Our Local Dog Trainers

Neal Mestas

Owner & Trainer - DTE Arizona

Neal has been training dogs his entire life, participating in his first competition at the age of 9. With a lifetime of dog training experience, he can read dog body language with ease. Neal is a patient trainer, his approach to teaching and training is enhanced by his passion for what he does, whether it be basic or advanced training, he loves it! He specializes in just about everything, from basic and advanced obedience, reactivity and aggression control, calming anxious or fearful dogs, protection work, temperament testing, and service dog training. Neal has two Belgian Malinois’ of his own, a 13 year old retired demo dog named Bailey, and Chewbacca, or “Chewie”. According to Megan, “Neal is ok ".

John Mestas

Founder

Dog Training Elite was founded by John Mestas, who has over 40 years of dog training experience. Arrow Kennels and Dog Training Elite was named after John's first obedience trial dog, a golden retriever named Arrow.

John Mestas is a professional and experienced dog seminar instructor. He is the Owner and Training Director of Dog Training Elite dog training facility in Utah. He has served on the boards of Utah Valley Kennel Club, Great Salt Lake Retriever Club and Northern Utah Retriever Club. He has also worked with guide dog puppies, for the blind, in San Rafael, California.

He has trained with excellent trainers such as Bill Totten, President, Professional Retriever Trainers Association.

He has worked with and coached members of the Utah Task Force 1 Search and Rescue Team and coached various police department canine. He has coached and trained many dogs and their owners to Junior, Senior and Master Hunter titles. John also trained dogs and their owners in Companion Dog Excellence and Utility Dog titles, including seven high in trial.

John has donated his time to those with special needs in training their service dogs.

John has judged American Kennel Club (AKC) field trial events in the open, amateur, qualifying and derby. He has donated his time to train dogs for special needs children and offers free seminars for boys and girls at Juvenile Detention centers.

Kelley Rosequist

CEO

Kelley has been working with dogs for over 10 years. Kelley enjoys working with owners and their dogs to help them better communicate with each other. Kelley works closely with The Malinois Foundation to provide service animals for those in need.

Aidan Rosequist

Owner - DTE Utah

Aidan began his career at Petsmart over 20 years ago, working with the trainers there. He then met John Mestas in 2007, who introduced him to new training techniques and advanced obedience. Since that point, he has helped train hundreds of dogs to high levels of obedience, as well as personal protection, service, agility, and hunting work.

He is recognized by the American Kennel Club as a certified instructor for AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen, and Community Canine testing.

Aidan donates his time to a nonprofit organization called The Malinois Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project, training service animals for those in need.

Whitley Cheatham

Owner - DTE Texas

Whitley's passion for being with, and training dogs began at the young age of three when she trailed after and later assisted her grandfather with his hunting kennel. She served as a paramedic in and around Bexar County for over 8 years, where her commitment to patients ensured that she delivered the highest level of care. Whitley purchased her first German Shepherd many years ago and rediscovered her passion for owning, and helping others to own a well trained pet. She has worked with many breeds over the years, but continues to have a special bond with the working breed. Whitley has worked with Dog Training Elite (DTE) for over two years and has apprenticed with Seth Payeur during that time to ensure that she brings DTE's exceptional, personalized training to Texas!

Charmone Newell

Owner - DTE North Atlanta

Charmone received her teaching degree from Maryville College and served in a number of instructional roles throughout the years, as a private school teacher, military instructor, seminar facilitator and as a Principal. She has educated children and adults in a wide array of subjects, and in a variety of settings, both military and civilian, local and international. After she retired from the Air Force as a 1st Sergeant after 28 years of service, she put her vast educational and leadership skills to use as a business owner and elite dog trainer.

Bert Ballard

Operations Manager & Chief Finance Officer - DTE Denver

A former professor of communication at Pepperdine University, Bert has shifted his expertise to improving relationships and communication between dogs and their handlers. After nearly a decade and a half of living in Canada, California, and China, he is glad to be home in Colorado, where he was raised and graduated from Colorado State University with his B.S. from Colorado State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Denver.

Bert grew up around a lot of different kinds of dogs, and his family has owned and raised many dogs over the years. In addition to expertise in communication (widely published on many different topics), Bert brings entrepreneurial and business management experience. You will always find him with his small (only 70 lbs!) Bernedoodle, Binh An, next to him as they work together. When not helping with the family business of Dog Training, you'll find him biking, hiking, camping, or trying to get some rest!

Sarah Ballard

Owner & Marketing / Community Relations Director

A former professor of communication at Pepperdine University, Sarah is pursuing a new passion! Especially passionate about the service dog programs we offer, she has seen firsthand how the bond between dogs and people can help someone live more fully, especially with a well-trained service dog.

In addition to bringing communication and counseling expertise and having dogs around her all of her life, Sarah grew up managing her family's business in Estes Park, Colorado. A true Colorado native, she is glad to be home among the mountains and fresh air!

Sarah earned a B.S. from Colorado State University, and M.A. in counseling from Denver Seminary. Her companion, a Border Collie-Doodle ("bordoodle"), Oso, is a huge cuddler and he will always be there when someone needs a hug. Like Sarah, Oso is outgoing, positive, and enjoys bringing a smile to everyone's face!

Colby Wilcock

Owner - DTE Tooele Valley

Colby leads our Dog Training Elite team of Tooele Valley and brings with him over a two decades of experience working with dogs in various capacities. While working with drug and alcohol centers Colby taught individuals the power of animal therapy through equine, dogs, and other companion animals to help individuals overcome their battles with addiction.

Following the mission of Dog Training Elite of being people first; Colby is anxious to unite this principle with his training skills he has gained from the Dog Training Elite team to create more opportunities for therapy dogs. Colby's current dog Lana has been a favorite over the years as she's been able to join him on so many outdoor adventures, she also loves to smile for a photo op.

Matt Willis

Owner & Trainer - DTE St. Louis

Matt grew up in Austin TX in a house full of animals. He began training the family dogs at an early age. Raised in a hunting family, he learned retrieving, tracking and the responsible way to incorporate e-collar use in different training aspects."I always aspired to work with animals as a career but it just didn't happen for me."

After 20 years in wholesale distribution, that chance finally came."I sold my business and decided it was time to do something I'm passionate about. I love dogs and the special bond they bring to complete a family. We can't create sharp obedience unless we make it clear and easy for our dog to understand what we expect from them."

Matt trained in many aspects once joining DTE. He has been certified in Advanced Obedience, Internal/External Scent Detection, Service and Therapy, Personal Protection and Puppy Behavior/Training. He is recognized by the American Kennel Club as a certified instructor and evaluator for AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen, Community and Urban Canine testing.

When not working with your dog, you can find him training his 4 year old Border Collie-Cowboy or his 4 year old Chocolate Lab-Bullet. He also enjoys hiking, biking, hunting and golf.

Colleen Tvorik

Owner & Trainer - DTE Northern Utah

Colleen grew up in Lansing, Michigan with parents who bred and co-owned Golden Retrievers with a professional trainer who specialized in field trial retrievers and obedience. She can't remember a time when a retriever in training was not actively a part of her family. During her teens, Colleen got her first taste of training service puppies, when her family acted as a puppy raiser for, Coco, a Chocolate Lab who went on to pass training with Leader Dogs for the Blind and ended up with a recipient in Spain.

In addition to working with Golden's, Colleen also grew up near a horse farm, where she taught riding lessons for a Hunter/Jumper Horse Show Barn. Her experience working with horses allowed her another view at the powerful connection animals large and small might have with humans.

Colleen moved to Utah after obtaining a degree in Environment Journalism at Michigan State University and worked in Customer Service Management in the Hospitality and Software Industries. While living in Park City, Utah after college, Colleen got back to her canine roots as a popular dog sitter for several families.

