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.
Heather Brown
Grant Researcher/Writer
Heather earned her master’s degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism with an emphasis in
Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Utah in 2013. She is a certified Adaptive Recreation
and Sports Specialist from the Blazesports Institute and is a certified as a Therapeutic Recreation
Specialist by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.
Her background includes working through the rehabilitation process with individuals diagnosed with
complex disabilities, event planning, grant research and writing, and project management.
With her recreation therapy experience, she has become a strong advocate for assisting individuals
with disabilities identify their strengths and overcome their perceived barriers.
When not working, she enjoys gardening, yoga, baking, hiking with her dog, and just spending time
outside with friends and family.
Sylvia Kang
PR/Marketing Lead
Sylvia just received her master’s degree in public relations from Boston University. She has three years of experience in Public Relations and Marketing. Sylvia’s expertise lies in client engagement, event planning, and digital marketing skillset, with an extensive and highly effective background in social media content creation and media relations.
Sylvia enjoys walking around the park or spending time with her cat in her free time. She grew up with cats and dogs, so animals are always part of her life.
Delaney Ellis
Grant Research & Fundraising
Delaney grew up with dogs, and later became a foster pet parent with the ASPCA. They earned their Degree in Stockholm, where they learned a lot about telling stories thru both words and kraft.
Delaney has provided wears-many-hats support to various non profits ranging from: leading interviews, resource coordination, and data management. As a dog lover & true research nerd at heart they are thrilled to have this opportunity to apply their analytical, empathetic, and creative mindset to supporting YHD’s search for vital funding.
Ciara Carpenter
Volunteer Coordinator
(Colorado Region)
Ciara Carpenter received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Colorado State University-Pueblo. She currently works as an English teacher because she holds a passion for helping others.
Being a Pueblo, Colorado native as well coming from a military family, Your Hearing Dog, Inc struck a strong interest in her. She is honored to be a part of an organization that helps those who are deaf or hard of hearing and is looking forward to supporting the cause in any way she can.
In her free time, Ciara enjoys spending time in nature, traveling, experiencing new cultures, as well as spending time with her friends, family and dog Rio.
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.
Varshitha Lade
Sponsorship Sales
Varshitha is a final-year student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Warangal(India). She is drawn by the inspiring vision of Your Hearing Dog, Inc., and aspires to be part of something that adds significant value to the lives of individuals. Her fondness for dogs and pets in general adds an extra layer of excitement to this role and work with the organisation.
In her spare time, Varshitha is an avid reader. She enjoys swimming whenever she finds time. With prior experience in Event Management and Content, she aspires to learn and grow more by gaining first-hand experience and exposure in roles that align with her skills and interests.
As an individual and someone from a tech background, she aspires to leverage modern technologies to solve pressing problems that will make a difference, albeit small in the lives of people.
Neshia Velazquez
Advertising Manager
Neshia earned her master’s degree in Mass Communications, specializing in Digital Strategy, from the University of Florida in 2021. Her connection with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community began in high school, where she took two years of American Sign Language and was a proud member of the ASL Club.
In her spare time, Neshia enjoys gardening, CrossFit, and spending time with her family. Although Neshia does not own a dog, she is in the market for one.
Elizabeth Keyster
Sponsorship Sales
Elizabeth is a current student at the University of Missouri- St. Louis, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in International Business and a minor in French. Having worked with many deaf and hard-of-hearing charities before, Elizabeth was led to YHD and is enthusiastic to be a part of the team.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling and going to baseball games. While she is at college, her dogs reside in her hometown. They are very protective and energetic, and she misses them all the time.
Ashraful Arefin
Web Expert
Claudia Hernandez
Blogger/Content Writer
Claudia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Brooklyn College. I have been working in the Marketing industry for three years now, specializing in digital marketing. Working with diverse clients and their unique responsibilities has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Through this work, I have gained a wealth of knowledge and greatly enjoy helping them achieve their goals.
Claudia enjoys playing with or spending time with her friends and family’s dogs in her free time. Hopefully, someday, she will become a dog mom.
Belyn Balbon
Appointment Setter
My name is Belyn, and I am a professional freelancer specializing in appointment setting. I am dedicated to helping your business achieve sales success, particularly in the field of hearing dog services.
In my free time, I have a passion for reading and spending quality time with my beloved family and friends. Since I was young, my heart has always been drawn to dogs, and when I became a furmom to my own dog, my happiness knew no bounds. She has brought immense joy to my life and has become my lucky charm.
Ashraful Arefin
Web Expert
