Our Team
Lexington Becker
Senior Education Specialist
Lexington Becker grew up on the family ranch in far Northern Idaho with a tight-knit family and a deep love of animals. He attended the University of Idaho where he received a degree in International Studies with minors in both Economics and Japanese. Lexington was awarded the Chapman award for…
Dr. Marty Becker, DVM
Founder & Chief Professional Relations Officer
Dr. Marty Becker is a trailblazer in the world of pet health. With his groundbreaking initiative Fear Free, Dr. Becker is on a mission to ensure that our pet friends live their happiest, healthiest lives. His impact goes beyond veterinary clinics, reaching out to pet parents and the staff…
Mikkel Becker
Head Trainer & Marketing Multimedia Artist
Mikkel Becker is a certified trainer, dog behavior counselor and the lead animal trainer for Fear Free. From early life it was undeniably clear that Mikkel’s number one focus was always going to be animals. Mikkel’s childhood consisted of two joys; horses and dogs. Her training career started early…
Amy Buring
Director of HR & Finance
A Pennsylvania native, Amy is a graduate of Kutztown University and began her career as a K-12 teacher. While earning her master’s in administration at the University of South Carolina (go Gamecocks!) natural curiosity struck when she was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug...
Kim Campbell Thornton
Content Manager
Kim Campbell Thornton is content manager for Fear Free Pets and is an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional. She has been writing about dogs, cats, wildlife and marine life since 1985 and is a recipient of multiple awards for her articles and books from the Cat Writers Association…
Lori Chamberland
Education Manager
Lori Chamberland is the Education Manager at Fear Free. Before joining Fear Free, Lori was the Director of Karen Pryor Academy, where she oversaw its worldwide faculty and staff and the development of its positive reinforcement training courses. Lori has written numerous…
Stacy Cruz
Head of Corporate Accounts
Stacy graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Bioscience in 2010. Starting in high school walking dogs at animal shelters through managing a veterinary clinic, Stacy enjoyed many different positions in veterinary medicine…
Lailani Favazzo
Event Marketing Specialist
In pursuit of her passion for animal welfare, Lailani graduated from Arizona State University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership & Management as well as the Certified Nonprofit Professional certificate. However, Lailani’s professional experience advocating…
Natalie Gruchow
Strategic Programs Specialist
Natalie’s love for animals began in childhood when her patient parents allowed all sorts of critters in the house, from salamanders to birds. To this day, she rescues earthworms from the pavement and releases the creepy crawlies from the house that belong outside ...
Adrian Herrera
Key Account Specialist
Adrian was born in Chicago, Illinois but at a young age moved to Houston, Texas to get away from the blizzarding cold of the windy city. Adrian has had a passion for animals since a young age when he was taken back by the lifestyle being a part of his family’s livestock ranch…
Jennifer Merlo, DVM
Director of Veterinary Affairs
Dr Jennifer Merlo originated from New Jersey and graduated from the University of Delaware in 2000 with a degree in Animal Sciences and Biology. She attended Ohio State University for veterinary school and graduated in 2004 with a focus on equine medicine…
Jack Meyer
Web Developer
Jack Meyer was born and raised in Ohio. He attended The Ohio State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications in 2011. He started his career in the digital marketing field managing campaigns for a large horticulture company…
Tim Osborn
Web Developer
A lifelong resident of Denver, Colorado Tim worked for the majority of his career in the engineering department for a small manufacturing firm specializing in metal products. After that firm’s first web site turned out less than ideal, he offered to rebuild it after messing around with various web …
Megan Partlo
Education Specialist
Megan attended Olivet College receiving a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, visual arts, and a concentration in biological illustration with a focus in marketing and business. Megan’s drive and passion for helping others led her into an executive directorship position at Clothing INC…
Megan Quinn
Customer Experience Specialist
Born and raised in Colorado, Megan grew up with a deep love for nature and animals. She began her career in animal welfare in 2014 when she took a position as a caretaker for service dogs in training. She later transitioned to the Denver Dumb Friends League, where she worked in animal care and adoptions…
Rachel Ro Bear
Practice Certification Specialist
Rachel’s working life began in a bookstore. Despite loving everything about books and helping people find books to love, she realized she wanted to do something more impactful. This brought her to the field of developmental disabilities, where she had the privilege of working with many amazing …
Stephanie Sautter
Customer Experience Manager
Steph graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science in 2013. Although she was very interested in the clinical side of veterinary medicine, she knew she would better succeed on the business side of the animal sciences. She enjoyed many different animal focused…
TD Steward
Head of Sales
TD, hailing from Texas, is the Head of Sales and has a lifelong dedication to veterinary medicine. His journey began with working at veterinary clinic frequented by his family with their cattle during high school, sparking his passion for the field. This early exposure led him to pursue...
