Stephanie Thornton, Office Manager Extraordinaire
In 2002 Stephanie craved a change of pace. Having worked in various Sonoma County offices for many years, she sought a way to combine
her administrative skills with her passion for dogs. When she joined the Olivet Kennel staff, the chemistry was instant. In fact, it
is not an exaggeration to say that Stephanie is the heart of Olivet Kennel. Her personable style with clients and deep compassion
for animals brings the right combination to create the home-away-from-home we strive to offer our canine guests. Stephanie knows each
dog’s likes and dislikes as well as their owners’ concerns.
Something you might not know about Stephanie -- she plays a mean game of Trivial Pursuit, especially if the category is "Cinema". When she isn’t busy running the front office at Olivet Kennel, you’re likely to find her at the movies or in charge of the BBQ. Our advice: come hungry.
Wendy Hatfield, Kennel Manager and Top Dog Chef
Wendy is a hometown "girl" and since 2002 has been professionally caring for dogs. When she first came to Olivet Kennel in 2003
as a Kennel Technician, her passion for dogs shined and her organizational skills in managing their care stood out. Wendy is a
certified pet groomer, trained in Pet First Aid and has been Olivet’s Kennel Manager since 2006.
When Wendy isn’t working, she’s busy with her family and caring for her toddler daughter. In her free time, you probably will find Wendy making beaded jewelry or playing with her dog Nestle, the babe in arms pictured here
Paul Meyer, Kennel Technician
Paul has been professionally caring for dogs since 2004 and at Olivet Kennel since 2005. Paul just can’t seem to get enough play time
with the dogs and often can be found taking his break while hanging out with one of Olivet Kennel’s canine guests. In 2008 a bouncy
black lab named Norman joined Paul’s life and has become a most welcomed member of our pack.
When Paul isn’t working, he’s a part time college student who is known to procrastinate studying by playing all night card games of "Magic". Just get him going and you’ll also learn another facet we love about him - he’s a total computer geek.
Maxine, Mascot, Greeter and Office Assistant
In 2003 a gentleman arrived at Olivet Kennel with a 4 pound furry bundle in his arms. No longer physically able to care for his Pomeranian
mix puppy and the dog’s mother, he was seeking a new home for his puppy. Sapir found her impossible to resist and agreed to keep Maxine, confident he would place her in a good home.
Little did he know, or so he says, that she would snuggle right in to our hearts and become an important member of the Olivet Family.
Maxine wakes up every day at Jane and Sapir’s home and waits by the door, eager to earn a living. She’s found her dream job, hanging out in the Olivet Kennel reception area greeting our clients and bringing them toys she loves to fetch. Come check her out and see how she "tricks for treats".
Caity Bruttig, Assistant Kennel Manager
When Caity joined the Olivet Staff in 2007 we marveled at how well she balanced being a full time college student, working part time at Olivet and finding all the necessary hours to care for her horse. Since then Caity has graduated from Sonoma State with a degree in Sociology, become a fulltime employee at Olivet, taken on the responsibilities of helping to manage the kennel and we continue to be amazed. Caity is our "Go To" person; when we have many tasks to accomplish and very little time, Caity is our master of multi-tasking. And always on her list: giving belly rubs!
Caity is crazy-happy about spending time with her Puggle named "Twix" and we are too. He comes to play at Olivet everyday and wins the "Best Dressed" award, hands down!
Danielle Myers, Kennel Technician
Danielle has been professionally caring for dogs since 2005 and at Olivet Kennel since 2010. She welcomes a challenge and is especially skilled at doing whatever it takes to help a shy dog feel more comfortable while away from home. Picky eaters magically eat better on her watch and respond instantly to her affection. Danielle is certified in Pet First Aid and CPR and has recently broadened her animal behavior knowledge through continuing education classes.
Danielle’s favorite non-work activities are the 3 D’s: Dining, Dancing and Dogs! Danielle is pictured here with Nikita who has happily and faithfully been by her side since 2006.
Sierra Steele, Kennel Technician
Sierra has been working at Olivet Kennel since 2010. During the school year she is a fulltime student majoring in dance at Santa Rosa Junior College and during the summer and holidays, Sierra works fulltime at Olivet. Sierra is so comfortable working with dogs that she recently added a second major and is studying to earn her Veterinarian Technician certificate.
When Sierra has any free time you probably will find her playing with her own dogs, watching "How I Met Your Mother" reruns or practicing for an upcoming dance performance.
Anna Rinker, Receptionist
Anna has been professionally caring for dogs since 2008 and joined Olivet Kennel in 2011. She has a wide array of experience with dogs, ranging from caring for boarding dogs as well as supervising doggie daycare play groups. Since she arrived at Olivet, she has helped run the office with great efficiency and a chipper personality to boot! In her free time, Anna loves hiking and writing poetry.
Yonatan Weiss, Kennel Technician
Yonatan has been working part time at Olivet since 2005. Caring for and training dogs came to him practically through osmosis - Yonatan is the son of Jane and Sapir! The large grassy Olivet training field has been his playground since before he could walk and when he was old enough to work, Olivet was the natural progression.
During the school year Yonatan is a fulltime student at Oregon State University. When he’s home for summers or holidays we’re always glad to have him pitch in at Olivet. When he isn’t at work or studying you’ll probably find him doing what he’s most passionate about: snowboarding, backpacking, playing guitar, or above all, playing rugby. He’s now in his 8th season as a "rugger" with no word of retirement.
Dana, Olivet’s Proud Addition
In 2009, Jane and Sapir became the happy owners of Dana and we’re all very excited to have her join the Olivet Family. Raised in Germany until the age of three, Dana is an exceptional German Shepherd. She holds a Schutzhund I title and is a natural at personal protection, tracking and obedience, however her personal favorites are playing ball and giving face licks. She’s agile, athletic, has a wonderfully sound temperament and assists Sapir in training and at lectures. While Dana can play rough and tough, she has the gentlest soul and is a perfect addition to our pack.
More questions? Please call us at (707) 542-2066.
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