IAABC Staff

The IAABC staff provides the organization and our IAABC members with support and assistance.

• More about Kathrine

  Kathrine Christ MIA, CTC, CDBC

  Executive Director

  Kathrine is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and owner of Hands Full Dog Training, LLC in Wichita, Kansas. FULL BIO

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  Kathrine Christ MIA,, CTC CDBC, CSAT

  Kathrine is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and owner of Hands Full Dog Training, LLC in Wichita, Kansas.

  As a 2011 graduate of Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government and Public Service with a Master of International Affairs degree, Kathrine has had an ongoing interest in public policy and nonprofit work.

  Prior to starting her own business, Kathrine worked as a research compliance officer for Texas A&M University, reviewing research protocols and working with the Institutional Review Board to ensure ethical treatment of the human subjects involved in research at the university. Her experience in regulatory affairs also included service in a U.S. Embassy as an intern in the consulate, investigating treaty trader visas and performing initial intake of visa applicants.

  She has also made inroads with local policy, serving on the Dangerous Dog Subcommittee of the Wichita Animal Control Advisory Board and successfully promoting changes to city codes that provide finer-tuned assessment of and consequences for dogs involved in bite or aggression incidents. In her free time, Kathrine enjoys playing the Irish whistle, powerlifting, clicker training her horse, mountain biking, and taking care of her 4 children, 2 dogs, and 1 husband.

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  Mike Lamberth

  Chief Operating Officer

  Mike directs the IAABC's administrative efforts, finance department and volunteer program and oversees IAABC operations.

• More about Robin

  Robin Horemans

  Membership Director

  Robin is the owner and head instructor of the Canada Bird School. She is also currently the Membership Director for the IAABC. FULL BIO

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  Robin Horemans

  Robin is the owner and head instructor of the Canada Bird School. She is also currently the Membership Director for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

  Robin has over 20 years experience working with parrots of all species. She started with a love for budgies, breeding and showing English budgies. She moved on to more academic pursuits, taking Biology and Animal Behaviour at University of Calgary. After many years volunteering with her local Humane Society teaching dog training, she stepped into certification and created the Canada Bird School.

  Robin is an Accredited Dog Trainer with IAABC, a Certified Parrot Behavior Consultant with the IATCB, as well as a Certified Training Partner with the Karen Pryor Academy.

  Robin has extensive training with the NEI Professional Animal Trainer Program, IAABCs Principles and Practice, Dr. Susan Friedmans' Living and Learning with Animals, ABA certificate from the Geneva Centre for Autism, Pijac Avian Certified, courses with Barbara Heidenreich, as well as free-flight training through Cockatoo Downs.

  When she isn't training, she relaxes at home with her African Grey parrot Quentin, and two cockatiels, Monster and Skeeter.

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  Nikki Finn-Loudenslager

  Credentialing Director

  Nikki directs the operations of the Credentialing Department, including application development and administration of the Application Review Team.

• More about Melinda

  Melinda Lee

  Communications Director

  Melinda has worked with various state and local agencies implementing Information Systems for over 15 years and recently pursued an education in dog training and behavior. FULL BIO

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  Melinda Lee

  Melinda has worked with various state and local agencies implementing Information Systems for over 15 years and recently pursued an education in dog training and behavior.

  She is currently studying with Catch Canine Training Academy and is a volunteer with Best Friends Animal Society, the ASPCA and HSUS.

  Melinda runs a small business part-time offering fine stationery for special events in which she offers calligraphy, letterpress and graphic design services.

  She is a Supporting Member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

  Melinda currently resides on Long Island with her boyfriend and their beloved dog.

• More about Pierinna

  Pierinna Isis Tenchio

  Language Director

  Pierinna is the IAABC Language Director and the IAABC Foundation Journal Spanish Editor. FULL BIO

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  Pierinna Isis Tenchio

  IAABC Language Director, IAABC Journal Spanish Editor. Masters in Canine Clinical Psychology and Education, Vet assistant, first aid certified and pet groomer. She is also a journalist, professional translator and proofreader, as well as Editor in chief of El Telégrafo newspaper, Uruguay. She’s been invited to take part in the National Shelters Program by the Cero Callejero Foundation, with whom she is taking action on animal welfare.

  Living in a country where science-based dog training was not common, many years ago she began her research in order to set herself for success in the field. Thus, she has taken courses at Karen Pryor Academy (KPA), Dunbar Academy, Pet Partners, Victoria Stilwell Academy (VSA), Dog Training College, and specialized in children-directed education regarding animal care and behavior. She is also a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and Doggone Safe.

  She has worked with guide dogs, in cooperation with Freedom Guide Dogs, from New York, supporting organizations for the blind in her country.

  At the moment, along with her son, Manuel, together in DogFam, they perform an amusing show for children of all ages, teaching them about canine body language, pet care at home and animal welfare.

  Passionate about dogs, she devotes most of her time to ensure their wellness in society, offering a helping hand as a volunteer in rescue organizations and writing articles about animal welfare and behavior in the newspaper at which she works. Her human and non-human children take up most of her heart.

• More about Rochelle

  Rochelle Burtt CDBC, CBCC-KA

  Technology Director

  Rochelle is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and avid supporter of the IAABC. FULL BIO

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  Rochelle Burtt, CBCC-KA

  Rochelle is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and avid supporter of the IAABC. She first started down this path nearly 30 years ago when she earned a Diploma in Animal Science, but her primary job for many years was as a Software Developer. She is now getting back to her true passion of working with animals and helping people on more of a full-time basis.

