Denise Deisler

Denise Deisler has served at a leadership level in animal welfare for more than 25 years. Most recently as CEO of the Jacksonville Humane Society for fourteen years. Denise developed productive partnerships, increased revenue while reducing expenses, recruited a talented and enthusiastic board and staff, and stabilized a faltering organization. JHS doubled the number of lives saved with programs for underage kittens, retention and intervention, enrichment, opened doors to stray dogs and cats, and prioritized transfers from the city’s shelter. Collaborating with the city shelter and local nonprofit HQHVSN clinic, Jacksonville became one of the largest cities to achieve no kill in 2014 – less than two years after Denise’s arrival. Denise led the campaign to replace the JHS shelter, destroyed by fire in 2007, raising $15 million. She oversaw the design and construction of the new 44,000 square foot facility, resulting in JHS moving into the new center in Nov. 2017 – ten years after the devastating fire. Denise enjoys training, mentoring and consulting on a wide variety of topics including building successful partnerships, community engagement, board and staff development, capital campaigns, sound financial management, strategic planning and no kill programs. She created JHS’s state level program “Florida Leaders in Lifesaving.” The program’s aim is to unite, inspire and engage all leaders in Florida to increase shelter lifesaving. She was a member of the Petco Love, Best Friends, and Purina leadership groups and is the recipient of The Maddie’s Hero Award, The Best Friends Advancement and Lifetime Achievement Awards, and was named 2018 Woman of Influence and 2019 Ultimate CEO. Denise created and implemented a solid succession plan to ensure JHS was in good hands long after her retirement; the CEO role transitioned to her successor in Jan 2025, and she continues as an executive advisor to the board. The board of Directors bestowed her with the honorary title of CEO Emerita. Denise shares her life and home with Granddaughter Emma and cat Purrl.