When Colleen met her husband, Dan, and moved to Salt Lake City years ago, the couple happened upon a puppy in Central Utah that excelled within the Dog Training Elite program. Initially, as Dog Training Elite clients, Colleen and Dan realized how special the Dog Training Elite program was and how much fun it would allow them to have with their dogs! Colleen and Dan loved the training so much, they would go on to become trainers for Dog Training Elite and volunteers for The Malinois Foundation, training and placing service dogs with those in need.

Colleen used her puppy experience as a youth to specialize in the developmental training for the over 14 puppies she's had a hand in training over the last several years. She's excited to help her clients find and train their perfect canine companion!

When Colleen isn't training dogs, she is an avid outdoor enthusiast who loves skiing, hiking, biking and paddleboarding in Northern Utah with her dogs.

Dan Hutchings

Owner & Trainer - DTE Northern Utah

Born and raised in Utah, Dan's family always had multiple dogs that would accompany the family on trips to the mountains and deserts, including Lake Powell. As a teenager, Dan frequently visited his grandfather's farm in South Jordan and developed a passion for working with animals.

After graduating from the University of Utah, Dan volunteered for Greyhound Pets of America, fostering and rehabilitating retired Greyhounds.

After meeting and training with Dog Training Elite Founder, John Mestas, in 2012, Dan found a true passion for training and helping clients and dogs alike! He now specializes in task-specific training for service dogs and specialized, advanced training for his clients.

Dan is an avid runner, skier and outdoor adventurer who in his spare time enjoy's exploring new places with his dogs!

Shawn Gantkowski

Owner, Trainer

I come from a background in customer relations and business management in the automotive industry. After years of the corporate lifestyle I found it was time to move on and build something the entire family was passionate about while at the same time utilizing our skillsets. When looking for that opportunity to build something together we first started by asking ourselves what it is we wanted to do. That answer was evident, we were passionate about helping others and giving back to our community, now we just needed the right vehicle to work from. We have always had dogs in our households and like most, considered them our children and a large part of our family. Our dogs are usually better taken care of than we are in most situations! With the growing demand for quality trainers in the Charlotte and surrounding areas we knew this is where we could leave our “mark”.
Dog Training Elite Charlotte seeks to be a conduit to provide those pet owners that opportunity to not only bond, but to help grow their relationships with their dogs through the high-end training provided by the Dog Training Elite modalities. It is our vision to help as many families as possible create happy, healthy, and obedient dogs that would make any pet owner proud. In my spare time you can find me reading books, spending a day outdoors in nature, visiting local parks and lakes, or just enjoying the day with the family.

Sharon Gantkowski

Owner, Trainer, Office Manager

Growing up, my family always had multiple dogs in our households, and I realized how important it was for a dog and its owners to train together to enrich their lives and establish that forever-bond. Having a passion to work with Service and Therapy dogs is the reason I wanted to get involved with the Dog Training Elite’s Training modalities. Coming from a background in Early Childhood Education has enhanced my ability to teach families, including children, how to train their four-legged family members with confidence.

Alex Price

Owner, Lead Trainer

I grew up on a cattle farm in Virginia. I have owned and trained our family dogs since I was 8. I have worked in the restaurant industry for the last 10 years—both as a Franchisee and for the Corporate office where I trained franchise owners and their teams. I have always loved working with animals, and now I get to help families build a better relationship with their dogs!

Jenny Castro-Conde

Trainer & Owner

Jenny, an avid dog lover, and former Development Director, has been rescuing, volunteering, raising, and fostering dogs since 2010. Her latest professional endeavor was working as the Director over Dog Training Elite's nonprofit arm, The Malinois Foundation. In addition, she was a Dog Training Elite Utah employee where she worked as a Professional Dog Trainer. She has raised many service dogs who have now been paired with veterans, women survivors, and children with special needs. Jenny's compassion for animals and their owners who need service dogs continue to inspire her to help as many people and dogs as possible.

Now as an owner of the Dog Training Elite Austin franchise, Jenny's goal is to get your dog trained to be the most obedient dog it can be. Whether it is for service dogs, agility training, or basic obedience, Jenny's skills and compassion shine through into your dog's training. Training her dog, Daisy, in basic obedience and emotional support, she knows first hand how animals can positively impact a person's life.

Donny Castro-Conde

Trainer & Owner

Donny and his dog, Duke, can often be found throwing the frisbee at a local park. As a second-generation frisbee dog trainer, Donny found his passion for dogs at a young age from his father where he was surrounded by the likes of black labradors, chihuahuas, and pugs. Leading Duke to many awards in dog shows, Donny's passion is helping Duke and other dogs alike become the best dog they can be.

Formerly in Healthcare Administration and obtaining a BS in Psychology at the University of Utah, Donny has been perfecting the patient, customer, and client experience since 2010. Now as an owner of the Dog Training Elite Austin franchise, Donny's goal is to make sure both the dog and their owner have a quality and fulfilling experience by communicating effectively, setting reasonable expectations, and having joy in helping dogs.

Chuck Klingsick

Owner

Chuck was born in the St. Louis area before moving to Indiana where he met his wife and started a family; he eventually made his way to Kansas City where he now resides.

Chuck grew up with pets and always felt that they brought a family closer together. He also owned his own photography business in college before transferring into the IT world where he worked as a developer and project manager for over 30 years. After losing his job due to downsizing, he needed a change and was introduced to Dog Training Elite. He loved the way they trained highly obedient dogs as well as their important work with the Malinois Foundation.

When not working, you can find Chuck fishing, working with the Knights of Columbus, or spending time outside with his dog, Sir Isaac Newton, a Husky / German Shepherd mix.

Mary Stallmann

Owner & Trainer - DTE Milwaukee

Mary worked as a middle school teacher for ten years and spent the last 20 years as an administrator. She grew up in Michigan with a house full of animals, including dogs, cats, and even a pet duck. As a teacher, she kept ferrets, a snake, and many fish, but after 30 years in education, she decided to pursue a career working with her favorite furry friends—dogs. She still continues her passion of educating people, but now she teaches them how to train their dogs in the best way possible.

When Mary is not training dogs, she is hanging out with her husband Dirk and her three kids, Ava, Graham and Miles. She also loves to run, bike, garden and hang out her two dogs, Sasha and Hank.

Jeff Lambrecht

Owner & Trainer

Jeff grew up in rural Northern Wisconsin where dogs were part of his family life from the beginning. Ginger, Buster, Snoopy, Chopper, and Buddy were his personal favorites!

In 2021, Jeff retired from the full time ministry after more than two decades of serving schools and churches throughout the Midwest. Dog Training Elite connects his passion for animals and his desire for a service-oriented business to provide new ways of being committed and connected to his community.

Recently, Jeff and his wife Lara adopted a Goldendoodle named "Max". Both Jeff and Max are excited to be working together from Racine to Evanston—training dogs and their families and offering a better way of life living and working together.

Doug Pfaff

Owner / Trainer

Doug grew up in Greenfield Indiana in an animal-loving home where dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, fish, reptiles and even a free-roaming chicken named "Chicken Pox" could be encountered at various times. Most of his adult life was pent in Virginia where he worked in sales, sales training, coaching and management roles. A move back home to Indiana in recent years brought the opportunity to purchase the Dog Training Elite Franchise and the chance to work with pups and their owners. He takes pride in bringing a new standard of Elite Dog Training to the Indianapolis area and to improve the quality of life for dogs and the humans who love them.

When he's not training dogs and their humans, Doug hangs out with his own 2 pups. Olive, a 5 year old Vizsla and Bean, a 2 year old Yellow lab, who's also his running buddy. Doug and his partner Tom, live in the Meridian Hills area of Indianapolis. When he can find time, he loves to spend time with his 2 granddaughters in Virginia and 2 grandsons in Indiana.

