Pet Care Trust Announces New Executive Director, Management Company

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Press release: Pet Care Trust

The Pet Care Trust, along with its Pets in the Classroom grant program, is excited to announce the appointment of Melinda Thomas as executive director. With extensive experience in both the pet industry and the nonprofit sector, Thomas brings the expertise and passion needed to drive Pets in the Classroom’s continued success. The Pet Care Trust is also pleased to partner with a new association management company, Stringfellow Management Group.

“Everyone associated with the Pet Care Trust extends our heartfelt gratitude to Matt Coffindaffer for his exceptional leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment towards achieving the organizational goals for Pets in the Classroom,” said Chris Clevers, president of the Pet Care Trust. “He has been instrumental in helping our organization put all the building blocks in place to bring future success to our programs. As we embark on a new chapter, we are thrilled to introduce Melinda Thomas as our new executive director. With her extensive industry and nonprofit experience, strategic vision and passion for our mission, we are confident that Melinda will lead us toward even greater success going forward.”

With two decades of experience as a sales and marketing leader for companies in the pet industry, Thomas is adept at helping organizations maximize revenue, build strategic relationships and identify new opportunities. She has also held leadership positions in various not-for-profit organizations, including roles on the Orrville, Ohio Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors from 2014-2019 and the Orrville Public Library Board of Trustees from 2001-2008.

Under Thomas’s leadership, the Pet Care Trust is also eager to begin a new chapter with Stringfellow Management Group (SMG). Founded in 2012 by Fred Stringfellow, CAE, SMG is a Maryland-based AMCI-Accredited Association Management Company that equips organizations with a core group of professionals to manage day-to-day operations and programs, provide executive leadership, and offer support to enable new program development. SMG also specializes in financial and grant management services, as well as meetings management.

“We are pleased to announce that we have partnered with Stringfellow Management Group as our new association management company,” said Clevers. “Their expertise in grant management, financial management, and administrative support has been instrumental in guiding us through a successful transition phase. We are excited to continue working with SMG to advance our mission, achieve our organizational goals and take the Pets in the Classroom program to the next level.”

Established by the Pet Care Trust in 2010, Pets in the Classroom provides grant funding for a small animal or pet supplies to pre-kindergarten through 9th grade teachers in both public and private schools. Since its inception, Pets in the Classroom has issued over 226,000 grants to teachers, enabling an estimated 9 million children to experience the joys and benefits of caring for a pet.