Staff & Board
Staff
Glenda Keller
CEO
Glenda is CEO of KSDS Assistance Dogs. She has been affiliated with KSDS since it was organized in 1990 and has served on the Board of Directors prior to becoming CEO.
Glenda received her BS and MS degrees in Education from Kansas State University. Her first career was with Kansas State University as a County Extension Agent and she retired from the University as a District Extension Director. She and her husband Paul have been puppy raisers of several dogs for KSDS. Currently a black lab breeder named Kora lives at their home.
Glenda believes in the mission of KSDS. Our goal is to raise well trained dogs, to enhance individual’s lives and their independence with the assistance of a dog.
Hannah Dittmer
Kennel Assistant
Hannah lives on a farm in Strawberry Township. She recently graduated from Linn High School and plans to attend Kansas State University to study Pre-Veterinary Medicine to become a veterinarian and work with large animals. Hannah loves working with the people and dogs at KSDS. She also loves spending time with animals, especially her chocolate lab, Grady and Horse, Lark. Outside of KSDS she is always busy with her awesome family, playing with Grady, working cattle, riding horses, playing softball and going out with friends.
David Funke
Kennel Assistant
David retired from KDOT after 33 years of highway maintenance work. He has always loved dogs and cats and enjoys any kind of helping others. David keeps busy being a substitute rural mail carrier for four different routes and enjoys helping part-time at KSDS when not delivering mail.
He and his wife, Jane, enjoy traveling together, spending time with family, helping with church activities, camping and watching movies. They also enjoy their dogs, Cooper and Charlie as well as two cats.
Marcia Funke
Grant Writer & Donor Manager
Marcia has worked at KSDS since 2008, and has participated in applying for grants, working with capital projects on campus, administering community service tax credits, maintaining donor software entry data and records, and fulfilling basic office duties as requested. Marcia is a graduate of Cloud County Community College and has a BA from Fort Hays State University. She is a member of Washington Lions Club and Modern Pioneers Club (GFWC). Marcia enjoys her affiliation with KSDS and celebrating the accomplishments of teams at graduation. Thanks to our donors who make all of this possible!
Marcia and her husband, Ron, enjoy traveling and weekend excursions, antique stores, working outside and spending time with family.
Sara Gustin
Service Dog Trainer/Instructor & Website Manager
Sara grew up in Hays, KS where her love for animals first blossomed. She joined the KSDS family in 2013 after graduating from Kansas State University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Animal Science and Industry. She loves working with the service dogs, getting to know their different personalities and watching them transform from pups to working service dogs. Her favorite part of her job is getting to work with the individuals who receive the service dogs and seeing how their lives are forever changed with their four-legged companion. Sara loves giving tours of the KSDS campus and talking about our assistance dogs and the independence they give their partners.
She enjoys spending time outside, especially going to the lake with family and friends. Sara and her husband, Keith, also enjoy just relaxing at home with their son, Levi, along with Spain, their yellow lab.
Anita Martin
Housekeeping
Anita Martin received her Cosmetology license in 1966 and owned and operated her own beauty shop in Washington, KS from 1973 to 2012. At that point, she took a part-time position with KSDS in the housekeeping department primarily cleaning the sixplex and the duplex. Anita also works part-time at Friendly Corners Senior Meal site in Washington. Outside of work, Anita and husband Gene enjoys following their grandchildren’s games and activities. Anita also likes to volunteer for many of her church’s activities.
Gene Martin
Maintenance
Gene Martin worked for John Deere in Marysville, Kansas for 45 years and retired in 2006. KSDS needed a maintenance man and groundskeeper at that time, so Gene began working part-time for KSDS. Gene’s responsibilities include making needed repairs to buildings including training centers and apartments. He also keeps the grounds looking nice by mowing, trimming and painting. Gene does many other tasks including adding lights to make the grounds safer, obtaining bids for various maintenance jobs, and researching the best option to take when upgrading our facilities. When Gene is not working, you might find him on the golf course on a nice day and delivering meals on wheels.
Annette Metz
Lead Service Dog Trainer/Instructor & Breeding Technician
Annette is an ADI Certified Service Dog Trainer and has an Associate in Applied Science, with a Major in Photography and a Minor in Graphic Design. Photography is a hobby that she still enjoys, along with spending long weekends at the lake, golfing and off road trips.
She has had a love for animals from a very young age. When growing up, there weren’t too many animals she hadn’t encountered on her parents family farm. She always wanted to be a Veterinarian but decided she didn’t want to attend several years of college.
She has two children, a son Taylor who attends K-State University and a daughter McKenzie who attends Washington County High School. McKenzie has also Puppy raised for KSDS. The family adopted a Career Change yellow Lab, Kenai, who is keeper of the house over the two felines that rule the block they live on.
