The Connecticut Humane Society (CHS) has hired the former head of an animal-welfare organization in Texas as its new executive director.
CHS says its board of directors recently appointed James Bias to lead the 138-year organization headquartered in Newington. Bias will begin next month in place of retiring executive director Gordon Willard, who will support the transition, CHS said.
Bias has served several animal-welfare organizations throughout his career, which spans more than four decades.
That includes 14-plus years as president and chief executive of SPCA of Texas, where he led two shelters, three animal hospitals, two mobile units and various wellness initiatives, CHS said.
He also previously served as executive director of the Humane Society SPCA of Bexar County in San Antonio, animal services manager for the city of Albuquerque, and executive director for the Humane Society of North Texas in Fort Worth, Texas.
CHS Board President Ellen Sharon said she’s confident the organization, which operates animal shelters in Newington, Waterford and Westport, will thrive under his leadership.
“During his four decades in animal welfare, he has managed multi-site shelters and clinics, overseen construction of new facilities, successfully completed capital campaigns, supported legislative initiatives, and expanded programming related to sheltering, medicine, outreach and education,” Sharon said in a statement.
CHS does not receive government funding and is not affiliated with any national animal-welfare group, according to its website. Its funding and support is generated by individual donors and volunteers.
It generated revenue of more than $10.7 million in fiscal year 2017, according to not-for-profit database Guidestar.
