Mrs. Borden is the daughter of a disabled Korean War veteran and the mother of a disabled Iraq/Afghanistan veteran.
The events throughout her life prepared her for creating what is now one of the largest service dog organizations in the US. In addition to managing big box stores for several years, she has logged nearly 60 years training dogs to include national competitions, training a dog for a movie, training the #1 Service Dog in the US and the first service dog to ever become the Top American Dog Hero.
Her expertise and accomplishments are acknowledged by numerous national awards from various industries including being named the Corporate Pet Industry Woman of the Year, national awards for her organization’s work under her leadership in mental health and suicide prevention, and the top award from the Department of Labor among others.
Service dogs trained under her college accredited/VA approved curriculums have been accepted to work inside the Pentagon and other DOD facilities for disabled staff members. She is often invited to be a Keynote speaker, she is an industry expert teaching service dog laws to judicial systems, attorneys, businesses, and has been called on multiple times as an expert consultant for service dog bills in multiple states that have passed into law. She has also advised airports such as Tampa International and Gainesville Regional Airport in redesigning their service dog relief areas. She co-authored a research article with Princeton University which was peer reviewed and published. In addition, she has also Founded the Borden Veterinary Hospital and the Borden Institute of Higher Learning.
Dogs have always held a special place in Kensi’s heart. Although she grew up in a household with an array of animals, she always felt a strong connection to her dogs. Kensi also has a family of veterans, whom she loves dearly, and she has seen the amazing things service dogs can do for them. Working at Guardian Angels Service Dogs is her first job being able to work with dogs, as well as being able to support this country’s veterans in a way they need most after all they’ve done for us. She is grateful to have found a job that puts both of her truest passions to work.
An Army Veteran who served two tours in Iraq, I was a former Arkansas National Guardsman who left the service as a Master Sergeant/E-8. During my time in the military, I served as the Arkansas President of the Enlisted Association of the Arkansas National Guard. I was also the chairman for the Area IV of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States. During that time, I also served as the Resolutions Chairman, working all legislative issues across all 54 states and military territories. I am the current Executive Director for the National Guard Association of Michigan.
Dr. Charlotte Rogers earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Florida College CVM in 2009. Since graduation she has spent the last 13 years’ expanding her experience from general small animal practice to large animal production medicine, advanced large animal reproduction techniques and non-profit farm animal sanctuary care.
She has previously formed a teaching establishment that provides education and training for Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary students seeking experience with non-profit farm animal work. Additionally, working with the University of Florida as a Courtesy Associate Professor in their “Practice Based Clerkship” rotation. Her special career interests involve canine behavior, ruminant reproduction, and farm animal medicine/surgery in addition to teaching/training the future of the veterinary profession.
Dr. Rogers grew up in England and moved to Florida in the late 90’s. She is married to a veteran who served with the 1st Ranger Battalion and is currently a Lieutenant with Gainesville Fire Department. In their spare time they enjoy spending time with their three canine kids, hiking, fishing, and traveling to places that allow them to enjoy the outdoors.
Chris Cadigan joined the Guardian Angels Advisory Council in 2016. Chris was paired with Super Service Dog “Gunny” in 2016 and “Brit” in 2020. Gunny and Chris became a common sighting in the halls and grounds of the Pentagon and around the Nation’s Capital in their daily duties and service to the Nation. Chris is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of superior performance building and leading multidisciplinary teams through solving complex problems and implementing achievable solutions with multiple stakeholders in international environments. He is skilled in adaptive leadership, team building, communication, strategic planning and analysis, high stakes negotiations, operations and crisis management, organizational and culture change management. Chris is a strong technology and innovation professional and an accomplished Design Thinker and Red Team Facilitator. He has served as an author, speech writer, designer, implementer, board member and advised US and International government officials and leaders through solving difficult security challenges. Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts and is a Distinguished Military Graduate from Norwich University. He holds a Master of Military Arts and Sciences and is a graduate of the School of Advanced Military Studies. Chris is the father of two boys and when not hiking and traveling they can be found cooking, enjoying movies together and throwing slobbery balls for Brit.