Christy Dugan

Owner

A Maryland native, Christy has had dogs her entire life. After high school, her job as a Veterinary Technician was a perfect fit. Since then, she’s had many aspects to her career, most recently owning a business teaching sports and fitness to young children for 16 years. Some of her most cherished moments of that business include teaching children with special needs. When that business closed due to the COVID pandemic, she searched for something that would be just as fulfilling. When she discovered Dog Training Elite, she knew that it was the opportunity to bring all of her careers together. Dog Training Elite Central Maryland not only helps families who want to ensure that their pup is a well-behaved member of their pack, but also can provide in home Service Dog and Therapy Dog training. She believes there are so many families whose lives could be positively impacted with the help of a Service Dog, and Therapy Dogs do such wonderful work in our communities.

Christy lives in Elkridge, MD with her husband and co-owner, Sean, her two children, and three dogs, Kira, a Siberian Husky, and her Golden Retrievers, Murphy and Maui. In her spare time, Christy enjoys spending time with her family, dogs, and everything water-related. She can often be found boating on the Chesapeake Bay, and paddle boarding with Murphy.

Daniel Van De Mark

Owner

Daniel's first love of canines came at an early age while growing up with German Shepherds, He completed 31 years of military service before embarking on this current journey. Throughout the years he has had many canine companions with his favorite being a dachshund called Hardy In the 18 years he had with Hardy, his favorite time was seeing the pure excitement of his little buddy when he came home from work. As time went on, he developed strong bonds with his adopted pack Monty (Golden Retriever) and Princess (Black Labrador) both of whom provided much love and companionship. Currently, his pack includes his wife Rachel and business partners Louie (Mini Dachshund), Lola (Mini Dachshund), Sophie (Lab mix), and Lucy (Shepherd Mix). He is excited to provide assistance in strengthening bonds between parents and their canine(s) through good manners and respectful boundaries.

Rachel Van De Mark

Owner

At the age of 10, Rachel's first experience in training dogs began with a strong-willed Chow-Chow named Bear. During her 22-year career in the military and a 15-year career in corporate America, there wasn't a time she didn't lovingly have a canine or 2 or 5, at her side. Her children grew up with Sidney (a rescue mix) Monty and Princess. She was able to enjoy her time with Monty and Princess for more than 17 years and misses them dearly, although this journey, keeps their memory close to her heart. Her current pack includes her husband Daniel and 4 business partners, Louie, Lola, Sophie and Lucy. It is her goal to give back to the community by way of improving relationships between handlers and their canine(s) or parents and their fur-babies.

Jared Smearman

Owner/Trainer

Hi, I'm Jared! I grew up in North Carolina and have always had a passion for dogs. I attended the United States Naval Academy and served on active duty for eight years before my wife, Elizabeth, and I decided we wanted to grow our family in South Carolina. We have had, and will always have canine companions because of the unconditional love and joy that fills our home. Prior to becoming a professional dog trainer, I was a project manager in industrial automation and I have grown most fond of building and maintaining interpersonal relationships with clients and ensuring the experience is a positive and memorable one. I look forward to discussing your needs and seeing your relationship with your dog(s) go to new heights!

Cheyenne Emery

Owner & Trainer

Hello, my name is Cheyenne and these are 2 out of my 3 German Shepherds, Zara and Kenai. I am one of the owners of Dog Training Elite Orlando. Through advanced training it has allowed me to build an unbreakable bond with my dogs that before was never possible. Zara is my psychiatric service dog for PTSD. I have had many breeds of dogs throughout my life and my career background was in nursing. I am currently working part-time as a nurse practitioner as well as a dog trainer and I love every minute of it. I get to do my two favorite things in the world and still help people in a multitude of ways. This business has been mine and my wife’s dream for quite a while now. We are so happy and have more fulfilled lives in getting to do what we love everyday. We also breed German shepherds for service, active pets and protection dog work through Emery Ranch. So schedule your free in-home assessment and meet us in person!

Chelsea Emery

Owner & Trainer

My name is Chelsea Emery and this is my pup Coco. I am an assistant nurse manager at Advent Health Orlando. I have been a nurse for 3 years now. I have been raised with dogs my entire life. I got Coco in 2015 and it was the best decision I ever made! She is so loving, caring and the biggest lap dog ever! I’ve always wondered what it would be like to own a business, but it wasn’t until I met my wife Cheyenne that I knew this was something that would be an amazing adventure! I’ve always wanted to give back and I believe this is the perfect opportunity. I once had a pup that I struggled to train and unfortunately had to give her up to someone else. I want to be able to provide options for every person no matter how difficult the dog so that they can keep their 4 legged companions! I am so excited for this journey so make sure you fill out our home assessment and we can’t wait to meet you!

Ed & Betsy Erb

DTE Southeast Louisiana Owner

Ed and his wife Betsy share a vison for Dog Training Elite in Southern Louisiana, which is to help improve the relationships between dogs and their humans through the highest quality training, including service and therapy dogs for veterans and people in need. After careers in both the U.S. Military and the corporate world, Betsy and Ed chose to follow their passion to work with dogs and settled in Baton Rouge, Louisiana because of the friendly people, the culture, the great food, and the common love for dogs and the sportsman lifestyle.

Ed served as a U.S. Army officer and Apache Helicopter pilot for 10 years. Following his service, he worked as both a Sales and Business Development Manager and Aviation Safety Advisor in the Oil and Gas industry. Much of his life has been spent living and working overseas in a variety of locations including Africa, Asia, and South America. Ed is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. Dogs have been an important part of his family since childhood.

Betsy served as a U.S. Air Force officer and law enforcement agent with a specific focus on counter-terrorism operations for approximately 11 years, which included deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Following her service, she worked as an Executive with ExxonMobil Corporation for 13 years. She lived and worked in several overseas locations, including Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Betsy grew up in the Philadelphia area riding horses and competing in equestrian events, always with a Labrador Retriever by her side.

Betsy and Ed are excited about this new adventure and are eager to be of service to you and your dog.

Cindy Skocik

Owner - DTE NC Triangle

Cindy has been a lifelong dog lover, with her first love being her childhood dog Sunshine. Formerly a CPA and business leader, she has always been happiest in her career when her head and heart were engaged in solving problems and improving people’s lives, including her work at a company that treats people with eating disorders and an assisted living company.

Dog Training Elite connects Cindy’s passion for animals and her desire for a service-oriented business that improves people’s lives, as well as providing a way to be connected to the local community.

Outside of work, Cindy loves being outdoors, hiking, “recreational cooking” and feeding other people, reading, and hanging out with her friends and family - human and canine.

David Foster

Owner & Trainer

David earned a BS from Texas A&M and an MBA from Dallas Baptist University. For the past 19 years, David has worked closely with veterinarians in the animal health field, inspiring him to become a part of Dog Training Elite. After many years of bird hunting, David decided he wanted to train his new puppy, Tux, an English Setter/Poodle mix, to be a hunting companion. He was so impressed with the programs Dog Training Elite offered, he chose to train Tux here, and now owns his own company. Whether you simply need obedience training or a service animal for your family, David believes a well-trained dog is a great companion for everyone. 

David and his wife Kristin are huge animal lovers and have a small homestead with dogs, cats, chickens and alpacas.  They have 3 children who are all currently in college; Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, & the University of Arkansas.  When not helping with the family business, you will find David hunting (with Tux), playing golf, or mountain biking.

Cesar Roman

Owner

Cesar has been in the financial/banking industry for close to 30 years. Dog Training Elite has given him the opportunity to do what he has wanted to do for many years but did not know how. That is, working side by side with Archie, his Australian Shepherd, and getting involved in the community, helping others improve and strengthen the relationship between owners and their dogs, through an elite training service which includes service and therapy dogs, for people in need. Cesar is eager to meet you and start making that positive change in your lives.

