WHO IS SD4V?
Cy is our Executive Director and has been a Board Member of Service Dogs for Veterans since its inception, serving as Treasurer. Cy developed his deep affection for our Veterans through his family members that served in a variety of conflicts and branches including the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. As our Executive Director, he brings his extensive SD4V experience and a profound appreciation for our life-changing mission.
He grew up in South Carolina and graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1985 with a B.S. in Accounting. Cy has been a Certified Public Accountant for over 35 years. He worked with 2 “Big Four” international public accounting firms and spent 20 years with Elliott Davis, a regional accounting firm headquartered in Greenville, SC which has been Cy’s home for over 30 years. In addition to his extensive business experience, Cy has served on several non-profit boards including the Upcountry History Museum and the Blue Ridge Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Cy lives in Simpsonville, SC with his wife Lisa and three children, Lydia, Noah and Blake, along with their rescue dog Max.
Cassidy found her passion for dog training in 2016 when she volunteered to foster and train a rescue dog for Service Dogs for Veterans (SD4V) as part of her senior project at Greer Middle College Charter High School. She then worked at Dog Trainers Workshop (DTW) as Kennel Manager while learning under Connie Cleveland, a nationally recognized competitive obedience and service dog trainer.
Cassidy acquired a wealth of knowledge about best practices using incentive-based obedience training and service dog training for individuals with special needs. She was promoted to Trainer and then to Training Manager at DTW. As Training Manager, her role included doing private and group training classes while also training service dogs for the Service Dog Institute. Over the years she gained experience working with clients to achieve their goals of working through aggression, foundation work, off-leash control, and all levels of dog obedience. She also had the satisfaction of seeing how service dogs make an incredible difference in the lives of special needs children and adults.
While working at DTW as Training Manager, she also worked part-time in the evenings as an instructor with SD4V learning the special skills needed to work with veterans to train their own future service dogs. Cassidy’s next career step was taking a job as a trainer with Say It Once Dog Training in Wilmington, NC. There she furthered her skills in solving problem dog behaviors while learning from many different experienced trainers and working in a variety of settings.
For Cassidy, watching a dog and its owner become a team is the most rewarding part of being a dog trainer. She is fascinated by the challenge of developing a dog’s desire to love learning and seeing the joy dogs have when they have a sense of purpose. She found her Border Collie, Peaches, at 1-1/2 years old, and has given Peaches training in competitive obedience, herding, agility, and scent work.
Cassidy is excited to return to Greenville to join the SD4V team as Lead Trainer. She’s missed the joy of working with our veterans, helping them and their dogs write a new chapter of hope by becoming ADA-compliant service dog teams. She believes it’s a terrific opportunity and is looking forward to helping the organization grow.
Cassidy is an AKC-approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluator as well as a professional-level member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. She is studying to take the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers exam.
James served 22 years in the U.S. Army. When James was going through the program he really appreciated the bond with other veterans in his classes. That encouraged him so much that now as a graduate, he wants to volunteer to give other veterans the same great experience he had.
James has a natural ability to connect with our students. Combined with the dog training knowledge he’s acquired, he now contributes in a big way in many of our classes – as a training assistant in some, and as a trainer in others.
James is a certified A.K.C Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, a professional-level member in the APDT, and studying to become a certified dog trainer. He also generously gives his time to being a veteran advocate in all phases of the program and in the Spartanburg meet-up group. He’s definitely found a new calling, and our students benefit by having James by their side. And oh yes, dear Elsa is by his side with all this and has learned not to be too jealous of all the attention James gives to other dogs.
Bonnie has had a lifetime love of all things furry. She titled her first obedience dog, a rescue Golden Retriever named Corey, while training with Connie Cleveland at Dog Trainer’s Workshop in Greenville, SC in 1992. Bonnie began training service dogs with Dogs for Disabled in 1994, eventually becoming the program’s director. Through the years, she has trained many dogs for private individuals.
Bonnie began training for Dog Trainer’s Workshop as well as the Service Dog Institute in 2019. While there, she met SD4V founder, Bill Brightman. Bonnie saw what a difference service dogs make in the lives of veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI as Bill taught these veterans to train their own service dogs. Bonnie soon began helping Bill and his wonderful volunteers to guide the veterans to becoming exceptional examples of just what a veteran and his or her dog can do as they navigate life together.
When not teaching at SD4V, Bonnie can be found training her own dog, LouLou. Bonnie and Lou enjoy competing in many dog sports including canine agility and canine scent work.
