Humane Society of Sarasota County Leadership Update
The Board of Directors and staff of the Humane Society of Sarasota County (HSSC) share that Anna Gonce has stepped down from her role as Executive Director—effective June 1, 2025.
We are grateful to Anna for her visionary leadership, tireless advocacy, and unwavering commitment to the people and animals we serve. During her tenure, Anna spearheaded transformative initiatives that expanded lifesaving programs, strengthened community partnerships, and enhanced the scope of our mission. Her passion, strategic insight, and heart for service made an impact that will continue to shape the future of HSSC.
To ensure a seamless transition, we've partnered with MBJ Group to conduct a nationwide search for our next Executive Director. Their comprehensive process will help identify a dynamic leader to elevate our lifesaving vision and guide the organization into its next era of growth.
In the interim, HSSC is in experienced and capable hands—with our senior leadership team guiding daily operations.
Dr. Ashley Gillett, Medical Director — Dr. Gillett earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Louisiana State University in 2017. She brings over seven years of experience in shelter medicine and high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter surgery. After beginning her career in private practice, she transitioned to the nonprofit sector—focusing on providing comprehensive medical care to shelter animals and expanding access to veterinary services in underserved communities. Dr. Gillett has a particular interest in soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, wound management, complex medical cases, and preventative care. Deeply committed to animal welfare—she treats all shelter pets as her own, ensuring every animal receives the highest standard of care.
David Morton, Senior Director of Lifesaving Services — With 33 years of animal welfare experience—including 20 years leading large, open-admission municipal shelters—David brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to his role. As a longtime advocate of the no-kill movement, he is known for his collaborative approach and deep commitment to helping underserved shelters through mentorship, resource sharing, and strong community partnerships. David has developed and championed innovative, community-driven programs that produce measurable impact. His leadership propelled his previous open-admission shelter to achieve and sustain a save rate above 90%, while HSSC averages a year-to-date save rate above 97%.
Nicole Allen, Senior Director of Finance & Administration — Nicole brings 28 years of progressive experience, including over 15 years as a successful business owner. She delivers the cross-functional leadership needed during this pivotal transition—blending strategic financial oversight, forward-thinking human capital strategy, and data-driven system management to keep HSSC financially resilient, culturally vibrant, and operationally seamless. In addition to overseeing finance and administration, Nicole supports philanthropy, marketing, community outreach, and client services—ensuring every dollar and every interaction magnifies HSSC's lifesaving impact.
Their collective expertise, further backed by the guidance of a diverse and committed advisory Board of Directors—led by President Janet Boyden—ensures HSSC will remain at the forefront of animal welfare.
"As Board Chair, I'm proud to serve alongside such a talented and dedicated group of individuals who bring valuable expertise and diverse skill sets to support HSSC and its leadership. I'm especially grateful to Anna Gonce for the tremendous impact she has had over the last four-plus years. Her vision and understanding of animal welfare have been instrumental in advancing our mission. I'm excited for what's ahead as HSSC continues to lead the way in making Florida a no-kill state. Together, we save lives."
While leadership is evolving, our mission remains constant. Anna's legacy lives in every program she helped create, and we remain as committed as ever to the animals in our care and the community we serve. We look forward to welcoming a new Executive Director who will build on that strong foundation and help chart bold new paths forward.