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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