joe@oregoncoasthumanesociety.org

Joe was born in Washington State and grew up in California. He and his wife Michele moved to Florence in 2000. They have always had rescue animals, caring for as many as 22 pets at one point. After their daughter graduated from Siuslaw High School, they returned to California to be closer to Joe’s family. In 2018, they lost everything in the Paradise Camp fire but were able to save all but 4 of their 19 pets. Homeless and jobless (their place of employment also burnt to the ground), they decided to return to Florence, the place they loved the most. They purchased Florence Shipping Solutions in June 2022. Joe and Michele continue to help animals by supporting OCHS. Every day, a cat from OCHS spends the workday at Shipping Solutions, resulting in almost 70 cat adoptions. Joe was elected to the OCHS Board in 2024. He may be late at times for meetings, but he is always there in heart and spirit, and has compassion for all for the animals they serve.

mitzi@oregoncoasthumanesociety.org

Mitzi Hathaway is a Portland native who moved to Florence in 2019. She brings extensive experience in marketing, graphic design, fundraising, office management, and event direction. A proud mom of two grown children, Mitzi is also a happy pet parent to Luna Skye, a tuxedo cat who wandered into her life on her birthday and claimed her as her forever human 11 years ago, and Finnigan Chewbacca Legolas Wood, a playful 3-year-old OCHS rescue Golden Doodle who is as fun as his name! In her free time, she enjoys outdoor adventures along the Oregon Coast and supporting local causes that fuel her passions and strengthens her community.

Jill@oregoncoasthumanesociety.org

Jill was born and raised in the Pasadena area of Southern California. She went to University of Arizona and earned a BA degree in Film and Entertainment, which was followed by a 30+ year career producing, distributing, and licensing video game and media entertainment content. Jill’s been an animal lover since she was a kid, always surrounded by dogs, cats, and other small creatures. In 2015, she began volunteering at the Irvine Animal Care Center in Irvine, California, working with the in-house behavior specialists for cats and dogs. Jill’s focus was the shy, scared, and feral cats and kittens. This was an extremely rewarding experience that she wishes to continue doing at OCHS and share her knowledge with others. In November of 2022, Jill, her husband Todd, their two cats, Jack and Nala, and their Vizsla, Ellie decided to retire to the Oregon Central Coast. They fell in love with Florence and all it has to offer. As avid hikers, beachcombers, and boaters, they love escaping to the forest for long hikes, taking long walks on the beautiful Oregon beaches, or jumping on the boat for a day on the water.

krisi@oregoncoasthumanesociety.org

Krisi was born and raised in Oregon and lived in the Forest Grove Valley her most of her life. Florence, where she spent all her summer vacations and holidays, had always felt like a second home to her, so six years ago, when her parents decided to make it their full-time residence, she moved with them to Florence. She says it’s the best decision she ever made! Before relocating, Krisi worked as an after-school and pre-K teacher for 20 years, with experience at Children’s World, the YMCA, and Learning Center. Whether it’s children or animals, you’ll find her giving back to her community. She can be found volunteering (or shopping!) at the OCHS Thrift Store, helping at OCHS estate sales, and volunteering at the PAWliday Store. She’s especially good at spending time snuggling with the animals at the shelter. Krisi likes to bring joy to every place she volunteers and inspires others to do the same.

Eleanor was born in British Columbia, Canada and raised on a small dairy farm, with cats, dogs, rabbits, and—to her mother’s horror—lizards and snakes. She came to the U.S. to complete her PhD at University of Washington (Go Huskies!), where she met her husband, Jim. After teaching in Canada for a few years, Eleanor and Jim moved to Bend, Oregon, where Eleanor taught for 30 years (Go Bobcats!). Upon retiring, they moved to Florence last year, with their two elderly cats and one elderly dog, to enjoy the cooler, moister weather. Eleanor has always had rescue animals and a highlight of her tenure in Bend, Oregon was working with the Board at the Humane Society of Central Oregon.