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

Happy Paws Magazine

Spring/Summer 2020 Issue Available Now!