A Gloucester native with a strong passion for her community and a devotion to animals has taken the helm of the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society. April Martinez was officially named to the role of executive director last week, but has been an integral part of the organization for a time before that.

Martinez said her career path has taken many twists and turns to get her to this point. Before coming to the GMHS, she has held various positions here and on the Peninsula including being a career coach, teaching college English, and working at Newport News Shipbuilding.

“Gloucester has a magnetic pull,” Martinez said. “A lot of people may leave and come back, but I’m back and here to stay.”

Martinez left the shipyard to look into doing something more community-focused and heart-driven. She first joined GMHS as a volunteer. It wasn’t long before the then-executive director asked her to come on board the staff as communications director.

In April, she...