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Press Release Contact: Humane Society Silicon Valley President Christine Benninger To Retire After 17 Years of Service Carol Novello Named New President MILPITAS, Calif., July 26, 2010 – – Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) President Christine Benninger announced today that she will retire on September 19, 2010 after 17 years of service to the nonprofit agency. HSSV board member Carol Novello, a former vice president at Intuit, Inc., will succeed Benninger on September 20, 2010. “The HSSV board of directors has worked closely with Christine to ensure a seamless transition in leadership,” said Melissa Dyrdahl, HSSV board chairperson. “Christine is leaving HSSV after accomplishing so many great things for the animals of Santa Clara County, and we will miss her. At the same time, we are thrilled that Carol Novello, with her business acumen, proven leadership skills and love of HSSV’s mission will guide the next historical steps of the organization.”
Most recently, Benninger oversaw the planning, funding and building of HSSV’s new Animal Community Center. The Center, which opened in April 2009, is the nation’s first Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified Animal Community Center in the country and has quickly become an inspiring model of humane animal care, green building design and community involvement for shelters nationwide. “With this new Center, we have truly raised the bar for animals everywhere,” Benninger said. “I feel confident retiring from the organization knowing that I am leaving HSSV in good hands with Carol Novello as president. As a board member, Carol has been dedicated to HSSV’s mission to save and enhance lives, understands our operations and will continue to expand on the foundation we have built.” “HSSV is an organization of outstanding caliber, and it has been a privilege to serve on the HSSV board for the past year,” said Novello. “Our Animal Community Center saves the lives of thousands of animals each year and strengthens the foundation of human-animal relationships by teaching people about animals, their needs, and the important contributions they make to society. I look forward to continuing HSSV’s leadership position as the premier Animal Community Center in the country.”
Novello received her M.B.A. from the Harvard Graduate School of Business, and her B.A. degree, cum laude, in economics and English from Dickinson College. She is a resident of Los Altos and lives with her two adopted cats Langley and Wiley. About Humane Society Silicon Valley ### |
During her tenure, Benninger made substantial changes to HSSV that have saved the lives of tens of thousands of animals and significantly reduced the pet overpopulation problem in Santa Clara County. Benninger instituted a “spay/neuter at adoption policy”, an affordable spay/neuter vaccination clinic, and encouraged local municipalities to offer discounted spay/neuter voucher programs. At the same time, she worked with local municipalities to build two additional city-funded animal shelters in the South Bay to reduce euthanasia rates. Today, more than 60 percent of the animals entering our shelters in Santa Clara County find new homes compared to just 30 percent when Benninger took office 17 years ago. At HSSV, 100 percent of the animals available for adoption are re-homed and the organization routinely embarks on regional rescue efforts, taking in animals from other shelters that are in danger of being euthanized due to lack of space, time or resources. 
About Carol Novello