Submitted by Humane Society for Southwest Washington
The Humane Society for Southwest Washington (HSSW) is pleased to announce two new executive appointments: Megan Dennis joins HSSW as Vice President-Director of Shelter Operations and Dr. Lauren Overman was promoted to Vice President-Director of Veterinary Services.
“We are excited to bring the talents of Megan and Lauren to our leadership team,” says Andrea Bruno, HSSW President. “Their professional and management skills will help us meet HSSW’s operational objectives and continue to provide critical services for the shelter animals.”
Dennis most recently served as the Executive Director of West Columbia Gorge Humane Society (WCGHS), where she restructured the organization and enhanced its standards of care as well as its animal life-saving capacity. In addition, Dennis boosted WCGHS’s operational income through increased revenue, an endowment fund, annual sponsorship and expanded fundraising programs.
“I’m proud to join HSSW as its Director of Shelter Operations and look forward to growing more successful ventures for our organization – both internally and in community outreach,” Dennis says.
With more than 12 years of experience in animal welfare, Dennis served as the Humane Society of Greater Savannah, Georgia’s Director of Public Programs before coming to the Pacific Northwest. Her list of accomplishments includes developing a pet retention program that was used as a model by ASPCA Mission Orange communities across the United States while she worked at the Asheville Humane Society in North Carolina. Megan lives in Portland with her partner, Susannah, and their two dogs and two cats.
An integral member of HSSW, Dr. Overman originally came to the Pacific Northwest as an intern in shelter medicine at Oregon Humane Society in 2011 and was hired as an associate at HSSW the following year. Over the past eight years, Overman rose through the ranks at HSSW to become the managing and lead veterinarian. In her new role as the Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Overman will safeguard the health and wellbeing of shelter animals and provide guidance to HSSW’s medical clinic staff. Her clinical passion is infectious disease control and population management and flow within the shelter.
“I’ve devoted my career to helping care for the animals who come through HSSW’s doors, and I’m thrilled to assume this executive role where I can continue to improve animals’ health and quality of life.”
Dr. Overman completed her undergraduate degree in Conservational Biology at Arizona State University. She became interested in veterinary medicine and obtained her veterinary medical degree at University California Davis Veterinary Medical School.
Outside the clinic, Dr. Overman shares her home with her husband, two children and their family dog.
