Deborah Turcott

Deborah Turcott is an impassioned executive whose career has focused on strengthening mission-driven nonprofit and public organizations. With over two decades of executive experience, her role as Acting President at PetSmart Charities brings to life a celebration of her professional acumen and an area of personal pursuit: animals influencing lives and communities for the better.

Deb has gained experience from executive roles in several fields at the University of Florida, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health System, NH Land and Community Heritage Investment Program, and the NH Community Development Finance Authority, among others. This path has given her the chance to drive business solutions, strategic direction setting, fund development of all types, and operational and financial excellence across diverse sets of challenges. In addition, she has spent the last 15 years offering independent consulting services to for-profit and nonprofit companies specializing in organizations seeking change. Strengthening these organizations through strategic planning, board development, executive coaching and transition management and business optimization rounds out her resume as she brings these many skills and experiences to PetSmart Charities’ executive team.

Her impact in the animal welfare field started at the regional level with an Executive Director role at a regional humane society and then serviced as the President of the New Hampshire Federation of Humane Organizations. That early grasp of animal sheltering dynamics, cruelty investigations, disaster relief and advocacy efforts bridged into leading the Shelter Medicine Programs at the University of Florida. Her animal welfare specific work there included consulting with shelters around the country, leading disaster relief efforts for pets, service on multiple boards as an advisor, and teaching business leadership and shelter structures to veterinary students, among other things.

At PetSmart Charities, Deb is responsible for leading the overall direction and strategy of the organization. Managing complex dynamics for North America’s leading Animal Welfare funder, she supports the mission and strategic direction through engagement with the board, leadership team, and external partners.

Deb brings her work home with her so-to-speak with a happy collection of animals on her farms. Three horses, four miniature donkeys, two giant breed dogs, and one attitude-filled cat offer her husband and four young-adult children continuous joy and laughter.