DOH’S track record of appointing ACC Executive Directors
One way to assess an organization’s dysfunction is to track the constant change in leadership.
The DOH (through the Mayor’s appointed Board of Directors) has appointed 7 Executive
Directors and 2 Interim Directors during the AC&C’s 16-year history. There has never been an
AC&C Executive Director who has completed his/her initial 2-year term. Some have quit, some
were fired, some were simply keeping the seat warm until the DOH appointed a successor, and
others did not have their contract renewed..
1995-1997: Martin Kurtz serves as Executive Director, then resigns
1997-2002: Marilyn Haggerty-Blohm appointed Executive Director, secretly works only part-time for the AC&C, fired in 2002.
2002-2003: Julian Prager (formerly General Counsel for the AC&C). Originally appointed as
Interim Executive Director. Quietly promoted to Executive Director; resigns in early 2003
2003-2006: Ed Boks Originally agrees to serve as part-time Executive Director. In January
2004, appointed as full-time Executive Director for a 2-year term. His contract is not renewed.
2006-2007: Mary Martin (originally AC&C’s medical director). In January 2006, appointed as an Interim Executive Director, then quietly promoted to full Executive Director. Resigns in April 2007.
2007: Bruce Doniger (AC&C’s Treasurer on its Board of Directors) served as Interim Executive
Director after Martin’s departure.
2007-2009: Charlene Pedrolie: in October 2007, appointed as Executive Director; her contract is not renewed in October 2009.
2009-2010: Risa Weinstock (former General Counsel for the AC&C) appointed mid-October
2009 to be Interim Executive Director.
April 2010-to date: Julie Bank (with a 20-year background in various aspects of Shelter
Management, most recently the Executive Director of a small animal shelter in San Diego, CA).
The DOH (through the Mayor’s appointed Board of Directors) has appointed 7 Executive
Directors and 2 Interim Directors during the AC&C’s 16-year history. There has never been an
AC&C Executive Director who has completed his/her initial 2-year term. Some have quit, some
were fired, some were simply keeping the seat warm until the DOH appointed a successor, and
others did not have their contract renewed..
1995-1997: Martin Kurtz serves as Executive Director, then resigns
1997-2002: Marilyn Haggerty-Blohm appointed Executive Director, secretly works only part-time for the AC&C, fired in 2002.
2002-2003: Julian Prager (formerly General Counsel for the AC&C). Originally appointed as
Interim Executive Director. Quietly promoted to Executive Director; resigns in early 2003
2003-2006: Ed Boks Originally agrees to serve as part-time Executive Director. In January
2004, appointed as full-time Executive Director for a 2-year term. His contract is not renewed.
2006-2007: Mary Martin (originally AC&C’s medical director). In January 2006, appointed as an Interim Executive Director, then quietly promoted to full Executive Director. Resigns in April 2007.
2007: Bruce Doniger (AC&C’s Treasurer on its Board of Directors) served as Interim Executive
Director after Martin’s departure.
2007-2009: Charlene Pedrolie: in October 2007, appointed as Executive Director; her contract is not renewed in October 2009.
2009-2010: Risa Weinstock (former General Counsel for the AC&C) appointed mid-October
2009 to be Interim Executive Director.
April 2010-to date: Julie Bank (with a 20-year background in various aspects of Shelter
Management, most recently the Executive Director of a small animal shelter in San Diego, CA).
