Meet the C4C Leadership Team

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Lisa and her family started their journey with Canines 4 Comfort in December 2018 as a puppy raiser/host family. In July 2019, Lisa joined the C4C board and continues as an active host family for dogs in training. Lisa serves as our volunteer coordinator. 

She is currently a Recruiting Manager at Kelly supporting the Centralized Engineering Recruiting Team. Prior to joining Kelly in 1996, she was a Case Manager at Lamb’s Farm in Libertyville working with developmentally disabled adults. Lisa received her degree in Sociology from Loyola University of Chicago and resides in Grayslake.

Jayme is one of the cofounders of Canines 4 Comfort. Jayme owns and operates a small business in Crystal Lake that serves Lake and McHenry counties. She also manages an area pet boutique. As a businessperson, she is aware of the needs of the local business establishments with whom we look to form a partnership. 

Jayme and her husband reside in McHenry County with their three German Shepherds that she breeds and shows. She is the proud mother of three grown children and eight grandchildren. 

Chis is one of the cofounders of Canines 4 Comfort. She has worked with dogs her entire life. Her experiences in showing, competing, training, and teaching others about dogs spans more than 35 years. Chris has trained in the disciplines of conformation, German conformation, obedience, search and rescue (ARDA), agility, and Schutzund (tracking, obedience, protection) and with audiences such as 4H, private, and classroom. She is an AKC evaluator certified for Canine Good Citizen (CGC), Temperament Testing (TT), and Trick Dog (TK). 

Chris serves as our Executive Director of Training. She teaches classes and trains dogs for Tops in Dog Training in Grayslake, offers private training sessions, breeds German Shepherds under Olsonhaus Kennel, and shows dogs professionally. She resides in western Lake County, with her family dogs. 

Sonny is a Marine Corps veteran and the first recipient of a psychiatric service dog from Canines 4 Comfort. He is a devoted member of this organization, and in July 2019 was asked to serve as Military Liaison to help to transition future veterans in obtaining and training a psychiatric service dog through C4C. Sonny is also very involved in his church. 

Since retiring from the Marine Corps, Sonny has been deeply involved in his community. For many years, he was the president of the Lake County Rugby Club where he inspired his teammates to become involved in the community by volunteering at local festivals, fairs, and other engagements.

In his spare time, Sonny enjoys spending time with his son Camden, brewing beer, going on adventures with his girlfriend Michelle, and other activities to keep himself busy. Since receiving his psychiatric service dog, Salty, he is able to venture out more and attend events that he would otherwise avoid. 

Laura is one of the cofounders of Canines 4 Comfort. Laura is a Hoosier at heart and a Registered Nurse for more than 30 years. The majority of her clinical work was in orthopedic care and Cardiac Case Management. She transitioned from bedside nursing to patient safety and quality. Laura has achieved designations as a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS), Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), and a Six Sigma Black Belt (SSBB). She also holds a Master’s in Arts, with a focus in Leadership. 

Laura is an Accreditation Officer for a large health system in the northwest Chicago suburbs; her role is to ensure every department complies with regulatory standards. She and her husband, Reggie live in northwest Illinois. They are the proud parents of a son, Michael, and three beautiful grandchildren, all of whom live in Indiana. 

Daria is one of our founding members. She trained her service dog and regularly volunteers and fosters for local rescues and breeders. Hence, it is no surprise that she serves as lead junior board member and our Service Dog Ambassador. 

Daria is co-owner of Dashagold Golden Retrievers and recently launched a pet care service. She is a graduate of Antioch High School, works for a local veterinarian, and proud owner of Belle, her Psychiatric Service Dog, and Riker. 

Daria is pursuing a future in the animal medical field. 

Lisa is one of the cofounders of Canines 4 Comfort. A retired management consultant and former strategic sourcing manager, she serves as Executive Director of Operations. 

Lisa is no stranger to philanthropic endeavors. She served two years as president of an employee resource group for foster and adoptive parents, chaired an annual gala for a local school for twelve years, and coordinated and hosted a golf outing benefiting suicide prevention for sixteen years. 

Lisa received her degree in business management from Illinois State University, achieved her lifetime certifications for Applied Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.) and Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) as well as her Six Sigma Black Belt designation. She resides in northern Lake County with her husband Keith, their two daughters, and several family pets.