Kent Meyer - "Lead Dog"

Meyer’s Kennel, Animal House, Canine Colony
Aggression and conflict specialist, behavior, obedience, conformation trainer, professional dog handler, groomer.  A third generation dog person, Kent has shown some high ranking dogs: for 2001, three of them finished in the top ten in the country.  With an innate understanding of dogs, Kent is widely known as one of the top trainers in the Northern Illinois area; he continues his education in canine behavior, working with his mentors, Lee Mannix, and the world-renowned John Rogerson, of Great Britain.  Kent’s teaching philosophy focuses on strengthening and improving the relationships between people and their canine companions.  And there’s not much he likes better than whelping a litter of pups. 

Gwen Meyer, CPCT- "Wife of Lead Dog"

Meyer’s Kennel, Animal House, Canine Colony
Behavior, obedience, conformation trainer, professional dog handler, groomer.  Her mom made the mistake of taking Gwen to a dog show when she was nine years old.  That was it.  Gwen volunteered at a local veterinary for three years before acquiring her first show dog, an Irish Setter, which she showed to his championship.  She competed in junior showmanship where she met Kent, and for ten years she apprenticed under some of the top handlers in the country.  After their marriage, she and Kent began showing professionally, together.  Along with the Number 5 Wheaten Terrier in 2001 (click on Bred in the Bone for more about her love of this breed), Gwen handled the country’s Number 10 French Bulldog, along with a lengthy list of other champions.  Education—for herself, her staff and customers—is Gwen’s first love.  She also likes catching fish.

Kathleen Carlson, CPCT
Meyer’s Kennel, Animal House, Canine Colony
Operations Manager.  You name it, Kathleen does it: she picks up and delivers pets, works the office, helps with training coordination, and pretty much keeps things running smoothly for Meyer's.  Her first love is her seven-toed cat, Fisher (named for the potato chips).  But Gwen Meyer has introduced her to Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, so now Kathleen owns Lucy and has recently added another cat, Ethel, to the family.  Other interests include frogs, photography, gardening and her human family. 

More of our great staff by location:

Meyer's Kennel | Animal House | Canine Colony

Meyer's Kennel

Rose Olszewski 

Customer Service Specialist.   Rose joined Meyer's in 2004, although it seems like she was here from the git-go. That's because she's easy to talk with, even as she is getting the job done.  The Schnauzer is her breed of choice, she says, "I've learned a lot about many breeds and dogs in general, since I started here".  Rose is one of those people that you're just plain glad you met.

Jordan Peterson

Customer Service Specialist, Transportation, Daycare. Jordan started working in the kennel in 2003 and quickly became involved in other areas at Meyer's.  She is currently working in our office.  Her sense of order and great ideas has been an asset to everyone.  Jordan loves spending time with her family and cat.  She loves the outdoors and plans to someday have a dog that will share her passion.

Tyler White

Assistant Manager.  Tyler has worked at Meyer's since 2006.  He began working as a kennel tech and was promoted to Assistant Manager.  He enjoys all the breeds, but Chocolate Labs are his favorite.  Tyler trains his dogs in hunting and obedience.  He is an avid hunter and fisherman.  He is currently a Biology major at NIU. 

Barb McIntosh
Playtime Provider, Canine Swim Coach.  Barb's the one whose main duty is to walk and play with the pets who lodge with us.  Her breed is Boxer, and if she ever has time, she’s going to take her own dog through obedience and agility.

Bob Czarnowski

Pet Transport, Trainer, Canine Swim Coach.  A retired computer systems manager, Bob wanted a part time job, to keep busy.  Since his wife, Sandy, works at the kennel and Meyer’s needed a driver, Bob was ready and willing to take on the job.  His breed is Labs, with whom he participates in obedience competition, hunt tests and dock diving.  Bob likes computers, music and travel—especially travel involving camping and fishing.

