Our Team

Our staff of behavioral trainers is passionate about our mission to keep dogs forever safe and sound, and our experience and qualifications are of the highest caliber to help you accomplish your training goals

Steve Frost

KPA CTP, CPBT-KA, SBA, Licensed Falconer,
Lead Behavioral Trainer, Master Level, and President of A Sound Beginning Chicago

Steve is a professional trainer and educator, teaching others how to apply force-free training techniques to effectively modify behavior. He is directly responsible for developing and implementing a positive reinforcement-based behavior department at Anderson Animal Shelter (Now Anderson Humane Society). Such efforts were critical in increasing annual adoptions by over 900%!

Amber Walker

BS, KPA CTP
Master Trainer

Amber Walker is a zoologist and professional animal trainer with over 25 years of experience working with more than 180 species. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology and is a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy. Amber specializes in companion dog training and K9 conservation detection, and currently consults with zoos and aquariums. She is the owner of Animal Intuitions and has worked with organizations including Brookfield Zoo, Shedd Aquarium, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and the Alaska SeaLife Center.

Jeff Joyce

CPDT-KA
Master Level, Program Manager

Jeff is certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, a member of The Association for Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), and The Pet Professional Guild (PPG). He is the director for shelter behavior program for the nonprofit Positive Solutions for A Sound Beginning. He also provides community support with virtual, phone, or in-home behavioral consultations in order to help pet parents keep their animals instead of surrendering them to the shelter, and he serves as a mentor for new and existing dog trainers in Florida.

Erica Kendzora

KPA-CTP

Trainer

Erica is a certified trainer through the Karen Pryor Academy Program and a member of the Pet Professional Guild. She uses force-free methods to help people effectively communicate with their pets in a way that is fun for all involved and builds a great foundation of trust!

Cassie Williams

KPA CTP
Trainer

Cassie has loved animals since childhood. Her parents let her bring home almost whatever she wanted...a puppy from a neighbor’s litter, fish, mice, birds, tadpoles. All throughout high school and during breaks from college, she worked at a local aquarium and pet supply store. Helping people with their animals has always been a calling of hers.

Julie Dorsey-Oskerka

Program Founder

In 2012, Julie collaborated with certified trainers and the rescue community to come up with a Positive Solution to the problem of seeing dogs adopted but being returned… knowing that if people had a support system to get them through the first few weeks, the revolving door would stop and more dogs would stay in their homes.

Laura Young

Lead Administrator

Laura has been involved with the rescue and training community in various capacities since 2014, including working for a time assisting with administrative duties for our parent company.

Jennifer Nowachek

KPA CTP
Trainer

Jennifer is a certified Karen Pryor Academy Training Partner who believes in using positive reinforcement training methods. Her certification and ongoing positive reinforcement education help ensure you are getting the best training available.

Kathryn Staron

CPDT-KA
Trainer

Kathryn Staron is a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA) whose approach is firmly rooted in building strong, trust-based relationships between dogs and their human families. She emphasizes open, two-way communication and sees dog training as the process of learning a new language—one she enjoys decoding alongside her clients. Her sessions are guided by empathy, clarity, and a deep understanding of behavior, with the goal of developing confident dogs who feel secure and understood in their homes.

Hannah Duncan

FFCP

Trainer

Hannah started her career in animal welfare as a caregiver at a local shelter while completing her undergraduate degree in production design at DePaul University. She quickly discovered her passion for animal behavior and dove headfirst into the world of canine and feline training. Through thousands of hours of hands-on experience, she garnered a deep understanding of science-backed, positive-reinforcement training.

Brian Zeman

CPDT-KA
Trainer

Brian has been working with, and training dogs, since 2014. After stopping in at a shelter to learn about adopting, Brian realized that his schedule at the time was not conducive to having a dog. Still wanting to help, he began volunteering at a local rescue to fulfill his joy of dogs and helping those in need. After a year volunteering, Brian was hired as a staff member where he began to learn the ins and outs of formal animal behavior science.

Brandi Velez

ABCDT

Trainer

Brandi discovered her passion for dog training while fostering for a local rescue, where she gained hands-on experience working with dogs of all backgrounds. Inspired to deepen her knowledge, she became certified through Animal Behavior College and began offering in-home private training sessions.

Shannon Patton

KPA CTP, FFCP, CCRA

Trainer

Shannon brings nearly 12 years of experience in veterinary medicine to her work as a trainer, offering a strong foundation in behavior, body language, and fear-free handling. She is a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Assistant (CCRA) with hands-on rehabilitation experience, a Fear Free Certified Professional (FFCP), and a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP).

Adrienne Ostrowski

FFCP

Trainer

Adrienne began her dog training journey in 2002 with her newly adopted rescue puppy, Rascal. Knowing Rascal would grow into a large dog, she committed to training early on to build the skills and confidence needed to handle her. What started as puppy training quickly became a lifelong pursuit—they never stopped learning together. Along the way, they formed an incredible bond that made every moment of the journey worthwhile.  

Desare Techmanski

KPA CTP

Trainer

Desare grew up surrounded by animals, and this lifelong proximity to various species fueled a deep-seated passion for training. Her dedication to dog and animal training is driven by a desire to ensure they receive the highest standard of care.

Teagan Ferris

KPA CTP

Trainer

Teagan Ferris developed an early connection to animals, shaped largely in part by her father’s work as a zookeeper at Brookfield Zoo. From caring for household pets to interacting with exotic animals, her incredible childhood included experiences like feeding rhinoceros and teaching rrangutans cooperative husbandry . These encounters sparked a lasting interest in animal behavior and the science behind the function of animal behavior.