The Canines for Change Team

Nichole Brown, Ph.D.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dr. Nikki is the co-founder and Executive Director of Canines for Change. She has over 25 years of experience training dogs, including service, therapy, and facility dogs, as well as obedience, protection, Schutzhund, agility, K-9, conformation, and rally. She holds multiple Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog International titles. Dr. Nikki has master’s degrees in counseling and psychology from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. in school psychology with an emphasis on behavior modification. She lives in Grand Ledge with her son and two French Bulldogs, Hermione and Toaster.
Marni Goodwin

PUPPY DIRECTOR & BOARD MEMBER
Marni began volunteering with Canines for Change in 2020 as a puppy raiser and now serves as Puppy Director, Board Member, and Treasurer. While her professional experience is in legal services and human resources, her true passion is in dog training. Marni is active in obedience and protection training and often appears at community events with ambassador dogs Sully and Annie.
Gery Rehmann

DOGS IN SCHOOLS FIELD LIAISON
Gery joined Canines for Change in 2018 after 35 years of teaching early elementary and special education students. His background makes him uniquely qualified to serve as a field liaison for our Dogs in Schools program. Gery and his loyal companion, Belle, also spend time supporting hospice patients and families at Stoneleigh.
Ashley Gray

TRAINER
Ashley joined Canines for Change in 2019 as a puppy raiser and quickly fell in love with the process. Her passion evolved into a deep commitment to training. Today, Ashley trains and fosters many of our service and facility dogs throughout their journey to certification. You're unlikely to spot her without a dog by her side!
Mars Woodbury

TRAINER & PUPPY RAISER
Mars has been part of the Canines for Change team since April 2020. She has raised and trained numerous service and facility dogs, with a passion rooted in rehabilitating a stubborn Siberian Husky she once rescued. Outside of training, Mars works as a photographer — her favorite shoots are the ones that include dogs.
Andrea Rombach

TRAINER & DOGS IN SCHOOLS LIAISON
Andrea became part of the Canines for Change team in 2022. As both a trainer and a Dogs in Schools Liaison, she brings her love of dogs and helping others to every interaction. Andrea and her fiancé’s goldendoodle, Charlotte, are often out in the community supporting outreach and training efforts.
Cortney Smith

DOGS IN SCHOOLS COORDINATOR
Cortney Smith brings over 20 years of experience in education and school administration to her role as Dogs in Schools Coordinator. She supports the successful integration of facility dogs to enhance student learning, well-being, and connection. A passionate advocate for the human-animal bond, Cortney is hands-on in all areas of Canines for Change—from mentoring school teams to training support and puppy raising.
Deb Schertel

CANINE HEALTH COORDINATOR
Deb began her animal care journey in the early 1980s, launching a 35-year career in veterinary hospitals across New Jersey and Michigan. She joined Canines for Change in 2014 when her daughter raised her first puppy and later served on the board. Now retired, Deb continues to support the mission as C4C’s K9 Health Director, managing care for all puppies in training. She also loves raising future service dogs with her grandkids—often with a few pups in the house, much to her husband Jack’s amusement!

In Loving Memory of Gladys Cataline

Gladys Cataline was a dedicated dog trainer for decades and co-founded Canines for Change with her best friend, Dr. Nikki Brown. Gladys will be sorely missed in the dog training world. At Canines for Change, we will always remember her boundless energy, deep expertise, and uncanny ability to make her opinion known at the most unexpected times. We like to think she’s been reunited with her dearest furry friends at the Rainbow Bridge — while simultaneously controlling and creating chaos, just as she loved to do.

Gladys brought over 50 years of experience to nearly every facet of the dog world, including work as an obedience instructor, Laekenois conformation handler, scent trainer, barn hunt competitor, agility trainer, AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator, and participant in sports such as French Ring, IPO, PSA, and more. But her most meaningful accomplishment was the life-changing work she did through Canines for Change.

For over 18 years, Canines for Change has helped hundreds of students, staff, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. As co-workers in the Lansing School District, Gladys and Dr. Nikki discovered the profound impact dogs could have in school settings. Their combined skills — in dog training and school psychology — led to countless hours brainstorming around Dr. Nikki’s kitchen table. Their shared passion for dogs and for helping others gave rise to what is now Canines for Change.