 Brian Carbone

Obedience, Behavior and Conformation Trainer, Agility Trainer.  Bud, a Schipperke, was Brian’s first dog; they met in 1995.  Brian took Bud to obedience class and decided to give competition a try.  Turns out he’s a natural with dogs: he and Bud received a score of 197.5 out of a possible 200 hundred points.  So he figured he’d have a go at conformation and got himself a show puppy.  Now he owns several Schipperkes and has earned multiple titles on many of his dogs, in obedience, conformation and agility, where he and Bud currently compete.  Along with earning numerous awards at regional and national shows, Brian showed the Number 5 Schip, in 2001, and received an Award of Merit at the 2002 Westminster Kennel Club dog show.  He joined the staff at Meyer’s in 2000.  Brian, an engineer by day, is proof that a dog can change a person’s life.    

  Amy Henry

Web site Coordinator.  Before coming to Meyer’s, Amy worked at a veterinary in Wisconsin for three years. In addition, she has a degree in sociology, which, she points out, has proven useful to her work with her two rescue dogs.  Along with canines, Amy enjoys movies, yoga, travel.

She spends her time off with her husband, Sean, daughter, Morgan and son, Declan.

Daycare is our Passion:

Brittany Wiegert

Daycare Coordinator. Brittany is a new member to our team at Meyer's.  She began in the kennel and learned about dog behavior.  Doggie Daycare soon became an interest for her and she is bringing fresh ideas to the position.  She is a certified massage therapist and is interested in using her skills to improve services at Meyer's.   The Shetland Sheepdog is her breed of choice, but it is her love of all dogs that brought her to Meyer's.  In her free time she enjoys camping, canoeing and reading. 

Kathy Harmer
Daycare Instructor.  The dogs love her, and she loves them.  Kathy started out showing Alaskan Malamutes.  Then she discovered the Hungarian Vizsla.  For 30 years she has competed with her Vizslas in conformation and obedience, and as a sideline, she’s a dog photographer.

Sandy Czarnowski
Daycare Instructor.  With four CDs and two CDXs, Sandy is a qualified trainer and, with her Labrador Retrievers, a respected contender in the field of obedience.  She also trains in flyball and agility.  A former special ed. teacher, she has a master’s degree in education, likes to read, garden and travel, and she’s married to Bob.

Lynn Nybo

Daycare Instructor. Lynn joined our team after retiring from a rewarding teaching career.  It didn't take her long to adjust to her new four-legged students.  She loves caring for the dogs and has found her teaching experience to come in handy.  She enjoys traveling and golfing in her free time.

Grooming is our Passion:

  Dianna Recoy

Grooming Manager.  With a Miniature Poodle and Rough Collies as her breeds of choice, Dianna must enjoy grooming, and indeed she does.  In fact, she takes part in grooming competitions. With the help of her assistant stylists, she makes the pets look their best. Not only does Dianna make pets look beautiful; she’s also Meyer’s retail display goddess.  

Meyer's Animal House

Christie Lacewell

Kennel Manager.  Before coming to work at Animal House, Christie worked for the humane society in Walworth, Wisconsin.  Christie doesn't’t focus on a particular breed; she loves ‘em all and says everybody ought to experience a canine’s friendship. 

Katie Gailbreath

Grooming Manager.  Although she’s a cat owner, Katie has been making dogs beautiful at Animal House for more than three years.  And incidentally, she’s a true Madison hippie.

Meyer's Canine Colony

Sandee Lewis

Receptionist and Bookkeeping.  Although she loves her two Border Collie dogs best, Sandee likes all breeds.  She is the backbone of operations at the Roscoe office.  She makes things run smoothly and always has time for a friendly exchange with callers.

Becky Wiegard

Groomer Becky has been a part of the Canine Colony grooming team for two years.  She does not focus on one breed.  Becky makes every dog and cat that comes through the door beautiful.  She was formally a vet technician and worked in the animal health industry for ten years.  She is currently training her dog in competitive agility.

Kent and Gwen have a wonderful staff who are here to serve your pets.  Most staff members  listed above have been with Meyer's two years or more.  Meyer's employees 35-40 people in total to make sure your pet's individual needs are being met.  If a career in the pet care field is something that may interest you, see employment opportunities for current positions available.  We look forward to meeting you!