Head and Heart Service Dogs

With an extensive background in Wall Street, Division 1, and professional lacrosse, coaching various sports from youth to college, as well as founding and running multiple successful not-for-profits, my life has been defined by the importance of teamwork and the true meaning of leadership. Prior to working and training with Service Dogs, I worked with everything from puppies to severe behavioral issues. This provided the framework we use today, relationship-based training using advanced positive reinforcement. As a Head Trainer in the Service Dog world, I got to work with all aspects of selecting, training, and placing each dog. I was also responsible for the matching and training of the recipients. Seeing how much of a difference the dog makes in a person’s life is truly spectacular, and I am humbled and proud to be a part of it.

A lifetime of captaining, coaching, and administering multiple sports from youth to D1 to semi-pro, as well as being the team leader for an elite international cybersecurity unit, I have not only learned the joys of being a part of successful teams but, more importantly, what it means and what it takes to lead them. After years in the corporate world working in big tech, I decided to leave in search of purpose. Together, my father and I created Leading the Leash, a private dog training company specializing in severe behavior, advanced obedience, and family/dog relations. With the combination of learning on the job, attending and graduating from Animal Behavior College, and volunteering at North Shore Animal League America, I found myself in a profession I was truly proud of. When I started working with service dogs, everything changed. My role was to train the dogs and volunteers in cues, social etiquette, and socialization so that our dogs were ready for anything when they moved on to advanced training. What I was not ready for was the look on a recipient’s face when a dog I trained was placed. Spending so long and working so hard to mold a dog and see it change a life has truly changed mine.

My earliest memories revolved around creative expressions, including fine art, graphic design, and a passion for building brand and marketing pieces for anyone who asked. At 13, I launched my first business venture, Beaux Boutique, selling handcrafted ribbon hair bows. Over the last 20 years, I have devoted myself to marketing in fine art, real estate, advertising, and manufacturing (textile, print, and medical) industries. Through these many chapters and experiences, I gained insight into where my true passions lie. In an unbelievable turn of events, my father (Jeff) and brother (Tyler) asked me to join them in building a non-profit Service Dog Organization that would have the power to change people’s lives every day. Instantly, I knew that my head and heart had finally merged, allowing me to work creatively alongside my family and, best of all, our four-legged companions.