Evans named PAS director

PONDERAY — For newly-hired Panhandle Animal Shelter executive director Mandy Evans, her job requires a coordination of the head and the heart.

While her keen knowledge and experience in the business world qualify her for the job, it’s her love of animals that brings the whole operation together. That’s why organization directors selected her for the competitive position.

“We are extremely excited to have Mandy with us. She’s already made great contributions to the shelter,” PAS board of directors secretary Diana Dawson said. “Her great love for animals and her business background made her an ideal match.”

With eight years as a contract event coordinator and experience as an incentive manager for Pacific Bell/SBC’s 60,000 employees under her belt, Evans has overseen projects that have raised $750,000 for charity. PAS officials are hoping she can bring her knack for public relations, publicity and business management to the shelter.

“We’ve been informed that people have had trouble hearing about the fundraisers and initiatives that Panhandle Animal Shelter has put on,” Evans said. “That’s one thing that I’m really going to be working on in the near future.”

Beyond her business experience, Evans’ volunteer work within the community impressed the PAS staff. As chair of the Marketing Committee for the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association, she has spent significant time publicizing the organization’s events and initiatives. And in one thematically-appropriate contribution, she proved instrumental in Sandpoint’s current push toward dog-friendly parks. Her work as an unpaid volunteer won her the Volunteer of the Year award from the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.

“We’re hoping that she can get the shelter more engaged in the community and county, which will in turn increase adoption rates,” Dawson said.

And that hope must have been fairly strong, because PAS chose Evans over almost 100 local and national candidates. Despite the fact that most of those applicants were well-qualified and proven professionals, Evans’ resume quickly moved to the top of the stack.

“They told me about the heavy competition, which makes me feel pretty special that they chose me,” Evans said.

Despite the intriguing business challenges and opportunities that her position with PAS offers, Evans applied for the job to assist the 1,600 abandoned or abused animals under the organization’s care. PAS adoption, spaying and neutering and community outreach programs help make Sandpoint a better place for human and animal kind. For Evans, that’s all the motivation she needs.

“I am driven to work for animal causes not only because I adore them, but because I have experienced first-hand the difference an animal can make in a person’s life,” Evans said in a press release. “The impact can literally save a life.”