2023 Restructuring Zuma’s
In 2022-2023, the founders of Zuma’s Rescue Ranch, Paul and Jodi Messenich, experienced significant life changes. During this time, they stepped back from the day-to-day operations of Zuma’s to focus on growing Zuma’s Behavioral Health Center and Non-Profit Large Animal Hospital. To fund this vision, they made the difficult decision to sell their dream home, built in 2001, which required substantial time, effort, and emotional investment to prepare for the market.
Unexpectedly, the emotional toll of this transition impacted their ability to function at full capacity, leaving Zuma’s team to manage operations with reduced leadership. Unfortunately, during this period, the team struggled to maintain stability. Leadership gaps caused finances to falter, property maintenance to decline, and the herd's overall health to suffer. Feedback from clients and volunteers reflected mounting dissatisfaction, as the team reported feeling overworked and underpaid. The team was paid a fair wage, paid time off and health insurance, rare in the animal rescue world, but we valued our team and did the best we could for them.
Recognizing the organization's critical state, the founders convened an all-hands staff meeting on June 21, 2023. During this meeting, they shared the organization’s financial challenges, discussed client and volunteer concerns, and urged the team to step up or seek alternative employment.
Sadly, one team member with a history of performance issues was terminated shortly after the meeting. However, a breach of confidentiality by a senior staff member led to the team coordinating a mass resignation, which occurred on July 5, 2023. The team was asked to leave the property immediately. Within hours, the founders and dedicated volunteers stepped in, ensuring operations returned to normal.
Over the next few months, Paul and Jodi worked tirelessly to rebuild the organization. By October 2023, Zuma’s regained stability, with a team of happy, dedicated employees who prioritize the herd over personal gain, like the founders.
Lessons Learned
This challenging period taught us invaluable lessons. We have since rewritten our bylaws and board manual to ensure that the voices of the founders, and their vision, are always respected and prioritized. Regular communication about the mission is now mandatory for staff, board members, committees, and volunteers to focus on giving the voiceless a voice.
Additionally, we have developed a trust for the organization’s assets and implemented a succession plan to secure Zuma’s longevity. These measures safeguard the organization's integrity and ensure that our mission remains steadfast for years to come.
