Best Friends Animal Society Ranks No. 26 on Fast Company’s Sixth Annual List of the 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators

The leaders involved in the innovative educational partnership that earned Best Friends Animal Society being ranked as #26 on Fast Company's Sixth ANnual Best Workplaces for Innovators include: (L-R) Melynda Thorpe, SUU Assistant Vice President, Workforce & Educational Opportunity; Mindy Benson, SUU President; Julie Castle, Best Friends Animal Society CEO; and Aimee Charlton, Best Friends Animal Society National Director Learning Advancement
Best Friends Animal Society
Media Contact
Alina Hauptman : alinah@bestfriends.org
Michelle Sathe : 661-803-2909 or michellesathe@bestfriends.org

(Kanab, UT) September 10, 2024 -- Fast Company today announced its sixth annual Best Workplaces for Innovators list, honoring organizations and businesses that demonstrate an inspiring commitment to encourage and develop innovation at all levels. Best Friends Animal Society, a national animal welfare organization working to end the killing of cats and dogs in America’s shelters in 2025, came in at No. 26 for creating the first-of-its-kind university-endorsed, professional education program that covers the principles of lifesaving focused animal services. 

 

The 2024 Best Workplaces for Innovators list ranks 100 winners from a variety of industries, including entertainment, biotech, consumer packaged goods, marketing, education, healthcare, and many more. To earn Best Workplaces for Innovators recognition, all of this year’s winners (as well as dozens of additional finalists that appear online) completed an application that addressed questions about projects, investment, companywide programs, and workplace culture. Fast Company editors evaluated every application and conducted additional research to generate a score for each company. A separate judging panel then reviewed the top 125 companies to reach a consensus on the overall winner. Applications for specific categories were judged solely by Fast Company editors.  

 

“Not only is it exciting to be recognized by Fast Company – one of the world’s leading voices on innovation in technology and leadership – it also validates our belief that we must be scrappy, nimble and collaborative to save the lives of dogs and cats in America’s shelters,” said Julie Castle, CEO, Best Friends Animal Society. “When you get some smart people together, who really care about something, that’s where the magic happens.”  

 

Best Friends, in collaboration with Southern Utah University (SUU), has pioneered online learning in the animal services profession. This partnership offers a range of educational opportunities from short courses and certificates to comprehensive programs and degrees, establishing clearer standards and career pathways within the field. 

 

Driven by the urgent need for more professionals in animal services, university-endorsed programs are the first of their kind, with a unique focus on lifesaving-first animal sheltering that aligns with Best Friends goal of ending the killing of shelter dogs and cats in 2025. 

 

This is the third consecutive Fast Company recognition for Best Friends. In 2022, Best Friends was recognized on its Brands That Matter list and in 2021, Best Friends was recognized on its Most Innovative Companies list.  

 

“Innovation is a global priority that cuts across all industries, and this year’s list reflects that diversity,” says Brendan Vaughan, editor in chief of Fast Company. “The top ten features four companies headquartered outside of the U.S. and includes representatives from technology, advertising, finance, biotech, pharmaceuticals, ecommerce, and the nonprofit sectors.”  

 

To see the complete list, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/best-workplaces-for-innovators/list. 

 

Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators issue (Fall 2024) is available online now, and the print issue will be on newsstands beginning September 17, 2024. Join the Best Workplaces for Innovators conversation using #FCBestWorkplaces. 

 

About Fast Company 

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.  

 

About Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization dedicated to saving the lives of dogs and cats in America's shelters and making the entire country no-kill. Founded in 1984, Best Friends runs lifesaving facilities and programs nationwide in partnership with more than 5,000 shelters and rescue organizations. From our headquarters in Kanab, Utah, we also operate the nation's largest no-kill animal sanctuary — a destination that brings our mission to life for thousands of visitors each year. We maintain the most comprehensive animal sheltering data in the country and make it accessible to the public — empowering communities with critical insights into the needs of their local shelters and how they can help. We believe every dog and cat deserves a home. And we believe that, by working together, we can Save Them All®.