Hero Dogs Inc.

• Jennifer Lund, Ph.D. - President & Founder
• D. Jeanie Wade, USMC Veteran (SGT) - Vice President
• Brian Bender, CPA, MBA - Treasurer
• Carl Phipps, LCDR (Ret) - Secretary
• Joann Amann - Board Member
• Dona Deutsch - Board Member
• Marcie Engel, DVM - Board Member
• Ilene A. Glassman - Board Member
• Rob Grubbs, COL USAR (Ret) - Board Member

Jennifer Lund, Ph.D. - President & Founder (2014)

Jennifer is a former research scientist with experience at the University of Michigan, Medtronic Inc., and IBM. She specialized in neural prostheses - electrode arrays implanted in the brain to control prosthetic devices such as an artificial eye, ear, or limb. Her interest in "putting people back together" coupled with her love for dogs led Jennifer to start Hero Dogs, Inc. She is passionate about providing service dogs to people who deserve them most but often go unnoticed: our wounded warriors. Jennifer is a "dog expert" having raised and trained dogs all her life, including assistance dogs for Leader Dogs for the Blind, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Inc. and canines for the Connecticut State Police. She is certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and owned and operated a highly successful dog agility and obedience business in Montgomery County, Maryland. She is an instructor for Kutztown University's Level II Canine Training and Management Program, a long time member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and has served on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Jeanie Wade, USMC Veteran (SGT) - Vice President (2013)

Jeanie works as a Campus Director for Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Medaille College, completed the Harvard Business School General Management Program, and served in the United States Marine Corps. She is a certified Continuous Improvement Black Belt. She has previously volunteered for the Niagara County (New York) SPCA and for the Tails of Hope Sanctuary. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Marine Corps Association, the Marine Corps Aviation Association, the Women Marines Association, the Association of the United States Army, and the American Society for Quality. Pictured with Jeanie (from left to right) are Ditto, Sidney, and Webster, her three adopted dogs.

Brian Bender, CPA - Treasurer (2013)

Brian is a member of the Reznick Group National Nonprofit Practice, a top 20 public accounting firm based out of Bethesda, MD. He has more than eight years of experience serving for-profit commercial businesses and nonprofit clients, including foundations, trade associations, membership organizations, charities, and social clubs. He is a member of Reznick Group's nonprofit audit methodology and efficiencies committee, which oversees and develops accounting and auditing best practices and keeps professional staff abreast of all technical developments related to nonprofit organizations. Brian received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in accounting from West Virginia University and his Masters of Business Administration (MBA), with an emphasis in entrepreneurship, from Suffolk University's Sawyer Business School. He is an active member in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA), and the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA). He has served on the VSCPA 2009-2011 Government & Non-profit Task Force Committee, participated in the 2011 MACPA Leadership Academy, and frequently presents on nonprofit issues in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Brian adopted his first rescue dog, a black Labrador Retriever mix named Roxie, in 2004; having grown up in a family with several dogs, Brian is a firm believer in the mutually beneficial relationship between humans and their canine friends. He, his wife Mary-Lynn, and Roxie reside in Gaithersburg, MD. Brian has an older brother who is currently serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Carl Phipps, LCDR (Ret) - Board Member (2013)

Carl retired from the U.S. Navy after serving 24 years. Commonly known as a 'Mustang' Carl served 10 years in the Enlisted ranks advancing from E-1 to E-7 (Chief Petty Officer), then receiving his commission under the 'Limited Duty Officer' (LDO) program and advanced from O-1 to O-4. He currently works for the Federal Government, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) as the Supply Manager for the Navy Bases at Indian Head, MD and Dahlgren, VA. Carl received his Bachelor of Science in Management and a Master of Public Administration from Troy University and is currently working on a dual Masters degree from Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School pursuing a Masters in Business Administration and Masters of Science in Information and Telecommunications Systems. He and his wife Linda, who is a retired Navy CDR, reside in Waldorf, MD and have four rescued Lab mixes; Bear, Buddy, Duchess and Jester.