Mary resides in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan where she has assisted Guardian Angels with many successful fund raisers as well as spreading the good word of our work. Mary is a member of the Grosse Pointe War Memorial Board of Directors, Vice President of DC3S which is dedicated to providing event/meeting space as well as leased space to various defense related companies and is also Vice President of Family Programs for the Association of United States Army. Mary comes to us with great success in her leadership and business savvy as well as her undying commitment to our Veterans.
Don Accamando, Lt. Col. USAF, retired, is the Director of the Office for Military and Veteran Students at Duquesne University. Don brings 28 years of military and academic leadership experience to the position. While serving the nation in the Air Force and Pennsylvania Air National Guard, Don has flown over 4,500 hours on the KC-135 refueling tanker serving as an instructor and evaluator navigator. He is a veteran of Desert Storm, Allied Force and the nation’s Overseas Contingency Operations. Don also served in a variety of leadership capacities as a Maintenance Officer and as the Logistics Squadron Commander. He ended his career assigned to the Wing Headquarters where he served as a Staff Officer. In addition to his military service, Don has worked in education as a teacher and principal. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, both in Education. He also earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Duquesne University in 2017. His thesis focuses on the Transitional needs of Military and Veteran Students. Don is responsible for the social, financial and academic needs of the military and veteran student population at Duquesne University, and serves as the representative for military issues across the University. There are approximately 220 veterans, dependents and spouses attending Duquesne University, some completing their undergraduate and graduate degree programs online in over 30 states as well several countries where servicemembers are stationed or deployed. Don serves as the Staff representative for the Duquesne University Student Veterans Association and the ROTC sponsored, Annual Run for Ryan Lane Memorial 5K Run. He currently serves as a Board Member for the Military Affairs Council, and as an Advisory Board member with Pittsburgh Hires Veterans. He is also an active member of Life Changing Service Dogs for Veterans.
I was raised in MA prior to going into the military. I entered the US Army at 17 years old. I did a stint with the 10th SF at Fort Devens, MA, then on to Korea. I had numerous assignments both stateside and overseas. I retired from active duty in Sept 1985. I attended Bridgewater State Collage as a much older adult and became the Veterans adviser to MA Public Welfare. I worked for the USDA-NRCS in Alabama and USDA-Rural Development as the inspector for both VT and NH before retiring in 2004. I was heavily involved in charity work in Vermont by starting a charity in the local hospital raising funds for people in the last stages of life to make their “Last Mile” as comfortable as possible. The second charity I began was “Vermont Thunder”. This charity raised funds to help Veterans and Families of Veterans in time of need. Both charities are still operating thanks to those who stepped forward to continue the operations. Later in life, my health started to fail. In March of 2018 I was matched with a Medical Service Dog, Harry from GAMSD. Harry changed my life from the day we were matched. Because of Harry and GAMSD I relocated to Williston, Florida in September 2019. Williston has become our home where we can enjoy a laid back lifestyle and enjoy retirement.
BufferSprings founder and CEO, Rob Arndt is a 14-year Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, with 8 of those years focused on armed forces Recruitment & Retention. Since transitioning from military service, Rob has spent the past decade working consultatively with Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, government contractors and educational institutions to build effective military veteran and diversity recruitment and compliance initiatives. Rob and the BufferSprings team leverage a vast array of insider connections, cutting edge HR technology, and expansive online communities to build talent acquisition solutions that provide immediate and ongoing results for smart companies.
Grant Kropfeld is a current member of the Michigan National Guard Infantryman. He regularly volunteers at Common Ground Crisis Facility in Oakland County, MI as a crisis intervention specialist on the crisis and suicide phone and text hotline. Grant works as a licensed Realtor in the South East Michigan area, and also teaches and trains both Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Krav Maga part time, instructing many police officers and veterans.
