Amy Starnes

As Chief Innovation Officer at Best Friends, Amy Starnes oversees the people and plans that support innovation and digital transformation throughout the organization. She is responsible for driving innovation across technology programs, and champions innovation all throughout our work. Amy loves using technology to create experiences that are both data-driven and delightful for the people who use them and the people who create them, too. 

In her career at Best Friends, Amy has transformed the organization’s digital programs, including email, website, and social media strategies, developing multi-channel approaches that have introduced the work of Best Friends to millions of people all across the country. Along with Chief Experience Officer Sue Citro, she has built and lead a team of talented digital experts to grow digital revenue and audiences dramatically, and to create special experiences for animal lovers of all kinds.  

Prior to her work at Best Friends, Amy worked in technology leading digital programs for non-profit organizations like MSPCA-Angell and served in high tech roles in web hosting, internet services and healthcare technology for organizations including Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. 

A frequent speaker, she is passionate about enabling the animal welfare sector to use digital technology and to harness its inherent sense of innovation to help save the lives of more pets across the country. 

Amy lives in Portland, Maine, with her husband, Elias, and their two dogs, Polly and Stella.