Kristen reached out to Service Dogs for Veterans (SD4V) to volunteer to foster recently adopted shelter dogs because she understood how a trained dog could heal a soldier’s heart, and give them greater normalcy living with their PTSD. By opening her heart and home to help these dogs, they experience the joy of living with a loving family and learn a daily routine. In addition, by being a training foster, Kristen also takes the dog she’s fostering through the SD4V Beginner Obedience class. Now the dog, regardless of its life prior to being rescued by SD4V, will have everything it needs to easily move into its forever home and attend further training with its Veteran.
In the past, Kristen has volunteered with Dogs for Autism, fostering and training service dogs for children with special needs. Her heart has always been about advocating for and helping children. This is why she enjoys seeing those service dogs play such an important role in a family with a special needs child. Kristen and her husband also felt called to adopt their two youngest children from China years ago. Through the adoption process and raising her family, she has seen how a dog’s love can help children through the difficult struggles of growing up. She says: “On our worst days, we know we have dogs waiting at home to run up to us and make us feel like we are the most important person on Earth – they always bring us joy!”
Kristen has earned a bachelor’s in psychology and an associate degree in nursing. She is married to her high school sweetheart Chris, and they co-own a family business, Blue Ridge Heating and Air. They have four children. Her oldest daughter Riley is an undergraduate student at Clemson. Matthew, Violet, and Jonah are attending Eastside High School. She feels blessed to have been surrounded by dogs her entire life and knows they are a gift from God. Her two dogs are a German Shepherd, Synergy (Syn’y for short), and her rescue dog, Flynn.
Cathy is a Greenville, SC native who has always loved animals. She was also raised in a family of veterans and currently has a brother-in-law serving in the US Army. When presented with the Stewardship Coordinator opportunity, Cathy immediately jumped at the chance to work with SD4V!
Cathy graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelors in Biology and a Masters in Teaching. She has worked as a teacher, Assistant Principal, IT consultant, IT trainer, and event coordinator.
Cathy is excited to build relationships with both current and potential SD4V donors, volunteers, and community partners. She lives in Greenville with her husband, Rafal, and their 2-year-old rescue dog, Elsie. When the family isn’t walking or training Elsie, they can be found traveling, snuggling on the sofa, hanging out with friends, planning something with one of their 8 nieces and nephews, or looking for a project or adventure to begin.
Suzy is excited to join the SD4V family to help in the growth or our various programs as a Program Coordinator. She has a servant’s heart with a passion for animals and helping our veterans. Suzy has a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from the University of South Carolina and has completed courses toward her Master of Business Administration through the Clemson at Furman MBA Program.
She brings 30 years working in the Information Technology field including Programing, Business Systems Analysis, and Project Management. Her busy professional life is matched with her active community involvement including in the Make A Wish Trailblaze Challenge with a 28.3 mile, 12hr. Appalachian Trail hike in one day! She has also helped raise money and awareness for the Greenville Humane Society.
She is married to a wonderful man and blessed with two beautiful, amazing grown children and a sweet dog named Bonnie.
Cherie Mascis-CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed), PPG (Pet Professional Guild) Multiple Species Training Professional & Licensed Pet Dog Ambassador Instructor, AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Association of Professional Dog Trainers Canine Life and Social Skills Trainer/ Evaluator, has been working with dogs, horses, parrots, and exotic animals for over 40 years.
She attended Moorpark College’s Exotic Animal Training and Management Program, was a Bird Show Presenter and Trainer at Busch Gardens; a Vet tech and Curator of Birds at Marine World/Africa USA and the Curator of Animal Programs at Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding, CA. (non-releasable, native Californian raptors, small mammals, and reptiles).
During those times, she also provided in-home behavior consulting for pet behavior issues, using positive reinforcement, science-based training to help clients build a better relationship with their animals.
Cherie started at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in 2012. Within a year, she became Lead Dog Trainer and shortly after that was promoted to Dogtown Manager. Her primary goals were to ensure exemplary care of the dogs at Best Friends and to educate their visitors and volunteers, staff, and shelter and rescue personnel about positive reinforcement-based, cutting edge animal behavior and training methods to help reduce the number of pets being euthanized in shelters and to empower the caregivers to help the sanctuary dogs become more adoptable.
Although she felt she was doing worthwhile work, she decided to get back to her roots, helping people keep their animals in their homes, so they don’t end up in shelters. Cherie is presently the founder of AllPets Training & Behavior Solutions, LLC. Providing in-home and remote behavior consultations for pet guardians and their dogs, cats, and other pets. She specializes in cat behavior issues, dog aggression cases, and “teenage” dogs with impulse control issues but really enjoys her worthwhile work with Service Dogs for Veterans. She loves helping Veterans and their Service Dogs in Training troubleshoot any training or behavior issues that are holding them back from reaching their full potential and becoming a happy, working team.
