Our Team
Victoria Warfel
Head HSD Trainer
Executive Director
Secretary of the Board
Victoria is one of the top names in the service dog industry. She is Executive Director of Hope Service Dogs, Inc, a 501(c)(3) non profit that breeds, raises and trains the best golden retriever service dogs, along with the head trainer for Heart & Soul Dog Training.
Due to her unique experience as a service dog owner, as well as a professional dog trainer and professional service dog trainer for close to 20 years, Victoria understands what all is involved in training a service dog from puppy to working partner. She shares everything on her weekly podcast, Service Dog Success.
She is available as a Service Dog Consultant, for workshops and speaking engagements. Contact her for more information.
NePoPo® Certified Gold Premium Trainer
NePoPo® Electronic Collar Training Certification
NePoPo® Gold Premium Graduate
NePoPo® Silver School Graduate
NePoPo® Gold School Graduate
Certified Dog Trainer (IACP-CDT)
Certified Dog Trainer-Advanced (IACP-CDTA)
Professional Dog Training Instructor (IACP-PDTI)
Professional Member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)
Speaker on Puppy Development at the 2023 International Association of Canine Professionals annual conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Speaker on Holistic Training at the 2017 International Association of Canine Professionals annual conference in St. Louis, Missouri
Perception Modification 1 Certified in the Syn Alia Training System
The first Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI) in the southeastern United States
Has earned the Trainer of the Year award
AKC-Approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Community Canine Evaluator, Urban Canine Good Citizen, S.T.A.R. Puppy Instructor & Evaluator thru the American Kennel Club
AKC-Approved Temperament Test (ATT) Evaluator
Founder & Owner of the Professional Women Dog Trainers Facebook group
Founder & Owner of the Aspiring Professional Women Dog Trainers Facebook group
Best Selling Author
Canine First Aid/CPR certified thru American Red Cross
Richard Warfel
HSD Trainer
President of the Board
Richard has been a professional dog trainer for 7+ years.
Certified NePoPo® Gold Instructor
NePoPo® Electronic Collar Training Certification
NePoPo® Silver School Graduate
NePoPo® Gold School Graduate
Certified Dog Trainer (IACP-CDT)
Professional Member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)
Perception Modification 1 Certified in the Syn Alia Training System
Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI)
AKC-Approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Community Canine Evaluator, Urban Canine Good Citizen, S.T.A.R. Puppy Instructor & Evaluator thru the American Kennel Club
Best Selling Author
Canine First Aid/CPR certified thru American Red Cross
William “Bill” Howard
Treasurer of the Board
Bill Howard lives in central Florida with his wife of 50 years, Tina. They have three adult children and two grandchildren. Victoria, Executive Director of HSD, is their eldest child.
Bill is an Air Force Veteran.
He and Tina have lived and traveled all over the United States.
He is a retired computer engineer, enjoys volunteering, and spending time with his family.
Carolyn Bean
Board Member
Carolyn has been a registered nurse for 25+ years. She spent most of her time in obstetrics, delivering babies and caring for both mothers and babies.
She has served on the hospital ethics committee, quality assurance committee, and wrote many policies and procedures.
Carolyn served on the board of her local HOA for several years.
Carolyn is a committed dog owner, having attended classes and workshops for dog training and handling.
She has been a service dog handler since 2014, owner trained with professional assistance both of her service dogs.
Theresa A Jennings
Vice President of the Board
Former President of the Board of Directors at Hope Service Dogs, Inc
President of the Board of Directors at Karl's Kids Program, Inc.
Executive Director Assistance Dog Advocacy Project (ADAP)
Founder & Executive Director, Safety Education
Coordinator at Karl's Kids Program, Inc.
