Meet The Team
Click on photo for bios
Darcy Andrade
Executive Director
Darcy Andrade
Executive Director
Darcy Andrade has dedicated over 30 years to advancing animal protection and welfare across Washington State and Florida. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Florida Animal Protection and Advocacy Association and Florida Animal Protection Foundation, leading efforts to enact legislation and promote programs that protect animals statewide. Darcy is also an active leader with Florida Leaders in Lifesaving and serves as a board member for Florida Animal Friend, driving initiatives to improve animal welfare and lifesaving practices.
Previously, Darcy transformed Collier County Domestic Animal Services into a no-kill shelter in just two years, a remarkable achievement that earned her the prestigious Walter Turken Award from the Humane Society Naples. She has also served a board member for the Florida Animal Control Association from 2012-2022 and Washington Animal Control Association from 2001-2008.
Beyond her professional work, Darcy is deeply committed to rescuing and providing a loving home for animals, especially senior hospice animals (fospice). She shares her life with her husband and their adopted dogs—Piglet, Sophia, Mortimer, Scarlet, and Ruby—as well as their beloved adopted cats Allie, Hemmingway, Goldie, Oliver, Downy, Tiger, and Bibi.
Lori Burke
Development Director
Lori Burke
Development Director
Lori Burke, a committed advocate for animals and people, has lived in Southwest Florida for 14 years with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, and four cats.
Originally, from Massachusetts, she and her family have lived in Atlanta, Georgia; Shanghai, China; and Fort Myers.
She firmly believes that the only way to feel part of a community is through nonprofits. While in Atlanta, she volunteered and provided leadership training at Hands on Atlanta, she was the Executive Director for Shanghai Sunrise, one of the first nonprofit programs of the Shanghai Charity Foundation, supporting the education of Shanghai’s under-resourced youth.
In Southwest Florida, Lori worked at Mothers Against Drunk Driving; fundraising and building its programs in the community to include advocating for victims impacted by impaired driving, and providing prevention programs at schools, nonprofits, and various organizations.
Most recently, Lori raised funds and managed the membership program at the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples. In addition to her charitable employment in Southwest Florida, Lori has held leadership roles on the ArtFest Fort Myers Steering Committee, the Guardian ad Litem Foundation Board of Directors, and the Florida Youth Shine SWFL Chapter, among others.
Lori’s furry family members are all rescue animals. She is passionate about adopting and not shopping and grateful to be able to be part of GCHS’ legacy in Southwest Florida.
(Lori is pictured with GCHS shelter dog, Dolly Parton.)
Tammy Rhoades
Controller
Tammy Rhoades
Controller
Tammy Rhoades is originally from New Jersey, but moved to FLorida from Pennsylvania 10 years ago.
Tammy recently adopted Belle from GCHS, and she has had dogs and cats her entire life (adopted or rescued), most recently two retired racing greyhounds.
Her work experience includes working in the accounting field her entire career.
She has worked in Non-profit accounting for the last 10 years at The Salvation Army and Area Agency on Aging prior to GCHS.
Working at GCHS is a perfect fit, combining her love of animals, working for a non-profit and her accounting experience…all of which benefits the shelter animals!
Kristin Sampson
Operations Manager
Kristin Sampson
Operations Manager
Gulf Coast Humane Society’s Operations Manager, Kristin Sampson, is originally from Kansas City, Missouri, where she started working with animals at a young age through her family’s grooming and boarding business.
She quickly realized she wanted to make a career out of helping animals, so she started fostering with a rescue before accepting a position at her local Humane Society.
Since then, she has worked at several shelters, in a variety of roles, throughout Missouri and Kansas. She moved to Florida in 2015 to work at the Humane Society Naples, first as the Volunteer and Foster Manager, then moving into the role of Shelter Manager.
In her 20 years of animal welfare work, Kristin has also helped on a national level with large-scale disasters, hoarding, puppy mills, and implementing no-kill strategies in underserved shelters. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, hiking, gardening, and spending time with her three cats: Jack, Little Bit, and Teddy, along with her two dogs Maggie and Juju.
Kristin has been the GCHS Shelter Manager since August, 2022.
Contact Kristin at [email protected]
Gloria Letendre
Clinic Manager
Gloria Letendre
Clinic Manager
After a successful career in real estate, Gloria decided to use her college degree in animal science and switch fields to animal welfare. She went to work at Lee County Domestic Animal Services and became a state certified Animal Control Officer and worked in the neighborhoods throughout Lee County. She was then promoted to kennel supervisor and worked with various fosters and rescue groups to increase adoptions of the many homeless pets.
After several years she was recruited to join the Gulf Coast Humane Society as Clinic Manager to help expand and grow the affordable clinic which is open to the public. Recently GCHS was donated a former medical office building and the clinic operations moved to the off-site location and is now able to accommodate more clients and their pets.
She resides in Cape Coral with her three rescue dogs-Kelsey Lee, Parker Jack (her foster failure), and the newly adopted Paxton Blue. She wishes everyone would…Adopt, Not Shop when looking to add a pet to the family.
Contact Gloria at [email protected]