Name: Heather Potteiger

Position: Business Operations Manager

How long have you been part of the ARL team: 5 ½ years  

Can you tell us a little about your role and what a typical day looks like: A typical day includes shopping, organizing, inventory management, and finding cost-savings for our organization. I purchase supplies used at our shelter and enrichment/food for the animals in our care.  It is not unusual to see me at a grocery store with a cart filled with detergent, bleach, cream cheese, and hot dogs! I also manage relationships with our IT and equipment vendors, coordinate large in-kind donations, keep our fleet of vehicles in working condition, and oversee our facility maintenance team.  

What are some of the most important ways your role supports the animals, staff, and community we serve: Inventory management and community relationships are super important to help ensure we have the items needed for the everyday function of the shelter and to meet the needs of the animals in our care. By building vendor relationships, we can redirect monies we would have spent on products/services back into the care of the animals, and the programs we provide to our community. And by building community relationships, we can ensure that any items received on our campus that we don’t use are redirected back to other organizations to further support our shared Berks community. 

If you had to describe your job using only three words, what would they be: Shop, Organize, Support (yes, it purposely spells SOS) 😊 

What’s one thing you wish more people would know about the work that happens behind the scenes at ARL: The Work Never Stops – physically – cleaning, daily enrichment treats, washing dishes, mopping floors, laundry, sorting donations – from the moment the lights go on until the last one is turned off, some type of cleaning is happening. 

The Work Never Stops – mentally and socially – stopping somewhere after work wearing an ARL logo or meeting new people that ask where you work – you are absolutely going to get asked a question or hear stories about their pet. (I personally like this one; every conversation is an opportunity for a positive change in animal welfare). 

What makes ARL special to you: Our compassionate staff and volunteers who are willing to do whatever is needed, whenever and wherever it is needed, to support each other, the animals in our care, and our community. 

What advice would you give to someone interested in a career in nonprofit or animal welfare operations: Nonprofit and animal welfare careers are very emotionally driven. Be prepared to be part of hard situations and decisions. Be open to learning, changing, and growing in unexpected ways. And be open to the joy you can still feel at the end of a not great day knowing the positive impact you may have had on someone’s life. 

If your workday had a theme song, what would it be: Let Things Go by Caamp.  

Final words of wisdom: It will never be perfect. Make it work.  

You have the power to change your story every day.  

Use kindness as your currency and spend it like you’ve just won the lottery.