Meet the Team
Our team is made up of people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs. One thing we all have in common is our dedication to creating a more humane world.
Our leadership team
Jeff Hassel
Lisa Johns
Jim Fulton
Adam Cotton
Sarah Hammann
Dr. Chelsea Fogal
Director of Behavior and Training
Donor Relations Director
HR Generalist
Thrift Store Senior Manager
Volunteer Manager
Corporate Partnerships Manager
Adoptions Manager
Foster Care Manager
Grants Manager
Senior Marketing Manager
Relocation Manager
Senior Operations Manager
Director of Behavior and Training
Pia Silvani
Pia is one of the original innovators in the field of reward-based training, a member of the American Humane’s and Delta Society’s Task Forces for Humane Dog Training, and a charter member of the Association for Professional Dog trainers. With over 30 years of experience, Pia is an internationally respected trainer of trainers in addition to working with people and their dogs. She has a unique ability to communicate with dogs and their human companions. Pia is a gifted teacher and trainer, showing compassion for those at both ends of the leash.
Fun fact: Pia is featured in the documentary “Last Chance Dogs.”
Donor Relations Director
Laila Johnston
Laila is a skilled fundraiser and storyteller with over ten years in the nonprofit sector. When she was five years old, her dream was to be a veterinarian, but life has led her to protect and save animals in need differently – one with fewer scalpels. She is a true Leo and loves to share tales about the animals in our care and vibrantly discuss projects at Asheville Humane.
Fun fact: “All of my pets have middle names, and in true Southern fashion they get used when they’re getting into trouble.”
HR Generalist
Brianne DuBois
Brianne is a North Carolina native that relocated to Asheville in 2013. Brianne has been adopting from AHS since 2016, including two cats, a beagle and, most recently, a senior dachshund. Her favorite part about working at Asheville Humane is that she is surrounded by people who share the same passion for helping animals while making a difference in our community. She loves relaxing at home with her wife and their five fur children, exploring all the beautiful scenery that Western NC offers by hiking, biking, or kayaking!
Fun fact: “I lived in Germany for 3 years, but don’t ask me to speak German!”
Thrift Store Senior Manager
Kelly Paul
Kelly began her career at Asheville Humane in 2015 as our Customer Service Coordinator and then managed the Volunteer Program for five years. Now, Kelly loves the unique opportunities in her role as Thrift Store Senior Manager. She is always excited to design a new sales floor layout based on the variety of donated items daily. When she’s not at the shop, Kelly loves to spend time with her family (including her menagerie of pets), care for her plant collection, and foster animals in need.
Fun fact: “In 2007, I met my 90s teen idol, Gwen Stefani, and got Gwen to sign my shoes!”
Volunteer Manager
Ali Conroy
Ali has been in Hospitality/Customer-Food Service management for over 20 years, from hotels to restaurants to Buncombe County schools. She enjoys working with people and providing a great experience. She loves volunteer management because she gets to find that perfect activity that benefits both the volunteer and the animals.
Fun fact: “I also volunteer at other local animal rescues and work in wildlife rescue & rehab – specifically, with possums!”
Corporate Partnerships Manager
Daniel Gruhn
Daniel has an extensive retail merchandising background, resulting in his being detail- and goal-oriented. He grew up in suburban Long Island, attended Virginia Tech for college, and lived in multiple beach cities on the East Coast. Still, the mountains were calling, and Daniel responded accordingly. He is a true extrovert, avid hockey fan, craft beer snob, and animal lover who is always open to meeting people and embracing new experiences.
Fun fact: “One of my favorite quotes is: “Ever notice when you blow in a dog’s face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him in a car, he sticks his head out the window?” – George Carlin.”
Adoptions Manager
Tina Miller
Tina has worked in the animal husbandry field for 10+ years. She has a B.S. in Zoology from Mars Hill University. In addition to animal welfare, she has experience working at a therapeutic horseback riding center and a sanctuary for retired biomedical research chimpanzees. Tina and her husband are proud parents to four rescues (two goofy pups and two amazing kitties).
Fun fact: Tina is fluent in chimpanzee speak and can laugh, food bark, and make grooming raspberries as well as a chimpanzee!
Foster Care Manager
Evie Schenkel
Evie grew up in WNC and had always wanted to work for Asheville Humane. After graduating college, she was hired as the Customer Service Coordinator in 2014. A few years later, Evie became the Foster Care Manager and has been in this role ever since. While it’s not always rainbows and butterflies (trust us, there’s plenty of poop involved!), the good vastly outweighs the bad, and she can’t imagine doing anything outside of animal welfare. Evie shares her life with her fiance, dog, two horses, several fish, a leopard gecko, and a frog (both of whom are AHS alums!). When she’s not giving kittens butt baths, bottle feeding, or snuggling with puppies, she likes to spend her time hiking, gardening and letting her inner nerd out by playing some D&D with friends.
Fun fact: “My favorite show quote: “I know what I’m about, son.” – Ron Swanson”
Grants Manager
Kim Roberts
Kim has over 35 years of experience in the non-profit world, helping two- and four-legged beings heal and thrive. She has held numerous roles but currently manages all the grants for Asheville Humane Society to help provide much-needed funding!
Fun fact: “I’m an introvert, but I’m ALWAYS willing to discuss cats and British mysteries.”
Senior Marketing Manager
Sarah Stapleton
Sarah has a diverse career working in human and animal welfare. After graduating high school, she joined a humanitarian organization and volunteered in India for two years. Her love for digital marketing began during an internship with counter-human trafficking nonprofit The Exodus Road, where she eventually worked full-time. Sarah believes in doing work that makes a difference and loves learning what drives people to take world-changing action. She enjoys the many hats she gets to wear at AHS -working as a social media specialist, graphic designer, copywriter, videographer, photographer, and more.
Fun fact: “I have too many hobbies and not enough time – gaming, performing with my band, horseback riding, comics, gardening, art, dirt bike riding, skiing, and creating the best life ever for my nine pets.”
Relocation Manager
Kat Barbour
Like most people in this field, Kat’s life revolves around animals. She joined the Asheville Humane Society team as a foster, dedicating her time to caring for animals who needed some extra attention. Eventually, she decided to make it official! She loves being part of a dedicated team working to improve our four-legged friends’ lives.
Fun fact: “Some friends like to say that my dog is a Pitbull mixed with a goldfish because of how far apart his eyes are, but his adorable face won him the title of “Captain Dingus” at a local dog show.”
Senior Operations Manager
Heather Kelly
Fun fact: “My favorite band is the Dave Matthews Band, and I have seen them 12 times.. and counting.”
Quit your day job and join the team.
We have an amazing team of over 75+ animal lovers!