K9 CONSERVATIONISTS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Scientist
Charles is a conservation scientist, naturalist, and nature communicator who has a strong interest in nature-based solutions for threats to the natural world.
Job Titles:
- Founder, Trainer, Ecologist
Heather has two passions in her life: dogs and the outdoors. In her college years she studied zoology, concentrating in wildlife conservation, at The Ohio State University. While working on her degree, she performed mammal surveys as well as interned at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, caring for animals such as otter, cougar and brown bear.
In her quest to find a career that best suited her passions, Heather explored a variety of animal-related positions. She had the opportunity to aid conservation efforts abroad at the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre in South Africa, where she was involved in wildlife monitoring and care efforts of African wild dog and cheetah. At a wolf-dog sanctuary, she trained and socialized these unique animals as well as headed educational outreach tours to raise awareness and donations. Heather has also spent time as an attendant at her local canine shelter, wildlife rehab center, and veterinary clinic. But when she discovered conservation detection work, a job that combined her two loves, she knew that was it… Heather found her four-legged partner Ellie in 2019 and the pair have been working together ever since.
Job Titles:
- Founder, Trainer, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant
Kayla has a bachelor's degree in ecology from Colorado College. She has studied ecological sampling techniques ranging from mist-netting bats in Ecuador to plant surveys in Panama to electro-shocking fish in Wisconsin. She has always been passionate about both animal training and conservation biology.
After college, Kayla worked in a variety of dog-related jobs, including at one of the USA's largest animal shelters. There, she adopted Barley and they embarked on their journey together. They enrolled in a nosework class and Kayla spent years learning how to apply the basic principles of K9 nosework to conservation biology.
Kayla was a finalist for a Fulbright scholarship to study the selection of conservation detection dogs, but withdrew from the selection process to take a job as a conservation detection dog handler in 2019, where she learned from some of the best in the business. She started K9 Conservationists in late 2020. As an IAABC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Kayla is extremely dedicated to effective and humane dog training methods. When she's not training Barley or Niffler, you can find Kayla cross-country skiing or doing jigsaw puzzles.
Lisa is a communicator and fundraiser who specializes in provocative, audience-centric wordsmithing for nonprofits and foundations.
Job Titles:
- Founder, Trainer, Data Scientist
Rachel studied biology at the College of Idaho. She has been a dog trainer and heavily involved in training and rescue since 2005. She has extensive experience in GIS and coordinating teams of field techs. Prior to working with conservation detection dogs, Rachel worked mapping wetlands, sampling riparian areas, managing data, interfacing with land managers, and conducting vegetation sampling.
Rachel worked with Barley for a summer on a wind farm in Indiana before acquiring her own conservation detection dog, Suki. Suki joins the team as the newest K9 Conservationist and is thriving in training.
Rebecca is a community organizer and communicator with years of experience fundraising and building community in the nonprofit world.
Ursa is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Fear Free Trainer, entrepreneur who specializes in humane and effective dog training techniques.