Meet the Team

Fabian is the Owner and Director of Operations at Found and the President of Chi-town K9 Working Dog Club. He is a highly respected certified dog trainer, holding the prestigious credentials of CCPDT-KA, CGC, and NePoPo© Gold Certificate. His educational journey took him to City Colleges of Chicago and Southern Illinois University - Carbondale, where he focused on Automotive Technology and Business. Driven by his passion for the pet industry, Fabian made a transition to Found Chicago. Fabian and his wife Brittney Romo own six dogs and actively compete in PSA-K9 and K9 Toss and Fetch, demonstrating their commitment to canine sports and activities. Fabian's dedication extends beyond his own ventures as he contributes his expertise as a board member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP). In this role, he provides valuable oversight for the Protection Sports Committee, shaping the future of the canine profession.

Brittney's passion for working with dogs started early, walking neighbors’ dogs as a child and later working as a kennel assistant in a pet store. She furthered her experience as a dog handler in a dog daycare and through her volunteer work at shelters and at a service dog organization. While competing on the cross country and track teams at Monmouth College, she focused her studies on Human Services, which resulted in an internship at a Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center. This opportunity deepened her understanding of the human-animal bond. After earning her CPDT-KA certification, she found fulfillment in working with rescued dogs at Found Chicago, honing her handling and training skills. Brittney takes pride in assisting clients in creating lasting training connections with their dogs. In her free time, Brittney cherishes spending time with her dogs.

Justin has been part of the Found family as a senior trainer for 3 years, though he has been involved in the dog training profession for 7 years. Initially focusing his talents on protection and sport dogs, Justin broadened his repertoire by becoming a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CCPDT-KA) which has enabled him to help hundreds of pet parents and dogs. Justin finds joy in the challenge that rehabilitation dogs present him, as the extra level of detail and care required for such cases keeps both him and the dog engaged and provides a sense of fulfillment. Outside of work, Justin can be found enjoying hikes with his Belgian Malinois Cora, catching a movie at the theater, and adding to his impressive collection of Jordans.

Nikki is a skilled senior trainer at Found, leveraging her expertise in psychology and love for animals. She obtained a bachelor's degree in psychology from Iowa State University, providing her with a deep understanding of human behavior that enriches her interactions with both people and animals. Nikki's journey at Found began as an apprentice five years ago, and through her dedication and natural talent for connecting with animals, she swiftly advanced to her current position. Her specialization lies in working with timid dogs and anxiety cases, a testament to her remarkable skills in handling and rehabilitating animals with unique needs. Nikki's passion extends beyond animals, as she also takes great pleasure in helping people and embarking on exciting travel adventures.

Valerie's career took an exciting turn when she decided to follow her true passion, dogs. As a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA), Valerie has been instrumental in developing our renowned Pup Start Program and now leads graduates in the Pup Start Plus program for the past two years. When not training puppies, Valerie finds joy in training her own dog, a husky named Brixten. Together, they have achieved the Novice Tricks title, and competed and earned notable placements in several Canicross races. This summer, they are eagerly taking on the challenge of moving up from 5k to 10k races. During their downtime, Valerie enjoys activities such as mountain climbing, backpacking through the UP, and relaxing at dog-friendly patios.

Jen Smith, a certified dog trainer (CPDT-KA) at Found Chicago Boarding and Training Center is dedicated to helping puppy parents achieve their training goals. With a specialization in puppies aged 8 to 24 weeks, she combines her experience as a dog mom and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Prescott College to establish strong relationships with each puppy and their family. Jen ensures that training is enjoyable for both puppies and parents by incorporating structure, routine, and confidence-building techniques. Outside of Pup Start, Jen indulges in crafting, yoga, dancing, and quality time with her husband and their three dogs.

We are excited to introduce our new groomer, Erika Anderson! Growing up in Philadelphia, Erika has always enjoyed the companionship of animals from pet mice and frogs to her childhood dogs, a Siberian Husky and a Shepherd mix. In high school Erika worked as a bather for a mobile groomer, as well as a dog walker, pet sitter, and doggy daycare handler! Erika moved to Chicago in pursuit of a college degree, but soon came to find that she could build a career working with animals outside of the veterinary field. Erika joins the Found family not only with expertise in grooming, but a passion for training with hopes to someday become a working dog handler. With a special place in her heart for herding breeds, Erika shares her home with a German Shepherd named Keith after Duncan Keith, and also has two sweet cats. An avid hockey fan, you can find Erika cheering on Johnathan Toews and the rest of the Chicago Blackhawks.

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