PHS will get what they pay for with Ken White

It's not that I in any way feel that we do not have a right to know. However, until a candidate is under contract with PHS, any figures quoted are purely speculation. In fact, I've heard that the proposed $50,000 housing allowance is actually a proposed incentive bonus, subject to the candidate meeting specific fundraising goals.

That most definitely puts a completely different twist on the proposed salary package.

Considering the person who last filled the ED position, I can't imagine anything more important to the animals, staff, volunteers and members of PHS than finding the right candidate. If a person can raise the funds necessary, attract the best qualified staff, and increase membership to lift PHS back into a position of esteem among humane organizations, than our potential return on investment is great.

I do believe we get what we pay for, and from what I have found out, we'd be getting a bargain if we brought Ken White, the current ED of the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) to PHS with the proposed package.

Let's set speculation about salary aside for a moment. It's a fact that membership at AHS has increased over 250% from ~26,000 to ~66,000 in the last 5 years. It's a fact that Ken White successfully raised over $12 million in his first 2 years with AHS. It's a fact that if he were to come to PHS and raise 10 percent of that, or $1.2 million in his first 2 years here, he would be raising better than $1 million more than his predecessor Pete LaVault during Pete's entire tenure at PHS.

It's a fact that Ken White spearheaded a capital campaign successfully raised $14 million for a new facility in ~18 months.

It's a fact that at AHS, Ken White oversees a staff that cares for ~40,000 animals annually, and that nearly half of those are adopted.

If I'm not mistaken, this means that AHS successfully finds homes for more animals than any other shelter in the Western US.

I do feel passionately that the staff at PHS deserves better pay, a better facility and better equipment to care for the animals that are so dear to our hearts. Don't we then deserve the best person to get us what we need?

It's a fact that the person we need is Ken White.

Kathy Taylor

Corte Madera