JB Pitsinger

Owner/Trainer

I grew up right here in Huntsville and have always had a passion for dogs. Shortly after completing high school, I enlisted in the USMC where I served 20 years on active duty in Marine Corps Aviation. After many duty station locations throughout the world, my wife, Christie, and I decided to relocate back here to Huntsville. Prior to becoming a professional dog trainer, I was a process manufacturing engineer in the electronics industry focusing on lean and six sigma initiatives. This allowed me to enhance my interpersonal relationships by leading project teams to success. I look forward to working with you and your dog to build that lifelong relationship.

Kristi Anderson

Owner/Trainer

I’m Kristi Anderson. A few years ago, I witnessed my boxer Günter go from passionately chasing his ball to calmly laying down next to an 8 month old baby. I was awed by the relationship my dog had developed with humans. I’ve always trained my dogs to be an integrated member of the family, wanting my home to be welcoming to the many friends who came to hang out at our place. Hearing how appreciative the mom and dad were that their sweet baby could have a beautiful experience with my dog made me realize how much I truly love and believe in reliable, reproducible results from dog training. I’m thrilled to be part of a community of trainers who desire to see dogs and their people understand each other and play more vital, active roles in each other’s lives.

Besides being a dog trainer, I’ve been a professional potter, and in my spare time, I love mountain biking, off-roading in my hypergreen jeep, and practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Nerissa Anderson

Owner/Trainer

Nerissa Anderson grew up in Bellingham, WA with dogs always around. She began training the family pets to be circus dogs, which unfortunately never actually happened but formed a great basis for understanding how to train dogs.

“My goal is to achieve a better understanding between dogs and humans. I love knowing that the relationship between a dog and their person is better because of knowledge I can share.”

When Nerissa is not working with dogs, she can be found painting, hiking with her Frenchton, or spending quality time with her family.

Clint Frank

Owner & Lead Trainer

Clint is a proud veteran of the Marine Corps, honorably serving his country with 2 impressive tours in Iraq during his time of service. Clint studied Exercise Science at Ball State University and continued further to earn his Masters's Degree in Sports Performance. Clint's passion for physical education led him to a 9 years long career as a High School P.E. teacher, where he also had the privilege of becoming the Athletics Coach in the strength and conditioning department.

Clint has a chocolate lab name Kamo, and the two enjoy hunting (mostly ducks) and any activity they can do together. Being from Indiana, Clint was surrounded by dogs all his life, so making a career change that involved these amazing animals was a natural progression for him. Family is everything to Clint! Clint and his wife, Cassie (also an experienced teacher) have two sons, ages 3 and 5. Clint thoroughly enjoys playing dinosaurs with their younger son and building/launching rockets with their older son! Clint and Cassie enjoy having the entire family involved in running their business and look forward to meeting you and your canine companion!

Paul Hearn

Owner

A Virginia native who has never left, Paul loves the variety the state has to offer, such as beaches, mountains, countryside, and urban destinations. He has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to see much of it in his travels during his previous 22-year career in the electronic security industry. His love for dogs began when his father brought home a stray puppy when he was very young, the family naming her Tippy. Sadly, she ran away not too long after, but Paul’s love of dogs remained. A fan of dog training for many years, in December 2021, he decided to change careers and jumped at the opportunity to join the Dog Training Elite family. He is extremely excited to better the lives of families through their relationships with their dogs and thrilled to offer service and therapy dogs to those who need them in the future.

Paul lives in Chesterfield, VA, with his wife Shanon, two boys, Caiden and Evan, and their two dogs, Milo and Amber. In his spare time, he enjoys Mountain Biking, hiking, and tinkering in his garage with electronics, car stereo, and small construction/woodworking projects. He is also his family’s pro-bono handyman and jack of all trades.

Bob Wiegand

Owner & Trainer

Hello my name is Bob Wiegand I am the Owner and Lead trainer of Dog Training Elite Omaha. I have lived in the Omaha area my whole life and have had dogs on and off over the years, to me they are not just pets, they are a family members, I have one daughter that lives in Scottsdale, AZ. I have been in the people business over the past 40 years, I was looking for a change when I found out about Dog Training Elite and knew it was the perfect fit. The feeling I get from reconnecting owners with their dog building that bond there is nothing better. When I'm not training dogs you can find me enjoying the country side on my Harley-Davidson, playing a round of golf or a good ole backyard bbq. This is Millie my adorable fur baby mini Golden Doddle.

Whit Gray

Owner

Whit realized his love of animals when he trained his first dog at 12 years old in Atlanta, GA. He is a US Army veteran, has worked as an Accountant with the CDC and recently owned 2 Laundromats in the Atlanta area. Whit enjoys helping small business owners to obtain financing for real estate commercial projects.

Dog Training elite has allowed Whit to get back to his childhood dreams of working with animals and helping others that can use the assistance of animals to help in their daily lives. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and traveling to different locales.

Steve Thompson

Owner & Trainer

Steve is a native of East Tennessee and spent much of his childhood in the woods with the family dog. He's always loved the companionship of dogs, so much so that they become like his siblings. As a young adult, Steve left home for the Army where he learned the value of structure and consistency which is valuable in the dog training world. After having a 15 year career in management, Steve turned to over-the-road truck driving. Driving a truck allowed Steve to have dogs with him at work and train them in many different environments. Now living in the Charleston area, he is living his dream of working with dogs as a career.

Valerie Mosier

Owner & Trainer

Valerie grew up in Greenville, South Carolina surrounded by family dogs. As an only child, she bonded with her dogs and made friends with dogs, squirrels, and even a chicken or two. When she grew up, her children shared her love of animals and were always bringing home stray dogs and cats. There were also rabbits, turtles, snakes and even a blue tailed skink at one point.

She held a number of customer service related positions for most of her career, including 10 years at a funeral home and 5 years as an over-the-road truck driver where she was able to see all 48 states and most of Canada’s provinces. Working with dogs is like coming full circle for Valerie. She loves that it takes her back to her childhood while allowing her to enjoy working with dogs and their owners. Seeing the delight and pride when someone’s dog overcomes a challenge is incredibly rewarding. When Valerie isn’t working, you can find her enjoying live theatre, crocheting, reading or exploring historical sites and museums.

Carrie McIntyre

Owner & Trainer

Carrie was born and raised in the Detroit area and moved to West Michigan after graduating from Hope College. She's had a passion for dogs since she was young. Carrie loves helping people learn to communicate better with their dog and strengthen their bond, so they too, can experience the joy dogs bring to her. When she's not training, she enjoys spending time with her husband Mike and two Golden Retrievers, Arlo and Sturgill.

George Rehbein

Owner & Trainer

George has spent the last 25 years as an IT professional running small and large IT departments focusing on customer service as a top priority in the services he was providing to his customers. He has always been a pet owner having everything from dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and fish in his past and has decided to focus his passion for dogs into a career working alongside his dog Karma a Rottweiler. He grew up in MN, left for 7 years and then returned and was a volunteer Firefighter/EMT for 5 years in Cottage Grove, MN.

When George is not training dogs, he is hanging out with his wife Tracy and their two kids, Dylan and Courtney. He enjoys supporting his kids in their passions of trap shooting and competitive swimming respectively, and when not at their events enjoys going for walks with his wife and their dog.

Vince Conrad

Owner & Trainer

Hi, I am Vince. As a youth in rural western Pennsylvania, I learned the special level of trust and bonding that occurs between a well-trained dog and its handler while training and working hunting dogs. When you and your dog understand each other, your relationship is able to reach new levels of confidence and joy that were previously unattainable.

I have always loved dogs but put that interest on hold to obtain an advanced degree in chemistry. As an Analytical Chemist, I developed the problem-solving and customer-services skills necessary to provide innovative and reliable support to energy industry professionals that were experiencing unique operational and environmental issues. Taking the time to understand my client’s needs, communicating clear goals, and accepting accountability for the quality of my team’s services resulted in client relationships/friendships that lasted for decades.

