Leadership

KAREL MINOR, Chief Executive Officer: Karel is the President & CEO of Humane Pennsylvania, one of Pennsylvania’s largest animal welfare organizations. Karel has over 30 years of professional experience in the animal welfare sector. He has brought his skills in non-profit management and organization transformation to numerous animal welfare and environmental organizations. He has served in a wide variety of positions ranging from executive leadership to operations, education, fundraising, and development.

Minor served as past president of the boards of the Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team and Federated Humane Societies of Pennsylvania, past member of Humane Society of the United States Companion Animal Advisory Committee, and other state and national committees and advisory boards. Minor is a regular presenter and trainer at state, regional, and national animal welfare conferences. In addition to his role at Humane PA, Karel is Executive Director of the Humane Pennsylvania Foundation and CEO of Animal Welfare Management Services, LLC., Humane PA’s national consulting company.

Karel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Earth/Space Science from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, is married to a brilliant educational administrator, and has three equally brilliant and beautiful daughters.

[email protected] | (610) 750-6100 ext. 210

DR. ALICIA SIMONEAU, Chief Veterinary Officer: Dr. Simoneau is a graduate of Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine located in Southern California. Prior to vet school, she attended Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, PA, attaining a BS in Biology. Her special interests include access to veterinary care initiatives, high-volume spay/neuter, and acupuncture. In her spare time, she enjoys the outdoors and attending sporting events with her husband and daughters, and relaxing with her adopted Chihuahua, cats, and horse.

[email protected] | (610) 921-VETS (8387)

MICHAEL BACH, Chief Financial Officer: Mike obtained his Chartered Accountant from England (the English equivalent of a CPA and MBA) in 1979. He has more than 25 years of demonstrated history working in a variety of industries and brings to Humane Pennsylvania a strong background in financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash management, insurance, strategic planning, and accounting department management as well as HR administration. Mike aspires to improve the financial reporting and HR and IT systems within the organization; to strengthen its relationship with outside business partners; and to ensure that the organization is financially able to achieve its vision of enhancing and continually improving animal welfare services to the communities it serves.

Mike and his wife Lee of 33 years, are involved in the Tri-State Basset Hound Rescue and adopted two rescue Bagels (Basset/Beagle Mix) named Tilly, aged 8 in June 2019 and Pearl, aged 4, in December 2022.

[email protected] | (610) 750-6100 ext. 224

DAMON MARCH, Director of Operations: For more than thirty years, Damon March has specialized in animal welfare and non-profit corporate operations. He has been responsible for the oversight, management, and transformational improvement of several animal welfare organizations.

March is an expert in executing successful start-up or turnaround operations plans and is skilled at rapidly bridging the gap between the current capabilities and aspirations of any organization. Damon is a recognized expert in Euthanasia by Injection training, authorized and accredited by the Humane Society of the United States, and has presented nationally on animal welfare issues.

[email protected] | (610) 921-2348 ext. 429

LAUREN HENDERSON PIGNETTI, Director of Development: Lauren has been a member of the Humane Pennsylvania team for over five years. As a graduate of Penn State University and receiving her Principles of Fundraising Certification from Villanova University, Lauren applies her knowledge of event development, fundraising, and corporate relations to create meaningful donor experiences. With a focus on continuously evolving her skills, Lauren is an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Berks County.

In her spare time, you’ll find her at the Reading Fightin Phils or helping her dad’s small business, Carl’s Cards & Collectibles, a sports memorabilia store. She lives in Wyomissing with her husband, Anthony.

[email protected] | (610) 750-6100, ext. 211

JENNIFER HENNE RVT, Veterinary Team Director: Jennifer has been with Humane Pennsylvania since 2018. Starting as a Veterinary Technician, Jennifer applied her in-depth knowledge of veterinary medicine and was recently promoted to Lead Veterinary Team Manager. As a graduate of Columbus State Community College majoring as a Veterinary Technician, Jennifer applies her 15 years of experience in veterinary medicine to both Humane Veterinary Hospitals (Reading and Lancaster).

In Jennifer’s spare time, you will find her at home spending time with her family, hiking, and scrapbooking.

[email protected] | (610) 921-8387, ext. 216

CHELSEA BREITENSTEIN, Donor Relations Manager: Chelsea joined the Humane Pennsylvania team in 2015. Starting as an Adoption Counselor, she became HPA’s Office Coordinator and now serves as Donor Relations Manager. In 2021, Chelsea obtained her Principles of Fundraising Certification to further her education and skills through Villanova University. Chelsea strives to create meaningful relationships and experiences through fundraising, donor relations, and partnerships throughout the community.

Chelsea resides in Mohnton with her husband, Brandon, on a micro-farm consisting of dogs, cats, goats, ducks, and chickens

[email protected] | (610) 750-6100, ext. 299

AIDA MAY, Adoption Programs Manager: Aida has been with Humane Pennsylvania for over a decade and is based at the Lancaster campus. Starting as a Customer Service Representative, she moved to a Kennel Technician, Animal Care Coordinator, and now to Shelter Manager. Aida specializes in cat behavior and shelter medicine. She utilizes her knowledge to assist our community in caring for their pets and helping her team grow to their full potential.

Aida lives in Eastern Lancaster County, where she was born and raised, and enjoys spending free time with her husband, three kids, and her adopted cats and dogs.

[email protected] | (610) 921-2348, ext. 426

ALEXANDRA YOUNG, Community Outreach Programs Manager: Alex has a diverse background in retail, food & beverage, international trade, apparel, and medical device industries and holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a BFA in Textile Design. She has lived in several states and overseas, but her driving passion for animal welfare and rescue has always been the one constant factor. A cardiac assist device technology transfer project resulted in her relocating from Cleveland, Ohio (go Browns!) to Reading in 2001, where fostering rescued kittens quickly led to her total immersion in trap-neuter-return (TNR) and an ongoing mission to slow down kitten overpopulation. She led animal rescue relief efforts with Alley Cat Allies after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. She is experienced in helping a shelter reach no-kill status by creating and implementing progressive cat life-saving programs.

Her hobbies include gardening, reading, dog agility, long-range travel trailer road trips with her husband, and rescued dogs, Onya and Rotor. She loves to design and build outdoor cat enclosures (catios) and custom indoor cat playgrounds as enrichment for her furry crew of feral, reformed ferals, other rescued cats, foster kittens, and clients.

[email protected] | (484) 869-5126

SHERRY DIEHL, Accounting & Human Resources Manager: Sherry joined Humane Pennsylvania in 2022. She has over 25 years of experience in Office Management and Law Firm Administration in the Berks County area. She brings extensive experience in AP/AR management, bookkeeping, HR administration, payroll, benefits analysis and proven skill in employing financial best practices.  She is also a Notary Public in PA.

Sherry lives in Temple with her partner Mike and their 13-year-old rescue cat, Fred.  She enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking, camping and all things outdoors.

[email protected] | (610) 750-6100, ext. 213