Heidi Marston

Heidi Marston is comfortable getting into uncomfortable spaces. She has made an accomplished career and calling of solving complex problems related to socially vulnerable populations including people experiencing homelessness and military veterans. Merging her vast experience tackling systematic barriers to equity with a passion for animals promises to help make the world a better place for pets — and the people they love.

As Director of Pet Placement Initiatives, Heidi leads the team charged with managing a grant portfolio across the United States and Canada dedicated to helping pets find loving homes. This includes supporting the work of shelter and rescue partners across North America.

Prior to joining the PetSmart Charities team, Heidi served as Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), a Joint Powers Authority for the City and County of Los Angeles, working alongside a staff of 600+ to combat homelessness in Los Angeles, the epicenter of the staggering crisis. She logged more than a decade working for the federal government, where she held varied roles including Special Assistant to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Director of Community Engagement and Reintegration at the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System.

Heidi is a long-time foster pet parent, shelter volunteer and advocate in the animal welfare space. She brings an unwavering commitment to social, racial, and economic justice, challenging herself and others to move past generalizations and address entrenched disparities that present barriers to success. Heidi is also a lifelong learner and is a student of the Impact Center’s Women in Executive Leadership Program and certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. She’s a compassion-first leader and her highly collaborative style has driven solutions both internally and externally. Heidi was born and raised in Minnesota and has called Washington D.C. and Los Angeles home prior to moving to Phoenix, Arizona where she lives with her Partner and their two special needs rescue dogs (Kemper and Gatsby).