In 2015 ‘Meg’ joined her friends Linda and Ann in various dog rescue projects, assisting them with fund-raising and community events. It did not take long for their passion to help our Veterans to rub off. The first time Meg met a Service Dog Team from K9s For Warriors, the emotional impact of the Veteran/dog bond reinforced her commitment to helping our Veterans.
Meg has worked with various upstate Animal Rescue Groups for the past 17 years, spending three of those years as the Adoptions Director with our shelter partner Concerned Citizens for Animals.
In 2017 she began volunteering with SD4V. Meg retired from Michelin North America in May 2018 and has channeled her efforts into community outreach, fundraising, and grant writing for SD4V. Meg’s ability to manage and coordinate multiple projects, and her attention to the many details of SD4V operations, is amazing. Her contributions to the SD4V mission can not be overstated!
Sharon Rose is the daughter of a career U.S. Army officer. While stationed in Japan and Germany, post-WWII, “The Colonel”, as he was affectionately called, saw a great need to help local citizens heal suffering caused by war. He inspired his family and the troops in his command to help rebuild lives and provide fully supplied housing for those qualifying for assistance. Thus Sharon developed a passion to aide others which crosses over to animals.
For the past eight years, she has been the office coordinator and an adoption staff member at Foothills Humane Society in North Carolina. There, she became acquainted with Ann Goodheart and Linda Williams, active members of the SD4V team. With “The Colonel” in mind, Sharon was inspired to assist with their mission and became “the eyes” at the shelter, tagging dogs as possible candidates to be rescued and partnered with applicable qualifying Veterans.
Also passionate about writing, Sharon provides compositions as needed with the hope that her words and those of training program graduates might inspire other Veterans to grab the opportunity for a life-changing experience and reclaim the normalcy in their troubled lives. “As a nation, we must make every effort to save them, dogs and humans, one life at a time.”
Susie’s love of dogs combined with deep respect and appreciation for our nation’s Veterans drew her to the SD4V website in January 2022. She was immediately intrigued by SD4V’s unique approach to training where Veterans and their dogs go through school together. As she watched these teams move through each level of training, she especially enjoyed seeing the deep bond and advanced skills develop between the dogs and Veterans. She describes it as a beautiful experience to witness and support. Through class and event participation, Susie has formed relationships with many students, graduates, volunteers, and, of course, all of the dogs.
A native of the Upstate, Susie embraces the opportunity to not only serve area Veterans but also help with providing purpose and homes for shelter dogs in the region. She says, “All this confirms submitting the volunteer application on the SD4V website was the right move for her!”
Susie is excited to help the SD4V mission as Development Volunteer creating the quarterly newsletter, assisting with new volunteers, and public events, and assisting in other areas as needed.
As a graduate of Wofford College in Spartanburg, Susie has a degree in accounting. She retired after a decades-long career as a Senior Budget Analyst at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
Alora has always been an animal lover. She acquired her first dog (a mutt named Sugar) at the age of 6 and in her adult lifenhas had several animals including dogs, cats, a fish, a turtle, and currently, a bearded dragon named Miso. After the passing of her last dog in 2013 she decided to foster for a while. Life eventually took her down a path where she was able to return to college to complete her degree so fostering had to be put on the back burner as she worked full time and maneuvered around college classes.
Crossing paths with Pat Tuleibitz one day and noticing the SD4V logo on her shirt, a conversation about the program commenced. Alora’s love of dogs and desire to help Veterans had her volunteering her photography services to capture the Veteran and Service Dogs journey during their training classes. This is where she would get her “Dog Fix” for the week. You will find her lying on the floor or tucked into a corner to capture those moments during training that show the bond that develops between the Veteran and their Service Dog.
Alora’s mother and father were both Marines and her step father was Army so she has a high respect for all branch’s of the military. Alora is the parent of 2 grown sons, has a daughter-in-law, a granddaughter and a grandson. She graduated in May 2024 from Converse University with a Studio Art Degree, works full time as a café manage and is setting up her art studio to create and photograph wonderful things!
Jim is honored to replace Bill Brightman as Board Chair and is excited to contribute to SD4V in this role. Jim’s executive leadership responsibilities with Procter & Gamble, FMC, PepsiCo, SCANA and Georgia-Pacific, as well as ownership of several successful small businesses, has provided him with a unique set of skills and knowledge to help SD4V grow and serve increasing numbers of our veteran population.
