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
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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.
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.
Penny Lai
Grant Researcher/Writer
Colleen Halat
Content Creator/Storyteller
Colleen is a freelance writer with an academic background in English literature. She has been bilaterally hard-of-hearing since birth, deaf in one ear due to atresia-microtia and a hearing aid user in the other.
When she’s not composing promotional materials for businesses and nonprofits, Colleen enjoys cooking with spicy peppers, playing the flute, and chilling with her 3 cats. While no substitute for a service dog, cats can help narrow down the location of vague sounds around the house. Is it the doorbell? Stove on the fritz again? Truck backing up? Check wherever the cats are gathered!
Colleen is thrilled to help Your Hearing Dog Inc. in its mission to match HOH clients with a supportive and devoted service dog!
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.
Jason Tsoi
Fundraising Manager
Jason Tsoi, from Hong Kong, China, is a Business Administration student with professional experience in e-commerce and marketing. As a former e-commerce sales supervisor, he managed digital marketing campaigns and online stores, developing expertise in strategic planning and operations. Jason is also committed to community service, with a background in volunteering for food banks and other initiatives. At Your Hearing Dog, he brings his business acumen and dedication to supporting the organization’s mission of empowering individuals with hearing disabilities.
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.
