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Meet the Dairydell Staff
Camilla Gray/Nelson, President and Director of Training
Camilla has over 50 years experience with animals (she grew up on the farm!). She has trained, bred and shown dogs since 1989 and brings this broad background and knowledge to her clients and her business. Her life-long understanding of the animal mind helped her develop what has become her signature style of natural dog training and voice control, now simply referred to as the “Dairydell Method”. Camilla and her Dairydell Method have been featured in numerous newspaper and magazine articles, as well as on San Francisco TV’s Evening Magazine and View From the Bay. Camilla loves teaching – whether it’s dogs, their owners, or the horses you see her riding in Dairydell’s beautiful arena. When she’s not training, teaching or riding, Camilla is writing about her favorite subject: dogs and their people!
Camilla holds professional memberships in both the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI) and the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP).
Kurt Nelson, Operations
Kurt likes to say that without HIM, there would be no Dairydell. After all, it was Kurt that encouraged his wife, Camilla, to focus her animal skills on dogs. Camilla contends that this was just Kurt’s way of justifying having more dogs around on the property. Growing up in Minnesota, Kurt had a special affinity with dogs. He still does.
His professional career with UPS has given Kurt over 30 years in the Customer Service field. Kurt believes that if you are good to your customers, business finds you. It is this approach to business that gives Dairydell its renown “friendly” feeling. Kurt enjoys helping staff at Dairydell treat every client as a friend, and every dog as their own.
Patte Georgeson, Office and Trainer
Patte is the friendly voice you hear most often when calling Dairydell. You'd never know she was juggling a dozen things at one time. Maybe it's her background in the corporate world, or her skill as a barrel racer... but she keeps our office under control and running smoothly, Monday through Friday. Talk about multi-tasking! From answering phones and responding to e-mail, to registering new clients, scheduling, check-ins, check-outs and invoicing, Patte handles it all with grace and a smile.
Recently, Patte also joined Dairydell's team of dog trainers. Several days a week, she helps Dairydell work its magic - transforming dogs from rude & rowdy to polite and obedient in our Finishing School for Dogs. Her calm, kind demeanor makes her an effective trainer and teacher. Patte teaches our popular Up & Over agility class.
When Patte is not at Dairydell, you can probably find her on horseback - either running the barrels, penning cattle or performing on the Drill Team for her Petaluma Riding and Driving Club. We love our closet cowgirl, and she's right at home here on the farm.
Denise Robertson, Office
Another business-world transplant, Denise learned her exemplary customer service and organizational skills working in a fast-paced legal office for a team of busy attorneys. Her love of animals and her experience with them, however, goes back to her childhood. At the tender age of 7, she insisted on volunteering at a local vet's office! And growing up in rural Marin County, hers was the house all the stray dogs, cats and critters in the neighborhood would run to. Her parents finally drew the line at the wild raccoons!
Today Denise lives in Petaluma with her husband and family and - of course - a houseful of pets, from dogs and cats to lizards and toads. When she's not at Dairydell, she's probably working at one of her many creative hobbies: sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, or jewelry making. Denise is our wonder-woman!
Kevin Nelson, Quality Control
& Assistant Kennel Manager
Kevin is another member of the Dairydell team that lives on the property. His job as our head of Quality Control and Assistant Kennel Manager, is to visit every dog in the kennel. While he's petting, he's also doing quick physical checks to make sure our dogs are happy, their eyes are bright, ears are clean and their weight is good. With over 30 years as a Customer Service professional in his life outside Dairydell, he understands the business from the inside out and brings this knowledge to his management responsibilities in the kennel.
When Kevin is not working at Dairydell, you might find him teeing up on a nearby golf course, playing tennis, or tinkering with is collection of watches. A real renaissance man!
Lesley Zoromski, Senior Obedience Trainer
Lesley has been a professional dog trainer with Dairydell since 2004. Not only does she train the dogs enrolled in Dairydell’s Live-In Finishing School, but she also teaches our popular Basics & Beyond group class at Dairydell. Lesley jokes that her early career as a kindergarten and elementary school teacher uniquely equipped her for working with dogs and their parents. Certainly, her skill and her sense of humor are what endear Lesley to her students and her coworkers. She is a professional member of the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors and the International Association of Canine Professionals. When she’s not training dogs, Lesley is an accomplished artist, specializing in – what else – dog portraits! You can see many of her works hanging on our walls.
Christina Vizcaino, Kennel Manager
& Obedience Trainer
Christina is a key member of our Dairydell family. Coming on board when we first opened the new kennel faciliy, she has shown such professionalism, dedication and commitment to the happiness and well-being of our 4-footed guests, that she was a natural choice for Kennel Manager!
Besides overseeing our kennel and training staff, Christina is our resident "dog whisperer". Her skills with difficult dogs are undeniable, and she is proud to state, "I can make even the most nervous and grumpy dog play with me!"
Recently, Christina completed our professional dog training apprenticeship and is now a trainer at Dairydell. Along with Stephanie VonderAhe, she teaches the popular Puppy Socialization & Manners drop-in class, and trains dogs in our Live-In Finishing School program. Chrisee rocks!
Jeanine Delchini, Obedience Trainer
Ever since a trip to Marine World at 6 years old, Jeanine has wanted to train animals. She's an integral part of our dog training team, and we have found her to be a "natural" at it! As a former Program Coordinator for a Ropes and Challenge Course, Jeanine came to us already understanding the importance of psychology, focus and confidence in producing personal results. Now, instead of applying her skills to help people, Jeanine helps dogs achieve their highest potential.
At home, Jeanine has a 15-year-old Golden Retriever, an 9-year-old Lab, two cats and a horse. As you can imagine, she enjoys horseback riding, but her hidden talent is making a mean mac 'n cheese in the kitchen... from scratch! When asked what she likes most about Dairydell, she replies "The warm, welcoming family environment and the incredible support from the staff so we can give our best to the dogs. Dairydell is the only job I've had where I always feel like smiling when I am there." Jeanine also teaches a weekly Basics & Beyond group class, which introduces owners to the Dairydell Method of Natural Dog Training.
Stephanie VonderAhe, Office & Obedience Trainer
Stephanie is our 'Jill-of-all-trades'. She regularly helps the front office staff answering phones & giving tours. Occasionally, she will work in the kennel making sure all the dogs are happy and healthy. And a few hours each day Stephanie also trains dogs.
Stephanie is one of the newer members of the dog training staff, but her training experience is life-long. She shares her knowledge and experience with puppy owners weekly, teaching our Puppy Socialization & Manners drop-in class.