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.
Polly Thorpe
Board Secretary
Polly is a native of Northern England, and holds an MA in English Literature from the University of Leeds. Polly relocated to Wisconsin in 2018 and became a permanent resident of America in the same year. While her two beloved Jack Russell Terriers (Violet & Vinnie) remain in England in the care of her family, she still speaks to them on Facetime as often as possible. Since relocating to Wisconsin, Polly has contributed six years of clerical and administrative support to the State of Wisconsin, most recently as a Payroll Tax Specialist with the Department of Revenue. Polly has also enjoyed providing executive support, technical writing and customer service to a variety of non profit projects and organizations.
In the summer months, Polly enjoys kayaking, hiking, cycling and exploring the Midwest and great lakes region of America with her husband. During the winter months however, Polly prefers to remain indoors away from the cold, reading Gothic fiction and watching movies.
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.
Krishi Khandor
Digital Marketing Manager
Hearing about YHD she was excited about getting involved because she’s an animal lover and thought it’d be a great way to put her skills into something meaningful. Krishi’s dedication to continuous learning and innovation drives her to stay at the forefront of digital marketing advancements. She is committed to using her expertise to create impactful and effective marketing solutions that resonate with diverse audiences.
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.
Nurillokhon Azamov
Web Developer
Nurillokhon Azamov is an experienced Web Developer & IT Support Professional from the United States. With over 5 years of expertise, he specializes in both front-end and back-end technologies. He is passionate about creating user-friendly, responsive websites. Nurillokhon has worked with a variety of clients, delivering innovative and scalable web solutions. Always eager to learn new technologies, he stays up-to-date with industry trends.
Zhifan Jia
Web Developer
Zhifan was born and raised in China and recently graduated from Tufts University, where he honed his programming skills. He is excited to embark on the next chapter of his journey, using his expertise to make a meaningful difference.
In his free time, Zhifan enjoys spending time with his two beloved doodles: a one-and-a-half-year-old Labradoodle and a Bernedoodle puppy. During the summer, he often takes them on hiking trips, combining his love for nature and his furry companions.
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.
Kas Rosenthal
Grant Researcher
Kas grew up with dogs and has always had a love for them. Their childhood dog, Rosco, is now enjoying his golden years, still just as spry as the day Kas got him from the animal shelter!
In their free time, Kas likes to take care of their house plants, browse thrift stores for antique home decor, try out DIY crafts, paint, read, and take walks around the neighborhood.
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.
Rahul Kumar
Hiring Manager
Rahul Kumar Reddy Chaganti is a hiring manager with expertise in talent acquisition, workforce development, and organizational growth. He holds a Master’s degree in Information Technology and Management from the Illinois Institute of Technology and has experience in recruitment strategy, employee engagement, and building high-performing teams.
In addition to his role in talent acquisition, Rahul is also a skilled DevOps Engineer with expertise in containerization, CI/CD automation, and cloud platforms. He has worked at Ford Motors, enhancing cloud infrastructure and deployment procedures. Proficient in AWS, Azure, Terraform, Kubernetes, and Docker, he is passionate about improving system scalability and efficiency.
Beyond his professional career, Rahul has a deep love for dogs and understands the life-changing impact they have. Having grown up with a dog in his hometown, he is especially enthusiastic about Your Hearing Dog, Inc.’s mission to train service canines for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with dogs, exploring new technologies, and contributing to initiatives that create a positive social impact.