Member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)
AKC-Approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluator thru the American Kennel Club
Former PFS Coordinator at Putnam County, FL Emergency Animal Support / ESF-17
Former Member, Board of Directors at The Humane Society of Northeast Florida
Former Meeting Secretary at Putnam County Animal Coalition
Former Board of Directors at Station #20, Volunteer Fire Dept. Putnam County
Former Volunteer at Station #20, Volunteer Fire Dept. Putnam County
Former Member of the Community Emergency Response Team, Alachua County
Former Member of the Florida State Animal Response Coalition
Canine First Aid/CPR certified thru American Red Cross
Retired - Criminal Justice Tech II at Alachua County Sheriff's Office Gainesville, FL
Graduated Business Administration at St. Johns River State College
Studied Business Administration at Santa Fe State College
Studied Public Education at National Fire Academy
Co-Authored the Book -Service Dogs, Information Every Handler Should Know
James Godwin
Board Member
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Sam Walker
HSD Trainer
Board Member
Sam followed her lifetime love of helping dogs to a career as a professional dog trainer.
Good Dog LLC has been operating out of Casper, Wyoming since 2013 with a commitment to bettering the human dog relationship.
As a professional member of the International Association of Canine Professionals, Sam prides herself on staying on the cutting edge of animal behavioral science and dedicating herself fully to the most effective training tools and techniques.
AKC-Approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Community Canine Evaluator, Urban Canine Good Citizen, S.T.A.R. Puppy Instructor & Evaluator thru the American Kennel Club
Member of International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)
Shayne Henkel
HSD Trainer
Board Member
Shayne has always had a serious interest in dog training and sports. She has shadowed many professionals off and on over the last nine years and has completed internships, certifications, formal training schools, and seminars.
Shayne Henkel is the driving force behind Fetchhelp.org, which trains dogs for land mine detection and is the first service dog training program in Ukraine.
She has been a successful touring theatrical technician for the last several years. She has been a part of many successful Broadway hits. During her off time, she has always had a serious interest in dog training and sports.
Shayne is honored to be a NePoPo Gold School graduate. In 2020 she successfully completed study with Bart and Michael Bellon at their NePoPo Silver school before continuing on to complete Gold school.
Shayne has also spent time training and interning with some of the service dog industry’s leading trainers at Heat & Soul Dog Training, LLC and Hope Service Dogs, Inc.
In November 2020, Shayne assisted in teaching the NePoPo Service Dog School with Victoria Warfel which was a wonderful opportunity.
Certified NePoPo® Gold Instructor
NePoPo® Electronic Collar Training Certification
NePoPo® Silver School Graduate
NePoPo® Gold School Graduate
NePoPo® New Gold School Graduate with Piotr Kaczmarek & Patrick Lockett
AKC-Approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Community Canine Evaluator, Urban Canine Good Citizen, S.T.A.R. Puppy Instructor & Evaluator thru the American Kennel Club
Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI)
Member of International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)
Holly Robinson
Board Member
Stuff goes here
Rhonda Coleman
Board Member
Rhonda grew up in Southern California and now lives in West Central Florida with her husband and teenage son.
She worked as a phlebotomist and became a licensed EMT while attending the College of Oceaneering and Commercial Air Diver and Diver Medic upon graduating. She continued her education in Louisiana becoming a licensed Hyperbaric Technologist and Advanced Diving Medical Technician in addition to Wound Care Specialist and Hyperbaric Research Assistant before transferring to a Florida hospital as Director of Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine. After adopting their son, Rhonda worked as County Director- Citrus, Hernando and Sumter counties for Special Olympics Florida. Florida Developmental Disabilities Council- Partners in Policymaking graduate 2012.
Rhonda has a love for dogs and a deep passion for helping others. And she is often found volunteering in some manner.
Her family is home to two service dogs. Kona, her personal SD, is professionally/owner trained. Gypsy, her sons SD, is professionally trained and an HSD original.
Board of Directors
Members:
Leadership:
Executive Director: Victoria Warfel
President of the Board: Richard Warfel
Vice-President of the Board: Theresa A. Jennings
Secretary of the Board: Victoria Warfel
Treasurer of the Board: William Howard
NePoPo® is a registered Service Mark of Bart Bellon and Michael Bellon .