About Us
20+ Years of Nonprofit Management Experience
About Us
We Train Hearing Dogs Who Transform Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing People's Lives
Hearing dogs are custom-trained to assist people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, they are working partners for people with disabilities. Hearing dogs are specifically trained to support the needs of severely hearing impaired people. They serve as their owners’ ears and provide the added benefit of companionship.
Interested In A Dog?
Our Mission
Mission Statement
Our Vision
Vision Statement
Our Team
Team YHD
![](https://yourhearingdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/David-Allery.png")
David Allery
Board Chairman
David grew up around dogs, primarily herding breeds, and loves the companionship they provide. He’s hard-of-hearing and has been for 20+ years. With a master’s degree in nonprofit management and fund development, he’s very much looking forward to supporting the deaf and HOH community with Your Hearing Dog, Inc.
In his spare time David enjoys writing and publishing (the author of six books) as well as traveling, hanging out with family and friends and spending time with his wife, Robin, and their dog TJ.
Pravahlika Chava
Board Treasurer
Pravahlika Chava is a finance professional with a background in financial planning, cost analysis, and performance evaluation. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Financial Analytics at Oregon State University and has experience in financial consulting, budgeting, and variance analysis. With expertise in financial modeling, data-driven decision-making, and QB & SAP systems, she is passionate about using financial insights to support strategic growth and operational efficiency for organizations.
Pravahlika has always been an avid reader of fiction but has recently developed a strong interest in nonfiction, particularly historical and philosophical works. In her spare time, she enjoys deep discussions on strategy, military history, and timeless literature.
As Board Treasurer at Your Hearing Dog Inc., Pravahlika is committed to ensuring financial integrity and supporting the nonprofit’s mission through sound financial management. She is excited to contribute her skills to the organization’s growth and impact in any way she can.
Pinaki Nakod
Board Member
Pinaki is a biotech professional with extensive experience in research and a deep passion for scientific discovery. A graduate of the University of Alabama, Pinaki’s love for animals led to the discovery of Your Hearing Dog, a cause close to the heart.
At home, Pinaki shares life with two beloved dogs—Ollie, a spirited 4-year-old Morkie, and Cleo, a loving 5-year-old—who share an unbreakable bond. In free time, Pinaki enjoys exploring new places, hiking scenic trails, and experimenting in the kitchen. Whether advancing research or spending time outdoors, curiosity and passion drive every endeavor.
Samantha Charintranond
Content Creator
From Chicago, IL, Samantha is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. Her love for animals led her to discover Your Hearing Dog. Specializing in content creation and writing, she is thrilled to be able to support Your Hearing Dog through her talents. Samantha currently has a three-year-old cat named Skunk, and she had a tiny but mighty Chihuahua named Bella whom she loved and misses every day.
In her free time, she loves to read, spend time with friends, travel, chase around her one-year-old nephew, and listen to music.
Nichole Hayashida
Content Creator
Nichole is a graduate of Sacramento State in California with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Having discovered YHD Inc. she knew it’d be an exciting opportunity to use her writing skills as well as serve the deaf and hard-of-hearing-community. She studied three semesters of ASL and while not fluent, she still enjoys learning new signs.
In her spare time Nichole enjoys reading, writing, and sewing. While she doesn’t have a dog herself since her childhood dog Penny passed, she’s thrilled to be involved in the work YHD Inc. does, as she knows that the love of a dog can last forever.
Carrie Hurkes
Blog Writer
Carrie is a life-long resident of Minnesota, and has worked for several years in program and project coordination for nonprofits. An avid writer in her youth, she returned to this passion, particularly creative writing, over the last year through volunteer work with animal rescue and marketing nonprofits. With a great love for dogs and helping others, she was excited to use her writing skills to support an organization that works with dogs to help the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
Carrie grew up with many different breeds of dogs, each providing so much companionship, fun and devotion. Last summer, her golden retriever, Penny, joined the family and brought an abundance of joy, love and silliness. Aside from spending time with her dog, she enjoys reading, doing yoga, hiking and traveling to new places.
Esther Bankole-Omotola
Fundraising Manager
program implementation. Before transitioning to the non-profit space, she was an entrepreneur with businesses in real estate and food service.
Nur
Web Developer
Nur is a web developer with a creative eye and a passion for designing user-friendly digital experiences. When she discovered Your Hearing Dog, she knew it was the perfect opportunity to use her skills to support a meaningful cause.
She grew up with a beloved dog named Budi in Indonesia, who was her loyal companion for six years. Though Budi now stays with her family, he still holds a special place in her heart.
Nur has always loved expressing creativity, whether through coding or other creative outlets. Her background in computer science fuels her love for problem solving, and she enjoys finding innovative ways to build and improve websites.
