Staff
Shelly A. Moore, CAWA – Executive Director - Shelly joined Asheville Humane Society in February 2001. She brings to the Humane Society nineteen years of animal sheltering and control experience, with emphasis in program development, law enforcement and investigations, and public education. Thirteen of the past nineteen years have been in animal shelter management–nine as Executive Director of a non-profit Humane Society and five years of prior management experience with a large municipal animal control program serving a community of approximately 750,000 residents. Shelly holds a B.A. degree from the University of Maryland, College Park and has completed the Johns Hopkins University / Humane Society of the United States Non-Profit Management Program. She is also a nationally Certified Animal Welfare Administrator. She has extensive specialized training in all areas of animal protection, sheltering, and personnel management. She was instrumental in getting a new state-of-the-art animal shelter built in her previous position. Shelly is also a member of the steering committee for the North Carolina Task Force to Abolish Animal Fighting, and serves on the Education Committee and the Small Animal Committee for the Buncombe County Animal Response Team. Shelly is active in the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators and is on the consulting team for the Humane Society of the United States Animal Services / Shelter Evaluation Program.
Katherine McGowan, CFRE -- Development Director --
Troy Salsbury -- Executive Assistant -- Troy joined AHS in 2005. He has held a variety of positions in the US and Europe, in both corporate and academic environments. Supporting the executive functions of the organization, Troy sees his job at the Asheville Humane Society as an important element in helping to enrich the lives of the animals in our community.
Carolyn Paden - Director of Public Relations – Carolyn has worked with non-profits for over 15 years. She holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan. Fluent in Spanish and with a diverse work background, Carolyn has worked at every level of non-profit for many great causes, but has never before had the opportunity to work on behalf of animals. She joined AHS in 2005. Puppy, a 5-year old stray spotty-hound-dog mix, Tucker, a one-year old retreiver mix, and Bella, a beautiful stray semi-socialized Himalayan kitty, now make their home with Carolyn.
Leah Kaselak -- Special Events Coordinator --Growing up in a rural Michigan town Leah always had a passion for animals. She knew she wanted to pursue a career that benefited animals and so she enrolled at Ohio University and graduated with a degree in Wildlife Biology. She is new to the Asheville area and to the humane society and is so excited to be working for such a great cause. Leah joined AHS in 2006. Two AHS shelter alumni, Snoop (pictured) and Sammy, make their home with Leah and her husband, Chris.
Kelly Hawkins -- Director of Operations --
Guinn Friedman -- Shelter Manager -- Guinn is originally from RI and graduated from Ithaca College in NY with a BS in Science. She grew up on a horse farm and started her animal welfare career in 1999 at Animal Advocates, a low-cost spay neuter clinic. After 3 years of Fundraising, education outreach and vet teching there, she took some time off for travel. She continued to work on and off as a vet tech for a private Veterinarian. She relocated to Asheville in October 2005 for it's reputation of being an outdoor recreational playground. Now that she's a part of the Asheville Humane Society, she feels right at home. Guinn is the proud parent of two dogs and two cats, all adopted from shelters.
Dr. Laura A. Andersen, DVM – Veterinarian --
Jim Fulton – Volunteer Coordinator – Originally from Chicago, Jim holds a master’s degree in theatre lighting design from the University of Connecticut and was a professor of theatre design at Rollins College in Orlando, Florida. While in Florida he began volunteering for the Orlando Humane Society where he served as a volunteer, volunteer coordinator. After moving to Asheville, Jim volunteered at the Asheville Humane Society and eventually was hired as paid staff. Jim has held the positions of Adoption Counselor, Office Manager, and Assistant Shelter Manger. Jim is a graduate of the Humane Society of the United States “Pets For Life” program and has taught regional workshops on animal behavioral assessments, adoptions programs and reducing animal stress in shelters.
Gina Phairas -- Special Programs Coordinator -- Gina began working with dogs professionally in 1999 in Los Angeles, CA, where she conducted therapy dog assessments for the Delta Society and did adoption counseling at SPCA-LA shelters. She attended the San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers and, after graduating with honors, joined the staff of the SF-SPCA. As their Rehabilitation Coordinator, directing rehabilitation programs and adoption assessments for dogs with behavior problems. Expanding her role at the SF-SPCA, Gina became an instructor at the Academy for Dog Trainers. She taught Academy students basic training techniques and specialized in developing treatment plans for aggression. Gina designed a curriculum for the Academy and designed and directed the SF-SPCA’s Internship Program, an advanced education program for dog trainers. She also taught public dog training classes and was the architect and instructor of the SF-SPCA’s Puppy Manners Class, co-designed and taught the popular Growly Dog class for leash-reactive dogs, and co-designed and taught the successful Diaper & Dog class, a course to prepare pregnant couples and their dogs for new baby’s arrival.
Gina co-founded ShelterWorks in 2001, a non-profit organization based in San Mateo, CA, that develops and implements programs for improving safety and efficiency for shelter staffs. Now residing in Asheville, Gina founded Tails and Tots, a business specializing in dog training for the family, and works with The Dog Door Canine Services providing in-home behavior counseling.