After retiring in 2021, I began to search for a new challenge. The opportunity to obtain a Dog Training Elite franchise, has allowed me to apply the soft skills developed over a 38-year career to a life-long passion, working with dogs and their owners. I am delighted that DTE encourages the owner to actively participate in the training so they acquire the skills necessary to continue to build upon their relationship long after the training is complete. DTE’s emphasis on community service through service and therapy dog training as well as their non-profit Malinois Foundation provided an additional incentive to partner with DTE.

When not working, I can be seen on morning runs with Tess, gardening with Tammy, hunting, woodworking, and finding new ways to spoil grandson, Francis.

Pittsburgh is home Tammy and me. We have lived in the Pittsburgh suburb of McMurray for over 35 years, raising a family that included two wonderful children and a number of unforgettable dogs including the current duo, Tessie, a hyperactive German Shorthaired Pointer and Ollie, a contrary, but loveable, long-haired Dachshund. We are excited to be able to use our DTE franchise to give back to the community that has been so good to us.

Tammy Conrad

Owner & Office Administrator

Hi, I am Tammy. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania a few miles from Vince.

After college, I spent a year working in New York city before returning home to take a position in banking.

After moving to Pittsburgh, I left the workforce to become a full-time mom to our two children. I was very active in the Peters Township School District, volunteering in classrooms and holding numerous positions in the Parent Teacher Association, including President. My children’s departure for college, left me with time to continue community service, mentoring community youth that had incurred a minor criminal offense and organizing fund raising events for the Peters Township library.

It is hard for me to imaging a day without having our dogs in our lives. They provide so much unconditional love and they never fail to make me laugh every day. In addition to spending time with our dogs, I enjoy walking and caring for my flower gardens.

I am very pleased to be able to continue my involvement in the community through our Dog Training Elite franchise. We look forward to helping you develop an unforgettable relationship with your four-legged companions.

Craig Fizer

Owner & Trainer

Craig's love for working with dogs began as an early age, appreciating the positive impacts they have on improving people's lives. He takes pride in teaching clients how to connect with their dogs on deeper levels, enabling them to strengthen their bond. Craig's career experiences span Software Engineering with a large corporation and VP for a small construction company- where he developed a passion for providing high levels of customer service and problem-solving skills.

Ready for a new path, aspiring to work with animals as a career, he was introduced to Dog Training Elite, in Utah. Once he learned about their over 40 of experience, highly effective training methods and commitment to serving the community, Craig found his new venture. He's excited to bring a new standard of Elite dog training to Central Florida. In addition to the opportunity to give back to the community through DTE's partnership with the Malinois Foundation-training service animals for people in need.

When he's not training dogs, he enjoys spending time with his 3 children and 2 dogs-Sadie (Labradoodle) Murphy(GSP). As a Florida native, he appreciates the great outdoors- golfing, boating, paddle boarding, hiking and coaching youth sports.

He looks forward to meeting you and your canine companion!

Ashley Gagne

Owner & Trainer

Ashley has spent the last 15 years in the customer service and public service industries carrying out her desire to help people and make a positive difference. She currently serves as a firefighter to her local community. When she’s off duty, Dog Training Elite allows her to combine her love for dogs and desire to make an impact, by creating healthy and effective communication between dogs and their people.

Eric Gagne

Owner & Trainer

Eric has always held a passion for helping others. After serving in the military for 6 years, he continued this passion to serve his local community as a LEO. Now with Dog Training Elite, he is able to help our four-legged friends and their people through obedience and service dog training!

Katie Matt

Owner /Trainer

Hi, I’m Katie! I grew up in the Southwestern Chicago suburbs and have always loved dogs. Before my husband and I decided to open up our own Dog Training Elite, I was a high school science teacher in the Chicago suburbs. We have grown our family in the area and love the community! We have always had dogs, and love to be out with our pups. Our dogs are a major part of our family, and really complete us with the love and companionship they provide. There are so many dog friendly areas in Chicagoland, and we love to bring the whole family when we go out. I have loved teaching and coaching, and look forward to helping improve families' lives with their dogs.

Denise Yenchochic

Trainer

🐾 Meet Denise and Tanner 🐾

Hello, I'm Denise, and this is my exuberant Goldendoodle, Tanner. As an AKC Certified Trainer, I specialize in various advanced training techniques, including Puppy Development, Service Dog Training, Fetch and Mobility Training, as well as Scent and Diabetic Alert Training.

Driven by a deep passion for giving back, my mission is to help people foster a stronger bond with their canine companions. There's nothing more rewarding than witnessing the positive impact we can create together, transforming not just the lives of the dogs but also the owners and their families.

I thrive on being goal-oriented and am dedicated to making a lasting difference. Through the proven methods of Dog Training Elite, I ensure clear and consistent training, sticking to a process that delivers remarkable results. And here's the best part – I believe in having fun during training sessions, because building a better relationship with your dog should be an enjoyable journey!

Join me in the wonderful world of dog training, where every day brings new opportunities to make a positive change.

Alisa Kellington-Welsh

Trainer

This is Alisa and her partner, Cash. Cash is a 3-year-old, enthusiastic Aussiedoodle rescued from Zanesville, Ohio. Alisa graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2001 where she earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences and M.A.T. in Instruction and Learning. She dedicated 21 years teaching underprivileged students in the public-school system where she helped students grow educationally and personally. Alisa has been an animal lover her entire life and often used her love of dogs as an escape from the grind of her professional career. Eventually her passion for teaching students shifted into a passion for training animals.

Alisa’s training philosophy is deeply rooted in the science of animal behavior and how animals learn. Her positive energy and calm approach will quickly put you and your dog at ease. She maintains that developing and fostering trust between you and your dog is the key to successful training. Alisa’s instructional clarity, patience, and adaptability teaches you and your dog reciprocal skills needed to nurture a resilient bond, clear communication, and a happy and healthy lifetime together.

Alisa is also known to create opportunities that combine her enthusiasms for exploration and volunteerism and is always in search of ways to serve others around the world and in the southwest Floridian communities.

Danielle Kellington-Welsh

Marketing

Danielle and Carter (7-year-old loyal and loving Goldendoodle) moved to southwest Florida from Pittsburgh, PA. Danielle studied business marketing at the University of Phoenix and proceeded to work in the demanding, fast-paced, corporate setting, shaping campaigns for several iconic brands. As a beer and spirits ambassador, she created ads for Guinness, Sam Adams, Absolut, Patron, and many more. Then switching industries, she boosted Pillsbury, Cheerios, and YoPlait sales, growing annually during her tenure at General Mills. Danielle jokes, “I went from destroying livers to ‘healthying’ hearts!”.

Danielle helps people fall in love with brands because of her creativity and results-oriented personality. Danielle has a proven track record of achievements in developing new social media strategies and creating original social media content. Allow Danielle photos and videos of your dog in training, and you’ll be amazed at the content she creates for you!

Deene Yenchochic

Operations

My name is Deene and this is my rescue mix, Tucker. As a child, I was scared to be around dogs because I was bitten by a German Shepherd. As an adult, I have fallen in love with every dog I have met! I learned that a well-trained dog becomes a treasured companion who is safe around people and who also has a pretty darn good quality of life themselves!

I spent most of my career in higher education and marketing/management consulting. For 16 years, I found myself owning and operating a KOA campground that was located along a rails-to-trails bike trail. During that time, I learned a lot about how dogs react and behave on a trail with many other dogs and people around-plus wildlife to add some mystery.

I am amazed every day with just how brilliant a dog can be and how quickly they learn new behaviors. I look forward to seeing you and your dog achieve great success!

