Cynthia Kopec is no stranger to animal welfare after a decade in senior leadership at the San Francisco SPCA. Cynthia has been a long-time supporter of Cat Town’s mission to help hard-to-place cats, and we’re delighted that she’s joined our Board of Directors!
“I’m a sucker for a transformation story — I love making things happen and making things better. So Cat Town is the perfect merger for me: Oakland, Cats, and Transformation.”
You have a deep background in financial services. Why did you make the leap to work in animal welfare?
Photo by Shelly Waldman.
In 2010 I had been working in financial services for over twenty years. When the 2008 financial crisis hit, I thought it would be a good time for financial institutions to retool, get creative, and reevaluate their relationships with clients, but that didn’t happen. I was frustrated and a little bored. When the opportunity to run marketing at the San Francisco SPCA came available, I thought I’d just do it for a few years to ride out the worst of the recession — but I loved the mission, the staff, the community, the opportunities, and the sense of satisfaction I got from making a difference in the lives of animals and the people who love them. Before I knew it, I was COO, and then 10 years had gone by.
What excites you about Cat Town’s mission?
I’ve lived in Oakland for nearly 30 years, and it’s my home, my community, where my heart is. I’ve lived with seven cats over the years, and they are family. I married my husband because he’s a “cat guy.” When we moved in together, he had two cats, and I had two cats — it was like an episode of the Brady Bunch. Our household pretty much revolves around the cats, and I am sure they have engineered it that way. Also, I’m a sucker for a transformation story — I love making things happen and making things better. So Cat Town is the perfect merger for me: Oakland, Cats, and Transformation.
Why do you feel Board service is an important volunteer role?
When I first came to animal welfare, I was pretty naïve about how complicated it can be. I had been working with sophisticated financial products, and thought, “How hard could it be to market cats and dogs?” But I soon came to understand that there’s a lot of science, politics, delicate operations, facilities management, relationships, history, personalities, change, and nuance to animal sheltering. I learned a lot during my time at the SF SPCA and I thought the best way to leverage what I learned is to serve on the Board.
Do you have a favorite cat you’ve known, and can you tell us what makes that cat special to you?
Cynthia with Frankie.
Boy, that’s like asking if you have a favorite child. I can’t pick one of my own cats, so I’ll tell you about a shelter cat. One of the perks of my old job was that I sometimes got to share my office with a cat that needed a little more TLC and attention and wasn’t doing well in the shelter. My favorite office cat was Frankie. He spent the first few days firmly under the couch in my office. Then slowly, he would let me put my hand nearby without hissing. Then he would come and rub his head on my hand. Finally, I got him to purr. The first time he came out and got on my lap, I thought my heart would melt. He was a sweet, funny little thing with a huge personality once he felt safe.
What are you most looking forward to as our newest Board member?
I’m looking forward to getting to know the cats, staff, and volunteers — and their stories. In my short time, I’ve met so many dedicated and passionate folks. And some pretty wonderful cats. I also am looking forward to supporting Cat Town in a variety of ways — and seeing us grow, learn, and share our story.
We’re thrilled to have Cynthia helping Cat Town be the best organization we can possibly be!