SPCA of Texas Board of Directors Names Chris Luna, JD, as New President & CEO

Luna Takes Reins of Animal Welfare Organization

(DALLAS, TX); November 29, 2023 – The SPCA of Texas Board of Directors announces J. Christopher “Chris” Luna, JD, as President & CEO of the nonprofit animal welfare organization, following an extensive national search process. Luna replaces Karen Froehlich, who resigned from the organization in February 2023.

Luna brings over 30 years of leadership, management and governance experience to the SPCA of Texas, 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 non-profit, public service and government experience to the organization. As a three-term Dallas City Councilman, he championed issues vital to Dallas City Council District 2 and served as deputy mayor pro tem. He currently 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.

The many honors and awards Luna has received for his legal, civic, community service and diversity work include: The Dallas 500, D CEO (2020, 2021 and 2022); Maestro in Leadership Award, Latino Leaders Magazine (2022); Leaders in Diversity Award, Dallas Business Journal (2021); Kuchling Humanitarian Award, Dallas Black Tie Dinner (2021); Lifetime Achievement Award, The Texas Lawbook and Association of Corporate Counsel Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter (2020); Pete Torres, Jr. Community Service Award, State Bar of Texas (2020); Corporate Counsel Award, Outstanding Community Service, D CEO (2012); and Best Corporate Counsel Award, Community Service, Dallas Business Journal (2009).

Luna earned accounting and law degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. His legal career included the law firms of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. 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.

As President & CEO, 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.

“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,” said SPCA of Texas Board Chair, Hiren Patel. “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.”

“Leading the SPCA of Texas into its next chapter of serving the animals and people of North Texas is an honor and a privilege,” said Luna. “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.”

Luna is a native Texan and 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.

About the SPCA of Texas
The SPCA of Texas is the leading animal welfare organization in North Texas. Founded in 1938, the nonprofit operates two shelters, two spay/neuter clinics, one mobile adoptions vehicle and an animal rescue center, all located in Dallas and Ellis Counties and maintains a team of animal cruelty investigators who respond to thousands of calls in North Texas counties. Moreover, the SPCA of Texas serves as an active resource center for an array of services that bring people and animals together to enrich each other’s 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. SPCA of Texas provides every animal exceptional care and a loving home. To learn more about the SPCA of Texas, visit spca.org.

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