AMY CONDELLIRE
PROGRAM AND VOLUNTEER MANAGER

Amy (she/her) joined Canine Therapy Corps in August of 2022 as the Program and Volunteer Manager. She grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and has been living in Chicago for the past 11 years. Amy has experience working with a variety of populations at nonprofits, including working with youth in an emergency shelter, college access for in-need adolescents, and preventative foster care work with children and families throughout Chicago. She loves meeting new people and dogs alike, and firmly believes in the benefits of animal-assisted therapy.

Amy holds a Bachelors in Psychology and Criminology from Missouri State University and a Masters in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago. She lives in Chicago with her husband, son, and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Roscoe and Reilly.

Sheila Gidley
Executive Director

Sheila (she/her) became the Canine Therapy Corps Executive Director in April 2023. An entrepreneur and 30- year non-profit management veteran, Sheila has provided leadership and support to a wide variety of charitable organizations and associations. Through her firm, Gidley Management Group, Sheila has served as Executive Director/Head of Operations for non-profits including the Commercial Real Estate Executives of Chicago, Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation, Security Traders Association of Chicago, the National Association of Women Business Owners Chicago Chapter and Advisors in Philanthropy. Her expertise in the non-profit arena includes strategic planning, governance, financial management, event planning, membership care, marketing and sponsorship development.

Sheila has a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. A Chicago native, she lives on the northwest side with her Australian Shepherd, Margot. Margot aspires to be a therapy dog one day soon and is looking forward to beginning her training at Canine Therapy Corps. 

JULIE Schultz
DEVELOPMENT Manager

Julie (she/her) joined Canine Therapy Corps in June 2022 as the Development and Program Coordinator. Her love for animals ignited when she was searching for a way to give back and started volunteering at One Tail a Time.  From there, she began fostering, working events and joined their Associate Board. Over the years, her passion for fundraising and community development grew.  Julie enjoys building new relationships with potential partners and cannot wait to spread awareness on the amazing benefits animal assisted therapy provides individuals.

Julie lives in the Southwest Suburbs with her husband, daughter and their two rescue dogs, Marbles and Phoebe.

Joan Harris, cpdt-ka
Lead Dog Trainer

Joan (she/her recently joined Canine Therapy Corps in February 2024 as Dog Training Program Coordinator. For over 30 years, she has trained dogs and their people in the Chicagoland area. Her main goal is to help people develop happy and healthy relationships with their dogs. She is a graduate of prestigious Karen Pryor Academy, where she gained a solid knowledge of clicker training and the science that governs learning.

Joan began her career in dog training after she adopted her first rescue German Shepherd, Hans. She entered the competition world with her next seven German Shepherds, earning titles in obedience, tracking and protective work. Simultaneously she worked as a trainer helping people with their pets and helping solve behavior challenges encountered in the home environment.

In 2014, she joined the staff of Chicago’s largest no-kill shelter PAWS Chicago as Director of Canine Training and Behavior. During her time at PAWS, she trained staff and volunteers on safe handling techniques and canine body language. Since leaving her position at PAWS Chicago, she became a trainer at Darn Good Dogs Chicago where she does private in-home training sessions.

Joan lives in Logan Square and is currently between dogs but would love to find a dog to train to be a therapy dog in the future.

Margaret Fraser, CPDt-KA
LEAD DOG Trainer & Program leader

Margaret joined the Canine Therapy Corps team as a dog trainer in early 2022 where she teaches classes, evaluates therapy dog exams and co-leads the physical therapy program at Swedish Hospital. She has over 5 years of professional training experience and has been volunteering with local shelters and rescues since 2013. 

Outside of Canine Therapy Corps, Margaret runs her own business Copilot Dog Training, which offers positive reinforcement training for both humans and their pups. She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and certified in fear free methods. 

Margaret has two mixed breed dogs - Gambit and Bea - who inspire her every day to be a better and more compassionate handler. 

Kate Keenan, CPDt-KA
LEAD DOG Trainer

Kate (she/her) and Levi, her Vizsla, passed the Canine Therapy Corps test in October 2019 and have volunteered in each Haymarket Center session since. In October 2020, Kate joined as a part-time trainer teaching three levels of group glasses including Competence to Confidence that prepares handlers and dogs for our rigorous test.

Kate is employed full time as a Director of Data Science at Kroger and holds an MSc in Analytics from University of Chicago. Kate competes in multiple dog sports with her two vizslas, Levi and Ezra. You will likely see one or both hanging out when she teaches classes.

