By Justin Criado

The Western Pennsylvania Humane Society (WPHS) and Manchester Bidwell Corporation (MBC) announced the appointment of a new executive director and vice president of operations, respectively.

Joy Braunstein has been appointed the WPHS executive director beginning Jan. 26, according to a press release. Deborah Hartman was promoted to chief operating officer.

“To be successful, the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society needs effective leadership with a solid operational and development track record,” Linda Leonhardt, co-chair of the WPHS board, said in the release. “This dynamic, new team shares a vision to create fresh opportunities for gaining donor support, educating the community and increasing adoptions. They will lead us to setting the gold standard for the 21st century.”

Braunstein has a  Master of Public Administration and completed PhD work in public policy from the University of Pittsburgh. She also holds a Master of Science in environmental law (MSEL), with a concentration in wildlife and animal rights law from Vermont Law School.

Most recently, Braunstein was the director of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh after serving as the interim executive director of the Rachel Carson Homestead Association and the chief executive officer of the Carolina Raptor Center.

Hartman began her nonprofit career at Family House, then advanced to director of development and public relations at P.O.W.E.R., the Pennsylvania Organization for Women in Early Recovery. She also spent nearly a decade as the chief executive officer at the National Kidney Foundation of Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia. During this time, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, summa cum laude, and has completed the graduate coursework for a Master of Science degree in Professional Leadership, with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from Carlow University.

To learn more about the WPHS in Allegheny West please visit the official website.

MBC announced that Kevin Jenkins has been appointed the new vice president of operations after holding similar roles at the Pittsburgh Foundation for the past nine years.

“I am excited about Kevin joining the organization. He brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of our culture; he is precisely the kind of leader we have been looking for,” Paulo Nzambi, MBC’s chief operating officer said in a press release.

As the Pittsburgh Foundation’s representative on the Campaign for What Works, an ongoing movement to help social service organizations gain more influence in policy decisions, Jenkins helped lead the successful effort to re-name the State Department of Public Welfare as the Department of Human Services. Working through the Campaign and his well-developed network, Jenkins was also instrumental in bringing the region’s human service nonprofits to a much higher level of effectiveness in demonstrating value as a sector.

“It is clear to me that his leadership in the public policy work has helped move our agenda forward in many areas,” said Maxwell King, president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Foundation. “No doubt, Kevin’s departure is a big loss for us but we are very excited that he will remain in Pittsburgh to help lead one of the most effective nonprofit organizations in the region for bettering under served communities.”

For more information about the MBC please visit the official website.