KHS dismisses director
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 10 months AGO
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | March 6, 2012 8:15 PM
COEUR d'ALENE - The Kootenai Humane Society is looking for a new executive director.
Rondi Renaldo, nearly two-year executive director, was let go by the KHS board last week.
"It's time for me to move on," she said Monday.
Renaldo declined to comment on reasons for her dismissal.
Andy Smith, KHS board president, also declined to give reasons for the personnel change. The board voted to remove Renaldo last Tuesday.
He said "things are going well," at the shelter.
"I think she did a fine job," Smith said of Renaldo.
The board plans to begin a search for a new executive director, but has not set a timeline to hire someone.
The board will oversee operations as the nonprofit serves the animals and community of Kootenai County.
"That's why we're here and we continue to do that very well," Smith said.
Irene Donak, longtime KHS thrift store volunteer, said she thought Renaldo did a good job managing the shelter, two thrift stores and raising public awareness of the dogs and cats that needed to be adopted.
"She worked very, very hard," Donak said. "We were satisfied with her. We felt Rondi handled the position to the best of her ability."
Donak noted that Renaldo came from a banking background and perhaps didn't have the experience needed to guide an animal shelter.
She said Renaldo should have been given another year on the post.
"At least she tried," she said. "And we liked her."
Renaldo was hired to replace Phil Morgan, who was let go as KHS executive director in April 2010.
Before Renaldo came to KHS, she was a 16-year branch manager at Panhandle State Bank. She lost her job in a company downsizing.
Then, Smith said the board had interviewed several candidates. They liked Renaldo's passion for the task of helping homeless animals.
"She (Renaldo) stood out as an obvious candidate once we met her," Smith said in a Press article published April 7, 2010. "It was easy to make a quick decision."
Renaldo said she was dedicated to the shelter's animals. She said she worked hard to be sure they were cared for and found homes.
But money was an issue, too.
Last year, due to declining donations and rising costs, Renaldo had to reduce about 50 hours a week from the staff that operates the adoption center and two thrift stores.
A new development director, Nicol Barnes, was hired earlier this year.
In looking back on her time with KHS, Renaldo said she helped clean up the shelter, began new training programs and developed standard operating procedures. She said the number of adoptions of cats and dogs increased during her leadership.
She said she hopes people considering adopting a pet come to the no-kill shelter at the north end of Ramsey Road. She doesn't want her departure from KHS to keep pets from finding homes.
She said she is not sure what she will do next, but is putting together her resume.
"I learned a lot in my last two years," she said. "And I appreciate that opportunity."
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