OPERATION KINDNESS - Key Persons
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- Secretary of the Board of Directors
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- Member of the Board of Directors
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- Estate Planning and Probate Attorney
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- Member of the Board of Directors
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- Member of the Board of Directors
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- Member of the Veterinary Leadership Team
- Forensics Veterinarian
Operation Kindness is excited to announce the addition of Dr. Virginia Charney as our new forensics veterinarian. Dr. Charney brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for animal welfare to the new position for Operation Kindness as we expand our animal forensics work with the Dallas Police Department.
Raised in Denton, Texas, Dr. Charney earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of San Diego and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M University in 2009. She completed an internship on small animals at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in Rhode Island, followed by a year as an emergency veterinarian at Heart of Texas Veterinary Specialty Center.
Dr. Charney further specialized in veterinary anatomic pathology at Purdue University, earning a Master of Science in Pathobiology. She worked as an anatomic pathologist at the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission's Veterinary Diagnostic Lab and IDEXX Veterinary Services for a total of six years. This fall, she will pursue a Master of Science in Veterinary Forensic Sciences at the University of Florida.
"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Charney to our team," said Meredith Jones, Chief Community Initiatives Officer at Operation Kindness. "Her forensics expertise paired with her passion for improving the health and quality of life for community pets is a win for Dallas animals. We look forward to continuing our important work with Dallas Animal Services and Dallas Police Department to make Dallas a safer and kinder city for pets and the people who love them."
In her new role at Operation Kindness, Dr. Charney will conduct examinations and autopsies on Dallas animals that have been victims of abuse or neglect, collaborating with our Community Initiatives team, Dallas law enforcement, and Dallas Animal Services to ensure justice for these animals.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to work as a forensic veterinarian for Operation Kindness. I have a strong interest in animal cruelty, forensic veterinary medicine, and pathology; thus, I am excited to work alongside the forensics team to provide this service to the city of Dallas," Dr. Charney said. "Operation Kindness is composed of many amazing people who provide extraordinary assistance to countless animals, in addition to numerous families with pets. I look forward to working alongside them to continue to accomplish their mission, and to help assist in the growth and development of the forensics program."
Operation Kindness is excited about the expertise and dedication Dr. Charney brings to our team, and we look forward to the positive impact she will have on our community.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Veterinary Leadership Team
- Shelter Veterinarian
Focusing on surgeries, including spay/neuter, amputations, enucleations, growth removals, and dentistry procedures, Dr. Koontz is part of the shelter veterinary team at Operation Kindness. Having graduated from Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in Animal Science, he also graduated from Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences with a DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine). In 2013, he moved to North Texas to practice small animal medicine and surgery, mostly with nonprofit organizations, before joining Operation Kindness in August 2021. Dr. Koontz enjoys spending his free time with his two rescue dogs named Betsey and Oatmeal.
"Joining the team at Operation Kindness is a wonderful opportunity to provide care to animals in need of support," said Dr. Koontz. "I'm excited to be a part of an organization working to better the lives of dogs and cats."
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
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- Member of the Veterinary Leadership Team
- Shelter Veterinarian
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- Member of the Board of Directors
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- Member of the Board of Directors
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- Member of the Veterinary Leadership Team
- Lifesaving Partnerships Veterinarian
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- Member of the Board of Directors
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- Member of the Senior Leadership Team
- Chief Community Initiatives Officer
- Chief Community Initiatives Officer Meredith Jones Joined Operation Kindness As Chief Community Initiatives Officer
Meredith Jones joined Operation Kindness as Chief Community Initiatives Officer in July of 2022. She has an extensive background in grassroots advocacy and activism, as well as leadership experience with nationally-renowned animal welfare organizations. She has fought passionately for equal access for underserved pets and their people throughout her career.
Meredith Jones, Chief Community Initiatives Officer Meredith Jones joined Operation Kindness as Chief Community Initiatives Officer ...
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
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- for MEDIA INQUIRIES
- Senior Director - Marketing & Communications Natalie Richter Is a Passionate Animal Welfare Advocate With Exper.
Natalie Richter is a passionate animal welfare advocate with expertise in marketing, development, digital fundraising and engagement.
As Senior Director - Marketing & Communications for Operation Kindness, Natalie develops strategy and storytelling to grow the organization's presence through traditional media & PR, social media & digital channels, email and print. She also manages the direct response and digital fundraising programs.
Since 2013, Natalie has devoted her career to animal welfare, working with both Operation Kindness and Best Friends Animal Society. Natalie holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from Texas Woman's University and is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Senior Leadership Team
Ed Jamison serves as CEO of Operation Kindness, a lifesaving non-profit animal welfare organization based in Texas. Under his leadership since March 2021, Ed guides the organization to administer innovative programs impacting dogs and cats across the region, including community initiatives, shelter partnerships, interstate transport, forensics for animal cruelty and more. Ed also leads the lifesaving work at the Operation Kindness shelter, which includes a medical wing, neonatal kitten nursery and pet food pantry, located in Carrollton, TX.
