Exterior shot of OHS Portland Campus building

Leadership Staff

Sharon Harmon

President & CEO

Sharon Harmon has been a professional in the field of animal care and welfare for 42 years. She has helped lead Oregon Humane Society, the state’s largest and oldest animal protection organization, for 34 years and has served as its President and CEO since 1998.

Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology (Pre-Vet Med) from Oregon State University, a Certificate in Nonprofit Business and Management from Johns Hopkins University, and is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA).

She has served on the Banfield Shelter Advisory Committee and the Board of the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, and she has chaired the National Federation of Humane Societies Board of Directors. She is currently on the Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine Advisory Council.

She is also the recipient of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Humane Award, the Public Relations Society of America’s Community Involvement Award and Executive Leadership Award, and the Portland Business Journal’s Woman of Influence Award.

Jessica Carl

Chief People & Culture Officer

Photo of Jessica Carl with Kitten

Jessica brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role as a people & culture executive, particularly within the non-profit sector. Her background reflects a strong commitment to guiding organizations through challenges, fostering authentic and inclusive environments, and establishing cross-functional partnerships to enhance the well-being of the organization’s people.

Jessica’s previous leadership at an international non-governmental organization, further underscore her dedication to making a positive impact on a global scale. Her experience suggests a broad understanding of the complexities and challenges that organizations, especially those operating in diverse and dynamic environments, may face.

One notable aspect of Jessica’s approach is her emphasis on utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data, along with people demographics. This approach not only facilitates deep conversations within the organization but also contributes to a thorough organizational examination. By leveraging data, Jessica aims to strengthen the organization’s ability to achieve its objectives, with a specific focus on promoting greater diversity, equity, and inclusion across all functions.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Jessica prioritizes her personal life. She enjoys spending quality time with her family and engages in activities such as reading and exploring farmer’s markets. Jessica is also a devoted pet owner, spoiling her Dachshund Yogi and OHS Alumni kittens, Hank and Nala.

Stephen Kochis, DVM

Chief Medical Officer

Photo of Steve Kochis with dog

Dr. Kochis has served for nearly 25 years in various positions in veterinary medicine, including Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital and VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists. His veterinary specialties include infectious diseases, immunology and emergency medicine.

As Chief Medical Officer at OHS, Dr. Kochis oversees a team of more than 100 veterinary professionals who serve pets and people at the Community Veterinary Hospital, and care for shelter pets in the medical centers at the Portland and Salem Campus.

Dr. Kochis received his Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences and DVM from Cornell University. He served on the OHS Board of Directors for three years until he joined the staff. He has served as President of the Portland Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) and currently serves on its Executive Board.

Chase Patterson

Vice President,
Shelter Operations

In his role at Oregon Humane Society, Chase oversees a staff of close to 150 animal welfare professionals in four departments at the Portland and Salem campuses – Admissions, Animal Care, Customer Care, and Training & Behavior. Collectively, these programs serve close to 25,000 pets each year. Operations focuses on lifesaving efforts locally and nationally, via collaboration, education and compassion for the animals and people in need.

Prior to OHS, Chase served in a senior management role with Wells Fargo Bank managing cross functional initiatives in a financial and sales environment.

Gary Kish

Vice President,
Legacy Gifts

Gary Kish

At OHS, Gary leads a team whose members are committed to ensuring financial stability and providing exceptional donor stewardship. Gary has implemented a broad and diverse array of programs including planned giving, direct mail, monthly giving, a retail store, vehicle donation program and other strategies that have created a very stable, private donation funding base. During his tenure at OHS the donor base has grown from 2,500 contributors to more than 88,000.

In response to the needs of pet owners, Gary founded the OHS Friends Forever care-of-surviving-pets program in 1995. The program has evolved as OHS championed the passage of two Oregon laws which facilitate including pets in estate plans. Gary has assisted hundreds of people in creating plans for their pets.