  Rochelle is an avid volunteer in Service Dog work and is dedicated to promoting the LIMA protocol. She shares her life with her husband, four sons, a Labrador Retriever, a German Shepherd, and a senior cat.

• More about Donna

  Donna Furlani

  Community Engagement Manager

  Donna is a Certified Trainer and Consultant with career history in education and translation. She is a native speaker of English (US) who translates from French, German, and Spanish. FULL BIO

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  Donna Furlani

  Donna became a Certified Trainer and Consultant after adopting two wonderful dogs who have an assortment of anxieties. These days she divides her time between working with the IAABC, covering trainer shifts for HSBV's Puppy Club, training and exercising with her dogs, volunteering, and enjoying Colorado with her spouse JJ.

  Although she has had limited time for freelancing since beginning a deep dive into animal training and applied behavior analysis, Donna is a translator who works from French, German, and Spanish into English. She holds an MA in Translation from the University of Geneva and a certificate from NYU, and she specializes in medical translation, humanitarian translation, and editing research papers by non-native English speakers. Prior to her translation career, Donna taught languages and was a certified teacher in Connecticut.

  Donna is an "All the things!" type of person and tries to make time for art, growing food, an ever-rotating variety of outdoor activities, and learning new things. In the animal behavior world, she is particularly interested in shelters and rescues, trainer burnout prevention, and creative management and enrichment ideas.

• More about Devin

  Devin Zimmer CDBC, CBCC-KA

  Volunteer Coordinator

  Devin is a CDBC, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KSA, IAABC-ADT, a Fear Free Certified Professional, a Canine Good Citizen evaluator, and is currently in the process for becoming a Family Dog Mediator. FULL BIO

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  Devin Zimmer CDBC, CBCC-KA

  Devin has been training dogs since 2011. She is a CDBC, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KSA, IAABC-ADT, a Fear Free Certified Professional, a Canine Good Citizen evaluator, and is currently in the process for becoming a Family Dog Mediator. She graduated from Transylvania University (yes, really) with a degree in psychology.

  Devin owns Ain't Misbehavin' Dog Training offering private sessions and behavior consultations, offers group classes through Bluegrass Dog Training Academy, trains puppies for a local Labrador breeder, and is currently working on launching behavior services at PetVet365. She is thrilled to become more involved with IAABC and hopes to someday be a board member.

  Devin lives in Lexington, KY with her partner and her four dogs: a Belgian Tervuren named Rogue, a Doberman named Phoenix, a Boxer mix named Apollo, and an American Bully named Houser.

• More about Tiro

  Tiro Miller
  PhD, SBA

  Staff Writer & Editor   

  Tiro Miller, PhD, SBA, is the managing editor of the IAABC Foundation Journal and oversees IAABC publications. FULL BIO

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  Tiro Miller PhD, SBA

  Tiro Miller, Ph.D SBA is the managing editor of the IAABC Foundation Journal and lead author of the IAABC and IAABC Foundation monthly newsletters.

  They live in San Francisco with their partner and a rather demanding chihuahua, where they volunteer at the SFSPCA and write in their spare time.

  Tiro’s favorite thing about working for IAABC is the chance to bring together people with unique and interesting perspectives on animal behavior.

 
 
 

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Here I get support, information and training on current, evidence-based knowledge. IAABC provides free webinars and content to earn member CEUs and also a lot of great stuff for further education like mentorships and online courses that I can highly recommend! A great community of international consultants offers great exchange on each relevant topic to support each others helping animals, their owners or even organisations that take care of animals of different species.

Sylvia Czarnecki Horse Behavior Consultant

This group of amazing Professionals enveloped me in such an accepting atmosphere, which provided and continues to provide, resources and skills, to lift me up to the challenges we all face in this profession. As a new member I feel they have produced a nurturing atmosphere for someone like me to succeed.

Ann Dahlen Laughing Mutts LLC

IAABC has been an invaluable learning tool for both myself and staff. As a shelter professional, the webinars provide relevant and up to date information to be used in multiple formats. The online convenience allows for continuing education, minus the travel.The mentorship programs are nothing short of amazing, including the pricing . This organization is always looking forward and growing.

Amy Schindler IAABC Shelter Affiliate Member

I am proud and honored to be certified by, a member of, and educator for the IAABC. I consider the organization to be the industry standard for well-rounded, quality, ethical animal behavior information that is disseminated in a supportive, effective, collaborative environment. The IAABC works very hard to produce not only quantity of educational resources, but also quality.

Katenna Jones Jones Animal Behavior

As a member, I get to network with experts in my field all over the world. This allows me to expand my knowledge in cat behavior as well as shelter behavior. As the feline behavior manager in an open intake shelter, this opportunity to learn from the best has allowed me to ensure the mental health and behavior needs are met for the cats in our care. The IAABC is the "go to" place for people all over the world to find experts in animal behavior. As a certified member my profile is available for the public to view. Since I earned my certification, I've seen my private business almost triple.

Lisa Stemcosky Feline Behavior Manager

I am very impressed with the educational opportunities offered by IAABC. Members get free streaming webinars (many of them lectures from their conferences) with CEUs that count towards re-certification. There are a broad range of topics by presenters from a variety of backgrounds. Continuing education is important to me and IAABC offers many opportunities for continuing education.

Joanne Oliva-Purdy, Ph.D. Feline Behavior Manager

For those dedicated to the enrichment of animal lives through professional pursuit or academia the IAABC is an invaluable asset

Shannan Skitch IAABC Supporting Member