Ashley Thomas
Seymour,TN
Summary
Animal welfare is my purpose. I possess the skills in relationship building, resource management, and education to save lives and help people.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Director
Sevier Animal Care Center
Sevierville, TN
09.2018 - Current
- Developed Sevier Animal Care Center under guidance of the Sevier County Government and surrounding cities after municipalities joined forces to provide shelter services
- Constructed shelter’s mission and vision statements, and implemented all programs, including garnered outside partnerships and hiring a dynamic and innovative team.
- Leads a team of 11 staff and hundreds of foster parents and volunteers.
- Maintained a save rate of over 90%, despite being an open intake municipality intaking over 2000 pets per year
- Managed all fundraising efforts, donor relationships, and public speaking
- Maintained all social media profiles including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok and created all content for shelter website
- Built a robust Placement Department with a foundation of open and judgement free communication that resulted in foster program with more than 300 families and numerous partnerships with local and long distance rescue groups
- Designed, implemented and supervised several additional placement programs including Protective Custody Fosters, Boarding Buddies, Office Buddies, Trial Adoptions, Sleepover Friends, and Adoption Ambassadors
- Supervised maintenance on the shelter building, grounds and vehicles
- Created and implementation annual organizational budget
- Implemented community assistance programs, including a pet food pantry, spay/neuter vouchers, euthanasia assistance, and behavior training help.
- Collaborated on development of Plants for Puppies, an animal hoarder assistance program
- Built and preserved relationships with local spay/neuter clinics, private veterinarians and University of Tennessee Veterinary College.
- Served as chief collaborator to run the shelter, effectively, efficiently, and compassionately with a special focus on innovation within the leadership team
Placement Manager
Young Williams Animal Center
Knoxville, TN
04.2013 - 08.2018
- Recruited for the fledgling Foster Care Program in 2013, leading to an increase from 12 families to over 400 by 2015.
- Increased life saving efforts through the Foster Care Program, sending out 697 animals to foster care in 2013.
- Absorbed Rescue Placement program in March of 2017 leading to a 656% increase from the previous year in animals transferred to rescue partners.
- Created and supervised the implementation of new animal shelter programs, including Adoption Ambassador, Field Trip, and Foster-to-Adopt programs.
- Created and maintained two social media groups to benefit foster care families and promote adoption.
- Led multiple departments, including Intake, Adoption, and Animal Care.
- Tended to the medical needs of foster and shelter animals while coordinating with veterinary staff.
- Served after hours as an on-call manager for emergencies.
- Collaborated with other shelter leaders to improve shelter operations.
- Reviewed staff work and gave comprehensive and constructive feedback.
Animal Care/Intake/Adoption Technician
Young Williams Animal Center
Knoxville, TN
01.2009 - 04.2013
- Provided excellent customer service to all customers, volunteers, and donors.
- Sanitized all areas to maintain a safe and healthy environment.
- Enriched animals to reduce their stress levels.
- Counseled owners and good Samaritans on resources and options available.
- Examined incoming animals while providing basic medical maintenance
- Reviewed adoption applications while having open conversations with adopters about which animal would best fit their lifestyle.
Education
Euthanasia Technician
Certification
01-2010
Some College (No Degree) - Psychology
Walter State Community College
Morristown, TNSome College (No Degree) - Psychology
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Knoxville, TNSkills
- Relationship Building
- Business Management
- Budget Administration
- Public Relations
- Teaching and Public Speaking
- Animal Behavior & Medical Assessment
- Shelter Operations Management
- Emergency Response Planning
- Behavior Analysis
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Director
Sevier Animal Care Center
09.2018 - Current
Placement Manager
Young Williams Animal Center
04.2013 - 08.2018
Animal Care/Intake/Adoption Technician
Young Williams Animal Center
01.2009 - 04.2013
Euthanasia Technician
Certification
Some College (No Degree) - Psychology
Walter State Community College
Some College (No Degree) - Psychology
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
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