News, ideas & inspiration from industry leaders
Meet the Shooting Stars: Lisa Hammock, CAWA
October 28, 2026, The Association
“It seems cliché to say that I’ve learned I can do hard things”
This year we once again invited senior leadership to nominate their organization’s emerging leaders. You did not disappoint—here are your 2026 Rising Stars.
From that outstanding pool of 49, we named 16 as Shooting Stars–whom we considered especially compelling examples of talent and leadership. Over the past few months, we’ve been introducing you to some of them; you’re hearing first-hand about their successes, plans for the future and thoughts about leadership. Meet Lisa Hammock, CAWA, Shelter Operations Director at East Bay SPCA, who shares an accomplishment she’s especially proud of.
In August 2025, I passed the CAWA examination! For over 8 years, I was interested in obtaining that honored distinction and finally took the plunge. I am thankful to my mentors over the years and proud of myself for this accomplishment.
I didn’t approach this exam as a study-and-memorize type of test. Instead, I drew upon my 20-plus years of animal welfare experience, had an open mind about new or different strategies and topics in the industry, and collectively brought all of that information into my life.
It seems cliché to say that I learned I could do hard things. I already knew I could do hard things – animal welfare can be incredibly difficult at times – but taking and passing this exam taught me that I can trust my own instincts, that I am capable of evolving with the times, and that I can be a guiding force in animal welfare to the next generation of advocates.
– Lisa Hammock, CAWA, Shelter Operations Director, East Bay SPCA
Top photo: NASA Hubble Space Telescope
About The Association
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement is a cohort of leaders on a mission to champion, advance, and unify the animal welfare profession.
Search The Association Blog
Contribute to The Blog
