Five Bainbridge residents have been appointed to the Kitsap Humane Society’s board of directors.

Island residents Frank Gibbons, David Sanders, Kelly Morrow, Pamela Sobeck and Erin Thomassen were selected along with Kevin Kelly of Port Orchard and Gale Kirsopp of Poulsbo.

“The recent board expansion brings even more diversity and support for the continued recovery and long-term stability of Kitsap Humane Society,” said Eric Stevens, the executive director of the organization.

By expanding from a 15- to 25-member board, Kitsap Humane Society has taken on a more concentrated effort to add members from all areas of Kitsap County.

“Having attorneys, financial experts, business and military people from all walks of life on our board, strengthens our overall ability to provide for the animals in the best way possible,” Stevens said.

“One thing all of our board members share is a passion for animal welfare.”

Gibbons owns a consulting service providing business development solutions for contractors in a government market place.

Prior to starting his own business, Gibbons studied at Harvard, MIT and the U.S. Naval Academy. He later served as a Navy lieutenant commander and nuclear submarine officer.

Morrow, a certified public accountant, works part-time at Nordstrom and as a business manager for Sound Counsel Realty. In addition to extensive financial accounting and auditing experience, Morrow’s passion for animal welfare also brings volunteer experience from organizations like the West Sound Wildlife Center.

Sanders, who is the proud parent of three dogs and two cats, brings extensive senior level administrative experience in local government and in balancing complex budgets. He is currently an executive vice president at Casey Family Programs in Seattle, where he works in public policy to support child welfare.

Sobeck brings two unique sides of the framework to the board. Sobeck is a retired supervising deputy attorney general with California’s Attorney General’s office, where she worked for 28 years. Additionally, she holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology from UC-Davis and has experience working at the San Diego Zoo and various vet clinics while she studied as a pre-veterinary student.

Thomassen worked as a senior executive for Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. for 17 years, gathering sales, marketing, business development and high-level management skills across a wide-range of cultures and business landscapes.