Meet the DPP Board of Directors
Ken McQuarrie
Chair, Board of Directors | Treasurer | Business Manager
Ken is a co-founder of DPP and has been been an active member since it was established in 2001. Ken brings a wealth of business experience to his role. Prior to chairing the Board, Ken had a successful 25-year career with the global IT firm, Accenture, where he worked with a number of large clients in various industries and government to help improve their productivity and quality, and reduce their cost to serve through the implementation of processes, tools, and best practices. He also honed business skills during 12 years at Eastman Kodak. Ken holds a Masters degree in Applied Science from the University of Waterloo in Canada. Ken’s leadership continues to be instrumental in DPP’s ongoing growth. Ken and the rest of the leadership team work tirelessly to ensure DPP’s sustainability and position the organization as a valued collaborator and thought partner in the field of animal-assisted interventions including participating in scholarly research to advance the field.
Sandy Langley
Director of Membership and Evaluations
Sandy has been a member of DPP since July of 2014. She was the DPP Program Coordinator which encompassed working closely with Instructors, Evaluators, and the DPP membership in organizing Workshops and Evaluations. She is also a licensed Pet Partners evaluator. Sandy is a wife and mother of two boys, one living in Michigan as a Research Specialist at the University of Michigan and the other here in Denver as a Pilot. She and her husband retired and moved to Colorado from Ohio in 2013. She has been an active volunteer through various clubs, groups, and organizations for the past 20+ years. These many experiences have given Sandy the opportunity to meet and work with many interesting people, to assist in organizing meetings and events and, most importantly, to communicate with and engage members to actively participate within the organization. Sandy visits with her Sheltie, Greyson, at the Parker Library, Rocky Vista University and Bristol Hospice. She and Greyson enjoy attending other DPP events when available. Other interests and hobbies include scrapbooking, crocheting, hiking, and skiing.
Susan Horecki
Director of Programs
Susan and her Golden Retriever Lucy joined Denver Pet Partners in the Summer of 2009. For many years, until Lucy’s retirement, they primarily served Life Care Center of Littleton, supporting Physical Therapists with one-on-one activity that helped individuals heal physically and emotionally from surgeries and other life altering events. They also visited at Rose Medical Center and volunteered for DPP in a number of other capacities. Susan’s corporate career included 25 years as a sales professional and director with CoreLogic, a nationally recognized leader of data and information tools providing solutions to businesses associated with real estate, mortgage finance, capital markets, and others. Her responsibilities over the years included client and territory development, customer training and support, as well as internal communication and collaboration. She is also a licensed Pet Partners evaluator. Susan lists hiking, fly-fishing, snowshoeing, snow-mobiling, and gardening as her top interests and passions after being a wife, mother, caretaker of two Goldens, and DPP volunteer.
Laura Ackerman
Vice Chair | Director of Marketing and Communications
Laura has been a member of Denver Pet Partners since 2014. She volunteered with her partner Addie for 7 years until Addie’s retirement in 2021. Addie represented DPP at schools, libraries, hospitals, and universities, as well as at many special events. Laura is also a licensed Pet Partners evaluator and with Addie was a registered Animal-Assisted Crisis Response Handler. Laura worked as a Technical Writer and manager for high tech companies in New York, New England, Seattle, and Colorado. She holds a B.S. degree in Technical Communications from Clarkson University and has completed programs at The University of Denver Institute for Human-Animal Connection, including the Animals and Human Health certificate program, the Canine-Assisted Intervention Specialist certificate program, and the Equine Behavior class. The programs gave her a deeper understanding of the human-animal bond and the ethical and humane considerations of Animal-Assisted Interventions, which she applies to her work at Denver Pet Partners. Laura and her husband Hal are both New York City natives who have long called Colorado home. They spent 20 years living on a 99-acre property in the beautiful Palmer Divide area of Colorado, where they operated a horse boarding business. In their free time they love to travel and have visited all 50 states and over 25 foreign countries.
