Our Team
Meet the People Behind Hope Service Dogs
At Hope Service Dogs, our work is personal.
Our team brings together professional dog trainers, service dog handlers, board members, volunteers, and advocates who share a commitment to helping people with disabilities and developing exceptional service dogs. Together, we work to breed, raise, train, and support exceptional Golden Retriever service dogs and the people who depend on them.
Victoria Warfel
Head HSD Trainer
Executive Director
Secretary of the Board
Victoria is the founder and Executive Director of Hope Service Dogs, Inc. and the organization's Head Trainer. She has more than 20 years of professional experience in dog training and service dog training, with a particular focus on developing service dogs from puppyhood through their transition to working partners.
Her experience as both a service dog owner and professional trainer gives her a unique perspective on the challenges and responsibilities involved in creating successful service dog teams.
Victoria is also available for service dog consulting, workshops, and speaking engagements.
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NePoPo® Certified Gold Premium Trainer
NePoPo® Electronic Collar Training Certification & License
NePoPo® Gold Premium Graduate (one of 10 graduates)
NePoPo® Silver School Graduate (attended 4 times)
NePoPo® Gold School Graduate (attended 5 times)
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 Service Dogs at the 2026 United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation’s (UMDF) Mitochondrial Medicine Conference, known as MitoMed 2026 in Orlando, Florida
Speaker on Puppy Development at the 2025 Working Dog Conference annual conference in Nashville, Tennessee
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
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 Farm Dog Certified Judge
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
Certified Canine Kinesiology Tape Practitioner
Certified Canine Essential Oils Practitioner, Levels 1 & 2
Certified in Aromatherapy
Certified Animal Reiki Practitioner
Usui Reiki Master
Best Selling Author
Canine First Aid/CPR certified thru American Red Cross
Richard Warfel
HSD Trainer
Treasurer of the Board
Richard brings a calm, patient approach to dog training and works with both dogs and their owners to address training and behavioral challenges.
His professional training background includes NePoPo®, IACP certification and membership, AKC evaluator credentials, and other professional training certifications.
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Certified NePoPo® Gold Instructor
NePoPo® Electronic Collar Training Certification & License
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
Board Member
Bill is a retired computer engineer, Air Force veteran, and longtime supporter of Hope Service Dogs. He brings technical, organizational, and life experience to the HSD Board and is part of the family behind the organization.
Rhonda Coleman
Board Member
Rhonda brings extensive experience in healthcare, emergency medical services, disability advocacy, and community service. She is also a service dog handler and has firsthand experience with both professionally trained and owner-trained service dogs.
Holly Robinson
President of the Board
Holly is an Army veteran, service dog handler, and veterinary technician with experience in emergency and general companion animal medicine. She brings both professional animal-care experience and firsthand experience as a service dog handler to the HSD Board.
Shayne Henkel
HSD Trainer
Board Member
Shayne has extensive experience in professional dog training, service dog training, and working-dog programs. She is a NePoPo® Gold School graduate and has worked with Hope Service Dogs and other professional trainers in developing her training expertise.
She is also involved with Fetchhelp.org, a program focused on training dogs for land-mine detection and service dog work in Ukraine.
Board of Directors
Members:
Leadership:
Executive Director: Victoria Warfel
President of the Board: Holly Robinson
Secretary of the Board: Victoria Warfel
Treasurer of the Board: Richard Warfel
Hope Service Dogs also benefits from professional relationships with individuals who provide specialized expertise and guidance.
Veterinary & Medical Advisors
Dr Len Lucero - Sumter Mobile Vet
Dr Nathan Craddock - Blue Ridge Veterinary Imaging
Their expertise helps support our commitment to the health and well-being of the dogs entrusted to our care.
Our Commitment
Every person on the Hope Service Dogs team contributes something different.
Professional training experience.
Service dog experience.
Veterinary knowledge.
Disability experience.
Military experience.
Business and organizational experience.
Together, those perspectives help us make better decisions for our dogs, our clients, and the future of Hope Service Dogs.
It takes a team to change a life.
And our team is committed to doing exactly that.
Advisory Board
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