Dr. Kwane Stewart
Chief Veterinary Professional Relations Officer
As Fear Free’s Chief Veterinary Professional Relations Officer, Dr. Kwane Stewart brings more than 25 years of experience as a veterinarian including shelter work, nonprofit, emergency, and even protecting animals on film sets as Netflix’s veterinarian…
Brittany Taylor
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Brit moved to Washington State as a young child and has called it home ever since. She lived in Spokane for her early years prior to her family eventually making their home in Olympia.Brittany graduated from Western Washington University and spent her junior year studying abroad….
Andru Valpy
Marketing Manager
Andru serves as the Marketing Manager at Fear Free, bringing over 13 years of diversified marketing experience to the role. Notably, he has dedicated seven of those years to the pet health industry, collaborating with esteemed organizations such as Pet Plan Insurance, Pets Plus Us…
Randy Valpy
Chief Executive Officer
As Chief Executive Officer Of Fear Free, Randy brings decades of leadership experience in the pet care and animal health industries. Prior to joining Fear Free, Randy was Senior Vice President, Growth Partnerships at Trupanion, a leader in pet insurance across the United States, Canada….
Nick Webster
Key Accounts Coordinator
Nick was born and raised in Seattle, WA and has always loved to call the area their home. Nick got their start in pet care working at a dog daycare in 2017 before pivoting to a retail role at Mud Bay. There, Nick realized their passion lies in helping pets and their family members…
Megan Weiss
Digital Marketing Specialist
Megan graduated from The Ohio State University in 2018 with a bachelor’s in Journalism and Business. Since then, she has poured her heart into omni-channel marketing through her work with small businesses. Her career truly took off….
Tori Williams
Chief Operating Officer
As the COO, Tori brings extensive management and operational experience through a decade-long career in the animal welfare nonprofit sector. She has a passion for the continual improvement of the veterinary and pet care industry, particularly the employee experience….
Our Team of Expert Advisors
Behavior (Boarded Veterinary Behaviorists):
Julie Albright, MA, DVM, DACVB
Melissa Bain, DVM, DACVB, MS, DACAW (Welfare)
Kelly C. Ballantyne, DVM, DACVB, CABC
Stephanie Borns-Weil, DVM, DACVB
Christine Calder, DVM, DACVB
Dr E'Lise Christensen, DVM, DACVB
John Ciribassi, DVM, DACVB
Leticia M. S. Dantas, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVB, Certified Fear Free Professional, Member of the Fear Free Advisory Board, Clinical Assistant Professor @ Behavioral Medicine Service, University of Georgia
Isabelle Demontigny-Bedard, DVM, DACVB
Theresa DePorter, DVM, MRCVS, DECAWBM, DACVB
Marion Desmarchelier, DVM, MSc, DACZM, DECZM (Zoo Health Management), DACVB
Margaret M. Duxbury, DVM, DACVB
Ariel Fagen, DVM, DACVB
Margaret Gruen, DVM, PhD, DACVB
Meghan Herron, DVM, DACVB
Lynn Honeckman, DVM, DACVB
Marie Hopfensperger, DVM, DACVB
Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB
Dr Valerie Jonckheer-Sheehy, MVB, MRCVS, MScLAS, RCVS(CertWEL), Dip. ECAWBM (BM), Dip. ECAWBM (AWSEL)
Mary Klinck, BSc, DVM, DACVB
