Teresa Johnson is the CEO/Executive Director & Chief Lifesaving Officer for Kansas City Pet Project, in Kansas City, Missouri. After taking over operations of Kansas City’s old municipal shelter in 2012, Teresa and her team used their “solutions – not excuses” approach to transform the shelter into a national leader in no-kill animal sheltering within 6 months, and quickly became one of the largest open admission, no-kill animal shelters in the United States – now saving a record setting 95.7% of the 10,000 animals coming in to the shelter. Prior to Kansas City Pet Project, the City’s animal shelter had been euthanizing up to 70% of the animals in their facility.
In 2018, Teresa received the Maddie’s Hero Award from Maddie’s Fund for her work in advancing the welfare of companion animals in the United States, and leading the way with innovative ideas, progressive thinking and lifesaving actions.
Teresa received a Kansas City Influential Business Women Award in 2014 and was named “one of Kansas City’s outstanding female civic and business leaders.” She was the recipient of, on behalf of her organization, the first ever Paul Jolly Compassion Award from the Petco Foundation, where Kansas City Pet Project was described as “simply one of the most effective lifesaving organizations in the country.”
Prior to her work in animal welfare, Teresa was Vice President of Risk Management & Controls for J.P. Morgan Asset Management. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Missouri – Columbia. She shares her home with two very spoiled adopted dogs Oscar and Ernie, and their feline friend Inky.