APF leader leaves ‘better for the experience’ | The Daily Gazette SECTIONS Deb Balliet is known as a change agent, and her time spent with the Animal Protective Foundation has only solidified that reputation. At the end of 2020, after six years of leading the nonprofit, the executive director will be passing the baton to Austin Gates. “It’s been an incredible experience,” Balliet said. The longtime Capital Region resident has been an animal lover since she was a child and has worked in animal-related nonprofit organizations for most of her career. What attracted her to the executive director role at APF, which was struggling in some ways at the time she applied, was the people.