Colleen Koch, DVM, DACVB
Gary Landsberg, DVM, MRCVS, DACVB, DECAWBM
Emily Levine, DVM, DACVB
Ellen Lindell, VMD, DVM, DACVB
Amy Marder, DVM, DACVB
Kenneth Martin, DVM, DACVB
Kelly Moffat, DVM, DACVB
Niwako Ogata, BVSc, PhD, DVM, DACVB
Jillian Orlando, DVM, DACVB
Chis Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC
Valli Parthasarathy, PhD, DVM, DACVB
Amy L. Pike, DVM, DACVB, IAABC-CABC
Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB
Marsha Reich, DVM, DACVB
Barbara Sherman, MS, PhD, DVM, DACVB, DACAW (Welfare)
Elizabeth Shull, DVM, DACVB, DACVIM-Neurology
Carlo Sirasusa, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVB, DECAWBM
Meredith Stepita, DVM, DACVB
Beth Strickler, MS, DVM, DACVB
Wailani Sung, MS, PhD, DVM, DACVB
Valarie Tynes, DVM, DACVB, Diplomate American College of Animal Welfare
Karen Van Haaften, DVM, DACVB
Residents:
Fiia Jokela, DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline), Resident of the ACVB under the tutelage of Dr. Ciribassi
Sun A. Kim, DVM
Valli Parthasarathy, DVM
Ori Orion Stollar, MSc, DVM, 3rd-year ACVB Resident, Veterinary Behavior Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University
Andrea Tu, DVM
Behavior (Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists or PhD behaviorists):
Marc Bekoff, PhD
Mikel Delgado, PhD
Gerrard Flannigan, DVM, MSc. (applied animal behavior), DACVB
Robin Foster, PhD, CAAB, CHBC
Susan G, Friedman, PhD
Noa Harell, B.Sc. (Hons.), DVM Specialist, Companion Animal Behavior Medicine (by Israeli Ministry of Agriculture)
Helen Jurchisin, DVM
Jacqui Ley, BVSc (Hons), PhD, DECAWBM, FANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour)
Ellen Mahurin, MA, ACAAB
Sylvie Neis, DVM
Jessica Pierce, PhD
Ken Ramirez, Executive VP and Chief Training Officer Karen Pryor Clicker Training
Traci A. Shreyer, MA
Kristina Spaulding, PhD, CAAB
Zazie Todd, PhD, MFA, MSc, PGCLTHE, BSc, CTC, iCatCare, CertFB
Camille Ward, M.S., M.S., PhD, CAAB
Steven Zawistowski, PhD, CAAB Emeritus Adjunct Professor of Animal Behavior and Conservation, Hunter College
Behavior (VTS-Behavior):
Monique Feyrecilde, BA, LVT, VTS (Behavior)
Jennie Fiendish, CVT, VTS (Behavior), CPDT-KA, CTDI
Alicea Howell, LVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA CTP
Rachel M. Lees, RVT, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior)
Debbie Martin, LVT, VTS (Behavior), Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner and Faculty Emeritus Certified Professional Dog Trainer- KA
Ginny Price, AS Veterinary Technology, AA (SPC), BA Psychology, MS Psychology, VTS (Behavior)
Marcia Rafter Ritchie, LVT, CPST-KA, VTS (Behavior)
Linda Ryan, BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour & Welfare, VTS (Behaviour & Oncology), DipAVN (Medical), KPA-CTP, RVN, CCAB, Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist - ASAB accredited (Cats & Dogs)
Amanda Schwarzwalder, RVT, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior)
Julie Shaw, KPA-CTP, RVT, VTS (Behavior)
Melisa Spooner, LVT, VTS (Behavior), BS, KPA-CTP
Sherrie L. Yuschak, RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA-CTP
Anesthesia, Sedation, & Pain Management:
Sharon Campbell, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Andrea Caniglia, VMD, DACVAA