After graduating from college with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and as a Distinguished Military Graduate, Jim served for 3 years as an Army officer. His assignments included being a Company Commander in the 1st Armored Division and as an Advisor to the South Vietnamese army, where he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for his service there.
A life-long dog lover, Jim and his wife Billie currently have two rescues, Augie and Duke, who were abandoned by their previous owners.
A native of Indiana, Jim has lived in several states and has worked in over 30 countries. Forty years ago, he chose South Carolina as the place he wanted to live and has never doubted his decision. Jim and Billie moved from Lexington, SC a few years ago and built their retirement home in a beautiful section of northern Greenville county. They have two grown children and three young grandchildren.
Cy is our Executive Director and has been a Board Member of Service Dogs for Veterans since its inception, serving as Treasurer. Cy developed his deep affection for our Veterans through his family members that served in a variety of conflicts and branches including the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. As our Executive Director, he brings his extensive SD4V experience and a profound appreciation for our life-changing mission.
He grew up in South Carolina and graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1985 with a B.S. in Accounting. Cy has been a Certified Public Accountant for over 35 years. He worked with 2 “Big Four” international public accounting firms and spent 20 years with Elliott Davis, a regional accounting firm headquartered in Greenville, SC which has been Cy’s home for over 30 years. In addition to his extensive business experience, Cy has served on several non-profit boards including the Upcountry History Museum and the Blue Ridge Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Cy lives in Simpsonville, SC with his wife Lisa and three children, Lydia, Noah and Blake, along with their rescue dog Max.
Wes is joining the SD4V Board with a keen interest in how service dogs can help change lives. His daughter’s Girl Scout troop sponsored one for a neighbor in need, and his son saw the impact of a service dog in a veteran’s life while doing an Eagle Scout project. Wes is appreciative of the opportunity to serve local veterans and bring his years of experience in wealth management and military service to the leadership of SD4V.
Wes served 21 years as a commissioned officer and naval aviator piloting a CH-46 Sea Knight tandem rotor transport helicopter. He saw active duty with multiple deployments to combat zones in the Middle East. He then had the honor of being selected to serve in the White House Military Office. After being discharged and starting his civilian career as a financial professional, he became a naval reserve officer and was mobilized multiple times until retiring with the rank of Commander.
Wes currently works for CAPTRUST as a Certified Financial Planner, Principal & Financial Advisor. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science degree in business and finance from Johns Hopkins University. Wes enjoys family time, personal fitness, as well as being active in his church. Community service is also important as are the various organizations of which he is a part, including the Greenville Estate Planning Council.
Jennifer is delighted and honored to join the Service Dogs for Veterans Board of Directors. Her intense love for animals blossomed after acquiring her beloved border collies Chip and Snickers. Through them she recognized the intelligence, ability and compassion animals can contribute to our lives. As the wife of a former Air Force JAG and loving granddaughter of a U.S. Army Veteran who served in the Korean War, Jennifer has a tremendous respect and deep admiration for all Veterans who served our country. She adamantly believes that Veterans deserve more recognition and better resources regarding the challenges they face upon returning to civilian life.
Originally from California, Jennifer moved to her husband’s home state of Missouri in 2006. There she attended the University of Missouri- St. Louis and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a Bachelor of Science in Education. While in college, she worked in the communications and donor relations department of the Missouri Humane Society. After a brief stint teaching elementary school, Jennifer and her husband moved to Greenville, SC where she became the President of the Carruth J. Wagner M.D. Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Dr. Wagner (a former Assistant Surgeon General and illustrious figure in the U.S. Public Health Service) and Jennifer’s husband established the foundation in 2002 with a mission dedicated to serving the public health needs of the community. Well over $1million has been donated to various non-profit organizations since its inception. Service Dogs for Veterans has been a major recipient of these donations and Jennifer feels that Dr. Wagner, a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy who served in WWII, would be so proud to be attached to this cause.
In the spirit of giving back to the community and experiencing the tremendous joy in helping others, Jennifer and her husband founded the Spilker Family Foundation where she is the current President and CEO. After spending more than a decade in the non-profit sector, Jennifer hopes to share her donor perspective, skills and experience in this field with the Service Dogs for VeteransBoard. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, gardening and spending time with family and friends and spoiling their pets.
These men and women are SD4V Graduates who have returned to 'Pay it forward' as Veteran Advocates and other important roles. Their encouragement and camaraderie have proven vital to our student’s success. A Veteran Advocate is a mentor and support to our students in class.
(In alphabetical order)
WHO IS SD4V?
WHO IS SD4V?
