Blake Sowers, Kennel Master at Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs and US Army Veteran, joined the Guardian Angels team in July 2022. (more…)
In honor of Administrative Professionals Week last week, Guardian Angels would like to feature Gwyneth Hiesinger, who works in the organization’s finance department. She assists the organization with a variety of tasks, such as tracking donations and the money that goes out of the organization. Gwyneth recently celebrated her one-year anniversary with Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs in February. (more…)
Robert Brown, an Army veteran, and Guardian Angels volunteer, has worked with the organization for almost three years in a variety of capacities. (more…)
Chris Weber, who has been with GAMSD for about 3 ½ years as a Development Project Administrator, joined the organization after recovering from a Traumatic Brain Injury. (more…)
Sylee Gibson, our new Human Resources/Development Director at Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, joined our organization in January and works remotely from Cleveland, TN, where she lives with her husband, Jerry, and their 4-year-old daughter, Gabriella. (more…)
Zach Valentin, Employee of the Year at Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, was born in Tampa and raised mainly in Williston, where he graduated high school class of 2014 at Williston High. (more…)
Dozens of puppies like this one are being specially trained in Williston, Fla., on the main campus of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs. One of them has been sponsored by the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. It didn’t take long for Grosse Pointe Yacht Club Commodore Brian Fish to secure the first $5,000.
Read the full story here
Source: Help unleashed: GP Yacht Club sponsors Guardian Angels dog
Chris Borden, Chief Officer of Facilities at Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, has been with the organization since it began in 2010. (more…)
Pittsburgh, PA November 21, 2023: Chris Ann Phillips, Chief Administrative officer of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs has been awarded the Pittsburgh Veteran of the Year by veteran-owned Military Friendly® in a contest sponsored by Fort Pitt Capital Group.
Phillips was chosen from among six outstanding veterans through public online voting. Those candidates included another Guardian Angels’ staff member, Mr. Jack Wagner.
Chris Ann’s story will be highlighted in the April 2023 issue of G.I. Jobs Magazine, which is distributed free to transitioning service members and veterans worldwide.
Chris Ann has been deeply involved in the veteran community for more than 20 years. Before joining Guardian Angels, Chris Ann established the military recruiting program for PNC Bank, and was the lead in creating the Community Mutt Strut. Chris Ann has served as a mentor for American Corporate Partners, and a recipient of the ESGR Patriot Award. She was a two-time finalist for the UA Chamber of Commerce’s Colonel Michael Endres Leadership Award and serves as the Director of Development for Pittsburgh Warrior Hockey.
Notified about the award, Chris Ann said: “I am honored to receive this award on behalf of all of us that serve our nation’s veterans. It is a privilege to be the voice of those in the veteran community, no matter the need. In my role at Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, I am blessed to be part of a mission that truly saves lives. My work is not done and as long as one veteran is in need, I will continue to serve”.
Phillips served in the United States Marine Corps from 1981 to 1985, separating as a Sergeant.
Military Friendly will present the award to Chris Ann at this year’s Gala of Angels, a fundraising event to be held on December 7 in Pittsburgh.
Blake Sowers, Apprentice at Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs and US Army Veteran, joined the Guardian Angels team in July 2022. (more…)
Robyn Staebler became a Michigan Ambassador in 2021 after she attended a Celebrate Michigan’s Military event and heard recipient stories. “I knew immediately that Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs was an organization that I would be proud to represent. I also knew the first responder community needed to know this was an option for those that were disabled,” said Robyn. (more…)
Mary Jo Brandt joined Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs as a volunteer in 2011, a Board Member in 2012, and accepted a position as Chief Operating Officer full-time in 2016. She has been instrumental in implementing and overseeing many policies and initiatives throughout her time with Guardian Angels. (more…)
Dr. Rogers joined the Guardian Angels’ team in May of 2022 as their veterinarian, and she is excited to be part of the many upcoming ideas and projects that Guardian Angels is developing. (more…)
Nancy Dakin started working with Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs in the fall of 2020. First as a volunteer, then as a full-time employee in December 2021. She most recently joined the Development Team in 2022 and splits her time as a dog trainer and development project administrator for Guardian Angels. (more…)
Mary Lamparter serves as the Advisory Council Co-Chair- Michigan for Guardian Angels. She has worked with Guardian Angels as a volunteer for nine years. She began her journey at Guardian Angels with the event Celebrate Michigan’s Military that she still holds.
She has now also become the Regional Coordinator in Michigan, the chair of the Advisory Council, developed a group called Ambassadors, and is also the liaison between Michigan recipients and various events that she holds and attends on behalf of Guardian Angels.
Mary’s Motivation for Working with Guardian Angels
Mary said her “why” for being involved with Guardian Angels is because she knows that fundraising enables Guardian Angles to pair more Veterans and First Responders who desperately need help. She said she is here because she is a networker and has been successful in fundraising for and educating about Guardian Angels. She said she never served in the military, so working with Guardian Angels is her way of serving those who have served our country.
She said she is constantly touched by the stories our recipients share. Personally, Mary said she has been responsible for introducing at least two recipients to Guardian Angels when they had never considered a service dog before. She said after learning their story, she was able to suggest they might like to look into applying; both have been paired. Each of these individuals were friends and/or personal acquaintances of Mary’s, and she said she was thrilled that she could play a role in giving them a New Normal.
What Mary Wants You to Know About Guardian Angels
Mary said she constantly meets people who don’t know anything about Guardian Angels, and the first thing she tells them is that “We Save Lives.” With almost 400 dogs paired in 11 years, we’ve never experienced a suicide among our recipients.
