SPCA Tampa Bay CEO joins the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors

Martha Boden’s term on the Chamber board began January 28, 2016

ST.PETERSBURG, Fla. (February 22, 2016) – The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce has selected Martha Boden, CEO of SPCA Tampa Bay, to join the Board of Governors. In this role, Boden will oversee Chamber activities, determine strategic priorities, and provide guidance to the growing organization.

SPCA Tampa Bay has a long history in St. Petersburg, and with the Chamber of Commerce. The organization was formed in 1940 by a group of concerned St. Petersburg citizens, including the Chamber manager at the time, Burwell Neal.

Today, many of SPCA Tampa Bay’s donors and customers are residents of St. Petersburg and many of SPCA Tampa Bay’s services, such as emergency animal transportation and cruelty investigations, reach into St. Petersburg. SPCA Tampa Bay also holds its annual PetWalk in St. Petersburg’s Vinoy Park to raise money for the animals in its care and to provide resources for pet owners.

Boden is leading SPCA Tampa Bay’s plans to return to St. Petersburg with the opening of a full-service veterinary hospital, which will bring accessible veterinary care and spay/neuter services to local pet owners. Following a national trend of animal welfare organizations adding veterinary services, this veterinary hospital reflects two pillars of SPCA Tampa Bay’s mission: promoting humane care and reducing pet overpopulation. The veterinary hospital is expected to open mid-2016 at 3250 5th Ave. N.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to become more involved with the Chamber and to continue to grow SPCA Tampa Bay’s presence in St. Petersburg, especially as we work to open the new veterinary hospital,” Boden said. “The veterinary hospital will allow us to better serve all Pinellas County residents and reduce the number of animals entering shelters by providing services in a convenient location with extended hours, payment plans and subsidized care for those who need it.”

Boden became CEO of SPCA Tampa Bay in 2011, where she has implemented a number of program and facility enhancements to improve the agency’s service to the community. Under her leadership, SPCA Tampa Bay opened the Wellness Clinic on its Largo campus, offering convenient pet wellness care, like physical exams, vaccinations and parasite treatment, to any pet owner.

In addition to her work with SPCA Tampa Bay, Boden is actively involved in both the animal welfare industry and local community. Boden is an executive member of the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators, vice chair of Managing and Ending Overpopulation Wisely Now (MEOW Now), and membership chair of the board of directors of the Florida Association of Animal Welfare Organizations. She was a member of the Leadership St. Pete class of 2012.

Boden recently earned the Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) credential, the highest-level professional designation for animal welfare professionals, administered by the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators. The CAWA certification program distinguishes top-level executives and managers working in nonprofit and municipal agencies for their knowledge, experience and expertise.

About SPCA Tampa Bay

SPCA Tampa Bay accepts all pets surrendered by their owners and injured wildlife. The organization cares for more than 7,500 animals that are admitted each year. The organization’s mission is to improve the community by promoting humane care, preventing animal cruelty and reducing pet overpopulation. Community services include animal cruelty investigation, accessible wellness care, lost/found pet assistance, animal admission and animal transport. SPCA programs include pet adoption, free pet behavior help, Sniff University training for dogs and cats, children’s summer camps and more. Founded in 1940, SPCA Tampa Bay is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization located on 10 acres in Largo with a planned full-service veterinary hospital expected to open in St. Petersburg in 2016. For more information: www.spcatampabay.org.