By David Yarger
Tribune Editor
On Thursday evening, in the lobby of the DoubleTree by Hilton lobby, Niagara SPCA President Bob Richardson announced that Tim Brennan, a North Tonawanda resident, would be the incoming executive director.
Brennan will step in for current Executive Director Amy Lewis, who is leaving to pursue interests in becoming a veterinarian.
Brennan is currently the chief development officer for the Boys & Girls Club of Buffalo and teaches courses at Buffalo State College on development of nonprofit organizations.
Brennan previously worked as the vice president of institutional advancement at D'Youville College and the vice president of marketing and network development at The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care.
Brennan possesses an MBA from the University at Buffalo and graduated from the Harvard Business School Club of Buffalo's Nonprofit Management Development Program.
Brennan has worked with Lewis almost a month he said, and he officially begins on Aug. 8. At that time, he will continue to work with Lewis until her departure on Aug. 31.
Richardson praised Lewis and her accomplishments at the shelter, and he wished her the best.
"She came in during a very difficult time in our shelter's history," Richardson said. "She turned the shelter around, she took us to a no-kill mission, and I'm proud to say since doing that in June 2012, we have saved over 12,000 animals in that time. So, it truly is a great accomplishment. She has laid the groundwork for taking the next step in our development. We truly are grateful to her for that."
Brennan said he was was thrilled to step into the position due to two key interests he has.
"I'm very excited," Brennan said. "I look forward to it. It really gives me the opportunity to merge my two passions - my one passion for animals, my other passion is for local nonprofits - so I really look forward to working with Bob, the board and the entire staff at the Niagara SPCA."
Brennan added he houses three dogs (two rescues) and two cats (both strays), to show a little of his animal passion.
Brennan also said a lot of his experience and expertise has dealt with fundraising, so he hoped to take the foundation Lewis has set and go out into the community and secure private funding "the shelter deserves."
Lewis, in the month working with Brennan, said she's seen great abilities out of him since day one of searching for a new executive director.
"I was actually part of the interview process, so right from the get go - even on paper when his resume came through and his qualifications - I had a really good feeling about Tim. Then meeting him in person just magnified that. It's clear that animal welfare is at the heart of what he does and what he wants to do, so I have complete faith that he's going to take the shelter to great places," Lewis said.