Linda Tieman
General Director and Member Meeting Coordinator
Linda has been a member of Pet Partners since 2007 and a DPP Board Member since 2018. Linda has had three registered therapy dogs, Dillon, Darby, and Jordy. Linda and her dogs have visited hospitals, library programs, schools, and many special events. Linda helped start therapy dog programs at 3 Colorado hospitals. She currently coordinates the therapy dog program, Angel Paws, at AdventHealth Castle Rock. Linda and Meme Martin have worked together as volunteer coordinators of the Angel Paws Program since 2016. Linda also has been the coordinator of the therapy dog program at Rocky Vista University’s Student Wellness Program since 2014. Linda and her current therapy partner Jordy, volunteer at Rocky Vista University and AdventHealth Castle Rock. Linda earned her Pet Partners Evaluators License in 2022. Prior to retirement, Linda was a Medical Practice Administrator. Linda managed several specialty medical practices in Arizona. Additionally, she helped several physicians establish their practices. This included the responsibilities of site selection, equipment purchases, budgeting, hiring, and marketing. Prior to moving to Arizona, Linda also managed the Long-Range Planning and Medical Staff Services Departments at a Wisconsin hospital. Linda also owned a travel agency in Wisconsin and was the Treasurer for the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. Linda has been volunteering since she was 18 years old, beginning as a “Candy Striper” in a Chicago hospital. She volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House in Madison, Wisconsin, and was the parent manager for a high school hockey team. Linda has volunteered with the golden retriever rescue organizations in Arizona and Colorado, conducting home visits. Linda considers the time volunteering with her three golden retrievers as the highlight of her volunteer career. In the thousands of encounters with patients, staff, visitors, and the public, she has witnessed the power of the human-animal bond. Linda feels that it has been a privilege to have the ability, through her dogs, to impact so many people over the years. Linda loves hiking and wildlife photography. In addition to being an avid hockey fan she is also a faithful follower of her home sports teams, the Wisconsin Badgers, and Green Bay Packers. She loves spending time with her husband Michael and their three children, four grandchildren, and sweet Jordy.
Kelli Pratt
Secretary
Kelli and her therapy dog, Kiki, joined Denver Pet Partners in November 2023. Originally from Indiana, Kelli moved to Colorado in 2008, bringing a spirit of kindness and community with her. Alongside her supportive husband and two daughters, Kelli balances family life with a fulfilling career as a Registered Nurse Case Manager. Passionate about helping others, Kelli volunteers with her therapy dog, Kiki, a Golden Mountain Doodle. Kiki loves making new friends and connecting with everyone she meets. Together, they visit Denver Springs Behavioral Health Hospital, Denver International Airport, universities, and other special events providing comfort and joy to those in need. Kelli and Kiki are also a registered Animal-Assisted Crisis Response team, which allows them to provide support to those experiencing crisis from natural disasters or tragic events. In addition to volunteering, Kelli enjoys traveling with her family, creating lasting memories and exploring new places together. Kelli is dedicated to raising awareness about the benefits of animal-assisted therapy and strives to inspire others to recognize the transformative power of therapy animals.
Michelle Crawford
Director of Special Events | Interim Training Liaison
Michelle joined Denver Pet Partners in 2020 and passed her first evaluation with her English Springer Spaniel, Riggs, in 2022. That same year she took on the role of Special Events Coordinator, launching her leadership journey within the organization. Michelle and Riggs visit patients and staff at AdventHealth Parker Hospital on a weekly basis, where she also assists in the coordination of the Paw Pals Therapy Dog Program. The team also visits for the Paws for Smiles program at the University of Colorado Dental School of Medicine and with the school counselors and their kids at Vaughn Elementary School. In 2024 Michelle became a therapy team with her Maine Coon cat, Milo, adding another layer to her AAI service. Michelle worked in the medical field for 35 years, beginning as an ICU nurse, then as an organ procurement coordinator followed by lung transplant coordinator in Los Angeles, before launching a career in clinical research. Holding a master’s in clinical research administration, she was involved in many important national and global clinical trials, including the first vaccines to be FDA approved in the US for Swine flu and Ebola, infectious disease being her passion. Having a medical background Michelle understands the impact AAI has on the body and mind and finds deep pleasure in witnessing this firsthand. She considers it a privilege to volunteer her time in this field, something she has been working toward since her first therapy dog interaction with one of her lung transplant patients many years ago. An Ohio farm girl, Michelle has a lifelong passion for animals of all kinds and, except for her college years, has never been without a menagerie of animals in her home. In her downtime she can be found curled up with a good book, a cat or two in her lap, and her dogs at her feet.