In addition to sharing their lives with some 36 dogs and cats (foster pets not included), our board brings a wide variety of experience, backgrounds and interests to work for all the residents (people and pets) of Leavenworth County.    Board members are selected from and elected by Members.

Current LCHS Board Members are:

Bruce B. Bettis, CPDT-KA, Leavenworth
- 40 years experience with canine behavior, training, rehabilitation and obedience
- Retired Operations Manager, Larkin Construction
- Owner, “Confident Canine Training”
- Member Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
- Professional member, Animal Behavior Associates, Behavior Education Network
- Certified by University of Albany School of Public Health in “County Animal Response Team,” “Emergency Animal Shelterin,” “Zoonosis, Preparedness, and Public Health”
- Certified in threee National Incident Management System (NIMS) – Incident Command System (ICS) levels by the U. S. Burear of Land Management and the Colorado State Forest Service
- Certified in four FEMA Emergency Management Institute areas
- B.S. in Psychology, Colorado State University; M.P.A. in Environmental Management, University of Colorado

Crystal Swann Blackdeer, rural Tonganoxie
- Leavenworth Animal Control Volunteer, 2007-2008
- Member, Leavenworth Animal Welfare Society
- BA in Counseling and Rehabilitation, Marshall University; MA in Human Resource Development, Webster University
- Southern Leavenworth County Leadership Development Course, 2009-2010; Leadership Leavenworth Lansing student 2011-2012
- Graduate Certificate in Humane Leadership, Humane Society University
- Graduate, National Animal Control Association Academy Level 1
- Member, Association of Professional Humane Educators
- Member, Society of Animal Welfare Administrators; pursuing certification as Animal Welfare Administrator
- LTC, U.S. Army, Retired

Nancy L. Gibson, Lansing
- Employed by Humane Society of Great Kansas City
- Volunteer Coordinator, Leavenworth Animal Control, 2004-2006
- Maintained and managed a foster program for felines, 2004-2006
- Former Board Member, Leavenworth Animal Welfare Society

Brenda J. Hafner, rural Leavenworth
- Masters in Clinical Social Work, University of Michigan; B.A. Psychology & Sociology, Hope College, Holland, MI
- Over 30 years experience in not-for-profits providing outpatient, inpatient and residential counseling to adults and children, including Wyandot Mental Health Center (Sexual Abuse Services); Family Services; Catholic Social Service; Domestic Violence Center (Grand Rapids, MI); Ottawa County (MI) Crisis Intervention Services
- Former Board Member, Women With One Voice
- Training: Level One Healing Touch for Animals
- Member, National Association of Social Workers, Human Rights Campaign Federal Club

Richard E. Head, rural Tonganoxie
- Self-employed management consultant, trainer, and executive coach
- Served as Deputy Executive Director, ARMA International, Director of Training Delivery, H&R Block, Director of Program Development, Director of Online Education, and Director of Education with the American Management Association
- Served as Executive Director, Mattie Rhodes Center, Assistant Director for Agency Relations, Heart of America United Way, Substance Abuse Counselor, Greater Kansas City Drug Abuse Program, Project Director, United Cerebral Palsy Association of Kansas City
- Served as Board member, Unity Church on the Plaza, Jackson County CASA Volunteer (Court-Appointed Special Advocate), and Board member, The Men’s Project
- Treasurer, Pilot Knob Amateur Radio Club (Leavenworth County), Volunteer, Wyandotte County RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service), Volunteer, Leavenworth County ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Services), Volunteer, Wyandotte County CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)
- Member, American Society of Association Executives, Amateur Radio Relay League, and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
- Master of Social Work, University of Kansas, B.A., Psychology, University of Kansas

Melanie Sanders Meier, rural Leavenworth
- Native of Leavenworth KS; Graduate of Leavenworth High School
- Kansas State Representative for District 40
- U.S. Army (8 years), U.S. Army Reserve (14 years)
- BA in Economics, University of KS; MS in Management, Troy State University
- Membership Chair, Leavenworth Historical Museum Association (8 years)
- Board Member, Historical and Archaeological Society of Fort Riley (2 years)
- Red Cross Volunteer, and Leavenworth Lions Club member
- VFW Post 56 member / volunteer; American Legion member

Jennifer B. Werner, DVM, Lansing
- Owner/Chief Veterinarian, Lansing Veterinary Hospital
- Graduate, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1997
- Member, American Veterinary Medical Association and Kansas City Veterinary Medical Association
- Member, American Association of Feline Practitioners
- Member, American Association of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians
- Member, Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce

The current LCHS Board Officers are:
President – Crystal Swann Blackdeer
Vice President - Richard Head
Secretary - Melanie Meier
Treasurer – Nancy Gibson

The original LCHS Founding Board of Directors:
Cindy DeGraw-Dressler
Nancy Gibson
Carol Turner