The CCPDT® is governed by a Board of Directors that consists of no more than twelve and no less than seven directors. Mandatory positions include President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Public Member. The Public Member is someone whose profession is not working with animals. The Public Member’s role is to provide the perspective of dog owners and to ensure that their interests are considered during all discussions, decisions, and actions undertaken by the board. All board members, including the Public Member, have voting privileges.
Because we are a credentialing organization, not a membership organization, board members aren’t elected by the certificants, but rather by the current board. Instead we issue a call for nominations to fill any vacant seats on the board of directors once every year (or more often, if needed). Interested candidates submit a letter indicating why they would like to be considered for a board seat, and include information about their professional background.
All candidates are then interviewed by the CCPDT Executive Director with questions created by the CCPDT Nominations Committee. Finally, the CCPDT board votes on the candidates based on all the available information.
Look out for the annual call for board members. We announce it in our newsletter, on social media channels, and post it on our website.
But serving on the board is not the only opportunity to get involved with the CCPDT. If you would like to grow your professional network and give back to the profession, we are always looking to expand our energetic team of volunteers. Learn how you can contribute.
Ashley Foster, CBCC-KA®
President
afoster@ccpdt.org
Ashley Foster is a CBCC-KA and Professional Dog Trainer who has been training and consulting professionally for over 26 years. She is the founder and owner of Complete K-9, which offers science-based behavior consulting and various training services to build human-dog relationships. Fueled by a great passion for the progression and professionalization of the field, Ashley joined the CCPDT Board in 2018 and was elected president in 2021.
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Ashley Foster is a CBCC-KA™ and Professional Dog Trainer who has been training and consulting professionally for over 26 years. She is the founder and owner of Complete K-9, which offers science-based behavior consulting and various training services to build human-dog relationships. Ashley also provides consulting to veterinary practices, rehabilitation clinics, and animal-care businesses to develop stress-free and behaviorally sounds practices. Fueled by a great passion for the progression and professionalization of the field, Ashley joined the CCPDT Board in 2018 and was elected president in 2021.
She has participated in every facet of the dog training field, including performance, conformation, therapy dog training and program coordination, rescue and shelter work, animal care facility management and consulting, group class instruction, and private behavior modification. Ashley is the co-author of The Healthy Way to Stretch Your Dog, the 2009 Dog Writers Association of America – Maxwell Award Winner, and co-creator of the Therapeutic Handling for Canine Rehabilitation course for Canine Rehabilitation Institute.
Ashley has a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology from Colorado State University and lives in Laramie, WY, with her two- and four-legged family.
Lynne Stott, CPDT-KA®, CBCC-KA®
Treasurer
lstott@ccpdt.org
Lynne Stott is retired from a 20 year career in hospitality management and is currently a volunteer trainer at Pima Animal Care Center and member of the Leadership Team for TOP Dogs, a volunteer-run focus project supported by the Friends of PACC and concentrating on the needs of behavioral dogs in a municipal shelter.
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Lynne Stott is retired from a 20 year career in hospitality management with a CFBE designation from the University of Michigan and is former Adjunct Faculty for Northern Arizona University and Pima Community College. She is currently a volunteer trainer at Pima Animal Care Center and member of the Leadership Team for TOP Dogs, a volunteer run focus project supported by the Friends of PACC and concentrating on the needs of behavioral dogs in a municipal shelter. TOP Dogs trainers help to educate volunteers, fosters and adopters in behavior management and training techniques with the goal of making dogs more adoptable and keeping adopted dogs in their homes.
Lynne’s interest in behavioral science began in 1980 and spans years as a dual-licensed foster care provider for the Arizona Department of Economic Security and Pima County Juvenile Courts. Her home also served as a Time-Out Program 24 hour crisis placement location. Her service to community includes 3 years as an active member of the Military Affairs Committee at Davis a Monthan Air Force Base, providing a bridge of communication between local industry and base leadership.
With a passion to promote growth and professionalism in the dog training industry, Lynne joined CCPDT as a committee member a few years ago. She is now serving her first term on the Board and has accepted the responsibilities of Committee Chair for Professional Outreach.
Erica Kramer, MBA, PMP
Secretary, Public Member
ekramer@ccpdt.org
Erica is a lifelong dog lover. As a client of dog trainers, Erica appreciates and values regulated professional certification programs and ongoing learning that is required to maintain a certification. She holds a BA from the University of Minnesota, MBA from Capella University, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
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Erica is a lifelong dog lover. As a client of dog trainers, Erica appreciates and values regulated professional certification programs and ongoing learning that is required to maintain a certification. Sulley, Erica’s Golden Retriever, has earned his Canine Good Citizen and was a registered Therapy Dog through Pet Partners 2018- 2022; participating in the University of Minnesota PAWS program. Erica joined the CCPDT Board in 2022.