Laurel Meng
LEAD dog trainer & clinical Program leader

Laurel (she/her) started taking training classes at Canine Therapy Corps with her first dog Taro in late 2021. In August 2022, Laurel and Taro were very excited to be certified as a volunteer team. Since then, they have been active volunteers, participating in programs at Easterseals Academy, Lawrence Hall, Swedish Hospital, UCAN and various outreach events. Through her experience training her dog, Laurel has evolved into a full “dog nerd,” and is excited to join the Canine Therapy Corps training team to further develop her passion for dog behavior. 

Laurel is employed full time at The Expansive Group, where she is the Director of Operations and a staff therapist, providing individual and couples psychotherapy in a private practice setting. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and holds a Masters in Social Work from the University of Chicago. Given this background, Laurel is especially passionate about helping human handlers and their dogs improve the quality of their bond. 

Joe Saltarelli, CPDT-KA

Lead Dog Trainer & Program leader

Joe (he/him) has been working and volunteering with dogs for years through different kennels and rescues. Joe has a background in Business/Marketing but decided to move toward a full-time career working with dogs. He’s managed several dog daycare facilities over the years. This included leading dog training services, and overseeing the handling and safety of all the dogs.

Joe joined Canine Therapy Corps as a volunteer in May of 2021 when he certified his pup Junebug. Since then, he has volunteered with June in numerous outreach events as well as our Lawrence Hall and Haymarket programs.

He then joined as a Program Leader in March of 2022. Joe has helped lead our Lawrence Hall and Haymarket Programs through his Professional Dog Training background. Joe has a passion for working with dogs but also loves helping people! Working and volunteering with Canine Therapy Corps has been an extremely rewarding experience for him.

Joe and his wife currently live on the north side of the city with their pup June, their cat Cherry and their two freshwater fish tanks! They have both been involved with rescuing and fostering animals over the years.

Jessica Vlodek
lead DOG Trainer

Jessica (she/her) started working with Canine Therapy Corps in late 2021. She has been dog handling for three years at Urban Pooch Training and Fitness Center and was extremely dedicated to her job as a handler. Before dogs, she rode and trained horses. Jessica was disciplined in Dressage, and rode and competed for almost 10 years and counting. She started dog training in early 2021, interning with a professional service dog trainer. Currently, she is dog handling and running a puppy enrichment program at Urban Paws. Jessica is in the process of training Dewey, her Doberman, as a mobility and psychiatric service dog. She loves learning about the philosophies of other dog trainers. The best feeling is to see a team of a handler and dog achieve a goal of theirs. Jessica is very glad to be able to love what she does in life.

Kristyn Bretz, KPA, CTP

lead Dog Trainer

Kristyn (she/her) joined Canine Therapy Corps in the Summer of 2024, after eight years volunteering and working with dogs in Chicago animal shelters. She particularly enjoys working with adolescent and young adult dogs, helping them gain the experience and knowledge to become more focused, well-behaved (and less chaotic!) members of their households.

Kristyn holds a Bachelor’s degree from Williams College and a Master’s degree from University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy. She currently lives in Lincoln Park with her spicy senior dog Catalonia.

Jazz Cerkleski

Assistant Dog Trainer

From a young age, my life has been intertwined with a profound passion for animals, particularly wildlife. I fondly recall waking up early as a child to catch Animal Planet before school, captivated by the incredible stories of Nature. It was during my time at Urbana-Champaign, while studying animal science, that I discovered my true calling: working with canines. My journey became focused when I joined a registered student organization called 4 Paws 4 Ability, where I was inspired by the transformative work we did to assist individuals through canine companionship. With a newfound dedication, I embarked on a career that would allow me to explore and enhance the capabilities of our four-legged friends. I gained invaluable experience through various roles, including dog walking and working at daycares, all of which deepened my understanding and bond with dogs. My own dog, Bella, has been a remarkable teacher, helping me cultivate essential training skills that have become instrumental in my journey. Since 2022, I have been actively training dogs, starting with leading the enrichment program at Canine Crews. This experience led me to Canine Sports Agility, where I honed my foundational training skills and explored advanced techniques, including scent detection. As I continue to deepen my knowledge and expertise in dog training, I am excited to pursue my CPDT-KA certification next fall. My journey has only just begun, and I am eager to unlock the full potential of our canine companions while making a positive difference in their lives and the lives of those they love.

