What is your hometown, what brought you to the
Pensacola Bay area, and how long have you been here?
I grew up in Charles Town, WV - the Eastern Panhandle area. I
started working in Pensacola in 2003 with the March of Dimes
and fell in love with Pensacola immediately. I knew from my fi rst
visit I wanted to eventually live in the area. I moved to Perdido
Key in July 2017.
What is your profession and give a brief description of
what you do.
I am the Executive Director of the Pensacola Humane Society
and began this wonderful journey in June 2017. I lead with the
philosophy of “there is no I in team” and having a successful
team is something I consistently work towards. I represent a staff
of 22 in both the animal shelter and the spay and neuter clinic.
Love. Adopt. Advocate. are three words the organization
has lead with for 75 years. We fi nd ‘fur’ever homes for
approximately 1000 cats and dogs every year, and we average
6000 spay and neuter surgeries in the clinic. You may know
us from either of our 2 signature fundraising events, Paws on
Palafox and Barktoberfest. And this spring we are welcoming the
newest addition to our programs, the Humane Express, a mobile
adoption vehicle.
The plans for our growth as an organization are exciting as we
continue to be a leader in animal welfare in our community.
What led you to choose this profession?
I have worked in non-profi t fundraising and management for18
years. From mothers and babies to cancer patients, and now to
animals in our community, I have a heart and passion for those
that need a little help along the way. Pets have always been a part
of my family, and it did not take me long to fall in love with my
own rescue cat, Krispy Kreme.
What do you like best about Pensacola? What makes it
so unique?
I have been amazed by the transformation of the city, especially
downtown, in the past 15 years. Pensacola is an incredible place
to live with so many opportunities for arts, entertainment,
beautiful scenery, great food and making life-long friends.
Give us three words that best describe you.
Compassionate. Dedicated. Optimistic.
Favorite Things you like about Pensacola.
Everything! I love the beach and the Florida sunshine and the
incredible sunsets. I have wonderful friends here, so defi nitely the
people. The restaurants are amazing, and we are never without a
festival to attend to enjoy all of the above.
I AM PENSACOLA because…
I feel my profession and my personal life embody the things
that make Pensacola great…passionate, focused, caring and
compassionate, confi dent and positive. I feel privileged to live in
a community that is all of these things.
I AM PENSACOLA
Jennifer Bitner
photo by
Kristina Wright
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