Robin Downing, DVM, MS (Bioethics) Diplomate, American Academy of Pain Management Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner
James Gaynor, DVM, DACVA, DACVPM
Tamara Grubb, DVM, PhD, DACVAA
Margaret Gruen, DVM, PhD, DACVB
Ralph Harvey, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVAA
Ross Palmer, DVM, MS
Mike Petty, DVM
Architecture/Design:
Heather E. Lewis, AIA, NCARB, AAA
Vicki Pollard, AIA, CVT
Jyothi Robertson, DVM
Avian:
Don J Harris, DVM
Greg Harrison, DVM
Brenda Speer, DVM. DABVP (Avian practice), DECZM (Avian)
Dentistry:
Jan Bellows, DVM, Diplomate American Veterinary Dental College, Diplomate American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine/Feline)
Mary L. Berg, BS, LATG, RVT, VTS (Dentistry)
Andrea Caniglia, VMD, DACVAA
Darin Dell, BS, DVM, DACVD, Medical Director, Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital
Heidi Lobprise, DVM, DAVDC
Dermatology:
Lowell Ackerman, DVM, DACVD, MBA, MPA, CVA, MRCVS
John Angus, DVM, DACVD
Paul Bloom, DVM, DACVD, DABVP (Canine/Feline)
Lauren Demos, DVM, DACVD
Thomas Lewis II, DVM, DACVD
Emergency & Critical Care:
Tony Johnson, DVM, DACVECC
Heather Loenser, DVM, DACVECC
Ken Yagi, VTS-EMCC
Enrichment:
Elizabeth Bales, DVM
Tony Buffington, DVM, PhD, ACVN
Steve Dale, CABC Media, Behavior
Mikel Delgado, PhD
Finance:
Louise Dunn, owner and CEO of Snowgoose Veterinary Management Consulting
Gary Glassman, CPA
Bruce Truman, MBA
Denise Tumblin, CPA
Fritz Wood, CFP
Higher Education:
Jennifer Johnson, DVM
Dennis McCurnin, DVM, MS, DACVS
Bryan Slinker, PhD, DVM
Internal Medicine:
Sharon Campbell, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Steve Ettinger, DVM, DACVIM, FACC, FAHA
Sue Ettinger, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
Brenda Griffin, DVM, MS, DACVIM, DABVP, Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, Fear Free Certified Trainer
Fiia Jokela, DVM
Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Internal Medicine), ABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice)
Zenithson Ng, DVM, MS, DABVP (Canine/Feline)
Shelly Olin, DVM, DACVIM
Legal:
Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton, AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) Certified Workplace Wellbeing Expert
Jim Wilson, DVM, JD
Medical Specialties:
Stacie Boswell, DVM, DACVS-LA
Sue Ettinger, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
Kendall Harr, DACVP
Mike Lappin, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
Rick LeCouteur, BVSc, PhD, DACVIM (Neurology), Professor Emeritus, Neurology & Neurosurgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis, College of Veterinary Medicine
Joerg Mayer, DVM, MSc, DABVP (ECM), DECZM (SM), DACZM
Dennis McCurnin, DVM, MS, DACVS
Fred Metzger, DVM, MRCVS, DABVP
Richard C. Nap, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ECVS & Dipl. ECVSN, Actively Retired
Greg Ogilvie, DVM, DACVIM (Specialties of Internal Medicine, Oncology), Diplomate ECVIM-CA (Oncology)
Ross Palmer, DVM, MS, DACVS, Professor at Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Simon Platt, BVM&S MRCVS Diplomate, DACVIM (Neurology), ECVN
Megan Ridley, DVM, VCA, CCRT, CVSMT
Narda Robinson, DO, DVM, MS, FAAMA
Nutrition:
Tony Buffington, DVM, PhD, ACVN
Kara Burns, VTS-Nutrition
Ophthalmology:
Brady Beale, VMD, DACVO
