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.
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.
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.
Alex Montis
Blog Writer
Alex has Level 3 Reiki Master certification and NVQ Level 3 in Playwork. She started writing blogs one year and some months ago. She enjoys writing short stories and poems as well.
Alex is originally from Italy but lives in Northern Ireland, UK. She enjoys long-distance walks, taking pictures with her camera, and sometimes she does modelling clay; Alex is currently learning wood carving. She grew up with German Shepherd dogs but doesn’t own any dogs; the beauty in the picture belongs to her parents; her name is Sally.
Jessica Bowden
Finance Manager
Jess is from Athens, Georgia and a graduate of Colorado State University Global with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Jess recently left the veterinary medicine field working alongside some amazing veterinarians she is lucky to call friends. Working as a veterinary assistant for five years came with sacrifices which led her to her recent career change to personal finance. With her love for animals being a vital part of the person she has become, Jess has found a way to still be involved by volunteering.
Since Jess was a little girl, she always had a pet or two as the priceless companions they are to humans. She had to say goodbye suddenly to her best friend Lily who was her eight year old border collie sheltie mix back in March 2023. Currently she has her five year old red heeler Evie and the newest addition Pepper who is a year old heeler terrier mix. She has a soft spot for herding dogs if you couldn’t tell!
In her free time, she loves listening to music, hiking with her dogs, and traveling.
Katie Holland
Grant Researcher/Writer
Katie has always felt drawn towards helping people and animals. While she adores all animals, she has a particular place in her heart for dogs. She earned her BA in English Writing from the University of Colorado Denver and is pursuing her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Capella University. Due to her natural interest in research and writing, along with her passion for helping others and animals, Katie is honored for the opportunity to support YHD’s mission.
In her spare time, Katie enjoys reading thriller and suspense novels and spending time with her family and pups. Despite being a mom to a spirited toddler, she continues to consider her two rescue dogs her babies.
Diane Martinez
Program Manager
Diane, a dedicated advocate for inclusive experiences in tech, holds a bachelor’s degree in Interactive Media Design. Originally from NYC, she ventured to the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area to pursue her passion further. With a diverse career spanning roles from web producer and developer to product and program manager, Diane brings a wealth of expertise to her work.
Outside of the tech realm, Diane’s heart belongs to the natural world, nurtured since childhood through her various pets. Each animal friend has taught her about the delicate balance of nature and its intrinsic beauty.
When she’s not immersed in the digital landscape, you’ll likely find Diane pounding the pavement on a run or pushing through a HIIT workout to stay fit and energized. And when it’s time to unwind, she cherishes moments with her husband, Alex, and their adopted doghter, JubiLee.
Jane McCormack
Content Creator
Jane earned her Masters Degree in Teaching from Boston University. She currently teaches Business Communications and AP Language & Composition at a local high school. Jane also works as a freelance writer and content creator. Her father has always taught her the value of volunteer work and community service. Jane was drawn to YHD, Inc. given its worthy mission and involvement with dogs. Her youngest dog is a certified therapy dog and greatly enjoys volunteering at the local library Puppy Tales program where young children read her stories.
For fun, Jane enjoys hiking with her two dogs, Keelie, a Great Pyr mix, and Roo the Heeler. She also loves long trail rides on her horse, Gus. Jane would rather be outdoors than in, and makes the most of any season, whether it be kayaking in the summer or snowshoeing in the winter. Jane also has a severe case of Wanderlust and frequently travels with her son who lives on the opposite coast
Ashraful Arefin
Web Expert