Professional Biography
Dr. Catherine Neuhoff
My name is Catherine Neuhoff and I served as the Warren Consolidated Schools (WCS) Director of Special Programs for a secondary, grades 6 – 12, selective school that houses three different programs: the Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center (MMSTC), the Middle School Mathematics Science Technology Program (MS2TC), and the Middle School Visual and Performing Arts Program (MSVPA). As Program Director at the Butcher Educational Center, I collaborated with both instructional and support staff to create dynamic, creative, academic experiences for students testing in the top quartile of the population in Macomb County, Michigan. The instructional staff are hand selected because of their deep knowledge of curriculum standards; capacity to communicate and build meaningful relationships with their students and help them make real world connections between the taught curriculum and the world around them; lead students through research and hands-on lessons; and kindle students’ desire to use their powers for good.
Aside from supporting staff and students, my role included running the physical plant of the building insuring safety and crisis protocols are met; building and managing budgets of internal and external funds; approving payroll and resolving human conflicts between students, staff, parents, and the community; completing state and federal paperwork as it relates to testing and school improvement (each programs success as measured through standardized exams); recruitment of students for all three programs, testing and reviewing applications; evaluating and training staff. To insure parent voices in their children’s education at the Center, we created a Parent Teacher Organization.
Prior to working within the school setting at WCS, I was the district’s Curriculum Director from 2004-2006. In this role, I had district oversight of state and federal entitlement grants (totaling over 8 million dollars at the time) as well as the district’s instructional curriculum budget (over 2 million at the time); assisting schools through the use of content area specialists to develop compliant educational service plans for their schools; align the district’s elementary and secondary schools curriculum to meet state standards; research and recommend instructional resources for classroom instruction; organize professional development for instructional and support staff that aligned to their school improvement plans; insure service to the districts second language learner met federal and state guidelines; lead curriculum consultants in the development and implementation of extended day and year programs that targeted at-risk learners K-11; organize state testing across the district; and establish rigorous and relevant graduation requirements in alignment with the state’s Michigan Merit Curriculum. In this role I had line authority over 6 curriculum consultants and four World of Four (grant funded early childhood program) teachers. In a move to reduce expenditures during the first of several massive budget cuts, WCS pushed these responsibilities onto building administrators and the department was disbanded. I was placed at Warren Mott High School where I served as an assistant principal for five years (2006 – 2011) before making the move to the Butcher Educational Center, which at the time housed the MMSTC and the district’s alternative high school.
From 1998-2004, I worked with Chippewa Valley Schools as a Supervisor of Special Projects – a catch all title that allowed me the opportunity to work with various populations across the district from instructional staff to adult learners. Originally hired to manage the state and federal entitlement grants the role evolved as the district grew from 8500 to over 15,000 students in six years. Within the six years, I wrote state level and competitive grants to start an adult-education English language learners program; research-based elementary English language learner program that shuttled new English language learners to satellite programs for a deep immersion in literacy for a half day returning to their home schools for the second half of their day; elementary and middle school summer school programs that targeted intervention for at-risk learners with teacher training and instructional resources that addressed both academic and social-emotional gaps; and secured police liaison officers for the district’s two high schools through a partnership with the Macomb Sheriff’s Youth Bureau. Additionally, I worked with district teachers to align curriculum to state standards and craft new teacher training framed around the “Professional Learning Communities” model and Mind-Brain Learning strategies. Establishing partnerships with educational service providers outside of the public school setting was critical to each program’s success.
