Ana Zorrilla, CAWA
Chief Executive Officer
Ana Zorrilla, a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator, acts as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Louisiana SPCA since November 2007. Previously serves as the organization’s Director of Development in 2006. Before joining the LASPCA, Zorrilla graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Secondary Education (1995) and earned her Master of Education in Administration from the University of New Orleans. Notably, Zorrilla led the organization through Hurricane Gustav in 2008, earning her the accolade of leading the first successful evacuation of companion animals with their owners from an American city. In addition, she became the first person in Louisiana to successfully complete the Certification of Animal Welfare Administrators (CAWA). She has served as a panelist at several conferences, including the HSUS Animal Care Expo, PetHealth CEO Roundtable, SAWA Management Conference, 2015 10K Panel on Hurricane Katrina, and as keynote speaker at the 2014 PetPoint Summit. Zorrilla completed the Executive Certification Program in Nonprofit Leadership at George Washington University’s Center for Nonprofit Leadership. Also, she is a 2013-2014 Alumna of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute, a 2014 Alumna of the Young Leadership Council Role Models, a 2008 recipient of New Orleans Magazine’s People to Watch, and was honored as New Orleans CityBusiness Woman of the Year in 2009. Ana currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (formerly SAWA) and the Best Practices & Emerging Trends and the Scholarship Action Team committees.
Our staff truly make a difference in the lives of thousands of animals each year. If you think you have what it takes to be their hero then consider joining team Louisiana SPCA.
Did you know that we’re not affiliated with the ASPCA and rely on local donations?
Jessie Aris
Chief Operations Officer
Driven by her passion for strategic management and animal welfare, Jessie Aris serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Louisiana SPCA, translating vision into strategy, overseeing daily operations and ensuring compliance and alignment across all functions of the organization. Prior to assuming her role with the LASCPA, Jessie spent her childhood in France and Spain, where her love for animals developed, particularly through summers spent working with her father, a veterinarian who practiced internationally. After relocating to the United States, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Finance (2014) from the University of New Orleans and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (2009) from New York University. Before joining the LASPCA, Jessie gained significant experience in financial oversight, project management and Human Resources through roles in the education sector in New Orleans. She also serves on the boards of AFNO and LPFI, contributing to her multi-cultural community’s growth and development. Outside of work, Jessie enjoys curating dinner dates at New Orleans’ amazing restaurants, attending live music events, traveling to new destinations, and spending time with her children, husband and her two beloved dogs: Atlas, a pit-boxer mix who is the gentlest giant and Autumn, an Australian shepherd whom she rescued from the LASPCA.
Anne Chapman
Chief Financial Officer
Dedicated to her devotion for serving the Orleans community and protecting its animals, Anne Chapman functions as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Louisiana SPCA, overseeing management and protection of the organization’s financial assets. Born in Iowa, Anne earned her Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Accounting and Finance (2007) at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA, before moving to Louisiana in 2001. Prior to joining the LASPCA, Anne acted as the Senior Accountant and HR director for Benjamin Franklin High School, Senior Accountant for Lycée Francaise, and Chief Financial Officer for Bricolage Academy. In her personal time, she takes pleasure in raising her two fabulous daughters ages eleven and fifteen, as Anne states, “I really enjoy spending time with my kids, and I’m passionate about their and other kids’ futures. Honestly, I’m just excited to see where their journeys take them.” When not with her daughters, Anne loves basketball, coaching kids’ sports, and caring for their family pets: two sister orange tabbies, Daisy and Pandora and a bearded dragon named Clyde, who tolerates his kitty sisters until they bite his tail.
Tara Yurkshat
Director of Animal Services
Guided by her devotion to animal welfare and the satisfaction of aiding people and their pets, Tara Yurkshat serves as the Director of Animal Services for the Louisiana SPCA, overseeing the organization’s animal care and control services. Before assuming her role, Tara received her two Bachelor of Science degrees, one in Psychology and the other in Rhetoric & Communications Studies from the University of Virginia. Since her start with the Woodford Humane Society in Versailles, Kentucky, Tara has held various leadership positions in shelter animal care such as Director of Operations at Dumb Friends League, VP of Animal Welfare for Houston SPCA, and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at SPCA Tampa Bay. Outside of strategizing impactful outcomes for people and animals, she enjoys reading, hiking, and exploring the beautiful city of New Orleans. Also, she has three wonderful furry family members: Lily, a rambunctious English Bulldog she first met at the Houston SPCA; Fred, a Domestic Shorthair cat she saved during Hurricane Dory; and Calvin, a Hemingway kitten who looks up to his big brother Fred for all the best kitty shenanigans. Fun Fact, when Tara lived in Florida, she loved regularly going on the local pirate-themed and dolphin tours, making her the beloved regular.
Shana Hayward, RVT
Director of Community Initiatives
Championing the stories of our community, Shana Hayward serves as the Director of Community Initiatives for the Louisiana SPCA, overseeing aspects of developing and executing outreach efforts that focus on accessible veterinary care and pet resources to keep people and pets together. Before joining the LASPCA, Shana worked as a full-time floral designer after receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology (2005) from Syracuse University in New York. Shana returned to school to receive her A.A.S. in Veterinary Technology from Delgado Community College (2013) to become a Registered Veterinary Technician. From that point forward, she has worked at the LASPCA in multiple roles ranging from Community Clinic Medical Manager to Shelter Director at the Plaquemines Parish Campus. In addition, she later became a member of the advisory board for Delgado’s Vet Tech program. Outside of raising awareness for the organization, Shana’s passions are naming feral cats, floral design/arrangements, equestrianism (short for horseback-riding), traveling, relaxing in her at-home hammock, and tending to her two LASPCA alumni pups, Po’boy and Pearl. So, when you hear the name, Shana Hayward, be aware she is more than just the “Feral Cat Lady”—as she describes herself.
Many thanks and tail wags to our partners!
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