Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Meet our executive director
Heidi Carman
Heidi Carman is the founder and Executive Director of the non-profit First Responder Therapy Dogs, INC. She resides in San Rafael, California, is married and the proud mother of 5 children, one grandson, one granddaughter, and three therapy dogs. Her studies in Psychology and Dog Training led her to create First Responder Therapy Dogs. Her ultimate goal is to provide therapy dogs to every First Responder in the United States. Heidi most recently was named a CNN Hero for 2025!
Meet our CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Tracy Ryan
Tracy Ryan joined First Responder Therapy Dogs in August 2021 with her dog Sparkie in an effort to spread therapy dog love to First Responders on the East Coast. She resides in East Bridgewater, MA, where she is a High School Guidance Counselor, mom to 2 boys, and wife of a firefighter. Blaze most recently joined the ranks as her 2nd FRTD certified dog in 2025. Being able to share her dogs with first responders, has been an absolute perfect fit for her and her family!
Meet our CHIEF Wellness & Impact Officer
Stephanie Kiesow
Stephanie Kiesow serves as Chief Wellness & Impact Officer for First Responder Therapy Dogs (FRTD) and volunteers alongside her therapy dog, Zeena. As CWIO, she leads initiatives focused on strategic partnerships, research and impact measurement, organizational growth, volunteer and canine wellness, agency engagement, and impactful approaches to first responder wellness.
A former police officer and 911 dispatcher with 16 years in public safety, Stephanie now specializes in first responder mental health, suicide prevention, and organizational health. She is a Ph.D. student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, national instructor and speaker, and best-selling author of Workicide. Her work centers on building evidence-informed systems that strengthen first responders, the organizations that serve them, and the human-animal bond.
Meet our Directors of Advancement and Operation
Director of Wildfire Operations & Community Outreach
Michelle Detrick is a retired Firefighter Paramedic with 17 years of frontline experience working in Oakland, Berkeley, and Central Marin. She holds International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) certifications in Assisting Individuals in Crisis, Groups in Crisis, and Understanding Suicide: Effective Tools for Prevention, Intervention, and Survivor Support and is a passionate advocate for breaking the stigma that keeps first responders from accessing the mental health support they deserve. Today, Michelle serves as a First Responder Therapy Dog co-handler alongside her wife, Brandess, and their therapy dog, Scout, a two-year-old Great Dane/Saint Bernard mix.
Bay Area Director of Operations
Lena Strickling and her dog, Birdie, were the second team to be certified with First Responder Therapy Dogs. With a background in nonprofit management and a master's degree in social work, Lena currently works with children and families while pursuing her long-term goal of combining her passion for social work with therapy dog work to provide therapeutic services for first responders. Driven by a desire to serve causes she believes in, Lena manages FRTD visits, events, and community engagement throughout the Bay Area from her home base in San Jose, California. When they're not supporting first responders, Lena and Birdie can be found hiking, snuggling on the couch, and playing at the beach. Check out Birdie's book, Birdie the Brave, to learn more about her journey to becoming a therapy dog!
Director of Volunteer Onboarding & Engagement
Adrienne Steurer, serves as our FRTD's Director of Volunteer Onboarding & Engagement, helping ensure new therapy dog teams feel welcomed, informed, and connected from the start. As a former first responder and FRTD handler alongside her therapy dog, Mayzie, Adrienne brings firsthand understanding of both the first responder community and the volunteer experience. She guides new teams through FRTD resources, connects them with regional support and fellow handlers, and helps them become active, engaged members of the FRTD community.
Director of Grants & Development
Lacey Hayes, will help strengthen the financial foundation that makes our work possible by helping with identifying funding opportunities, advancing our grant strategy, cultivating partnerships, and helping FRTD build greater long-term financial sustainability. As the daughter of a first responder and FRTD handler to Ash and Indie, Lacey brings a personal understanding of the community we serve and why this mission matters.
Meet Our Outreach coordinators
Eastern outreach coordinator
Laura Kissinger, serves as FRTD’s Eastern Outreach Coordinator, helping therapy dog teams strengthen agency relationships, navigate outreach challenges, and identify new opportunities to serve first responders.