David and Nicki Webb

Owners - DTE Asheville

David: I joined the Air Force after graduating from high school and ended up serving for over 21 years before retiring in 2011. Since retiring I have served in two different CEO roles for healthcare organizations where I enjoy ensuring the delivery of high-quality healthcare to the communities we serve. After moving to Asheville, my wife and I started looking for something that we could do together that would also positively serve our communities and as avid dog lovers, Dog Training Elite was a natural fit. We are so excited to meet and work with our WNC neighbors and help build an even stronger bond between them and their dogs!

Nicki: As a high school teacher, I have always enjoyed watching the learning process and that is even more fulfilling when it comes to training dogs. I absolutely love all animals but the strong bond that is created between a dog and owner is amazing to me. I am very excited to help you and your dog(s) strengthen your bond and improve your overall relationship with each other.

Scott & Jennifer Joyce

Owners

Jennifer and I met at Ohio University thirty years ago and moved to the Cincinnati area following the wedding. We have lived in Ohio our entire lives and have three children: Jeremy, Justin, and Kelsey and two dogs: Bailey and Loki. The opportunity to work together, in our community, and continue the proud DTE tradition in Ohio, is truly a blessing.

Danielle Sanderson

Owner and Trainer

Before starting her family, Danielle volunteered at the Hawaiian Humane Society training dogs to have good manners. She enjoyed owning and operating Kailua K9 Club doggy daycare, with her dogs Gatsby and Daisy. Her husband Dan's job moved them to California and eventually, they found their way back to the East Coast where they were from. Danielle has worked in the staffing industry, real estate and most recently in an elementary school as a Registered Behavior Technician helping children with special needs. DTE is the perfect combination for Danielle, being able to help people and getting to work with dogs.

Danielle lives in Portsmouth RI with her husband Dan, three children and two dogs, Koa and Scruffy.

Parker Fillmore

Owner & Trainer

Parker has been a dog lover for most of his life. He grew up with Great Danes and, over the last few years, has found a new passion for working breeds. Kila, his Belgian Malinois, is his best friend. You will often see them hiking, skiing, or playing fetch together. Parker has volunteered at the Malinois Foundation for several years, assisting in the training and placement of service dogs for veterans, children, first responders, and women survivors.

Jeff Collett

Owner and Trainer

Hi, I’m Jeff Collett. I have lived in SC for almost 20 years. I’ve spent the past 25 years in medical device sales. I have grown up with dogs and appreciate the value pets add to our lives. I recognize a great need for obedient dogs in the home as pets and as service animals throughout the community. My wife and I just added our sweet girl, “Millie” to our family. We’ve had so much fun playing with and training her.

When I’m not working as a professional dog trainer, I enjoy golfing, lake time and fellowship with family and friends.

I’m looking forward to helping enhance the relationship between you and your dog.

Justin Collett

Owner and Trainer

Hi, My name is Justin Collett. I grew up in Chapin, SC, and graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2018. I married my beautiful wife, Kiley, in 2020. I’ve grown up with dogs and my wife and I have enjoyed countless hours of fun with “Louie”, our long haired miniature dachshund. We recently added “Josie” our golden retriever pup to add to our joy.

My working background was on the water selling boats and then in the water selling water filtration systems. I now enjoy my exciting role as a business owner and professional dog trainer which speaks to both my passions for people and dogs. Whether you need a well-trained dog or a service animal for your family, investing in this special relationship will reap rewards for the life of your dog.

When I’m not working, I love golfing, playing on the lake, and spending time with family and friends. My pups and I can’t wait to meet you!

Darlene Collett

Owner and Trainer

Hi, I’m Darlene. I’m a wife of 36 years to Jeff, mother of 2 sons, and lover of our sweet new golden, “Millie”. Most of my working career was in the insurance industry, followed by my role as a stay-at-home mom. I was blessed to be able to help care for both of my parents. I’ve always been devoted to my family and will bring this same level of care to the Midlands area dogs and their families. As you probably know, there is something special and expansive that happens in your heart when you share it with a furry family member.

When I’m not working, I enjoy reading, exercising, bike riding and hiking in the mountains.

Dan Lutchko

Owner & Trainer

My name is Dan Lutchko. My fiancé Samantha and I have 4 beautiful children, 12, 8, 6, and 3. We enjoy hiking, bike riding, kayaking, swimming and taking in all the beauty that Northern Michigan has to offer with our three dogs, Pickles (French Bulldog), Luna (Puggle) and Spike (Frug). I have spent the last 11 years in food manufacturing where I held various positions during my tenure with the company. During the last couple of crazy years, I began to think about how I could make a difference, both in my immediate community and beyond! The moment I discovered Dog Training Elite and saw the impact it can have on people, and the vital and important relationships they have with their animals, was the moment I found my new passion. Pickles, Luna, Spike and I look forward to meeting you and we hope you will join us on this amazing journey!

Austin Goble

Owner / Lead Trainer

My name is Austin Goble. My love for dogs began at a very early age while duck hunting alongside some amazing retrievers. After college, I got a chocolate lab named Bayou, and my love for working with and training dogs began. My wife is a school social worker, and we have seen firsthand the incredible benefits of service and therapy dogs, and I desire to provide that for others. I love hiking, camping, fishing, and exploring the outdoors (with my dog at my side).

Andrea Johnson

Owner & Trainer

Hello and welcome to our website! My name is Andrea Johnson, I am an owner and trainer here at Dog Training Elite of Northeast Ohio. I was born and raised in the Cleveland, Ohio area, and I am proud to call this home. I have always had dogs as pets, have always adored and admired them for their unconditional love and loyalty. I am excited to be able to help others strengthen their bond with their pets through training and service, excited to enhance others’ lives.

I am a retired Dental Hygienist/Assistant, entered the dental field in 1991. I had an extremely rewarding career, thoroughly enjoyed helping make peoples’ smiles to be bright and healthy.

Married to Kevin Johnson since 1996, we have three wonderful children, two adorable Yellow Labs.

I enjoy traveling, swimming, reading, theater, and spending time with family and friends.

Thank you for considering us for your dog training needs. We look forward to meeting you and working with you!

Kevin Johnson

Owner & Trainer

Hello, my name is Kevin Johnson and I want to thank you for considering Dog Training Elite of Northeast Ohio. I was born in North Carolina and raised on a farm where we bred and trained hunting dogs. I’ve always enjoyed working with dogs to enhance the lives of their human families. I left North Carolina when I joined the Air Force where I served at the Pentagon and Andrews Air Force Base for 7 years. I met my wonderful wife and business partner, Andrea, in 1994. We have 3 great children and two energetic Yellow Labradors. We have a passion for improving the bonds between families and their K9 family members through greater communication and consistency. We look forward to improving the bond you have with your dog.

Josh Lopez

Owner / Lead Trainer

Josh is a military veteran, whose dog training journey started long before he decided to become a DTE Franchisee. He began training military working dogs (MWD) in 2009 and in doing so has deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with his MWD Valdo. Upon completion of his military service, he also trained dogs for the Department of State in support of diplomatic operations. In his spare time Josh enjoys camping, spending time with his family and anything outdoors.

Brad Okeson

Owner & Lead Dog Trainer

Brad is an experienced business operator with a passion for improving the quality of life for families and their dogs! He is driven to be involved as a community partner for creating a better family unit. Brad enjoys meeting new people and their dogs!

Michaela Macchia

Owner / Lead Trainer

Michaela decided to take her passion for building relationships with animals to the next level by opening her own Dog Training Elite business. She has two dogs of her own, Quinn and Tiki. Their favorite activities are hiking, swimming, and cuddling in bed.

Michaela is excited to help others connect with their dogs by fostering relationships and building confidence.

Marcus DiBenedetto

Owner / Lead Trainer

Marcus has always been around pets from having dogs, cats, rabbits, and chickens. Marcus has spent the previous 3 years as an outreach counselor for individuals with mental health illnesses and has seen the impact being connected to ones community can do for people. His passion for training dogs comes from seeing the bond between dog and handler deepen as they continue to work together.

