Bart Battista – Best Friends Animal Society

For Bart Battista, senior director of facilities, insurance, and safety at Best Friends Animal Society, his work is more than a career—it’s part of his family’s legacy. His parents were among the organization’s founders in 1984, and Battista himself spent summers on the grounds of the sprawling 5,000-acre sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. As a teenager, he cared for animals and performed general labor, absorbing the sanctuary’s mission to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025.

That early connection shaped his sense of purpose, but his leadership style developed through decades of military service. At 18, Battista enlisted in the Marine Corps and later attended the U.S. Naval Academy, where he honed his skills in engineering, regulatory compliance, and, most importantly, leadership.

“I believe in the Golden Rule that I should treat others as I wish to be treated,” he says. That philosophy guides how he manages people, projects, and the complex infrastructure of Best Friends’ main campus.

Today, Battista oversees not only facilities but also insurance and safety—a portfolio that includes everything from utilities and construction projects to water systems and regulatory compliance. His role touches every corner of the sanctuary, a place that has become the flagship of Best Friends’ national efforts. The organization has grown into the leading animal welfare nonprofit in the country, working with a network of more than 5,000 partners nationwide to create a future where no dog or cat dies in a shelter simply because they lack a home.

From compliance to commitment

When Battista rejoined Best Friends in 2018, he recognized the need for a cultural shift within the facilities team. The work was expanding in both scope and complexity, yet the department was not fully aligned with the larger operational mission. Drawing from his military experience, he emphasized accountability, fairness, and a results-driven approach.

The first step was ensuring people felt valued.

“Treating people fairly was a pretty easy item to address—accountability and transparency were key there,” he explains.

Compensation, however, required deeper changes. Competitive pay and quality benefits became a focus, not only to attract talent but also to retain skilled staff in a rural setting. Training was another pillar. By investing in professional development and certifications, the team began to see itself not just as a support function but as a critical driver of organizational success.

There was some churn in the early days as expectations shifted. But today, the team has stabilized and grown stronger. Managers are highly trained, technicians pursue intermediate certifications, and everyone takes ownership of their role.

“Everybody owns their positions, they feel empowered, and people genuinely care about the job,” Battista says.

The result is a department that not only keeps the sanctuary running but also finds cost-effective solutions through innovation and expertise.

To ensure this new culture endures, Battista and his managers created pathways for career development. The facilities team is now viewed as a place where individuals can build long-term careers. A work-study partnership with the local school district further strengthens that pipeline by giving high school seniors a 10-week rotation through five departments. Many of those students have gone on to join the organization full-time.

Investing in infrastructure

One of the most significant undertakings under Battista’s leadership is the replacement of the sanctuary’s wastewater disposal system, a $3 million project scheduled for completion in October. The old system no longer met the demands of a facility that serves both animals and people on such a large scale. The new system consolidates operations into one area, making maintenance simpler and more efficient.

“This wastewater system will consolidate 24 buildings’ wastewater systems, greatly simplifying our inspection and maintenance requirements,” Battista explains.

Beyond efficiency, the project demonstrates environmental stewardship. With advanced filtration and UV disinfectant, the system ensures cleaner water leaching back into the ground, protecting the creek that runs through campus.

The project also highlights the department’s commitment to training. Every member of the utilities team is certified in onsite wastewater system design and wastewater system treatment, as well as some in backflow prevention, exceeding state requirements.

“Training has helped my team truly understand septic system fundamentals,” Battista says. “They have been able to proactively identify potential issues at septic systems and prevent failures or reportable incidents.”

By focusing on training and worker certification, Bart and his team have not only built good relations with the Utah Division of Environmental Quality but also created a proactive environment where issues can be anticipated and solved before they become crises. This project, and the approach behind it, reflect the kind of forward-looking leadership that ensures Best Friends’ sanctuary remains sustainable for decades to come.

Seeing the big picture

While the day-to-day demands of a 5,000-acre campus could easily consume his time, Battista maintains a strategic focus. A key tool in that effort has been the adoption of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. By mapping the physical infrastructure of the sanctuary, the facilities team can better understand land use, utilities, and long-term needs.

“I think GIS is immensely important for facilities management,” Battista says.

The technology enables his department to create story maps for senior leadership, making complex infrastructure plans both visually appealing and understandable. This, in turn, helps guide decision-making at the executive and board levels.

GIS also supports environmental compliance. By understanding how land and infrastructure interact, Best Friends can preserve its Green Belt status in Utah, ensuring its operations remain aligned with conservation principles. In practical terms, the technology informs everything from where to expand physical development to how to navigate regulatory restraints.

The approach reflects Battista’s military-influenced leadership style that implements “Commander’s Intent.” He provides his team with clear objectives and the necessary resources, then trusts them to execute without micromanagement.

“I stay apprised of issues and provide guidance and resources as needed,” he explains.

This balance allows him to remain engaged with big-picture strategy while empowering his team to handle day-to-day operations.

Leading with purpose & perspective

For Battista, leadership is about fairness, accountability, and a commitment to excellence.

“Treat people fairly but hold them accountable,” he says. “Understand what they need to succeed and do my best to resource them appropriately.”

His goal is to keep his head up—focused on the big picture—while staying close enough to the details to step in when necessary.

That perspective has helped him transform the facilities, insurance, and safety functions at Best Friends into a model of efficiency and effectiveness. From stabilizing the team’s culture to launching major infrastructure projects and implementing cutting-edge technology, Battista’s leadership ensures the sanctuary remains a stronghold for the no-kill movement.

Outside of work, Battista and his wife Brenda share their lives with dogs and chickens, while he pursues passions like running, hiking, surfing, and outrigger canoeing. These interests reflect the balance he seeks in life—a balance between intense responsibility and personal fulfillment.

For Best Friends Animal Society, his leadership helps sustain the sanctuary as both a physical place and a symbol of the broader mission. From reducing shelter deaths from 17 million per year in the 1980s to about 347,000 today, the organization has already reshaped the national conversation on animal welfare. With leaders like Battista ensuring the infrastructure, safety, and culture are built to last, Best Friends is well-positioned to reach its ambitious 2025 goal of saving them all.