JoAnn Amann - Board Member (2014)

JoAnn has extensive experience in the assistance dog training industry having been partnered with her own hearing dogs for 15 years as well as working in several capacities as a volunteer for an Assistance Dog International (ADI) accredited member organization. JoAnn was partnered with her first hearing dog, Belle, a Cardigan Welsh corgi, in 1996, a partnership that thrived until Belle was retired from service in 2006. JoAnn's current hearing dog, Hope, a standard poodle accompanies JoAnn 24 hours a day and has even traveled with JoAnn to such locales as Peru, London, California, and Colorado. As a result of her personal experience, JoAnn and her dogs have conducted hundreds of community education presentations and workshops on the rewards of working with an assistance dog. JoAnn's passion is mentoring clients-in-training as they work their way through the training process and learn to manage the challenges of working with an assistance dog at home and out in public. She developed and instituted a client services program and served as Director of Client Services for eight years. Her accomplishments include developing a client handbook for working with an assistance dog, serving as chairperson for the client review committee responsible for interviewing prospective assistance dog applicants, developing training related documentation to guide clients through the training process, and personally mentoring clients from orientation through graduation from the program. In addition her responsibilities included maintaining detailed client training records, managing assistance dog training records and veterinary records, and directing a vacation home provider program for puppies in training. JoAnn is a member of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), a member of the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP) and is a recognized authority by several members of Assistance Dog International (ADI).

Dona Deutsch - Board Member (2014)

Dona Deutsch is the principal owner of Deutsch & Associates, LLC located in Rockville, MD. Deutsch & Associates, LLC as a unique employee benefits and health promotion firm which integrates worksite wellness and health promotion initiatives into employee benefit programs. With over 25 years experience in the health insurance industry and certified as a personal trainer and in worksite health promotion, Deutsch and Associates assist companies in creating a culture of health through employee education and awareness. We manage both the employee benefits programs and health promotion programs as one so the programs work together to identify high-risk behaviors that impact claims and work to address the reasons for absenteeism and presenteeism, thus increasing productivity and morale and reducing claims costs. Dona has had a long-standing passion for community service that started at age thirteen when she served as a Head Start program aid. Dona currently serves as a committee member for the Habitat for Humanity Women Build 2011-12 Program, on the membership committee for the Corporate Volunteer Council of Montgomery County and is a certified cycling coach for the Special Olympics cycling team of Montgomery County. Dona's past volunteer experience includes; Team in Training for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, MS Walk, Inter-faith Board of Directors and several committees at her church. Hero Dogs is a perfect charity for Dona being a Navy Mom (times two) and dog lover. Dona is married, has three sons and two dogs and lives in Rockville, Maryland.

Marcie Engel, DVM - Board Member (2013)

Marcie is a native of Silver Spring, MD and graduated from the University of MD, College Park with a Bachelor of Science degree. Marcie has over 20 years in the veterinary profession. She graduated from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine with honors, in 1988. She has owned and operated Brookeville Animal Hospital, LLC, in Brookeville, MD since 1998. Marcie enjoys treating dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and exotic pets. She has 2 llamas, 2 miniature horses and 4 sheep which reside at the hospital. Brookeville Animal Hospital was voted one of Washington's Best Vets by Washingtonian Magazine. Marcie is a founding member for The Emergency Animal Hospital in Ellicot City, MD and sat on the board of directors for over 5 years. She is a member of the AVMA, MVMA, and AAV. Marcie is passionate about veterinary medicine, as well as helping people. She has donated her time and veterinary services for puppy raisers for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Marcie lives in Brookeville, MD with her husband Kerry Hemphill and their 2 dogs, 2 cats and 2 birds.

Ilene A. Glassman - Board Member (2013)

Ilene is a Maryland native who graduated from the University of Maryland, University College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. She is a government contractor and dedicated volunteer for Hero Dogs, Inc. Ilene is also a dog lover who adopted her last 4 dogs from rescue organizations in the DC Metropolitan Area. In November of 2008, and for the first time in more than 20 years, Ilene adopted a 12-week old mixed-breed puppy "Meeka". It is because of "Meeka" and "Bennie" (pictured) that the chance to help Jennifer Lund and Hero Dogs came into her life. Ilene welcomed the opportunity to become part of the Hero Dogs family knowing firsthand the comfort, joy, and unconditional love that dogs bring to peoples' lives.

Rob Grubbs, COL USAR (Ret) - Board Member (2013)

Rob is a program manager who works at the Headquarters, US Army Corps of Engineers in Washington DC. He is an Army brat and a Virginia native, and retired from the US Army Reserves in 2008. He graduated from the US Military Academy with a BS degree, and has earned master's degrees from Boston University and the US Naval War College. He has worked for the past 18 years in emergency management for the Corps, both domestically and internationally, interspersed with two mobilization tours as a Reservist, serving in Bosnia in 1999 as the battalion commander of a NATO battalion, and for two years in the Pentagon in the Army G-3. He has volunteered with various organizations over the years, to include youth soccer, Kemper Open and US Open golf tournaments, Celebrate Fairfax, Rock and Roll Half Marathons, and the Society of American Engineers. He and his wife, Jan, have two grown children, and reside in Fairfax Station, VA, with their rescue dog Pungo.