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

Executive Director
Jeff cut his teeth in the nonprofit world doing emergency home repairs with the Appalachia Service Project, based in Johnson City, TN. As a Methodist pastor in WNC, he served five communities, including East Flat Rock and Sylva. In the early 2000s, Jeff moved to Lithuania to work as a Construction Project Manager, returned to the States, and became the Mission Director at a large church in Davidson, NC. He moved to Guatemala in 2012 to learn Spanish, became the ED of a rural medical clinic, then led a large human services org in Massachusetts. He is glad to be back in Western NC! Jeff rescued four dogs in his life; his favorite was Chandler, a Great Dane. He is thrilled to be part of an organization that advocates for the well-being of animals daily. Fun fact: "In my off hours, I enjoy riding a motorcycle I call Rocinante.”

Lisa Johns

Chief Operating Officer
Lisa began her career in animal welfare while living in American Samoa as a practicing attorney. There, she helped organize free mass spay/neuter clinics. Lisa then served as Shelter Manager of Good Mews in the Atlanta area for five and half years before joining AHS in 2017. Fun fact: I have three pets - Satani- a cat from American Samoa, Beemer- a special needs kitty adopted from AHS, and Roxie- a pitbull also adopted from AHS.

Jim Fulton

Director of Fundraising and Engagement
Jim has been with Asheville Humane Society for over 20 years, serving almost every job. He has held 21 different titles in that time and was awarded a Long Leaf Pine Member for his work with Asheville Humane Society. Jim is looking forward to the next 20 years making a difference with Asheville Humane Society! Fun fact: I only watch the Hallmark channel because it's a show that guarantees everyone a happy ending - including the animals!

Adam Cotton

Director of Community Solutions
Adam Cotton graduated from UNC-Asheville and moved back years later to WNC to help start Asheville Humane Society's community outreach program in 2015. Working in the fields of civil rights, welfare-to-work, and domestic violence, as well as his leadership experience at other animal sheltering organizations throughout the country, give him a unique perspective on how to best support programs meant to keep pets and their people together. Fun fact: Adam and his wife live on a small farm in Mars Hill, NC, and care for 3 large breed dogs, 3 cats, 30 hens, 4 roosters, 4 goats, a duck, and a rabbit, most of which were adopted from AHS over the years.

Sarah Hammann

Controller
Sarah graduated from UNC-Asheville with a degree in Environmental Studies. After a few years, she decided that accounting was her calling and returned to school. Afterward, Sarah worked in public and corporate accounting and obtained her CPA license. She is happy to be back in WNC after 15 years in Atlanta and finds applying her accounting skills for a cause like Asheville Humane Society very rewarding. Fun fact: Sarah grew up moving around frequently. The longest she’s ever lived consecutively in one place is 15 years.

Dr. Chelsea Fogal

Medical Director
Dr. Chelsea Fogal has spent the last 11 years working or volunteering in a variety of ways in animal welfare; through MASH-style pop-up Spay/Neuter and pet wellness clinics, training surgeons and veterinary students in high-volume Spay/Neuter techniques with the ASPCA, and developing and maintaining robust shelter medicine and surgical programs for five animal sheltering organizations. Growing up in the Asheville area, she was drawn back to the mountains of WNC after spending time in the Midwest. She once again feels at home after working for an organization as progressive and innovative as Asheville Humane.

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We have an amazing team of over 75+ animal lovers!