Meet The Team

Maureen has worked in the Assistance Dog industry for over 20 years. She was born and raised in Seattle, and graduated from Seattle University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. As a CPA, she combines a strong business background with a Masters of Science in Canine Studies. She has been invited to share her innovative training methods at conferences in Europe, Asia, South America, and the US. Her devotion to helping people with disabilities has resulted in tens of thousands of people whose lives have been impacted by Assistance Dogs.

Will graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has been working in the Assistance Dog industry for over 20 years. Together, he and Maureen grew Assistance Dogs of Hawaii into one the most successful providers of Assistance Dogs in the country. Will oversees all of the facilities and construction projects. Described as the backbone of the organization, his work behind the scenes of the organization keeps all daily activities running smoothly.

Sarit is from Israel where she completed her Bachelor program at Bar Ilan University. After graduation, she studied and was certified in Dog Training and Dog Assisted Therapy at the Ofek Institute in Israel. She is currently our Dog Trainer at Assistance Dogs Northwest after successfully completing a year internship on both campuses.

Lee grew up in NW Washington with horses and dogs and has specialized in animal psychology and human behavior for over 20 years. Her passion for helping humans and animals has allowed her to live and work in the US, UK, Australia, and Europe. Her B.A. in Psychology, M.A. in Leadership & Organizational Development, and Ph.D. in Human Development have been the keys to success in her field of work. Applying her knowledge and experience as a psychologist in the corporate, for-profit, and nonprofit realms, Lee is able to help our beloved dogs and people reach their full potential.

Joanna has played a pivotal role in ADNW since its inception, wearing multiple hats that encompass everything from essential administrative tasks to maintaining the pristine condition of the lawn! Beyond her diverse responsibilities, Joanna has been a dedicated long-term puppy raiser for the program. Currently, she proudly serves as the devoted "mom" to Tess, a remarkable breeder dog and COVID Scent Detection dog.

Megan, a Bainbridge Island native, plays a key role in supporting ADNW through her involvement in administrative tasks, fundraising initiatives, and special events. Having earned her degree in Hospitality Business Management from Washington State University, Megan spent nine years living and working in Los Angeles before returning to her roots on Bainbridge Island with her husband and Golden Retriever, Riley. Presently, she is actively engaged in puppy-raising and participating in numerous community outreach events.

Sydney began working with us through our college intern program after graduating at the top of her class at North Carolina State University with a degree in Psychology. She now continues to help with various aspects of our program and is dedicated to seeing our puppies become successful graduates. During Sydney's internship, she puppy raised Hospital Facility Dog, Zadoc and Jones.

Holly is a proud alumni of Washington State University and lives with her family on Bainbridge Island. Holly works in many different aspects of Assistance Dogs Northwest including managing the office on our campus and coordinating our fundraising events.  She has many years of event planning experience and excels at bringing all of the details together for a seemless experience.