The move to administration in 1998 was out of necessity – as a classroom teacher I needed to have sixth hour prep to have sufficient time to attend classes at Michigan State University where I was accepted into their research-based, Teacher Education Doctoral Program. For three years (1995-1998) I taught art classes for students K-5 at Fox Elementary School, in the Chippewa Valley School district. In this role, I met many inspiring people who shaped my perspectives as an educator and connected me to cutting edge resources at the Macomb Intermediate School District. While teaching art classes, I also taught college courses at Eastern Michigan University at night and weekends starting in 1989. These courses ranged from fine arts courses – art appreciation, basic drawing; to undergraduate and graduate art education courses. The demands of course work at MSU led me to regretfully end my working relationship with EMU in 2005.
While attending undergraduate and graduate school, I worked at Farmer Jack Supermarkets full time in a range of occupations that included deli clerk, cashier, night crew stock, corporate trainer, and front end manager from 1980 – 1992.
My professional preparation culminates with my Ph.D. from Michigan State University in Teacher Education, Curriculum, and Educational Policy. My dissertation unpacked a piece of national policy (No Child Left Behind), analyzed it through the lens of social institutional theory to predict the policy’s impact on teachers and students in an urban high school. This work has become a critical tool in helping me navigate state and federal policy as it relates to managing my programs at school.
Prior to earning my Ph.D., I completed requirements for a Masters in Fine Arts (MFA), a terminal degree in visual arts. This credential was essential for teaching fine arts courses at Eastern Michigan University. The culminating activity to earning the MFA includes hosting a gallery opening of my art work, marketing that gallery opening, crafting a manifesto, and completing an oral defense of my work. Unlike public schools with standards that drive instructional design, the university allows instructors to provide students with experiences based on our art work and thinking. I relied heavily on my teaching certificate earned as part of the Master of Arts in arts education and my understanding of artistic impulse to create courses that were structured, rigorous, and fun for my students.
Undergraduate course work began at Henry Ford Community College (HFCC) in the fall of 1979; course work focused on fine arts and business management. I earned an Associates of Fine Arts from HFCC before transferring to Eastern Michigan University where I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in the fall of 1986.
Outside of my professional preparation and work experience I am an avid animal advocate often lobbying our local and national legislators on issues relating to animal rights. I joined the Humane Society of the United States as a State Councilwoman in 2017. My focus remains ending cruelty to animals as well as fighting for protection of wildlife under the Endangered Species Act. Additionally, I am an active member of the International Wolf Center through which I attend webinars on wolf conservation. I applied and was accepted as a Pup Care volunteer for incoming wolf pups with attention to providing socialization for future members of their exhibit pack. While COVID delayed the arrival and revamping of the IWCs original Pup Care plans, in the summer of 2021 I, along with about 35 others, have been invited back to provide wolf pups with novel environmental experiences in 2 hour blocks. I am hoping to use this first-hand experience to strengthen my knowledge of wolf conservation to continue to be a voice for this keystone species.
With what began as a hobby – attending obedience classes to trouble shoot training of my very independent German Shepherd Dog, ultimately exposed me to various competitive arenas for dogs where I had the opportunity to work with a group of professional dog trainers. I listened, observed, and learned as much as I could from four trainers, including Barbara Oshnock. Barb introduced me to Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs (GAMSD) in the fall of 2019. The following summer I applied and was hired as the Michigan Traveling Trainer for GAMSD.
In the spring of 2021 both Carol Borden and Mary Jo Brandt, Guardian Angels’ CEO and COO respectively, asked if I would assist updating the apprentice curriculum. Following my retirement from Warren Consolidated Schools, I began work on this project with the support of my husband in the fall when we relocated for the winter in Florida. Framed on the methods outlined in Carol Borden’s Comprehensive Obedience Training and Medical Service Dog Training, the two-and half-year apprentice program opened doors to outlining a 6-month internship through Skillbridge as well as additional work with the Borden Institute of Higher Learning.
When asked to define my “why,” this work fulfills my passion project need to serve by assisting an organization designed to breed, raise, train and pair GSDs with veterans and first responders behind the scenes using my creative abilities to give back to those who have selflessly sacrificed so much for my and other’s safety, health, and freedom.