Shelley Walker

Owner / Trainer

Shelley has a passion for dogs and fostering healthy, happy and rewarding relationships with them. She has been a proud and loving dog owner for 45+ years having owned varying breeds of dogs, from large to small where she has developed her dog training experiences and abilities.

Shelley Walker is a tenured entrepreneur with 30+ years of experience in owning and operating many different ventures in marketplace segments such as: franchise development (health and wellness), IT and technology, NFP fundraising, real estate, and sole proprietorship person-to-person retailing. Through these endeavors, Shelley has gained significant experience and expertise in marketplace evaluation, business systems development, sales and marketing, HR, management and leadership, accounting, public speaking and public relations.

Brennan O'Malley

Owner / Trainer

Hi my name is Brennan O'Malley. I was born and raised in Mentor, Ohio. I am a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a degree in Hospitality. Once graduating, I realized I wanted to help people and make a difference, but my real passion was with dogs.

I love training my dogs, so when I came across Dog Training Elite I knew the company was the perfect fit for me. My dogs have always been important to me and I admired how DTE tailors training to meet a family's needs.

Dogs have always been a huge part of my life. I have a Pit Bull American Bulldog mix and a Portuguese Water Dog. In my free time, I like to take them swimming at the lake.

GO BUCKS!

Nick Smith

Owner/Trainer

I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2017. After being presented a job opportunity in 2017, I decided to take a leap of faith to pursue a new career just shortly after graduating with my degree in Business Marketing. After 5 long years in the corporate world, I have decided it is time to make a change for the better. Starting my journey with Dog Training Elite has already brought my family and me so much joy, I can only imagine what the future has in store for us. I find it fascinating how intelligent dogs can be and how even a little bit of training can go a long way. We love taking our dog, Kaden, everywhere we go and our dream is to give that gift to other families around us.

Bryanna Smith

Owner/Administrative

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. I grew up playing soccer and started working in the food and beverage industry right out of high school. Over the past 5 years I have worked as Human Resources in a more corporate environment along side of my husband. I look forward to making this drastic career change with my husband to not only better our lives, but those around us and in our community. With our passion for animals, I believe it’s going to be a true privilege getting to spend most of our days enhancing the lives of dogs all around us.

Betsy Feaster

Owner / Lead Trainer

Betsy Feaster and Edward Erb are military veterans, who have been married for over 20 years. Following their service, both joined the corporate world and lived all over the world. After six years of exciting” ex-pat” life, they returned to the U.S. to dedicate their lives to their true passion - dog training! They are the current owners of Dog Training Elite in Southeast Louisiana (New Orleans thru Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas) and have recently decided to dive into the business in southeast Pennsylvania. Betsy, a Philadelphia area native, is an avid Phillies fan, loves the Birds and cheers hard for the Broad Street bullies! She and Ed are incredibly excited about returning to the Philadelphia after too many years. They have four dogs - two young Labrador retrievers, a rescued Pitbull, and a small pincher mix - love them as fur babies and are passionate about training!

Marie Nicolas

Owner

Tina Ruffin

Owner & Trainer

A Florida native, Tina earned her MBA from Florida State University and worked 23 years in the public sector before becoming a Dog Training Elite franchise owner and trainer. She is passionate about helping people build a strong bond with their dog, whether through basic obedience training or specialized training programs. When she is not working, she enjoys outdoor adventures with her dogs, Siggy, Stella and Gus, and you can often find her kayaking along the coastline with Siggy.

Colin and Celeste O'Keefe

Owners

Colin and Celeste moved from Central Valley California to Henderson, Nevada in 2016 with their two children. Colin worked as a Construction Safety Manager on large scale utility solar projects and Celeste has been a stay at home mom since their first child was born in 2010.

Dogs are no longer only guardians or accessories for people. They often become valued family members. Empowering dog owners with proper training to enhance their daily interactions with their pets is beneficial to the dog as well as the owner.

Tonya Stafford

Owner & Trainer

Tonya has always had a passion for animals and people. Dog Training Elite provided her with an opportunity to serve both and fulfill a dream in the process.

Tonya has a bachelor’s in psychology from Moravian University and a master’s in Training and Development from the University of St. Francis. She spent her early professional career as a children’s mental health social worker and spent several years in the pharmaceutical industry prior to her career in dog training.

Tonya has had several breeds of dogs through the years and loves all breeds large and small, but has a particular fondness for Rhodesian Ridgebacks and bully breeds, of which she has had the pleasure of being a dog mom to both. As an owner of the Dog Training Elite Tampa franchise, Tonya’s goal is to help dogs of all sizes, ages, and temperaments and their owners to improve their relationships and quality of life together. She believes that you really can teach an old dog (and its owner!) new tricks, and is excited to meet you and your fur babies to discuss your training goals.

Luis Rodriguez

Owner & Trainer

Luis developed his love for dogs through his first dog, Ranger, a Rottweiler trained for protection, but loving and loyal to his entire family, and playfully gentle with his daughters who were toddlers at the time. Luis has had other dogs through the years, but never forgot Ranger, who set in motion his passion for dogs and made him see the potential in each one.

A Puerto Rico native, Luis received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. He worked in mechanical and validation engineering within the pharmaceutical industry in both Puerto Rico and different states within the U.S. for over 30 years. Now as an owner/trainer of the Dog Training Elite Greater Tampa franchise, Luis wants to help you achieve the goals you have for your pups, whether training them to provide a service or to just create a more harmonious home. A problem-solver by nature, Luis’s patience, persistence, and ability to think outside the box when faced with obstacles and challenges are evident in everything he does. He looks forward to meeting you and your dog to see how he can customize a plan for you.

Ginger

Training Dog

Born 12/21/2021, Ginger, an American Staffordshire Terrier is a lover who only fights stereotypes. Her favorite things include long walks, cuddles, meeting new people, and wrestling with her younger brother, Bruno. She loves being in the sun and will do just about anything for food.

Bruno

Training Dog

Born 5/24/2022, Bruno, a goldador (labrador/golden retriever mix) is a sweetheart and an overall chill dude. He enjoys playing fetch, running agility courses, and anything water related. He is always eager to please and would love to meet you!

Gosia Billedo

Owner & Trainer
Hablo español

Born and raised in Poland, Gosia has called Georgia home since 2013, when she took a huge leap of faith and accepted a career opportunity that took her and her teenage son across the globe to start a new life in the US. A decade later, and after 20+ years of a successful career in sales and account management, she decided to take another leap of faith and leave the corporate world to follow her passion for dogs and ambition to work for her own success as a dog training franchise owner with the support of her husband and business partner, Michael.

As a trainer, Gosia teams up with Lucy, her German Shorthaired Pointer, to support dog owners in their community by helping them build happy and healthy relationships with their four-legged family members. She is a big fan and advocate of dog adoptions and being a loving mom to her rescue dog Rusty, she strongly believes in the importance of training and socialization in the process of helping dogs and their humans to adapt to their new life together.

Chris Davila

Trainer

My name is Christopher Davila and this is my American Staffordshire Terrier, “Nahko”. I am originally from Boston, MA.

My dog training experience includes working in the board and train environment, being a dog behaviorist and trainer, as well as running private and group classes. I enjoy working as a decoy in protection training work and I am ABC Dog Obedience certified.

I love being a trainer because it is an opportunity to improve the lives and relationship bonding between people and their pets. By training people and dogs with a clear and direct communication style I hope to accomplish building a relationship that leads to a happy and healthy home for the entire family.

