I want to explore : Meet Our Staff
Seattle Humane Society Staff
Brenda F. Barnette
Chief Executive Officer
With a life-long passion for animals and over three decades of involvement in the animal welfare movement, Brenda F. Barnette was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of The Seattle Humane Society in 2006.
During her tenure, The Seattle Humane Society has made long awaited improvements at their campus. Prospective adopters can interact with the cats in condos. The cats in process are housed in new spacious compartments where staff and volunteers can socialize them daily. Sixty dog kennels have been completely remodeled to provide for a quieter kennel space and to prevent barrier frustration. These changes were designed so the animals can thrive in the shelter and in their new home. Training programs have expanded in the remodeled auditorium. The Visiting Pets Program, only one-year-old, takes the healing presence of pets to 300 seniors, people with disabilities and kids on a monthly basis. Animal Adventure Camp for Kids offers youngsters an opportunity to have fun and learn about pets. The Seattle Humane Society campus at I90 and 405 is a buzz of activity to help pets and the people who love them.
Previously, Brenda served as CEO of Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation. Before joining ARF, Brenda was the Executive Director of Pets In Need, and the Development Director at The San Francisco SPCA.
David Loewe
Chief Operations Officer
David Loewe joined the Seattle Humane Society in November 2006. He has held the position of Director of Facilities, Director of Operations, and is currently the Chief Operations Officer. David also acts as the Safety/L&I liason and leads our Disaster Response and Recovery Program.
Prior to the Seattle Humane Society, David spent over 20 years in management operation roles in commercial nuclear power with Kansas Gas & Electric, high speed European passenger rail with Talgo-America, and GPS-Data collection systems with Connected NW-Nextel.
David, and his wife Judy have volunteered at the Seattle Humane Society as foster care coordinators, on special events teams, and in the web photo program to help the shelter animals put their best paws forward. At home, David and Judy have five cats known as the "CAATZ" for Cooper, Alex, Angel, Tucker and Zach. Angel and Tucker are both SHS alumni and have had extensive, successful surgery by the wonderful Vet Services team.
Ken Farmer
Chief Financial Officer
Ken joined the Seattle Humane Society in 1984 as an accountant. He has held numerous financial positions since then including Controller and Finance Director. Currently Ken serves as the Chief Financial Officer. Ken originally came to Seattle from Chicago to attend Seattle Pacific University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting, and he has lived in the region ever since. His family includes two black labs, Traveler and Trecker, two cats, Thomas and Taz, an American Saddlebred mare, Autumn, and two Morgan horses.
Rhonda Parks Manville
Director of Marketing
Rhonda Parks Manville came to the Seattle Humane Society from the international relief and development organization World Concern, where she led the agency's strategic communications for donor development, special events, branding and marketing. Prior to working in nonprofit, Rhonda was an award-winning journalist covering culture, politics, and social justice issues. She earned her bachelor's degree in Journalism from San Francisco State University and her Master's in Religious Studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara. She lives on Bainbridge Island with her husband Todd, daughter Chloe, two shelter dogs, one elderly feline, 10 laying hens, and a rooster named Red.
Brynn Blanchard
Director of Development
Brynn joined the Seattle Humane Society staff after working for six years at the Point Defiance Zoo Society in Tacoma, where she led the organization's largest capital campaign in its 103-year history. At Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, she held a variety of fundraising positions including Deputy Director, Interim Executive Director and Major Gifts and Grants Manager. She is a founding board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, South Sound Chapter, and a member of South Sound Planned Giving Council.
Katie Olsen
Shelter Manager
Katie was born and raised in Seattle. She began working at the Seattle Humane Society in 2003 as an adoption advisor. During her four years at the shelter, she has supervised the foster program and served as the Kennel Manager. Currently, Katie holds position of Shelter Manager. Previously, she worked at a vet hospital for three years and was a certified dog trainer. Katie shares her home with Jager and Jack, 3 year old Weimaraners both adopted from the Seattle Humane Society, Brownie, a toy Fox Terrier also adopted from the Seattle Humane Society, Sammy, a Jack Russell Terrier, and Buddy, a Siamese mix cat.
Catherine Smith
Annual Giving and Donor Relations Manager
Catherine Smith joined the Seattle Humane Society in March of 2003 as a volunteer, and became the Development Assistant in June of 2003. She has held the position of Development Coordinator, Membership Services Supervisor and is currently the Annual Giving and Donor Relations Manager. In this capacity she oversees the Seattle Humane Society’s direct mail program, gift processing department and small (less than $500) third party fundraising activities.
Prior to the Seattle Humane Society, Catherine worked in data management at Microsoft, and has served as a database consultant for 12 years.
Catherine shares her home with her partner Ben and many rescued animals including four dogs: Lexi, Blue, Barnie and Peanut; as well as three cats: Delta, Tau and Rho. Both Tau and Rho were adopted from the Seattle Humane Society. Completing Catherine’s furry family is her 32-year-old horse Teddie.
Board of Directors
Chair
Charles J. Stempler
Owner/President, AlphaGraphics
Vice Chair
John M. Corby
Executive Vice President, Rigel Capital, LLC
Vice Chair
Martha G. Fuller
Executive Vice President, Finance and CFO, Vulcan Inc.
Secretary
Mary Kay Wright
Senior Vice President - Investment Officer - Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Treasurer
Richard M. Finlay
Brenda F. Barnette
CEO, Seattle Humane Society
Jeffrey A. Christianson
General Counsel, F5
Mark E. Christopher, CPA
Partner, Moss Adams LLP
Mauricio Gonzalez de la Fuente
Director, Consumer Strategy, Microsoft
Jonathan Hensley
President, Regence Blue Shield in Washington
Elwood W. Hertzog
CEO, Spectra Lux Corporation
James T. Linardos
Senior Vice President, Wells Fargo
Sean P. McCann, JD
Partner, Seattle Office, Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP
Wm. Kenneth McGraw, JD, MBA
Founder, Virtual GC, PLLC
Edward M. Pasatiempo
Partner, The Clarion Group
Leslie Phinney
CEO/Creative Director, Phinney Bischoff Design House
Daniel Rosen, Ph.D.
President/CEO, Dan Rosen & Associates
Gary Vitalone
Resident Managing Director, Aon Risk Insurance Services West, Inc.
Michele M. Vivona
SVP, Litigation Services, LexisNexis
Herbert E. Weisbaum
Anchor/Consumer Problem Solver, KOMO Newsradio and KOMO 4 News