society of Sonoma County in California. She most recently worked as senior director of veterinary services at Humane Society of Silicon Valley.

 

“I am thrilled to be returning home to Maui and the compassionate and dedicated staff and volunteers at Maui Humane Society,” Labrecque said in a news release. “Together, we will work hard to make a difference for the animals and community of Maui County.”

Maui Humane Society Board Chairperson Kanara Woodford said that the CEO search was an extensive process of reviewing and interviewing both local and national candidates.

“Lisa’s animal welfare experience, her previous excellent work at Maui Humane Society, and her business acumen — as a past business owner, consultant and project manager — were all considered in our final decision,” Woodford said. “We are confident that she is the best choice to lead Maui Humane Society going forward, and that she will be an outstanding advocate for the animals and pet owners of Maui.”

Former CEO Steve MacKinnon resigned in May after three and a half years on the job. The humane society did not provide a reason for MacKinnon’s resignation.

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