McKenzie Metz
Kennel Assistant
McKenzie works as a Kennel Assistant during the summer, some weekends and after school. She loves working with all the dogs and people involved with KSDS. She enjoys participating in high school basketball and track and field. When McKenzie is not participating in sports, she stays busy with other school activities like FFA, FBLA and FCCLA. She is raising her second puppy for KSDS, a black Labrador retriever named Donkey Kong “Kong”.
Kristi Myers
Canine Housing Unit Coordinator & Apprentice Trainer
Kristi is from Rose Hill/Derby. She was hired after her five week internship in September of 2016. She has an Associate Degree in General Studies (Business) Liberal Arts. Kristi is a Certified Canine Training and Behavior Specialist from Starmark Academy in Hutto, Texas. Kristi has always had a love for animals and the desire and passion to help people since she was a young girl. This led Kristi to her career of dog training and wanting to specialize in service dog training. No matter the weather, Kristi’s favorite part of the day is spending time with all the dogs in group play and seeing their personalities shine! Kristi also enjoys giving tours of our campus and spreading awareness of KSDS campus activities.
Kristi has three pets of her own; Chloe, an old Jack Russell/Chihuahua Mix, Alton, a Dalmatian Mix who was her assigned rescue from Starmark, and Butters her Guinea Pig.
Letha Nelson
Lead Facility Dog Trainer/Instructor & Career Change Coordinator
Letha has an Associate’s Degree as a Medical Secretary and worked as an Administrative Assistant in the medical field for twenty-five years. Her passion always led her back to working with dogs, and helping people.
She trained/showed Quarter horses as a teenager and trained/showed her personally owned Golden Retrievers in obedience for many years. She was a volunteer puppy raiser for KSDS, raising four puppies, before beginning her employment at KSDS in 2010. Letha was also a volunteer with Pet Partners in Lincoln, Nebraska for ten years; visiting local hospitals with her personally owned Golden Retriever.
Letha is married, and the mother of two grown children. If you ask her about her only granddaughter, you will see her light up with pride. Her pets at home include a black Labrador retriever, a yellow Labrador retriever puppy and a very opinionated Maine Coon cat.
Julie Prater
Development Director
Julie comes to KSDS with over 20 years of marketing, public relations, event and fundraising experience. She has worked in the for-profit and non-profit world and serves on several boards and committees in the Wichita, KS area. Julie received her degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and has worked for advertising and marketing firms in Texas and Tennessee. In Wichita, she worked for a children’s bereavement organization as the Executive Director. As an advocate for people with disabilities, Julie immediately saw an opportunity to grow the KSDS name and brand throughout the country. “What KSDS provides individuals is unimaginable. Once you see, hear, or experience any aspect of KSDS, you immediately understand the impact it has.”
Julie, her husband, Jay and two kids, Ainsley and Judson, live in Wichita, KS. As a busy mom, she loves running them around. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering and finding great vintage and antique items. Julie loves a great estate sale or flea market. Ask her about her junk!!
Mary Sawin
Office Assistant & Dog Food Coordinator
Mary Sawin is a retired LPN who worked for several years in nursing homes. During that time she introduced pets into the facilities. Her dog and several rabbits brightened the days for many residents. Prior to nursing, Mary worked for nine years as a District Court Clerk. Mary joined the KSDS family in 2013 as a part-time office assistant. Her duties include answering the phone, filing, organizing records and maintaining the Hills Science Diet dog food program for our puppy raisers and graduates.
Mary enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren outside of work. She also enjoys spending time with her little dog, Tater and Tater’s three cats!
Becky Simon
Receptionist & Client Services Coordinator
Becky grew up on a farm near Haddam, KS and has lived in the area most of her life. After high school, she attended North Central Kansas Technical College and received her certificate in Advanced Computer Information Technology. She joined KSDS in the beginning of 2018 as our receptionist, where her bright personality will welcome anyone calling or visiting KSDS. She looks forward to getting to know everyone!
Becky has a deep place in her heart for animals, especially dogs, having three of her own, Rookie, DJ and Maggie. Becky and her husband live on an acreage and enjoy spending time camping, traveling, hunting and fishing.
Debbie Tegethoff
Lead Guide Dog Trainer/Instructor & Puppy Raiser Manager
Debbie has been with KSDS since 1999. She feels she has the best of both worlds because she loves working with all of the different people and gets to work with the dogs also. She enjoys giving programs about KSDS to Lions Clubs and other organizations.
Deb’s activities outside of KSDS include spending time with her husband Don and three married children and eight grandchildren. She loves attending the grandchildren’s soccer, basketball, volleyball and baseball games as well as other school functions. The family enjoys camping and Deb loves to cook and read.
Board of Directors
Brent Boring, President
Dr. Philip Bentz, DVM, Vice President
Randy Teske, Secretary
Lila Keesecker, Treasurer
Justin Dragastin, Member
Deborah Baer Pierce (Johnson), Member