After a national search and sifting through the responses of 94 applicants, the WAIF board of directors has chosen Lesley Mills, an Oak Harbor resident, to be the new executive director for the organization. Lesley will assume her responsibilities on June 1.

Lesley comes to WAIF from the Jewish Family Service in Seattle where she was director of operations. In that position she worked extensively with lay leadership and oversaw key operational functions including real estate, human resources and technology. She also was the project leader for three major capital campaigns, one of which entailed the purchase and renovation of a building. Lesley is well acquainted with fundraising, having worked on agency events, interacted widely with donors, offered input and support on marketing strategies and participated in seeking and developing funding sources. Prior to working at Jewish Family Service, she was the business manager for a CPA firm and the risk manager for a group of companies.

“We are terribly excited about Lesley’s coming to work with us,” says WAIF Board President Dominique Emerson. “In checking her references, I was told that she works well under pressure, never over reacts, responds in a timely fashion with accurate information and is very compassionate with her employees.”

As the new executive director, Lesley will oversee the operations of the shelter in Coupeville, the WAIF thrift shops in Oak Harbor and Freeland and supervise the day-to-day activities of 13 staff and a cadre of dedicated volunteers. In addition, she will provide leadership in the upcoming capital campaign as WAIF looks forward to purchasing land and building a bigger shelter to serve the needs of the county’s companion animals. She has also been charged with the responsibility of building on what the organization already has in place and taking it to a new level of professionalism. Lesley is so interested in being up to speed on June 1 that she is spending the month of May meeting with staff and volunteers.

A recent Whidbey Island resident, Lesley shares her Oak Harbor home with her partner Jim MacIndoe; Fred, their rescued Basset Hound; Tucker a 2 1/2 year old Lab mix and four cats. She is an avid hiker, loves to garden and browse thrift and antique stores.