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 is the Director of Tourism Development for the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce, a position she has held for over five years. 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.

cynthia@oregoncoasthumanesociety.org

Born and raised in England, Cynthia and her late husband immigrated to the US in the late 1980s. She worked as a tax accountant for a small accounting association in San Diego, California, for fifteen years. In 2009, she moved to Santa Rosa, California, with her fondly remembered rescue dogs, St. Bernard Ben and Chow mutt Billy, and started volunteering as a dog walker with the Humane Society of Sonoma County.  For ten years she learned from top-notch trainers and behaviorists and was introduced to the concepts of Fear Free shelters and positive reinforcement training. She also fostered dogs for an excellent rescue organization, Compassion Without Borders, before moving to Florence, where she lives the beach life with her partner Larry and two rescue cats, Tommy and Grayson.

Marchel was born and raised in Northern California. After serving for seven years in the United States Navy, where she began her career in Information Technology, she eventually returned to Sacramento. She was in IT project management for over 30 years, leading diverse teams to provide solutions for public and private sector business. She is a bit of a data nerd and enjoys projects requiring detailed analysis of data and how it can be used to support improved outcomes. She and her husband Paul, relocated to Florence after many visits where they fell in love with the beauty, small town vibe and great people. They are ‘dog people’ who have had many beloved rescue pooches over the years. Sadly Maui, who moved with them, lived a very short life. They adopted the handsome black lab, now named Cappy, from OCHS and are working to give him his best life.

leslie@oregoncoasthumanesociety.org

Leslie Garretson started her career as a draftsman at Hughes Aircraft Co. and retired many years later from Glenair as a Senior Designer. Born in Compton, California, she now lives in Florence with her husband Eric and their rescued golden retriever, Duke. The mother of two grown children and grandmother of three, Leslie is devoted to her family, both two-legged and four-legged. In her spare time, Leslie also enjoys creating watercolor paintings for the special people in her life.

Trudy was born and raised in Florence and is a proud graduate of Siuslaw High School. Her roots in the community go back generations. Her family was portrayed in Ken Kesey’s novel and film Sometimes a Great Notion. Trudy purchased her home in Florence in 1986 and continues to call it home today. In 1996, she moved to California, where she built a distinguished career in the legal and corporate compliance fields. She rose to become Vice President of Regulatory Compliance for a Fortune 500 company, a role she held until her retirement in 2022. Trudy is a devoted mother and grandmother. Her son gave her two grandsons: Brice, a fallen hero who lost his life while serving in Afghanistan, and Logan, a cherished animal advocate and well-known presence at Mini Pet Mart, whose life was tragically cut short in a car accident. It is in their honor that Trudy is dedicated to improving the well-being of the pet population in the Florence community. Her personal story and passion for animals make her a compassionate and committed member of the Board.

krisi@oregoncoasthumanesociety.org

Bio Coming Soon