With a background in marketing and communications, Laura has a natural passion for building relationships and connecting people. Her journey with therapy dog Frankie began during a season of transition and quickly grew into something much bigger. Inspired in part by witnessing the comfort a puppy brought to her father and grandmother during hospice, Laura discovered a passion for bringing that same sense of connection and comfort to those who spend their lives caring for others.
Today, Laura and Frankie have several years of experience supporting first responders through therapy dog work. In her role with FRTD, Laura combines her professional experience, relationship-building skills, and passion for the mission to help teams throughout the Eastern Region expand their reach and create meaningful connections within first responder communities.
Western Outreach Coordinator
John McSwain, serves as FRTD’s Western Outreach Coordinator, bringing more than 40 years of experience within the first responder community, including 37 years in law enforcement before retiring as a Major. Today, he serves as a chaplain for an Idaho Sheriff’s Office, where much of his work focuses on peer support and wellness.
John and his therapy dog, Rocket, began their journey together through an effort to incorporate a dog into the Sheriff’s Office chaplain and peer-support system. Since then, John has seen firsthand the impact Rocket can have in briefing rooms, fire stations, dispatch centers, hospitals, and difficult debriefings.
John believes strong organizations are built through relationships, trust, and consistently showing up. In his role with FRTD, he helps teams throughout the Western Region strengthen agency relationships, navigate outreach challenges, and create meaningful opportunities to support first responders.
Meet Our Board Members
President
Meet Emily Janowsky, who lives in Corte Madera, CA with her husband Steve and their yellow lab Rocket. She enjoys working as a dog therapy team at the local high school and with FRTD. Emily is the mom of two college-aged sons and has been an active community volunteer for many years. She also has over twenty years of experience in financial services.
Treasurer
Meet Crystal Swinimer and her therapy dog Riley from Ayer, MA. Crystal and Riley joined First Responder Therapy Dogs in April 2023. Crystal works in law enforcement and is married to a firefighter. When she’s not working Crystal and Riley enjoy volunteering, visiting family, running, and training.
Secretary
Meet Charlotte Winters, who is fortunate enough to be the proud recipient of her current yellow Lab Makana. Makana is a donation to FRTD from Guide Dogs of America in Southern California. Makana is their family pet as well as a wonderful addition to the First Responder Therapy Dog program. Charlotte is married with 2 sons and her interests include rowing, a love of water sports, live music and of course dogs!
Board Member
Meet Tim Houweling, who is a Fire Captain in the San Francisco Bay Area. He resides in Carmel Valley, California with his wife and son. Tim works with first responders processing PTSI through the use of alternative therapies at The S.I.R.E.N. Project. Tim is also a search and rescue dog handler with his dogs Carl and Rory. His retired dogs George and Charley enjoy time at home. He is a professional dog trainer since 2005 and has worked for more than 15 years training service dogs.
Board Member
Meet Andrea Lackovic, who is thrilled to join FRTD as a volunteer. Having family and friends who are first responders, and in a professional capacity, she has a variety of experience working with first responders. She is an avid promoter of peer support programs and eliminating the stigma of anything related to Mental Health. She stays busy as a licensed psychologist. She loves Dobermans and has been rescuing, adopting and fostering senior and special needs Dobermans for over 30 years.
Board Member
Meet Gina M. Rabbitt, who is thrilled to join FRTD. Gina resides in MA and works as a co-response licensed mental health clinician at a local police department. This has fueled her passion to further advocate for the wellness of first responders and become actively involved in the debriefing process. Gina is also an adjunct faculty member in the psychology department at a state university. She has a rescue pup named Brandi, who is a boxer, lab, pit mix and believes dogs are “earth angels.”
Meet our Advisory Board
Chloe MacBean, CSAT and CPDT-KA Founder and Owner of Lab & Leo Dog Training, LLC., practicing positive reinforcements and science based training methods. Peace, Paws and Harmony!
Certifications/Education: CPDT-KA, ADB-CCBC, CSAT, FDM, FFCP Certified
Website: www.LabandLeo.com
Phone: 707-481-4524
Email: Chloe@LabandLeo.com
