SPCA of Central Florida Announces New Leadership and New Vision

Great Big Circle Helps Launch Communities that Care Initiative

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SPCA of Central Florida, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization serving the Greater Orlando area, announced that Kerri Burns, former President and CEO for the Humane Society of Southern Arizona in Tucson, AZ, has accepted the new Chief Executive Officer position for the 76 year-old Florida institution.  Additional leadership appointments for the SPCA of Central Florida include Sean Hawkins, former Director of Strategic Partnerships for American Humane Association in Washington, DC, as the Director of Philanthropy and Marketing, and June Iv, previously Customer Service Manager for the Humane Society of Pikes Peak Region in Colorado Springs, CO, as the new Director of Animal Services.

"The leadership changes at the SPCA of Central Florida take place at a momentous time in the organization's development when the board of directors has committed the institution to a new era of animal welfare and well-being," said SPCA of Central Florida Chairman of the Board Douglas Glicken. "It is our hope that new leadership will transform the historical role of animal shelters in the Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties by working outside the walls of our facilities to engage the entire community with the responsibility of caring for animals." 

"We will accomplish this through expanding spay/neuter services for dogs and cats, including advancing non-surgical sterilization, increasing foster home programs, creating community cat programs and making animal training accessible to address behavioral issues, we will help keep animals from ever becoming homeless," said Kerri Burns. "By providing affordable preventative veterinary care for animals and promoting programs that recognize and enhance the human-animal bond, such as creating 'Bark Parks' and 'Cat Cafes,' we can do more to keep animals who already have loving care-takers out of shelters."  Burns has also held the post of Manager of Charitable Giving for PetSmart Charities, the largest funder of animal welfare initiatives in North America.

Branding agency Great Big Circle, responsible for the launch of the Amway Center and Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts brands, has also been retained by the SPCA of Central Florida to head the re-branding efforts for the organization. "Often confused with agency names and locations, it is critical that we correctly position the SPCA of Central Florida as the "go to experts" for animal issues in our community," said Sean Hawkins, Director of Philanthropy and Marketing. "We partnered with the marketing experts at Great Big Circle to help us tell our story of caring, compassion, and hope for audiences across Greater Orlando, launching our 'Communities that Care' initiative."  Hawkins is best known for creating and executive producing the smash-hit Hero Dog Awards aired on Hallmark Channel every fall.

"The energy and vision of the new leadership team to inspire us to a new level of engagement for animal welfare is indeed exciting for us," continued Glicken. "Even though we have helped animals for almost 80 years in and around Orlando, the team we have assembled will rally our partners as allies in the cause of animal protection and truly elevate the status of dogs and cats in our homes and communities."

About SPCA of Central Florida
Founded in 1937, more than 14,000 homeless dogs and cats will turn to the SPCA of Central Florida for caring, compassion and hope through our animal shelters this year.  Our highly-skilled veterinarians will help and heal an additional 45,000 animals in our veterinary clinics.  Providing shelter for animals in crisis, disaster response efforts, and "Meals on Wheels" for dogs and cats in need helps thousands more animals each year.  Our programs are supported entirely by donations from the communities that we serve and we receive no funding from national organizations like the ASPCA.  For more information about the SPCA of Central Florida visit www.orlandopets.org.  

Contact:
Sean Hawkins
Director, Philanthropy & Marketing
O: (407) 418-0904
C: (713) 269-3574
[email protected]

SOURCE SPCA of Central Florida