Leadership

Dr. Kristin Barney, Chief Executive Officer

Kristin Barney knew that she was destined to work with animals. Growing up with a service dog as part of her household, she saw early on how important the human-animal bond is. While her career has included working in behavioral and public health, she found a way to turn her passion for supporting the human-animal bond into a profession, first as a professional dog trainer working with pet dogs and service animals, and then finding her love for animal welfare. Most recently, she served as Senior Director of Lifesaving Programs with Best Friends Animal Society, a national non-profit animal welfare organization. Through this work, Kristin engaged with shelters and organizations throughout the United States to implement best practices for animal care and lifesaving initiatives.

She holds an EdD in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University and a master’s degree in administration from Northern Arizona university. She is also a frequent national speaker on animal welfare leadership.

Originally from Wisconsin, Kristin has called Tucson home for over two decades. She and her husband share their lives with three dogs who love hiking and exploring, and three cats who enjoy being pushed in their stroller.

Karen Hollish, Chief Development Officer

Karen has spent over 15 years telling and celebrating the stories of animals and people who love them.

A former daily newspaper reporter who covered every animal story that came her way, Karen began her philanthropy career in Tucson in 2012, when HSSA hired her as development coordinator. In 2014, she was recruited by Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) to build its fundraising and communications program as its first director of Development and Marketing. During her tenure as a core member of PACC’s leadership team, PACC went from having animals in a tented facility and a reputation as a “pound,” to becoming a nationally recognized lifesaving leader. Most recently, Karen served as Director of Development at the University of Arizona’s College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, where she focused on fundraising for faculty and students who are working to conserve wildlife and the wild lands they call home. She holds a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health and Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Arizona; and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Ohio University.

She lives in midtown Tucson with her pup Max, a PACC alum, her pup Stanley, an HSSA alum, and a rescued desert tortoise named Rhonda.

Michele Figueroa, Chief Programs Officer

Michele Figueroa joins HSSA with nearly two decades of experience in animal shelter operations, most recently as the Community Engagement Manager for Pima Animal Care Center. Known for her expertise in lifesaving practices, Michele has spoken at national animal welfare conferences and will be instrumental in helping HSSA implement new initiatives like shelter data reporting software and pathway planning to help homeless pets find loving homes faster.

Danielle Brady, Chief People and Culture Officer

Danielle is an experienced and collaborative leader who leads with empathy and compassion. She is a strategic partner with more than 30 years of Human Resources experience integrating people strategies with organizational strategy. She is passionate about creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment where employees feel valued, respected, and heard, and a work environment where employees have a high level of psychological safety. Her breadth and depth of experience crosses several industries including high tech, defense, healthcare, and architecture & design. She is a skilled and trusted HR leader and consultant, leadership coach, change agent, employee champion, and business partner. Her past experience includes leadership roles at Raytheon, Intuit, TMC Healthcare, and CannonDesign. She is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and she holds a bachelor's degree in public administration and a master's degree in business administration.

Danielle has a 70-pound mixed-breed talking dog named Penney. Penny has the sweetest disposition-she actually thinks she is a lap dog which is fine with
Danielle and her husband.

Sylvia Leyba, Chief Financial Officer

With over 24 years of experience in finance, including nine years as a CFO in nonprofit and for-profit settings, Sylvia Leyba brings extensive expertise in financial management, strategic planning, and organizational leadership to HSSA. She has a passion for ensuring that resources are maximized to support lifesaving efforts for animals.

Inge Koopman-Leyva, Director of Education and Outreach

Inge Koopman-Leyva has been with HSSA since 2003, working to educate and empower communities. Her work has included youth programs with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and the Arizona Department of Corrections, and she has been deeply involved in school-based education programs. Inge also serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Humane Educators. She lives with her family and several rescued pets.

Kelley Smith, Director of Finance

Kelley Smith has worked at HSSA since 2013 and holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Accounting and Economics. She has always been passionate about animals and currently shares her home with two bunnies, Zero and Peanut Butter, and a Pit Bull, Mika, who is scared of them.

Krystal Alonis, Director of Development

Krystal Alonis, who started her role in June 2024, offers 15 years of nonprofit development experience. She has previously worked with organizations such as Casa de los Niños and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson. Krystal’s development experience helps drive funding to support the lifesaving programs at HSSA.

Jonathan Neuser, Director of Marketing & Communications

Jonathan Neuser brings over 14 years of experience in marketing, web development, and content creation. He has held significant roles at Children’s Cancer Research Fund and HealthPartners, focusing on digital strategies and analytics. His expertise helps drive HSSA’s efforts to reach and engage the community through thoughtful communication.