Board, Advisory Board and Key Volunteers/Staff

Founding Executive Director

Karen Schumacher
		Karen Schumacher is a professional dog trainer with an emphasis on behavior modification. Dogs have always been an integral part of her life. Karen offers a strong background in working with troubled youth and families as well as with shelters in developing training and assessment programs. She is an author, a successful business owner and a strong advocate for shelter dogs and troubled youth. Karen and her husband, Steve, share their lives with three dogs, a cat and periodic visits from four children in North Idaho.

Board of Directors
Kara Karstan Vice President
		Kara brings a strong history in business management and accounting. Kara is respected for her ability to see opportunities for improvement and is broadly recognized in our organization and others for her leadership abilities and performance at an exceptional level. Kara is also our site-coordinator. Kara has a passion for all things dog and especially spending time on the agility course with one of her labs and encouraging her other lab in his Pet Partner role as a Reading Assistance Dog for children.

Tim Dougherty Treasurer
		Tim Dougherty is the agency resource manager for the Northern mills for Riley Creek and his working circle spans from Colville, WA. To Moscow Idaho and Kalispell, Montana. Tim is the treasurer for Pawsitive Works and serves on several other county and land management boards. Tim has called Bonners Ferry and the mountains of North Idaho his home for almost 30 years. He and his wife Jenni enjoy all things out doors including hiking, fishing, skiing, biking, gardening and just being in the mountains. They share their home with 2 dogs; Ukiah and Kamiah, three cats and all the wild animals that roam their hillside. Tim’s passion for animals is only out-shadowed by his passion for life.

Kris Anderberg, BSN Secretary
		Kris is a highly accomplished Medical Device industry professional with over 20 years of experience in Clinical Research with specialized expertise in project management, monitoring, clinical quality assurance, and safety monitoring. She offers exceptionally strong leadership, professionalism, compliance, project management, and organizational skills. Kris assists Pawsitive Works with our research and documentation. She provides indispensable organizational skills to the development of documentation and key components for our meetings and trainings. Kris has a passion for dogs and especially greyhounds.

Rhonda Hamerslough, RDH, EdD Board of Directors
		Rhonda Hamerslough is an Associate Professor at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, teaching for the online degree completion program in the Department of Dental Hygiene. She has over 18 years of teaching experience in higher education. Rhonda founded and ran a successful business for nine years and has enjoyed working and volunteering in the non-profit sector as an executive director and a board member. She is the mother of two beautiful children, both shelter mutts of course! Rhonda also serves as the research coordinator for Pawsitive Works.

Laura Boro Board of Directors
		Laura has served as a project manager, community liaison and property developer for several low-income and senior housing non-profits. . Her work included implementing after-school and summer programs for on-site youth as well as partnering with local law enforcement agencies focusing on gang abatement and awareness. Laura also works with and volunteers for animal rescue groups, adoption agencies and county shelters, providing program development, outreach and special events coordination. Laura lives and loves Coeur d’ Alene and her full-time dog training service: Good Dog Walkin’. She is a dog behavior specialist and is writing a book on her approach to training.