President - Marjie Alonso

Marjie Alonso, CDBC, CPDT, is a professional dog trainer and behavior consultant living in Somerville, MA., with her two dogs, two sons and very understanding mate. Marjie first started dog training in the late 1970s, eventually starting her own full time training and behavior consulting business, City Dog Training, LLC. In addition to her work at City Dog Training, Marjie is currently the Vice President and Training Director of the New England Dog Training Club, the oldest AKC club in the US. She serves as a behavioral consultant and volunteer trainer for several dog rescue groups, providing temperament evaluations, rescue dog acclimation programs, one-on-one training sessions and behavior modification programs. She also writes training and behavior information sheets, providing them to veterinary offices and dog rescues and shelters as handouts for clients and adopters. Marjie is a contributing expert trainer for Dogtime.com. Marjie takes her continuing education quite seriously, and attends many seminars, workshops and advanced internships each year in the field of dog behavior, behavior modification techniques, training and temperament evaluation and assessment. Recent seminars include those by Sue Sternberg, Suzanne Clothier, Patricia McConnell, John Rogerson, Clicker Expo, Kathy Sdao, Pia Silvani, Jean Donaldson and many more. Marjie is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT), an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator, and a Professional Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).

For information, email president@iaabc.org.

Vice President - Kathie Compton, CDBC, CPDT

Kathie Compton, CDBC, CPDT is the owner of mARFa Dog Training. Prior, Compton served as Executive Director for a subsidiary of Hoechst Pharmaceutical. She also served as Human Resources Director for a division of Life Care Services Corporation, as Assistant Technical Director for Aerolease International, and Executive Secretary to the President of Avmark. She served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Miami Aviation Association and the General Federation of Women's Clubs, Marfa. She is also a member of the Board of Responsible Ownership of Marfa Pets. Compton holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Wisconsin. Compton is the author of the book, "Dogs.Made Easy! A New Owner's Manual." She and her husband live with Yorkshire Terrier Cozy Dog, in Marfa, Texas where they were honored with the 2006 Business of the Year Award from the Chamber of Commerce.

For information, email kc@texasdogtrainer.com.

Secretary  -  Mikel Delgado, CCBC

Mikel has been working as a full time Cat Behavior Specialist at the San Francisco SPCA since 2002. In addition to behavior consultations and adoption counseling, this job entails staff and volunteer training, community education, temperament testing and behavior modification of shelter cats. She has previously served on the Board of Directors for Rainbow Grocery Cooperative and Women's Access to Gain Economic Security (WAGES) and has over six years of secretarial experience. Mikel lives in Berkeley with her two cats, and is currently a psychology major at Cal State University.

For information, email secretary@iaabc.org.

Co-Chair, Cat Division  -  Marilyn Krieger, MA, CCBC

Marilyn is a certified cat behavior consultant, resolving cat behavior challenges for both national and international clients, through her business, The Cat Coach, LLCR. Additonally, Marilyn is the resident cat behavior consultant for Cat Fancy Magazine and catchannel.com, the web site for Cat Fancy Magazine. Her articles have also appeared in Cat Fancy Magazine, Catnip, the Tufts University journal, as well as many other publications.

Marilyn and The Cat Coach, LLCR have received attention in such prominent media outlets as USA Today, MSNBC, San Francisco Chronicle, The Mercury News as well as others. Additonally, she frequently guests on television and radio programs, providing valuable tips and insight on how to improve cat behavior.

In addition to consulting and writing, Marilyn teaches cat behavior classes and lectures nationally. She also volunteers her time as coordinator for California Bengal Cat Rescue and donates her time as a cat behaviorist to the Peninsula Humane Society in San Mateo, California.

For more information about Marilyn, please go to www.thecatcoach.com or email catchair@iaabc.org.

Horse Division Chair  -  Connie Dwyer, MS, CPDT, CHBC

Connie is certified in horse behavior and is also a certified dog trainer. She is a published author and creator of the Equine Excellence Award (TM) Program, a program designed to reward equines and their humans through demonstrated team work. Connie has her own animal training and behavior consulting business in upstate New York. She is also very active in 4H activities, helping to educate the community about building lasting relationships through positive animal training methods for their companion animals. She has been the Chair of the 4H Dressage Division for the Broome County horse program development committee for the last 3 years. She also helped found the current 4H dog training program in her county where she teaches Canine Good Citizen and Puppy Manners and Socialization classes.

For more information, go to www.conniedwyer.com or email horsechair@iaabc.org.

Treasurer - Tonya Sakadinsky BA, CDBC

Tonya Sakadinsky has enjoyed a career spanning over 15 years in animal care, behavior, sheltering and protection.  Tonya served as the Director of Animal Services of La Plata County, and is now a lead cat and dog behavior volunteer trainer for La Plata County Humane Society in Durango, Colorado. As Director of Animal Services Tonya maintained City and County Animal Service budgets, interagency agreements and contractual obligations.  In addition to offering Cat and Dog Behavior Consulting, Tonya also created and administrates “The Prepared Animal Companion”, an educational and counseling program for people who have been charged with animal offenses through the Court system. Tonya’s career emphasis is creating understanding between human and animal in order to promote a peaceable home and community. Tonya holds a  bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Behavioral Ecology from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. 

For information, email treasurer@iaabc.org.

Jamie Whittaker - Parrot Division Chair

Jamie Whittaker and her husband, Barry, have owned and operated ABC Pets since 1988. They are members of American Federation of Aviculture, the Avicultural Society of America and the National Parrot Rescue and Preservation Foundation. Jamie also teaches classes on living with and caring for parrots. Jamie is an aviculturist and advocate for parrots in the home. Her unique experience allows her an opportunity to know birds in all stages of their lives. Helping people to understand and work with their bird's natural behaviors has enabled many parrots to stay in their homes long term. Jamie has been certified as a parrot behavior consultant through the IAABC since 2006.

You can contact Jamie at bjwbird@abcbirds.com.

Dr. James E. Akenhead

Dr. James Akenhead, was issued professional trainer certification under the auspices of The Ohio Board of Proprietary Schools. This Intensive certification program included laboratory experience, classroom lectures, guest speakers, field visits (i.e. Guide Dogs for the Blind) written and oral examinations, and evaluation of training methods using both video tape and instructor observation. The curriculum also included advanced obedience, assistance dog training, tracking, and protection training. In addition to this professional trainer certification, Dr. Akenhead holds 5 earned college degrees including a Doctorate in Education and research and a Masters Degree in Counseling and 4 additional professional certifications: International Association of Canine Professionals, Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and CDBC with International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

Jim has taught at the university level: has been recognized as a distinguished graduate of Bowling Green State University: has been included in 7 Who's Who Directories; and, with his wife Charlene, has been recognized as "business professional" of the year by a local service organization.

You can contact Jim at bigdogs@neo.rr.com.

Eric Goebelbecker, CPDT

Eric Goebelbecker, CPDT, is a part time dog trainer and full time technology executive that is hoping to reverse those 2 roles very soon. Eric started working closely with rescue dogs 6 years ago as a volunteer and decided that he wanted to change careers almost on the spot. Since then he has attended several advanced apprenticeships, courses and seminars and as an instructor and trainer at Best Friends Pet Care in Chestnut Ridge New York. As a software engineer and technology executive Eric has worked on or around Wall Street for 20 years. He co-founded a small company that changed the way market data is distributed to financial institutions. He also worked as a systems engineer designing and installing trading floors for several major banks and financial institutions, was the Director of Systems Engineering for Telerate and has run several development teams.

You can contact Eric at eric@dogspelledforward.com.