Marc Peralta, Chief Program Officer

As the Chief Program Officer, Marc Peralta brings together many of Best Friends' programs outside of our sanctuary and aligns all things related to Best Friends direct care work along with developing the knowledge and capabilities of individuals and partner organizations involved in lifesaving in order to empower them to achieve no-kill in their own backyard. These responsibilities include our lifesaving centers in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Bentonville, and New York City. In addition to lifesaving centers, Marc is working directly with our national programs' teams providing grants, coaching, and mentoring for hundreds of shelters around the country as well as initiatives such as the shelter collaborative. Marc initially came to Best Friends in 2012 serving then as the Executive Director for Best Friends in Los Angeles, leading LA's no Kill efforts, lifesaving centers and NKLA (No Kill Los Angeles) coalition for five years.

Marc left work as an independent music promoter nearly 20 years ago and started in the field as an animal care attendant at The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region in Colorado Springs, CO. Marc has also served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, as well as Interim CEO, at the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA), as a member of the board of directors for the Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia, and as an animal care manager at the Nevada Humane Society in Reno, Nevada. At the Nevada Humane Society, Marc worked with the team there to bring Washoe County to no-kill status in 2008 (it remains no-kill today).

Marc has an executive MBA from Brown University & IE University and received his undergraduate degree in English from the University of Colorado.