Erica holds a BA from the University of Minnesota, MBA from Capella University, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with over 15 years project management, program management, supervisory, and customer service experience in both public and private sectors. She has been a volunteer for the St. Paul Curling Club, Mississippi Valley Orchestra, and International Institute of Minnesota – Festival of Nations. Erica lives in Minnesota and shares her home with her Golden Retriever Sulley and cat Orson.
Erin Askeland, CPDT-KA®; CBCC-KA®
Director
easkeland@ccpdt.org
Erin Askeland specializes in helping build positive relationships between families and their new pets through play. She has over 20 years of experience in the pet care industry and focuses on education and continued learning for pet owners and pet professionals. Erin’s work also includes the development of a grant program to serve families and rescue groups who need financial assistance to help provide a dog life-altering medical care.
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Erin Askeland is currently the Animal Health & Behavior Consultant & Program Development Manager for Camp Bow Wow® doggy day care. She is also the owner of For the Love of Snouts where she specializes in helping build positive relationships between families and their new pets through play. She has over 20 years of experience in the pet care industry and focuses on education and continued learning for pet owners and pet professionals.
She assisted Fear Free’s development of their Fear Free Boarding and Daycare certification program to further these principles in the industry, and she continues to support efforts to spread safe, humane, and ethical pet care practices. Her work also includes the development of a grant program to serve families and rescue groups who need financial assistance to help provide a dog life-altering medical care. Her efforts with the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation® have led to providing grants to over 1,000 dogs nationwide.
Erin strives to make learning fun for everyone, from pets to people, and this attitude is reflected in her training philosophy, where she emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning for pets and their families to support their health and well-being. She holds a Master of Science in Clinical Animal Behavior and is a Fear Free Certified Professional Trainer.
Drake Azevedo, CPDT-KA®
Director
dazevedo@ccpdt.org
Drake Azevedo has been professionally training animals since 1999. He founded Dog as Copilot, a small service dog collaborative that assists owner-trainers on their journey toward independence. Drake provides one-on-one private training on all types of behavior problems and the usual pet interactions. He also manages Sarah’s Pet Sitting , a large pet-sitting agency in central Connecticut.
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Drake Azevedo has been professionally training animals since 1999. Before that, he was just messing around, as you do. He primarily focuses on dogs and seeks a better understanding of collaborative learning every day. Drake currently holds a CPDT-KA.
Drake manages Sarah’s Pet Sitting, a large pet-sitting agency in central Connecticut. He is responsible for training all newly hired pet sitters and provides ready assistance with fractious pets. Drake also provides one-on-one private training on all types of behavior problems and the usual pet interactions.
Drake founded and runs Dog as Copilot, a small service dog collaborative that assists owner-trainers on their journey toward independence.
Drake currently shares his life with three fabulous dogs and his partner. You will usually see Drake with his service dog, Solstice.
James Crosby, CBCC-KA®
Director
jcrosby@ccpdt.org
James Crosby has professionally trained dogs, taught individual and group obedience classes, and addressed canine behavior problems since 1999. He teaches safe handling, evaluation and rehabilitation of dangerous dogs and the investigation of fatal and serious dog attacks throughout the US, Canada, Italy, the UK, Poland and Australia.
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James Crosby has professionally trained dogs, taught individual and group obedience classes, and addressed canine behavior problems since 1999. He teaches safe handling, evaluation and rehabilitation of dangerous dogs and the investigation of fatal and serious dog attacks to police, animal control agencies and others across the US, Canada, Italy, the UK, Poland and Australia.
Jim is recognized in and out of court in the US and Canada as an expert on dangerous dogs, canine aggression, fatal dog attacks, and related issues. He has personally investigated over 20 fatal dog attacks on humans and has physically and behaviorally evaluated over 40 dogs involved post-attack. Jim served as chair of the review committee addressing dangerous dog procedures and processes for the government of the Australian Capital Territory in 2017/2018.
He authored two chapters in the textbook Dog Bites: A Multidisciplinary Approach and writes the dog aggression blog “Canine Aggression Issues with Jim Crosby”. Jim served as Animal Control Division Manager of Bay County Animal Control from 2008 to 2010 and has been Division Management Consultant to Jacksonville (FL) Animal Care and Protective Services since 2016.
