Veteran executive and former three-term Dallas City Council Member J. Christopher “Chris” Luna has been appointed president and CEO of the SPCA of Texas by the nonprofit’s board of directors following an extensive national search.

Luna replaces Karen Froehlich, who resigned from the organization in February.

“Chris is an inspiring and innovative leader with deep experience and a proven track record in expanding organizational reach and impact leading to increased operational excellence,” SPCA of Texas Board Chair Hiren Patel said in a statement. “The board search committee worked diligently for the last nine months to find the right candidate and we are confident that Chris will guide the SPCA of Texas into a bright future.”

SPCA of Texas said that Luna brings more than 30 years of leadership, management, and governance experience to his new post, most recently from T-Mobile where he served for more than 18 years in several roles, including vice president, legal affairs and chief counsel, sales & distribution.

He also brings significant nonprofit, public service and government experience to SPCA of Texas.

While on Dallas City Council, Luna championed issues vital to District 2 and served as deputy mayor pro tem. He serves on the boards of The Dallas Foundation and The Dallas Theater Center.

He has served as past board member of the Parkland Health & Hospital System, past board member at the Dallas Zoo, past chair of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Garland Housing Finance Corporation, past chair of the Shared Housing Center, past president of the Dallas Hispanic Law Foundation and past president of The Dallas Assembly.

His legal career included the law firms of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP and Sheinfeld, Maley & Kay, PC, both in Dallas. He also clerked for Chief Judge Robert C. McGuire, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Bringing people and animals together to enrich each others’ lives

In his new role, Luna will lead 153 employees and 992 volunteers in the 85-year-old organization’s mission to provide every animal exceptional care and a loving home by preventing and prosecuting animal cruelty, caring for rescued animals, and keeping pets in their loving homes.

“Leading the SPCA of Texas into its next chapter of serving the animals and people of North Texas is an honor and a privilege,” Luna said in a statement. “I am beyond thrilled to work together with this exceptional organization of dedicated staff and volunteers as well as community partners to drive meaningful programmatic impact.”

A native Texan, Luna has called Dallas home for over 35 years. He lives in the Dallas area with his husband, Kent Mecklenburg, and Bacio, their senior doggy daughter.

Founded in 1938, the SPCA of Texas operates two shelters, two spay/neuter clinics, one mobile adoptions vehicle and an animal rescue center, all in Dallas and Ellis Counties and it maintains a team of animal cruelty investigators who respond to thousands of calls in North Texas counties.

The SPCA of Texas serves as an active resource center for an array of services that bring people and animals together to enrich each others’ lives.

The SPCA of Texas is not affiliated with any other entity and does not receive general operating funds from the city of Dallas, State of Texas, federal government or any other national humane organization.

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