Garima Dubey
Advertising Manager
Garima Dubey is passionate about making a difference through volunteer work.
With a background in advertising analytics, she brings strong analytical and problem-solving skills to any team. She is eager to contribute her time and expertise to YourHearingDog.org, supporting its mission to assist individuals with hearing loss. Garima is committed to giving back to the community and making a meaningful impact.
Sweetaleena Samantaray
Business Analyst
Weiheng Dong
Supply chain management professional
Weiheng is passionate about the mission of Your Hearing Dog, which connects hearing dogs with the hard-of-hearing community. His love for animals and desire to give back drive his commitment to supporting this important cause.
In his spare time, Weiheng enjoys hiking, golfing, and volunteering.
Penny Lai
Grant Researcher/Writer
Mihir Deo
Business Analyst
Beyond his technical abilities, Mihir thrives in collaborative environments where he can bridge the gap between data insights and business outcomes. His international experience across the United States, India, and the UAE has cultivated his adaptability and cross-cultural perspective, enabling him to approach problems with both analytical rigor and empathy for the end user. Whether optimizing pricing strategies, designing A/B testing frameworks, or building automated dashboards, Mihir consistently demonstrates how data can be harnessed to create meaningful business impact and drive strategic decision-making.
Supriya Boga
Advertising Team Member
Supriya Boga is a dedicated software developer with a strong background in full-stack development, cloud computing, and data analytics. She holds a master’s degree in information technology and management from Illinois Institute of Technology and hasexperience working with technologies like React, Django, AWS, and Kubernetes.
Throughout her career, she has contributed to building scalable applications, optimizing system performance, and automating workflows.
At Your Hearing Dog Inc., Supriya brings her technical expertise and creative problem-solving skills to the advertising team, helping to enhance outreach efforts and increase awareness of the organization’s mission. She is passionate about leveraging technology
and digital strategies to create meaningful connections between people and causes.
Beyond her professional work, Supriya has a deep love for animals and strongly believes in their well-being. She has a Shih Tzu as her pet and enjoys spending time with her, caring for her, and playing with her. Her compassion and dedication to animal welfare drive her to support initiatives that help improve their lives. In her free time, she loves exploring emerging technologies, coding new projects, and finding ways to integrate tech solutions into everyday life.
Yunqing Li
Advertising Team Member
Yunqing holds a Master’s degree in Business Analytics from the University of Rochester and has extensive experience in marketing analytics and advertising strategies.
An animal lover at heart, she shares her home with two cats and a dog. Yunqing is enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute her skills to Your Hearing Dog.
In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding, hiking, and taking her dog on adventures to enjoy the sunshine.
Rick Paulson
Web Developer
Years ago in the 8th grade, everyone in my school took an aptitude test. Of the
few things I remember from that part of my early education (besides my crush on lovely Marilyn), was the result of the test: Best choice of a career is Foreign Correspondent. At least I didn’t feel obligated to follow in my Dad’s footsteps.
There’s nothing wrong with being a factory worker, but I didn’t imagine a life
of doing the same thing every day.
Only years later, did I realize that Foreign Correspondent was actually an accurate prediction, if only in the abstract. As I discovered the larger world
outside my small hometown in the Pacific
Northwest, I was drawn to several forms of communication, most of which were foreign to me at the time. I learned something in each my jobs as newsletter editor, photojournalist, radar
operator (near the Russian border), radio station program director, podcast
producer, website developer, and information architect. Perhaps I’ve now come full circle as a Foreign Correspondent in my new
volunteer role as a member of the YHD website team. I’m so glad to join all of
the gifted volunteers in the important work they are doing!
Diana Kethess
Online Community Coordinator
Diana is a graduate with a Level 3 Business National Diploma from the UK. During her studies, she developed a passion for digital marketing, which she found both challenging and rewarding.Having discovered YHD Inc, she knew this interest would lead her to explore various aspects of the digital world, from social media strategies to content creation, enhancing her skills and knowledge in the field.
In her spare time, Diana enjoys immersing herself in the world of books, finding solace and inspiration in reading. She is also dedicated to helping her family, always ready to lend a hand and support them in any way she can. One of her favorite activities is going on hikes with her beloved dog. These hikes allow her to connect with nature, enjoy the fresh air, and experience the joy and companionship of her furry friend.
Haniye Dadashi
Web Developer
Haniye is a programmer with a deep passion for animals, especially dogs. She is eager to leverage her skills as a developer to create innovative solutions that improve the lives of people with disabilities. By collaborating with organizations like Your Hearing Dog,
Inc., she has the opportunity to contribute her expertise to a cause close to her heart.
Her dedication to both technology and animal welfare makes her a valuable asset in bridging the gap between innovation and accessibility.
