About Makenna Gwaltney, BS, EMT

Makenna joined FieldHaven in 2022 as the Hathaway Spay & Neuter Clinic Manager. She has served as the Operations Director and now as Executive Director. She is thrilled to continue leading a talented and passionate team that saves lives, keeps families together, and creates a better future for pets and their people.

Before joining FieldHaven, Makenna dedicated over a decade to Itsie Bitsie Rescue, a neonatal kitten and puppy rescue based in the Sacramento area. She served as a Board Member and later as Executive Director during the global pandemic, demonstrating her strong leadership and commitment to animal welfare.

Makenna’s experience extends to her role as a Senior Community Outreach Coordinator for Donate Life California, where she educated communities on the importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation across a service area from Santa Rosa to Reno, Nevada. She also worked on the Donate Life tissue recovery team, working around the clock to recover human tissue for life-saving transplants. Her academic background includes a Bachelor’s in Family Studies from Sacramento State University and an Emergency Medical Technician Certification from Sierra College.

Recognized as an Emerging Leader in the animal welfare industry by the California for All Animals Association, Makenna is also professionally trained in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement. Outside the office, you will find Makenna backpacking in the Tahoe National Forest with her husband, Bryce, or enjoying a local coffee shop. Makenna has two rat fur babies at home, Ghost and Shadow.

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