To: Board of Supervisors
From: Monica Nino, County Administrator
Report Title: APPOINTMENT OF ANIMAL SERVICES DIRECTOR - BEN WINKLEBLACK
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPOINT Ben Winkleblack as Animal Services Director of Contra Costa County at Step 7 of 9 ($15,971.74 /mo) of the salary range, including all benefits as provided in the current Management Resolution that apply to the position of Animal Services Director, effective May 6, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated annual County cost for the position of Animal Services Director is $331,383 of which $42,859 is attributable to the employer share of pension costs. All costs are budgeted in the General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
On December 6, 2024, former Animal Services Director Beth Ward announced her separation from the County effective January 19, 2024 citing her family’s decision to move out of state. Ms. Ward had held the position since November 2015. Subsequently, the Board of Supervisors held a special meeting on January 16, 2024 and appointed Captain Jane Andreotti to the position of Interim Animal Services Director. Captain Andreotti, the longest tenured member of the department’s executive staff, was charged with providing leadership to the department while an executive recruitment was conducted to fill the Animal Services Director position permanently.
On January 30, 2024, the executive recruitment was opened for the Animal Services Director and lead by Avery & Associates, a public sector executive recruiting firm. The recruitment was opened using an “open until filled” approach with the first review of applications scheduled for March 1, 2024. With several Animal Services Director recruitments active across the state during this timeframe, this recruitment strategy allowed for continued receipt of inquiries from potential candidates following the initial March 1, 2024 review deadline.
Ultimately, Avery & Associates received 30 applications at the March 1, 2024 review deadline. Of those, four (4) were advanced to the County for interview, eight (8) were considered but not selected for advancement to the County, and 18 were not considered for the position. Of the four (4) candidates advanced to the County, one (1) candidate withdrew from consideration after subsequently finding employment at a different organization. On April 4, 2024, interviews were conducted for the three (3) finalists. The interview panel was composed of five (5) members: Supervisor Diane Burgis, Supervisor John Gioia, County Administrator Monica Nino, Chief Assistant County Administrator Timothy Ewell, and Sacramento County Animal Services Director Annette Bedsworth. At the conclusion of the interviews, the panel unanimously recommended Ben Winkleblack for appointment as Animal Services Director. On April 10, 2024, Mr. Winkleblack signed a conditional offer letter from the County and was subsequently entered into a background evaluation process, which has since been successfully completed.
Mr. Winkleblack started his career in Animal Services with the County of Santa Cruz in 2006 as an Animal Health Technician and was subsequently promoted to Supervising Animal Services Shelter Manager in 2010 - a capacity he served in for a decade. In that role, Ben managed all aspects of an open admission animal shelter with an annual intake of over 5,500 animals. In addition, he served as the Animal Services Hearing Officer and the department liaison to the County Office of Emergency Services. In 2020, Ben was hired as the Assistant Director for the City of Oakland Animal Services department. Similar to the County of Santa Cruz, Oakland operated an open admission shelter with an annual intake of 6,500 animals. Over the next four years, Ben worked to modernize the Animal Control Division (Field Services) by implementing best practices focusing on promoting owner retention of animals, support of unsheltered populations caring for animals and increasing low cost spay neuter programming to residents in need. Earlier this year, Ben departed Oakland Animal Services and has served as a consultant for the Human Society of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Today’s action formally appoints Mr. Winkleblack as Animal Services Director effective on May 6, 2024 at Step 7 of 9 on the salary range, which equates to an annual salary of $191,660.89, or $15,971.74 per month.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Mr. Winkleblack will not be formally appointed to the position of Animal Services Director.