SPCA Tampa Bay Meet our Team

Our History as a For-All Shelter

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Tampa Bay is the only non-profit, animal welfare agency that runs an open-admission For-All animal shelter in Pinellas County. The SPCA Tampa Bay animal shelter in Largo cares for over 8,000 animals annually that have been surrendered by their owners, along with injured wildlife.

SPCA Tampa Bay cares for dogs, cats, pocket pets, exotic animals, and livestock like goats and pigs. Animals receive immunizations, medical care, enrichment and loving care while they live at our shelter. Our adoptions team and volunteers work to match families with animals that are a good fit with the family’s home, lifestyle and personalities. Every animal receives compassionate care, regardless of its breed or size.

Our Vision:
Create a community where every animal matters.

Our Mission:
Through passionate collaboration with our community, we transform the lives of animals.

Our Core Values:
Compassion, Community, Customer Experience and Teamwork. Learn more.

SPCA Tampa Bay is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit locally governed by a volunteer board of directors. Like most U.S. animal shelters, we rely entirely on our program revenue and fundraising to sustain our operations, provide care for animals and serve the community. Despite a similar name, we are not affiliated with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) or Humane Society of the U.S.

A team of 100+ staff members and more than 250 dedicated volunteers help us fulfill our mission.

Largo Services Directory | 727-586-3591

Wildlife Assistance 727-586-3592
Adoptions x124
Donations x113
Volunteer Opportunities x162
Fund Raising Events x163
Shelter Medical Department x117
Marketing and Media/Community Outreach x164
Human Resources x127
Finance and Administration x158

For media information or to book an interview with one of our staff contact: Kristen Davis, Director of Marketing & Communications: 727-586-3591 x 122

Management Team

Martha Boden

President & CEO

SPCA Tampa Bay President & CEO Martha Boden has a strong background in product and project management and leveraged this business knowledge to stabilize and grow animal welfare organizations throughout her career.

Boden joined SPCA Tampa Bay as CEO in 2011. Under her leadership, SPCA Tampa Bay has implemented a number of program and facility enhancements to improve the agency’s service to the community. Boden led the agency’s plans to open a full-service veterinary hospital in St. Petersburg, which brought accessible veterinary care and spay/neuter services to local pet owners when it opened in 2016.

Prior to joining SPCA Tampa Bay, Boden was CEO of the Humane Society of Indianapolis, where she implemented programs that increased the animal placement rate, reduced the euthanasia rate and improved customer service. Following her work with the Humane Society of Indianapolis, she provided consulting services to animal-related businesses and nonprofits, and then went on to lead a worldwide project management team for the global consulting firm Accenture.

Boden first gained experience in the animal welfare industry in her previous hometown of Minneapolis as a volunteer with the Animal Humane Society and as a volunteer and board president with the Animal Relief Fund. She also created of The Hambulance, a hamster rescue where she cared for, rehabilitated and rehomed more than 600 hamsters.

Before following her passion into animal welfare, Boden worked with mainframe computer printers as a field systems analyst and later as a project management consultant, managing project budgets ranging from $500,000 to more than $10 million.

In addition to her work with SPCA Tampa Bay, Boden is actively involved in both the animal welfare industry and local community. Boden is a board member of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, and is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA), the highest-level professional designation for animal welfare professionals.

Boden is also a member of the Florida Association of Animal Welfare Organizations. She became a member of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors in 2016 and graduated from the Leadership St. Pete class of 2012.

Boden received her bachelor’s degree from Macalester College. She has attained a Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute and completed animal rescue service training through Noah’s Wish.

Tara Yurkshat

Chief Operating Officer

Cynthia Mitchell, DVM

EVP of Programs & Chief Veterinary Officer

Howard Qualls

EVP of Administration & Chief Resources Officer

To reach the SPCA Tampa Bay Board of Directors with compliments, suggestions or concerns, please email us here. Please direct any inquiries through that page rather than attempting to contact board members at their home or place of employment. Be sure to include your name, phone number and email address along with your inquiry. Correspondence sent to board members anonymously and at any addresses other than the one provided here will not receive a response. Note: all board members are independent, voting members

Board of Directors

Officers

Tina Thomas - Board Chair
Catherine Mitchell - Past Board Chair
Trevor Tillwick - Secretary
Dr. Julie Kessel - Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair
Stacy Nethercoat - Governance Chair

Members

Andy Gaunce

Sasha Lohn

Erin Maloney

Mark Martukovich

Erica Maxwell

Stephanie Morge

Carrie O’Brion

Julie Rockwell