Lisa Felchle, DVM, DACVO
Practice Management & Implementation:
Jonathan Bloom, DVM
Debbie Boone, BS, CCS, CVPM
Nan Boss, DVM
Louise Dunn, owner and CEO of Snowgoose Veterinary Management Consulting
Michelle Forbes, DVM
Bash Halow, CVPM, LVT, Owner, Halow Consulting
Michael Hargrove, DVM, MBA, VCA
Gretchen Hutt, DVM
Patty Khuly, VMD, MBA
Clayton MacKay, DVM, Veterinary Consulting
Dr. Boaz Man, DVM
Natalie L. Marks, DVM, CVJ
Richard C. Nap, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ECVS & Dipl. ECVSN, Actively Retired
Dr Tracy Paukette, DVM
Heather Prendergast, RVT, CVPM
Kathyrn Primm, DVM
Julie Reck, DVM
Megan Van Paris, DVM, DACVIM
Rehabilitation:
Megan Ridley, DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVSMT
Senior Care, Hospice & Euthanasia:
Kathleen Cooney, DVM, MS, CHPV
Mary Craig, DVM, MBA
Kristi Freeman, DVM (focusing on End of Life)
Heidi Lobprise, DVM, DACVD
Alice Villalobos, DVM, FNAP
Shelter Medicine:
Mark Goldstein, DVM
Brenda Griffin, DVM, MS, DACVIM, DABVP, Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, Fear Free Certified Trainer
Mike Lappin, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Internal Medicine), ABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice)
Kris Otteman, ABVP, Diplomate Shelter Medicine, CAWA
Training:
Margie Alonso, CDBC, CPDT, KPA CTP
Mikkel Becker, Lead Animal Trainer for Fear Free Pets, CBCC-KA, CDBC, KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, CTC, Fear Free Certified, BA Comm, Co-author of From Fearful to Fear Free
Robin Bennett, CPDT-KA
Ayelet Berger, KPA CTP, CPDT-KA
Michelle Borchardt, RVT, KPA-CTP
Ann-Margaret Frank, CVT, RVT, KPA-CTP
Sarah Hodgson, IAABC, APDT, PPG
Alicea Howell, LVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA CTP
Rachel Lees, RVT, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior)
Debbie Martin, LVT, VTS (Behavior), Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner and Faculty Emeritus, Certified Professional Dog Trainer- KA
Ken McCort, APDT, IAABC, Wolf Pack
Sylvie Neis, DVM
Bradley Phifer, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KSA
Ken Ramirez, Executive VP and Chief Training Officer Karen Pryor Clicker Training
Marcia Rafter Ritchie, LVT, CPST-KA, VTS (Behavior)
Virginia Rudd, CVT
Amanda Schwarzwalder, RVT, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior)
Julie Shaw, KPA-CTP, RVT, VTS (Behavior)
Leslie Sinn, CPDT-KA, DVM, DACVBA, Behavior Solutions
Nanette Walker Smith, Med, RVT, CVT, LVT
Melisa Spooner, LVT, VTS (Behavior), BS, KPA-CTP
Laura Monaco Torelli, KPA, CTP/Faculty, CPDT-KA
At Large:
Lynn Bahr, DVM, CEO, Dezi & Roo, Parliamentarian, Society Veterinary Medical Ethics Woman of Influence, Pet Age 2018
Charlotte Biggs, CPACO
Phil Blizzard, ThunderShirts CEO & Founder
Susan Briggs, MA, CPACO
Josh Cary, PetSittingOlogy Founder
Tad Coles, DVM, CPS, CCFP, CPS, CCFP
Mindy Cotton, LVT
Bernadine Cruz, DVM, CVJ
Christie Keith, Communications and Social Media Consultant
Kim Kendall, BVSc
Brenda Klaunberg, MS, VMD
Julie Legred, CVT
Kristen Levine, Pet Advocate and creator of Pet Living
Patty Moran, CPPS
Charlie Powell, Public Information Officer
Susan Raymond, DVM
Jalessa Scott, DVM
Tonya Sparks, DVM, Microbiology, CVA
Sarah Wooten, DVM, AVJ
Nicole Zacharias, CVT
