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June 30, 2008 King County names new Acting Manager of Animal Care and Control
Wendy Keller begins today
A new Acting Manager has been named to King County's Animal Care and Control section to help lead the agency into the next phase of improvements begun last year.
Seasoned project manager Wendy Keller was named to the position by Carolyn Ableman, director designee of Records and Licensing Services. Keller was chosen based on the growing needs of Animal Care and Control as the agency works to improve services and replace its aging and inadequate animal shelter in Kent. Former Acting Manager Al Dams is the new Strategic Planner and Operational Development Manager for the Records, and Licensing Division.
“Wendy Keller will bring expert managerial experience to the job,” said Ableman. “She has tackled a wide range of complex projects and repeatedly delivered excellent results working with employees and multiple community, nonprofit, and governmental and elected stakeholders.” Keller was recruited from the Finance and Business Operations Division of Executive Services.
“Al helped put us on track to dramatically reduce euthanasia rates, improve animal cruelty investigations, increase community outreach and identify the wide ranging needs of Animal Care and Control,” said Ableman. “We thank him for his service and also the employees and volunteers who have been and continue to be part of the team.”
During her 19 years with King County, Keller has been project director and manager of complex site selection processes, facility planning, design and the construction of multi-million dollar Law, Safety and Justice facility projects including the $200 million dollar Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.
For the past 6 years Keller has served as the Project Control Officer concentrating on construction and professional contract services. In this position Keller worked with over 240 County Project Managers advising on a broad range of capital projects including the development of high rise buildings, detention facilities, waste treatment facilities, roads, bridges, landfills, and other infrastructure projects.
Ableman also announced the appointment of Tom Brown to the position of Assistant Acting Manager. He will bring 30 years of senior level experience managing public safety operations to the job.
"Appointing Wendy Keller as the Acting Manager of Animal Care and Control is the right decision for the animals in our care," said King County Councilmember Dow Constantine. "It is my hope that she will act quickly to improve overall conditions in the shelters and ensure that each animal has the best chance to find a loving home."
”First, I extend my thanks to Al Dams for his leadership in reducing euthanasia rates to historic lows and for helping identify the numerous needs in the agency in order for it to become a world-class facility,” said King County Executive Sims. “I am pleased to bring Wendy Keller on board. Her skills and experience will be valuable as we work with Council and stakeholders to continue making improvements at the agency.
“We have an amazing staff and group of volunteers who are dedicated to the welfare of animals, and helped us make numerous improvements while working with inadequate facilities,” Sims said. “I want to thank each of them for their dedication and believe this change will help us achieve the next phase of improvements we all want.”
“Wendy brings a proven track record of management leadership to the job, as well as experience coordinating stakeholder involvement and detailed facility improvement projects,” said Jim Buck, director for the Department of Executive Services, which includes Records and Licensing Services. “The skills that made her successful there will be very beneficial to us as we continue to make improvements in animal services.
“Tom will be a tremendous asset to the hardworking staff and volunteers at the animal shelter due to his experience with facility operations”, said Ableman.
King County Animal Care and Control is committed to finding all healthy and adoptable animals homes. The two shelter locations receive between 11,000 and 13,000 animals per year, and also provide animal control services to all of unincorporated King County as well as 36 contracting cities within the County. Currently, Animal Care and Control has reported an historic low euthanasia rate, which has dropped to 19% from 34% last year. Animal cruelty prosecutions are at an all-time high, with 14 cases sent to prosecutors in 2007. For more King County Animal Care and Control information, please visit www.kingcounty.gov/pets.
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