Heritage Humane Society Names Interim Director

By Amber Lester Thursday, April 22, 2010

The Heritage Humane Society will be led by interim executive director Robin Bledsoe, whose tenure will begin Friday.

Bledsoe steps into the role one month after the board terminated its contract with Dana Cheek due to allegations of mismanagement from volunteers and patrons. Cheek had served as executive director for only four months; she was hired after a nationwide search based on her experience as leader of the Norfolk SPCA.

“The HHS Board is confident that Ms. Bledsoe’s wealth of management and fundraising experience will provide invaluable structure and stability to the organization during this critical transition period.”

In March, volunteer Sue Babischkin launched a Facebook page called “Save Our Shelter,” which quickly generated support from community members advocating for Cheek’s dismissal. Complaints about her performance on the site included concern over the firing of a longtime volunteer coordinator, treatment of animals that appeared to be in distress, presentation of dangerous animals as adoptable, the type of food given to animals and her management style.

Cheek told WYDaily in March that one day after the Facebook page launched, then-board president Peggy Scholley told Cheek she was being fired “because of too much negative publicity from the volunteers and former staff members and for ‘polarizing’ HHS.” Read more here.

Bledsoe will manage the day-to-day operations of the shelter and its programs. In a release, the board’s new president Peter Gore said, “Having an interim director in place will also allow the Board of Directors to take a deliberative approach to finding a permanent executive director.”

Bledsoe is president of B & D Capacity Builders, LLC, a management consulting firm. From 2006 to 2008, she was the executive director of Avalon: A Center for Women and prior to that, spent six years as executive director of Colonial Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in Williamsburg. She has also served as chair of the nonprofit division of the United Way of Greater Williamsburg, currently serves on the James City County Storm Water Management Advisory Board and the Governor’s Advisory Board on Child Abuse & Neglect. In 2007, she received the Commonwealth of Virginia Leadership Award. She is a graduate of University of Washington and Villanova University, where she earned a Masters Certification in applied project management.

Gore said the board has not yet set a timetable for its search for a permanent executive director, but expects once they do begin the process it will include local and national candidates. The board has not set criteria, either, although Gore said, "I would think that top of the list is identifying someone who is qualified to operate the shelter in a manner which fulfills our stated mission in all aspects."

That mission statement, according to Gore, is: "Heritage Humane Society serves as a compassionate haven for stray or unwanted companion animals, educates the public about humane care and treatment, advocates animal welfare, and promotes adoption to measurably reduce overpopulation and pet homelessness."