Sharon Harvey

Sharon began her professional career in healthcare management at the Cleveland Clinic where she spent a fulfilling 18 years. During that time, she gained knowledge and skills that have been critical to her success as a leader in animal welfare.

Sharon left healthcare in 2003 to follow her passion for animals and join Geauga Humane Society’s Rescue Village as their executive director. While there, she focused on developing a strong team and supporting the organization’s strategic growth as it continued its transition from operating out of an 800-square foot facility to a new, state-of-the-art animal shelter.

In 2007, Sharon joined the Cleveland Animal Protective League as its president and CEO. The APL is a private, not-for-profit humane society that assists approximately 14,000 animals annually through a wide variety of programs. Sharon and her team have passionately tackled the challenges faced by this urban shelter and the animals and people it serves and have successfully shifted the APL’s culture to that of a proactive, lifesaving organization for homeless and community animals alike.

Sharon and her team have earned recognition for the APL’s innovative and progressive programs and as thought leaders. She has been invited to speak at national and regional conferences and to participate in strategic, national conversations about the future direction of animal welfare. Sharon has worked to build and support a strong and collaborative animal welfare community in the Greater Cleveland area.

Sharon serves on the board of directors of the Ohio Animal Welfare Federation, has recently joined the board of directors of Shelter Animals Count, and is a former member of the board of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and National Federation of Humane Societies.

She is owned by two dogs, Bennie (pictured) and Eddie, and is managed by her office cat Ozzy!