Lauren Keenan

Lauren Keenan, Vice President of Walkin N Circles Ranch, first came to the ranch in 2016. She was in the process of changing jobs and found that her schedule opened up quite a bit. Her career as an attorney for nonprofits is pretty stressful and people-heavy, and she wanted something to do with her time that would help her relax and do something completely different from her usual day-to-day work. After doing a search on Google, she found WNCR. She was looking for volunteer opportunities with animals, and she knew she couldn’t choose a small animal rescue because she’d bring half of them home! Lauren thought volunteering with horses was a safe bet. She is currently one of few board members without a horse and jokingly admits the pressure to adopt is definitely there.  

When Lauren joined the board in 2017, WNCR was transitioning into a more structured and organized organization allowing it to run more efficiently and attract more funding from both individuals and organizations. She felt she could be helpful for that transition because creating processes and policies is something she does in her professional life. Lauren has also spent her entire career working for nonprofits, including those that went through intense growth while she was on staff, so she understood how management can guide organizations through that process. 

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In the time Lauren has been involved at WNCR, she has seen the ranch become more organized and professional.  She has also seen the volunteer program evolve and grow, focusing on becoming an educational program. There is always more to do and improve upon in terms of volunteer retention and public education/awareness, however, WNCR is working diligently on continually improving.

WNCR also developed a wonderful and professional training program, which she thinks has in turn helped increase the speed and success of adoptions. Lauren thinks the ranch has grown into itself over the years and has developed a strong sense of identity and purpose.  

There are so many things we have accomplished, however, one of the crowning jewels since she has been involved has been the new office building.  It’s one of the first things visitors see when they arrive at the ranch and has a great impact on all who visit. Lauren also says that WNCR has done a great job in hiring individuals who have the experience and drive to move the ranch forward. While the job will never be done, and there will always be room for improvements, Lauren looks forward to the bright future of Walkin N Circles Ranch.