LAWRENCE, KAN. — October 30, 2018 – The Lawrence Humane Society announced today that Kate Meghji will resign as Executive Director effective December 14.
Meghji has accepted the Executive Director role for the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County in Vero Beach, Florida.
The Lawrence Humane Society Board of Directors has appointed Meghan Scheibe as Interim Executive Director effective November 1. Scheibe joined Lawrence Humane Society in 2015 and currently serves as the Director of Development & Community Engagement. Meghji will remain with the Lawrence Humane Society through December 14 to assist with the transition.
“I have worked with Kate for several years, and am amazed by her passion and knowledge,” said John Olsen, Board Chair for the Lawrence Humane Society. “She has been a visionary leader and her accomplishments and hard work over the last four years have paved the way for our organization’s future success. While we are sad to see her leave, we look forward to building on the success that Kate has facilitated. We will also be keeping an eye on what amazing things Kate is sure to do at Vero Beach.”
Meghji joined Lawrence Humane Society as Executive Director in 2014. Under Meghji’s leadership, the organization has made tremendous strides to advance both animal care at the shelter and in the Lawrence community. The Lawrence Humane Society is nearing its goal to raise of a $7.5 million through a capital campaign to build a new shelter for the community. Construction on the facility is under way, and the new shelter is expected to open in late spring 2019. An announcement regarding the progress of the campaign will be made in the very near future.
Scheibe has been serving the Lawrence Humane Society as Director of Development & Community Engagement for more than three years, and has a combined eight years of animal welfare management and leadership experience. Prior to her tenure at the Lawrence Humane Society , she served in multiple capacities at The Animal Foundation, the largest, single-location animal shelter in the country, located in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“The Lawrence Humane Society will always hold a special place in my heart,” said Meghji. “I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to work with a growing organization to improve its overall practices and philosophies to increase our impact in the community by enhancing animal welfare standards and implementing best practices.”
“I am so proud of the work that our staff, volunteers, supporters, partners, and the community as a whole have accomplished together over the last four years — including, but absolutely not limited to raising the funds needed to build the new shelter this community deserves,” Meghji added. “While I am sad to leave at such an exciting time, I am confident that our Board of Directors will find a qualified new Executive Director who will take the Lawrence Humane Society to the next level and that the organization will be well-led in the interim. I believe the best is yet to come for the Lawrence Humane Society.”
The Lawrence Humane Society Board of Directors will begin a national search for Meghji’s replacement later this year.
“I am incredibly honored to lead the Lawrence Humane Society during this period of transition,” said Scheibe. “While Kate will be missed, we wish her all the best as she enters this exciting new phase of her career. The Vero Beach community will be lucky to have her.”
Scheibe continued, “As we look ahead to the opening of our new facility next spring, I am excited to work closely with our talented staff and Board during this interim period to ensure that our organization is positioned for success in our new shelter and that we continue to provide the same level of care to pets and nurture the human-animal bond within the community.”
About Meghan Scheibe, Interim Executive Director
Meghan Scheibe joined the Lawrence Humane Society (LHS) as Director of Development and Community Engagement in July 2015. In her more than three years at LHS, Meghan has developed the organization’s fundraising program, working closely with board and leadership to facilitate the organization’s $7.5 million capital campaign and grow operational funding. Additionally, she has revamped the volunteer, community engagement, and adoption programs, increasing the organization’s reach and the number of animals placed into new homes, and has developed and provided leadership to countless new operational initiatives.
Prior to her tenure at LHS, Meghan served as both Marketing and Public Relations Manager and Assistant Director of Development at The Animal Foundation (TAF), the largest, single-location open admission shelter in the country, located in Las Vegas, Nevada. During her time at TAF, Meghan developed strategic marketing, engagement, programming, event, and fundraising initiatives to increase lifesaving, improve efficiency, and expand community awareness.
Meghan has also served as Development Manager at the USA Swimming Foundation in Colorado Springs, fundraising for the United States Olympic Swim Team and learn-to-swim initiatives for at-risk populations, as well as Art Director and Studio Manager at R+W Advertising in Las Vegas.
Meghan is a member of the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of Miami (FL).
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About Lawrence Humane Society
The Lawrence Humane Society serves more than 4,300 homeless animals each year. The Lawrence Humane Society nurtures the human-animal bond by providing shelter, care and advocacy for homeless and abused animals, as well as resources for the people and pets in our community. For more information, visit www.lawrencehumane.org.
