Our Pack

  • Graham Bloem

    Founder, President & Training Director

    Graham Bloem was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and has had an affinity with animals all his life, although his true passion is for dogs. At age five, he immigrated to Toronto, Canada with his family, but enjoyed frequent trips back to South Africa. His experiences in wildlife settings instilled a dream of one day […]

  • Kyrié Bloem

    Co-Founder & Vice President

    Kyrié is the Co-Founder and Director or Operations of Specialty Dog Training and Shelter to Soldier™. Working behind the scenes, Kyrié is constantly in motion working in all facets of our organization. She is someone that wears many hats well and is a real asset to each organization. Though she has been an avid animal […]

  • Krystyna Holc

    Co-Founder - Treasurer - Board Member

    Krystyna Holc is the Vice President and CFO of Goodsell and Company CPA firm. She is the financial manager for Specialty Dog Training, Shelter to Soldier™, and Pet Mall America. Krys has a 70-pound male German Shepherd named Cooper that she rescued from Coastal German Shepherd Rescue. Krys is a long time supporter of the […]

  • Nicky Moore

    Director of Operations & Dog Trainer

    Director of Operations & Dog Trainer Nicky is our Director of Operations and a graduate of Animal Behavior College’s Professional Dog Training Certification program. Originally from Cincinnati, OH, Nicky has a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Management. After years of training her own dogs, pet-sitting, and working with animals at a veterinary hospital, she […]

  • Veteran Advocate

    Dustin Potash

    Veteran Advocate & Case Manager

    Dustin joins the Shelter to Soldier team with a deep passion to serve and support fellow veterans, help homeless dogs and to make a positive impact on our community. Dustin has helped lead a national nonprofit and is a United States Army Veteran with over 10 years of experience managing programs for diverse groups. He […]

  • Vince Martell

    Dog Trainer

    Vince started in the dog industry 5 years ago after moving to San Diego from Philadelphia, PA. Starting off as an animal care attendant, he quickly advanced to the role of doggie daycare supervisor. Vince then transitioned the knowledge of dog behavior that he gained in the kennel, to a career in dog training. He […]

  • Chris Pendleton

    Dog Trainer

    Chris is a San Diego native, and Marine Corps veteran with over 5 years of experience in the dog training field.  He began his dog training career training working K9’s for government agencies and local police departments in odor detection, tracking, and police work. Chris has also managed a kennel of over 160 working dogs, […]

  • Rachel “Charley” Charlesworth

    Dog Trainer

    Charley is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where she was Military Police and a Military Working Dog Handler.  As a Military Working Dog handler and trainer, Charley specialized in narcotic and explosive detection, advanced obedience, and protection. While in the military, she also worked with special forces training units and government agencies.  […]

  • Rebekah Manning

    Dog Trainer

    Rebekah Manning Bekah is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where she was a Military Police Officer, and a Military Working Dog Handler.  As a Military Working Dog handler and trainer, Bekah specialized in narcotic and explosive detection, advanced obedience, protection and apprehension. While working as a MWD handler, she worked with local […]

  • Daniel Aw

    Dog Trainer

    Daniel is a graduate of Starmark Academy’s Dog Trainer program, in Austin, Texas. He has since trained obedience in the one-on-one private lessons and group class settings, as well as worked with service dogs and their handlers in assistance dog task-training. Daniel enjoys helping dogs and clients in different aspects of dog behavior and training. […]

  • Harold Golden

    Dog Trainer

    Harold is a Marine Corp veteran with over 3 years of professional experience in the dog training field. He has attended professional certification programs in odor detection, tracking, and apprehension/protection work. Harold has since transitioned his knowledge of protection/detection working dogs to obedience training, behavior modification and service dog training; although he still enjoys training […]

  • Michael McCord

    Dog Trainer

    Michael is a veteran of the US Marine Corp and a graduate of Duke University’s Dog Emotion and Cognition course. He also attended a professional dual-purpose handler’s certification course through Vohne Liche Kennels, and utilized that certification to work for a private security firm as a detection and executive protection k9 handler. Michael is passionate […]

  • Lynne Ramsey

    Dog Trainer

    Lynne acquired a love of animals at a young age, spending many hours posing with dogs and cats while helping her mother, a professional pet photographer who illustrated dog care and training books. Lynne has volunteered with Shelter to Soldier™ since we began in 2012. She has always enjoyed having an active part in the […]

  • Lisa Johnson

    Dog Trainer

    Lisa is a pure joy to be around, and a favorite among our service dogs in training for her love and cuddles. Lisa Johnson has volunteered with Shelter to Soldier™ since we began in 2012. Though her very busy career is in Computer Science, Lisa undertook the major commitment of completing her certification as a […]

  • Dr Liz Grey

    Board Member

    Dr Grey was born in New York, but her family moved to San Diego when she was 12.  While she was growing up, her family did a lot of rescue work with animals.  Her father impressed upon her at an early age that once you commit to an animal, you are responsible for providing it […]

  • David Moss, LCSW

    Mental Health Liaison - Board Member

    I am honored to have been asked to serve on the Board of Directors for Shelter to Soldier™.  I have followed this organization from its inception and could not be more proud to help support your mission.  I am excited to bring my clinical expertise, experience, community contacts, leadership, and overall passion for enhancing the […]

  • Michael Ford

    Michael Ford

    Board Member

    Michael is a San Diego native passionate about supporting the communities in which we live and work. He has worked with Cox Communications for 1418 years now and is a member of their Public Affairs team, specifically focused on Community Relations and corporate giving. He currently oversees the programs and support for the Cox Charities […]

  • LtCol Brian Dennis

    Board Member

    Brian split his time growing up in St. Pete Beach, Florida and Des Moines, Iowa. He has been in the United States Marine Corps since he was nineteen years old. Brian’s career in the Marines has been quite varied with jobs ranging from Recon Marine to F/A-18 Hornet pilot to Strategic Planner at United States […]

  • Eva Stimson

    PR Director

    Eva M. Stimson is a very welcomed addition to our pack! Eva is the Public Relations Director for Shelter to Soldier™ and Specialty Dog Training. Eva specializes in strategic partnerships and helps share the mission of each of our corporate sponsors with local and national media outlets. Eva Stimson is an award-winning marketing communications specialist […]