Previously, Ed served as the Director of Dallas Animal Services (DAS). When he joined DAS in 2017, the animal situation in Dallas was the center of public scrutiny. Ed was tasked with increasing public safety by getting loose animals off the streets, while also increasing positive outcomes. The "Dallas 90" campaign was designed to help create a community where all people and animals are safe, treated with respect, and have access to the resources needed to thrive. With a dog and cat intake of over 39,000 in 2019, Dallas had the 3rd highest intake in the nation.
With an extensive background working in the animal welfare field beginning in the early 2000s, Ed worked in Cleveland, Ohio, before moving to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. In the position of Chief Animal Control Officer for the City of Cleveland, Jamison pushed to redefine functionality and public perception of animal control. The award-winning, trademarked CITY DOGs Cleveland Adoption and Volunteer programs continue to be flourishing programs copied throughout the country.
Ed is currently the Vice President of the National Animal Care & Control Association, and a board member for the Association of Animal Welfare Advancement and Shelter Animals Count.
Ed's love for animals means that he also has many pets at home, including a few foster fails. His pets include his dogs (Gurble and Esme), cats (Bertram, Deliah, Riley, Weston, Nestor, Merwin, Scrappy, and Kiwi), goldfish (Iragoo), cows (Cookie, Sprout, and Oliver), and miniature donkeys (Fern and Evie).
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- Senior Director - Development Nikki Walker Combined Her Passion for Animals and Love of Working With People As the Sen.
Nikki Walker combined her passion for animals and love of working with people as the Senior Director - Development for Operation Kindness. She has had a successful career as a fundraiser since 2006. She leads a team of compassionate and talented fundraisers dedicated to advancing Operation Kindness's lifesaving mission through strong donor relationships and signature special events.
Nikki has devoted her career and personal life to improving the community and saving lives, working with Operation Kindness and Catholic Charities Fort Worth. She also holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Nikki lives in Lantana with her husband. They are proud parents of their dog, Bailey, adopted from Operation Kindness. Bailey goes to work with Nikki and can often be found running the halls with his canine co-workers or sitting on Nikki's desk. Bailey is famously known as the "boss" and brings so much joy to Nikki's family and coworkers.
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- Senior Director - Human Resources
- Senior Director - Human Resources a Life - Long Animal Lover, Haley Payne Joined the Operation Kindness Team in 2008 and .
A life-long animal lover, Haley Payne joined the Operation Kindness team in 2008 and is currently the Senior Director - Human Resources. She manages the HR department and all human resources functions including talent acquisition, employee benefits, compliance, performance management, training and employee relations. Haley has a special interest in talent acquisition and enjoys recruiting top talent and sharing the rewarding work experience found at Operation Kindness.
Prior to joining Operation Kindness, Haley worked in human resources for Dallas area commercial construction and medical supply companies. She graduated from Texas Tech University with a bachelor's degree in restaurant, hotel and institutional management.
Outside of Operation Kindness, Haley spends her time with her husband, daughter, son, two dogs and three cats.
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- Member of the Senior Leadership Team
- Vice - President of Lifesaving Programs
- Vice President of Lifesaving Programs Heather Dolson Joined the Operation Kindness Team in July 2021. As Vice Presid.
Heather Dolson joined the Operation Kindness team in July 2021. As Vice President of Lifesaving Programs, she is responsible for all shelter operations and medical departments. It takes multiple teams working together to ensure every animal's journey from intake to adoption is comfortable, efficient, and successful. Heather's goals include decreasing our animal's length of stay in the shelter and expanding our current lifesaving programs.
Originally from Ohio, Heather graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor's degree in business management. She started her career in animal welfare in 2010, managing high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinics in the Akron and Cleveland areas. Heather moved to Texas in 2016 to work for the SPCA of Texas, where she most recently served as their Senior Director of Medical Services.
In her free time, Heather appreciates the Texas heat in the swimming pool with her husband and their 3-legged pit bull. She also enjoys baking, dancing, indoor rock climbing, and kickboxing.
Meet the Team Heather Dolson, Vice-President of Lifesaving Programs April 9, 2024 By Natalie Richter Heather Dolson, Vice President of Lifesaving Programs Heather Dolson joined the Operation Kindness team in July 2021. As Vice Presid... Continue reading
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Member of the Senior Leadership Team
- Chief Operating Officer Kelly Furnas Became Chief Operating Officer of Operation Kindness in July 2021, Following Her
Kelly Furnas became Chief Operating Officer of Operation Kindness in July 2021, following her roles as Director of Operations and Volunteer Services in recent years. Her responsibilities include the day-to-day running of the shelter, including medical, operations, and facilities. She has been involved with Operation Kindness since 2015.
Kelly Furnas, Chief Operating Officer Kelly Furnas became Chief Operating Officer of Operation Kindness in July 2021, following her ...
Job Titles:
- Member of the Veterinary Leadership Team
- Chief Community Initiatives Veterinarian
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- Chairman - Elect
- Member of the Board of Directors
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- Treasurer of the Board of Directors
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- Member of the Board of Directors
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- Immediate past Chair
- Member of the Board of Directors
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- Chief
- Member of the Veterinary Leadership Team
- Veterinarian
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- Senior Director
- Senior Director - Accounting
Tina O'Guinn, Senior Director - Accounting Tina O'Guinn joined Operation Kindness in 2009. She is responsible for preparing and anal...
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors