My education and experience with animals started in 2009 as a Zoo Docent at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island. This was my initial introduction to reinforcement based training. Every Saturday morning we would watch the zoo keepers bathing the elephants using targeting and rewards to move them into position.

I also volunteered at the Foster Parrots Exotic Animal Sanctuary in Hope Valley, Rhode Island where I helped care for hundreds of exotic birds. After that, I became part of the animal care team at West Place Animal Sanctuary responsible for the well being of many animals that had come from neglectful situations: horses, sheep, goats, alpacas, pigs, and all sorts of water fowl. For a short time I also volunteered at the Providence Animal Rescue League where I adopted my Golden Retriever, Abby.

While I was putting in all these volunteer hours I was alo working full time as a Systems Administrator, sometimes tied to a desk for 8-12 hours a day. In the summer of 2015, I decided it was time to make a change.