Rich Steele, Haven Humane Society’s director of operations for about three months, resigned May 2. (Not to be confused with Norm Ryan, Haven’s CEO, who resigned last month after 1 year on the job.)
Steele had no comment when I telephoned him at his home yesterday.
However, Yvonne Preston, Haven’s interim chief executive officer (Ryan’s stand-in), confirmed Steele’s resignation when I reached her on her cell phone. She refused to answer more questions.
“He resigned last week,” Preston said about Steele in a seconds-long cell phone conversation.
“That’s all I’m going to comment on now.”
As Kelly Brewer, our friendly Pink Hollyhock news sleuther and blogger pointed out last month, secrecy and silence seem typical at Haven lately.
Add to the dog pile: A current Redding police investigation that involves Haven. Resignations of key Haven executives and board members. Low morale. A revolving door of staff turnovers. A shrinking board that’s so tiny it’s a wonder it can function (legally).
What a stinky mess. Somebody get a shovel. It could take some digging to uncover the truth.