Jim is a retired Police Lieutenant with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and a certified Animal Control Officer in Jacksonville, FL. He is also an Associate Member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, a Charter Member of the International Veterinary Forensic Science Association, and a Supporting Member of IAABC. Jim holds a M.S. in Veterinary Forensic Medicine and lives in the Jacksonville, FL area.
Brian Galea, CPDT-KA®, CBCC-KA®
Director
bgalea@ccpdt.org
Brian Galea is the founder of Snoot App Inc, a startup based out of Miami, FL. He has been training dogs professionally since 2016. Combining his years of scientific and research training, professional dog experience, and passion for building community, Brian’s goal is to bring quality support and standards to the pet industry.
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Brian Galea is the founder of Snoot App Inc, a startup based out of Miami, FL. He has been training dogs professionally since 2016. His focus is on behavioral issues in pet dogs and the effective and efficient education of everyday pet owners. In this time Brian has branched out into every corner of training practice, including therapy, agility, advanced obedience, and behavior modification – always with a focus on fast and effective education to build confidence in owners to be self-sufficient.
Brian is also the co-founder of the Heel-2-Heal non-profit in Miami FL, and tests new therapy dog teams for the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. This group provides a welcoming and engaging community for its members while creating new therapy dog programs at local high schools, libraries, airports, and hospitals.
He was previously on the medical career track, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Anthropology from the University of Miami and his Master’s Degree in Human Anatomy from Case Western Reserve University. After deciding to pursue a career with more flexibility and fulfillment, Brian pivoted professionally to business, obtaining his MBA from the Herbert Business School at the University of Miami and founding Snoot.
Combining his years of scientific and research training, professional dog experience, and passion for building community, Brian’s goal is to bring quality support and standards to the pet industry.
Linda LeFauve, CPDT-KA®, CBCC-KA®
Director
llefauve@ccpdt.org
Linda LeFauve is a former college administrator who has happily turned her full attention to dogs. She founded LeFauve Behavioral Consulting, working with rescue groups and shelters to support new dog adopters at no cost. She also volunteers with Continuing the Mission, a group that trains support dogs for veterans with diagnosed PTSD.
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Linda LeFauve is a former college administrator who has happily turned her full attention to dogs. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a graduate degree in experimental psychology with a clinical practicum. She founded LeFauve Behavioral Consulting, working with rescue groups and shelters to support new dog adopters at no cost. She does temperament testing, fostering, and transports for Malamute, Rottweiler, Akita, and Siberian husky rescue groups in additional to working with all-breed rescues and shelters. She also volunteers with Continuing the Mission, a group that trains support dogs for veterans with diagnosed PTSD.
Linda is a CPDT-KA, a CBCC-KA, and is certified fear-free through Fear Free Pets. She is a member of the Marketing and Communications Committee of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). She specializes in canine fear and fear aggression.
Brad Phifer, CPDT-KSA®, CBCC-KA®
Executive Director
bphifer@ccpdt.org
Bradley Phifer joined the CCPDT Board in 2009 and served as President from 2012 to 2017. His extensive experience includes roles as the Director of Animal Behavior Programs at the Humane Society of Indianapolis, the Director of Pet Behavior Services at the Broad Ripple Animal Clinic & Wellness Center, and the owner of Bradley Phifer Dog Training, which includes Seven Acres and Bark Tutor School for Dogs.
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Bradley Phifer joined the CCPDT Board in 2009 and served as President from 2012 to 2017. His extensive experience includes roles as the Director of Animal Behavior Programs at the Humane Society of Indianapolis, the Director of Pet Behavior Services at the Broad Ripple Animal Clinic & Wellness Center, and the owner of Bradley Phifer Dog Training, which includes Seven Acres and Bark Tutor School for Dogs.
In addition to his training and consulting work, Bradley is actively involved in AKC Conformation shows, exhibiting various breeds such as Affenpinschers, Afghan Hounds, Basenjis, and Ibizan Hounds. He is also a member of the Basenji Club of America, the Affenpinscher Club of America, and the Ibizan Hound Club of America. Bradley holds certifications as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge & Skills Assessed (CPDT-KA) and Certified Behavior Consultant Canine-Knowledge Assessed (CBCC-KA).
Public Policy Documents
We have a public policy page to give certificants and the public a central place to review the documents that underpin our governance. The documents are updated continuously.
CCPDT Public Policies