Candidate for President

I am extremely honored to have been nominated as a candidate for the office of President for the GSPCA.

In running again for President there are a few things that are important to me. As the sport of dogs evolves, I want to continue to do all I can to ensure that the GSPCA evolves along with it. When my husband and I got our first Shorthairs there were just four venues to take part in – Conformation, Field Trials, Hunt Tests and Obedience. It is amazing how many opportunities are now offered for our GSPs to compete in – Agility, Rally, Scent Work, Dock Diving and the list continues to grow. I feel as the Parent Club we need to embrace the new events offered by the AKC but at the same time it is vital that we do all we can to maintain interest in the traditional venues of Field Trials and Conformation as they are the means to achieve the ultimate in our breed, the Dual Champion.

I believe it is important that we do all that we can to involve youth in our sport of dogs – ALL venues. As a board we have come up with some new ideas that hopefully will add to their participation. I would like to see us continue to find creative ways to involve them even more.

I am fortunate to have a great group of dedicated individuals serving with me on the Board of Directors. Despite the challenges of the past few years, we have made progress. The Board has had two strategic planning sessions, the Journal is back on schedule, the bylaws have been revised and the website is going through a huge modernization and refresh. We are now holding periodic member meetings over Zoom and we continue to look for additional ways to keep members up to date.

For those of you that don’t know me – My husband Ron and I have been married for 38 years and after owning a Weimaraner we researched different hunting breeds and bought our first Shorthairs in 1991.  In July of 1992 we attended the Hunt Test Training sponsored by the GSPC of IL, in August we were at our first hunt tests walking behind braces, in September we got our first blaze orange Junior Hunt Test qualifying ribbons and have “gone to the dogs” ever since.

We have competed in Hunt Tests, Obedience, Field Trials and Show. We added two puppies to our home this year and plan to add to that list! My husband and I are both AKC Field Trial and Hunt Test Judges and I am a CGC evaluator.

I am currently the Secretary/Treasurer and Show Chairman for the Fort Dearborn Club GSPC. I have served as Chairman and Secretary for Field Trials, Hunt Tests, and Specialty Shows. I was Secretary for the Scent Work trial held with the 2021 NSS in East Peoria. While Obedience Chairman for the GSPC of IL, I spearheaded the effort to have the club approved to hold Obedience Trials. I am also a member of NAVHDA at the National and Local levels.

Personally home is 23 acres about 70 miles south of Chicago which we share with our dogs, horses, cat, the “homers” and a few chickens. I received my BS in Business Administration from the University of IL at Chicago and achieved my Senior HR Professional certification in 2002 and my SHRM-SCP in 2015. I am a member of the Project Management Institute. I have held management positions in Human Resources at several companies including T-Mobile, Andrew Corporation, Durham School Services/National Express and Elevance Renewable Sciences. I now run my own HR/Talent Acquisition Consulting firm. I am a member of numerous professional HR organizations and served as Treasurer for the Kankakee Area HR Management Association.  I also have an Illinois Real Estate License.

If re-elected I hope to do more for the GSPCA and the breed I love by working with our Board, our dedicated committees and volunteers and local clubs.

Please feel free to reach out to me anytime at 815-365-2819 or president@gspca.org.