Taylor Newton

Owner / Trainer

I was born in Baltimore, Maryland but have lived all over, Illinois, Tennessee, Minnesota, Kansas City, and now Philadelphia PA where the majority of my family lives. For the past 10 years, I have worked in engineered sales designing and selling industrial equipment. Unhappy with the job and realizing I didn’t have to do it forever, I came across Dog Training Elite. Having a dog that is well-trained and getting endless compliments on their behavior gave me the ego boost I needed to change careers. I am very excited to help dogs be the best they can be and to help their owners set their dogs up for success and get the perfect dog they always wanted. My family and I have always had dogs growing up from labs to Maltese to german shepherds. Currently, I have a 7-year-old lab/pit mix named Kora and a 1-year-old golden retriever/german shepherd mix named Skye.

Josephine Grace

Owner / Trainer

Josephine’s entrepreneurial spirit and business experience, combined with her love for dogs led her to Dog Training Elite. With an Honors Degree in Education and a passion for writing, Josephine aims to share her and Dog Training Elite’s expert knowledge with pet lovers in Palm Beach County.

She evolved her expertise of helping others live a more fulfilled life, to include improving relationships and communication between dogs and their owners. She has seen firsthand with her first dog how the bond between dogs and people can help bring joy into someone’s life. Lexi was a star in nursing homes!

She is grateful for the opportunity to enhance the quality of life for both owners and their dogs, helping other people get their lives back, reduce their stress, and experience the healing power of dogs as companions, service animals and family members. You will see her most of the time with her happy, adorable Bichon Frise, Gracie.

Denise Hall

Owner / Manager

Hey y’all, I’m Denise! I am passionate about helping owners and dogs communicate and grow together. I’m from Houston and went to Texas A&M and Brandeis for degrees in genetics, and worked in oil & gas for ten years. Many years ago, my first dog Chiquita introduced me to the joy of a well-trained dog that fits perfectly into your life. I believe we can achieve your training goals together! I also have a special place in my heart for service/therapy dogs and the people they assist. I’m excited to partner with our community and give back.

Gray Hall

Owner / Trainer

Hi, I'm Gray! I’m excited to help you achieve the best relationship possible with your dog. I am from San Antonio and I grew up with Brittany spaniels, golden retrievers and Australian shepherds. I have a degree in ranch management and my happy place is being outside with my family. I’m a positive person, a hard worker, and a problem-solver. I believe we can bring out the very best in your dog!

Adria B

Training Specialist

Graduating from high school early, yet still encountering significant health challenges, Adria acquired a service dog that has changed her world and allowed her to maintain her functioning and keep moving forward. Her service dog, a Border Collie-Doodle ("bordoodle") named SnickerDoodle, provides seizure alerts in addition to keeping the other dogs in line!

Although Adria has lived in a lot of places (Canada, China, California), she was born in Colorado and is glad to return (living only one block from her childhood home!). Adria brings not only instant rapport and love for our four-legged friends, but also first-hand experience of how dogs change lives. The whole family credits SnickerDoodle for being the one to start the idea of training dogs. Both SnickerDoodle and Adria are excited for the opportunity to help other people get their lives back, reduce their stress, and experience the healing power of dogs as companions, service animals, and family members.

Kati

Founder & President

I'm Kati Chipps, a native of Idaho with a life full of adventure, love, and cherished connections. My childhood crush turned into the love of my life and husband (Troy, our Lead Trainer). We’ve created a wonderful family, including two amazing children, a delightful granddaughter, and many animals along the way. Our journey has been enriched by the company of dogs, horses, cats, rabbits, and even a couple of hedgehogs.

From a young age, rodeo captured my heart, where I mastered skills like barrel racing and team roping. Rodeo wasn't just a sport; it was a family tradition that deepened our bonds with each other and our horses. Training horses was my passion, and it grew into training many other animals, and understanding psychology at a deeper level.

After Troy retired from the Marine Corps (see his bio), we decided to make NC our permanent home. We especially love the coastal areas, and my love for the beach is rivaled only by my affection for animals.

As I settled into this coastal haven, I felt a deep desire to reconnect with my roots and the animals that have always brought me peace. Troy also missed working with dogs. Together we decided to start Dog Training Elite, to share a lifetime of our training experiences with new friends. My favorite part of our business is that we train in your home, where you and your dog are the most comfortable. Our entire team is eager to visit with you, learn about your unique situation, and help build an elite connection between you and your best friend.

Troy

Founder & Lead Trainer

Hi, I'm Troy Chipps! I grew up in a small town in Idaho. After graduating high school, I joined the Marines, where I landed a pretty incredible role as a Military Dog Handler stationed out of Jacksonville, NC. I had the distinct honor of being attached to the Secret Service, providing protection for President George H.W. Bush - an experience I'll forever cherish. Who would've thought man's best friend could be trained to detect explosives and protect the President?

After my time in the military, I started my family, and made sure dogs remained a big part of our lives. I love training dogs so much that my wife and I decided to start Dog Training Elite. Now, I'm here to share my experiences, whether it's stories from my military days, insights into dog training, or simply enjoying the journey of making your dog the superstar they were born to be. My team is excited for the opportunity to meet your dog, embark on a journey together, and make tails wag! 🐶✨

Diane VanWeelden

CEO / Owner

Diane’s love of dogs started early with her first dog, Puddles, a Beagle, and continued as she grew up surrounded by animals of all kinds on her family’s farm. Over the years, the loving companionship of her many dogs has been an important support to Diane at every stage of life. Most recently, Beau, a darling micro mini Goldendoodle, joined the family and their bond is already unbreakable!

Diane is excited to bring her professional experience in business development, strategic planning, marketing communications and life coaching to her newest venture with Dog Training Elite. Making a positive impact on people’s lives is Diane’s life mission and adding dogs to the mix makes it so much sweeter.

John VanWeelden

CFO / Trainer

John grew up in a dog family as well, with Lizzy, a Schnorkie, by his side. His lifelong love of animals was magnified when their son, Alex, embraced frogs, rats, snakes, lizards, birds, cats, turtles, fish, and of course DOGS as family pets. John is a gifted teacher by nature and has always loved to train his dogs. He now truly appreciates using DTE’s proven methods and enjoys helping families experience the full potential of their dogs as a part-time trainer.

John brings invaluable business experience to Dog Training Elite. As founder and principal of VanWeelden Financial Group, John spent over twenty-five years advising clients on retirement, utilizing a truly holistic planning process. He knows what it takes to own and operate a successful small business and is motivated to apply his experience to Dog Training Elite.

Anuj & Jessica

Owners - DTE Coastal Bend

Anuj and Jessica, the proud faces of Dog Training Elite Coastal Bend, bring a heartfelt touch to the art of dog training. Anuj, with years of distinguished service as an Army Medic, has channeled his discipline and dedication into helping both dogs and owners alike. Jessica's detail-oriented background as a lab tech and Financial advisor ensures their business runs with precision and warmth.

Their approach to dog training is grounded in the belief that every interaction should be based on positive reinforcement and individual care. With their co-owner dogs, Rye and Reggie, they exemplify the transformative impact of their methods. Rye, Anuj's steadfast service dog, and Reggie, a shining example of their training success, are integral to their lives and work.

The pair’s mission is deeply personal: to support their fellow veterans and the broader Corpus Christi community by enhancing the bond between dogs and their families. Anuj’s own personal struggles and Service Dog Journey through DTE led the pair to pursue helping others achieve the same healing and benefits that their family has experienced. They're not just in the business of training dogs; they live it and they're fostering a family of dog lovers through shared experiences and mutual support.

When they're not engaged in training, Anuj and Jessica can be found immersed in the community, sharing their love for music and the water, and enjoying life with Rye and Reggie. Their commitment to their craft and their clients is as unwavering as it is genuine.

At Dog Training Elite Coastal Bend, Anuj, Jessica, Rye, and Reggie aren't just providing a service — they're welcoming you into a family where every dog is trained with care, and every owner is treated with respect and kindness.