Meet our Program Leaders

Corinne Carso PT, DPT
Program Leader

Corinne (she/her) joined Canine Therapy Corps in April of 2022 as a Program Leader. Corinne has known and followed along with Canine Therapy Corps since 2013 when she started to volunteer at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (now known as Shirley Ryan AbilityLab) where she first encountered animal-assisted therapy. Corinne credits this exposure as one of the reasons she pursued a career in physical therapy. She earned her clinical doctorate from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2019 and has been practicing with the Department of Veterans Affairs ever since. Corinne is thrilled to finally be able to incorporate animals into physical rehabilitation programs and can’t wait to get her newly certified Australian Shepherd, Nani, involved as well.

Cynthia Fife-Townsel, KPA, CTP

Program Leader

Cynthia (she/her) joined Canine Therapy Corps in the spring of 2024 as a Program Leader. She was introduced to Canine Therapy Corps by fellow dog trainer Margaret Fraser. While working as a Chicago Public Library special collections librarian for over two decades, Cynthia worked with her own dogs and spent some time volunteering at Chicago’s Anti-Cruelty. There she helped train new volunteers and lead an In-Kennel Clicker Program. She decided to retire from her library position and turn her passion for dog training and behavior into a career. In September 2022, she graduated from the prestigious Karen Pryor Academy and earned the title of Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP). She now runs her own business, Radical Rover Dog Training, on Chicago’s south side where she teaches people to help their dogs navigate the challenges of urban living.

Cynthia currently lives in Hyde Park and shares her home with Ellison, an “exuberant” German shepherd/Australian cattle dog cross, and in 2024 brought home therapy-dog hopeful, Chaka Cookiepuss, a delightful Australian labradoodle.

Anna Kirsanov

Program Leader

Anna recently joined the team at Canine Therapy Corps as a Clinical Program Leader in July 2024. With a background working in non-profits in the field of mental health and behavioral support, Anna is a dedicated and experienced clinical leader with a background that that includes roles as a lead professional certified coach, school counselor, advisor and various roles providing therapeutic interventions to people with Autism and developmental disabilities. Anna’s educational background includes a Ph.D. in Special Education Leadership (expected 2026), a Master’s in Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis, and a Bachelors in Development Psychology.

Within the last year, Anna has brought a new puppy, Amelia into her life. Amelia is a shih tzu mix that aspires to be a therapy dog in the future.

Debbie Shepard, LCSW, JD

Program Leader

Debbie Shephard (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker who has been part of a group behavioral health practice for the past several years. She works with adults struggling with issues such as anxiety, depression, addiction and bipolar disorder. Her past roles have included serving as Director of substance use treatment for a community agency and supervisory roles at other programs. She is also an adjunct instructor for Fordham University’s online social work program. She was selected as a subject matter expert and asked to write questions for the CAADC exam. Previously she was a social worker in a psychiatric hospital and emergency department. In her career she worked as an attorney in juvenile court and legal aid.

Debbie holds a Bachelor’s degree from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Master’s degree in social work and Law degree from Loyola University of Chicago. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two adult children, but no dogs due to family allergies.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Rebecca Bennett
Barbara Brightman
Michael Conway
Deborah Crown
Ann Davidson, Secretary
Margee Elias
Sheila Gidley, Executive Director (Ex-Officio)
Spencer Hadelman
Matt Kowalczyk, Treasurer
Kathy Krenger
Alice St. Clair
NIck Vom Brack, YPB Chair (Ex-Officio)
Will Wagner
Amy Welzer

HONORARY BOARD

Eowyn Ford
Marjorie A. Getz, Ph.D.
Carrie Grant
Debra Hadelman
Tim Hudson
Julie Muccillo
Amanda Sonneborn
Lisa Wiersma

• Beau Benson

• Justyna Borowski

• Justin Burd

• Serena DeRosa

• Lauren Falasco

• Billy Fogel

• Erin Friedlieb

• Alessandro Gadaldi

• Sara Gotthelf

• Megan Green

• Spencer Hadelman

• Matt Kowalczyk

• Tom Lennon

• Naomi Lopes

• Matt McCann

• Jason Morgan

• Jack Morrison

• Julia Para

• Annalise Rauchenberger

• Megan Ryan

• Nick Vom Brack, Chair

• Ryan Walsh

• Gordon Wolfe