Rick Shannon, Human Resources Director
As the director of human resources for Best Friends, Rick Shannon is responsible for attracting and promoting all the wonderful folks who work at Best Friends Animal Society. He and his staff deal with the people side of the society: recruiting, employee effectiveness, training, and staff development.
Rick comes to Best Friends from Atlanta, Georgia, where he lived for 30 years. He has been in the human resources field for 34 years, working for companies such as Westinghouse Electric, Scientific Atlanta, Kraft General Food and Plaid Enterprises. Rick holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Lafayette College and a master's in counseling and clinical psychology from West Virginia University. He chose the field of human resources because he's energized by working with people on a daily basis and helping to keep organizations healthy.
Rick has been an animal lover since he was four years old - when he started handing out cookies to all the neighborhood dogs. He and his wife, Nancy, were involved in grassroots rescuing, fostering, and adopting in Atlanta for many years.
They heard about Best Friends in the early 1990s and have been enthusiastic supporters ever since. Nancy (now the special projects manager at Best Friends) joined the Best Friends Network and is an active member. In 2000, Nancy gave Rick the best surprise for his 50th birthday: a trip to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
It took them a few more years, though, to take the big leap and move to Kanab to work for Best Friends. In September 2007, feeling burned out and unfulfilled at their jobs, they decided to leave their lives in Atlanta. The timing was perfect: there were job openings at Best Friends. Rick says this is the first time in his career that he can't wait to get up in the morning and go to work. He loves the passion and commitment of the Best Friends staff; to him, it feels like a big extended family.
In his spare time, Rick enjoys photography, astronomy, boxing and working out at the gym. A musical guy, he plays the guitar, drums and keyboard. He and Nancy share their home with one dog, named Angel, and five cats: Duncan, Maddie, Lily, Tiger and Hooch the Wonder Cat (rescued from the banks of the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta).
