Michelle Woerner, one of the founders of K9s 4 Mobility became an Assistance Dogs International Certified Instructor in 2002 after completing a three-year training program with an Assistance Dogs International Accredited Organization. She has been involved in the breeding, training, and placement of Service Dogs since 1998. She has also served as a board member for the North American region of Assistance Dogs International since 2008. Michelle has continued working with Assistance Dogs International as an Accreditation Assessor, traveling to many different organizations worldwide. She is the CEO and Assistance Dogs International Certified Training Instructor for K9s 4 Mobility.

Chris Bass was born and raised in Kimball, NE, moving to Cheyenne in 1987. She is an MDT Facilitator with Safe Harbor. Chris also has an LLC where she is a researcher conducting background searches for employment companies.   

Mom to Aspen, Buddy, and Mattie and an avid animal lover, she enjoys traveling with her husband Tom, loving her new granddaughter and volunteering at the K9s 4 Mobility facility.  Chris joined the K9s 4 Mobility board in January 2020.

Melanie Lenhardt was born and raised in Cheyenne. She attended the University of
Wyoming where earned her MBA. She works at the Cheyenne Regional Medical
Center Foundation as the Operations and Development Manager where she
manages a 27-person board and puts on several fundraising events. Melanie loves
to spend time with her niece and nephews as well as her fur babies, Tate and Jax!
Melanie is honored to serve on the K9s 4 Mobility board and looks forward to serving
the community!

Brian Hickman grew up in Pine Bluffs, WY, and graduated from Utah State University with a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. He is the Deputy Administrator for the WY Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Workforce Services. He has been with the division for 21+ years, working as a counselor, consultant, and in administration. Brian hopes to see more connections between his work in the disability employment world and service dogs. Brian currently has four dogs in his home, three of which are rescues.

Joe Volis has lived in Cheyenne for eight years. Originally from Cedar Lake, Indian, he joined the U.S. Air Force and made a 24-year career as a Security Forces member and First Sergeant.  He and his family had the opportunity to live abroad in Europe for 16 years before finally getting stationed in Cheyenne where they now call home. After retiring from the Air Force, Joe took on the role as Security Program Manager at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center where he has been employed for 4 years. He is an active member of the Cheyenne community attending the Chamber’s Leadership Cheyenne program in 2021-2022 and is currently serving on multiple boards. He loves dogs, having 6 of his own and intends on starting a breeding program with his French Bulldogs. When he's not busy traveling with his family or herding Frenchies, you can find him at Golds gym, hiking a 14er, or on the softball field.

Darleen Stout is a long time Cheyenne resident who moved around a lot as a child in a military family. Darleen retired from education after 30 years, where she spent half of her career in special education and the remaining time in elementary education. Darleen had a brain aneurysm that ruptured in 2009 causing her physical challenges including vision, balance, speech and retention. Darleen has been fortunate enough to receive two guide dogs from K9s 4 Mobility. Her first guide dog, Duke instantly made a difference in her life, allowing her to go shopping on her own.  Her current guide Scout provides her stability and guiding so her independence is maintained.

Rio Smith grew up in Cheyenne and graduated from the University of Wyoming. He later continued his education at the University of Oklahoma, College of Law. After graduating from law school, Rio eventually found his way back to Cheyenne and opened his own law practice.

Rio along with the help of his dog, Ranger, have raised three puppies for K9s 4 Mobility.

Rio enjoys spending time outdoors with Ranger, cheering on the Pokes and Sooners, and working on the occasional home improvement project.

​Sue Mecca is a Wyoming native born at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne. She is a graduate of Denver University receiving her BS in Accounting.  She is the former Director of Finance with Dish/EchoStar where she devoted the past 25 years.  Sue served as Wyoming's first State Banking Commissioner appointed by Governor Mike Sullivan.  She has been a member of several Board of Directors including, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Foundation and Cheyenne LEADS. Sue loves Alaskan Malamutes; she is currently dog mom to Sophie a 2-year old Mal.

Donna Kincheloe was born and raised in Nebraska and spent two decades teaching Biology and AP Biology at East High School. With her husband, Earl, she raised two children, Lisa and Brad. She is the proud grandmother of four energetic grandchildren. She is a lifelong dog-lover, traveler, and enjoys spending time at their cabin in the mountains. She is mom to two furry, four-legged babies, Lily and Maizie. She believes in giving back to her community and is honored to serve on the board of K9’s for Mobility. She looks forward to supporting community members through assistance dog partnerships, one connection at a time.

​Dr. Shelby Zemski was raised in Cheyenne and attended East High School. She received her undergraduate degree from Black Hills State University while on a volleyball scholarship. She then received her doctorate from Arizona College of Optometry.  Shelby works as an optometrist at Cheyenne Vision Clinic. In her free time, she loves spending time with her two dogs and husband, as well as volunteering with the dogs at the training facility.

Justine Woerner graduated from Cheyenne East Highschool in 2019.  She began officially working for K9s 4 Mobility at the completion of the training facility in 2015 but has always been a very special volunteer.  She has assisted in the raising of many dogs in training and currently has one retired Service Dog as her own pet.  Justine loves getting to know all of the recipients of the Assistance Dogs and builds a relationship with them that last.  She completed the Veterinary Aide Program at Eastern Wyoming College in May 2024. When Justine is not assisting with dog training, she enjoys spending time with her pets, taking photos of scenery and just being outside.

Sue Foy made numerous trips with her parents to Wyoming to visit family and at age 25, she knew this was where she wanted to live. Following her graduation from Missouri University in 1934, she traveled to Wyoming with everything she had in her car, including her cat. In less than a year, she met her husband Jim, and began teaching first grade at Pioneer Elementary. She continued her education, accumulating several degrees that led to a teaching position at LCCC. For 30 years, she taught speech communication and after retirement turned to her first love...dogs! She began volunteering for K9s 4 Mobility in 2012, has raised two puppies, and assisted in the training of her husband's Service dog through the owner-trained program. In January 2022, she joined the K9s 4 Mobility staff as a kennel assistant.  Sue enjoys spending time with all of the dogs and the cat at the facility.  She is excited about caring for her new great-granddaughter so will be volunteering at the training facility as needed.

​Vanessa Woodin has lived in Cheyenne for six years.  Other than a stint in Texas, on the women's rodeo circuit, Wyoming is where Vanessa has called home.  Most of her life she has lived in Buffalo, where she grew up surrounded by the mountains and horses. She developed a love for animals early and that led to working with them in both vet clinics and animal shelters.  When she's not chasing the family's two rescue dogs, you can find her buried in a book, the garden, or doting on her two beautiful grandkids.

​Kassi Eukon is from Cheyenne but loves traveling to visit family and friends.  She learned about K9s 4 Mobility while working at Jonah Bank of Wyoming and watching the dogs in training come in there on a regular basis.  When she decided to follow her dream of being a cosmetologist, she was looking for a part time evening job while she went to school during the day and, K9s 4 Mobility was the perfect fit for her.  She loves all the dogs and spending time with them! Kassi recently passed her boards and began her cosmetology career but still works a few hours at K9s 4 Mobility on special projects and events.

​Kevin Woerner was born in Kansas and enjoyed farming until he moved to Wyoming to help start K9s 4 Mobility. He has always been a big part of making sure the facility and property were taken care of. He recently began helping out with some of the dog care while Michelle is gone making a placement and Justine is at college.  Kevin works full time for Magpul, Cheyenne.  He enjoys participating in a bowling league, spending time outside and on his tractor.