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

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.


Sweetaleena Samantaray
Board Secretary


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.

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.

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.

Kanupriya Guha
Web Developer
Kanupriya Guha is a machine learning engineer and web developer with a Master’s degree in Data Science from Rowan University. She brings over four years of experience across web development, data analysis, and scalable AI systems. Skilled in Python, WordPress, SQL, HTML/CSS, and visualization tools like Tableau and Power BI, she has built responsive websites and intelligent backend systems that serve both technical performance and user accessibility.
Kanupriya is deeply passionate about using technology for good. She has worked with mission-driven organizations to create inclusive digital experiences, and she is excited to contribute her skills to support Your Hearing Dog Inc.’s powerful mission. Beyond her technical background, Kanupriya has always had a strong connection with dogs. She finds their loyalty and emotional intelligence inspiring, and believes in the profound impact service animals can have on people’s lives—especially in communities with hearing challenges. In her free time, Kanupriya enjoys volunteering, exploring inclusive tech solutions, and staying involved in causes that blend compassion and innovation.
Guangyi Shi
Web Developer
Guangyi Shi is a business analyst specializing in business strategy, operations, and data analytics. He earned a Master’s degree in Business Analytics from the University of Rochester and has a strong background in data-driven problem-solving and process optimization. Guangyi is passionate about leveraging analytics to improve efficiency and support decision-making, contributing to streamlined workflows and enhanced operational performance in line with strategic goals.
Outside of work, Guangyi is an animal lover, with two cats and a dog. He enjoys spending time with his pets and is also interested in exploring the intersection of technology and human behavior, always looking for ways to apply analytical insights for real-world impact.