About RFI
Who We Are
Retrieving Freedom, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization passionately committed to enhancing the lives of Veterans and children with autism through our specialized Service Dog training program. We breed and train chosen dogs that exhibit specific traits necessary to perform tasks to help these individuals, and we believe in matching the dog to the client.
Our training program isn’t designed to train each dog to follow a certain program. Instead, dogs are trained to meet the needs of their specific client. The dogs go through more than two years of training to meet our strict standards for a successful placement.
Operating from two facilities located in Waverly, Iowa, and Sedalia, Missouri, we take immense pride in being an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International.
Our expertly trained Service Dogs significantly enhance the lives of their clients. Beyond assisting with designated tasks and responsibilities aligned with their specialized training, these extraordinary dogs provide invaluable companionship and unwavering, unconditional love. Their presence not only aids in daily activities but also enriches the lives of those they serve, exemplifying the profound impact of the human-animal bond.
The mission of Retrieving Freedom, Inc. is to change lives through the training and placement of Service Dogs for Veterans with disabilities and children with autism.
Retrieving Freedom Board of Directors
At the heart of our mission, guiding and nurturing our endeavors is our dedicated Board of Directors. Each member brings a unique blend of passion, expertise, and commitment, all united by a common goal: to ensure we meet and exceed the needs of our clients. They are the stewards of our vision, constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance our fundraising efforts. This dedication enables us to create more life-changing partnerships between individuals and their Service Dogs.
Iowa Facility
Trent Dirks
Senior Major Gifts Officer
Division: Resource Development & Marketing
Location: Iowa Facility
Trent Dirks
Trent is an Army veteran with more than 9 years of service and a deployment to Afghanistan. Trent began as a recipient of a Retrieving Freedom Service Dog, Tracer, then began volunteering with the organization. After attending a treatment program for PTSD, he continued to volunteer at RFI in hopes of helping other Veterans get the help and service dogs they needed. Trent says he is "blessed beyond measure to be able to make a career out of helping other Veterans and children with Autism get service dogs to assist them in improving their quality of life. It's a dream come true. I was born, raised, and live in Iowa with my son Bently and service dog Tracer. We all enjoy spending time outside hunting, fishing, and hiking."
Sara Milke
Foster & Breed Manager
Division: Program Management
Location: Iowa Facility
Sara Milke
Sara has been involved with Retrieving Freedom in a variety of ways since 2014. She first became involved by participating in a Wartburg College course which was partnered with Retrieving Freedom. She continued to volunteer throughout college and upon graduation. In 2016 she became the organization's intern, taking on a number of roles. She was hired in early 2019 and works as the Program Coordinator at the Iowa location.
Calvin VerMulm
Major Gifts Officer
Division: Resource Development & Marketing
Location: Iowa Facility
Calvin VerMulm
Cavin Ver Mulm, a Northwestern College and Fuller Theological Seminary alumnus, has joined Retrieving Freedom as a Major Gifts officer. Retrieving Freedom is a nonprofit that provides service dogs to veterans with disabilities and autistic children. Cavin has experience in fundraising for the Center of Hope, a nonprofit that helps the homeless in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is excited to spread the word and raise money for Retrieving Freedom. Cavin moved to Waverly from Seattle in September and has been speaking at schools and local events to promote Retrieving Freedom and solicit donations. Cavin hopes to grow his donor base and serve the community as the Major Gifts Officer for Retrieving Freedom.
John Drach
Chief Operating Officer
Division: Executive Leadership
Location: Iowa Facility
John Drach
John has been active in the Assistance Dog industry for over 30 years. He started training Hearing Dogs and went on to train Service Dogs, Seizure Dogs and Autism Dogs. John has been active with Assistance Dogs International serving on the Compliance Committee as well as the Trainer Certification Committee. He has also developed Apprentice Assistance Dog Trainer programs to train new trainers in the field. John enjoys matching highly trained dogs with individuals who are looking for a dog who can change their lives. John and his wife Molly live in Iowa and have two sons.
Maddy Burke
Client Services Coordinator
Division: Program Management
Location: Iowa Facility
Bobbi Lawless
Apprentice Trainer
Division: Dog Training
Location: Iowa Facility
Alyssa Staudt
Apprentice Trainer
Division: Dog Training
Location: Iowa Facility
Kelsy Byerly
Kennel Technician
Division: Facilities Management
Location: Iowa Facility
Hannah Keller
Facility Coordinator
Division: Facilities Management
Location: Iowa Facility
Hannah Keller
Hannah has always loved working with animals, but has a special place in her heart for dogs. She plans to go to college to become a Veterinary Technician. Hannah enjoys working at Retrieving Freedom and helping to fulfill the mission. She loves that her work with the various dogs in training will eventually help them in their career as a service dog.
Tristen Bradley
Kennel Technician
Division: Facilities Management
Location: Iowa Facility
Missouri Facility
Brandon Butler
Chief Executive Officer
Division: Executive Leadership
Location: Missouri Facility
Al Hogen
Board Chair
Division: Board of Directors
Location: Missouri Facility
Heather Dawson
Chief Financial Officer
Division: Executive Leadership
Location: Missouri Facility
Heather Dawson
Heather has been in the finance and accounting field for over 15 years. She comes to RFI with extensive experience in corporate accounting management as well as financial analytics. Her most recent position was as the Financial Controller for a manufacturing facility in the Mid South. After years in the corporate world, Heather is thrilled to be changing the focus of her career and to have the opportunity to work with an organization as impactful as RFI. Heather lives in Lake Ozark, MO with her husband David and their four children, Deacon, Olivia, Jack, and Caroline.
Bailey Inman
Apprentice Course Instructor
Division: Dog Training
Location: Missouri Facility
Bailey Inman
After fostering two service dogs in training and working at a service dog training kennel during her undergraduate studies, Bailey decided to change paths to pursue a career with working dogs. Upon graduation from the University of Missouri, she moved to Philadelphia where she worked with scent detection and search and rescue canines. She then completed a year of graduate work in New York City with a focus on canine spatial awareness. In July of 2019, Bailey joined RFI as a Dog Trainer at the Missouri Facility.
Rene Massey
Board Member
Division: Board of Directors
Location: Missouri Facility
Laura Erganian
Marketing Coordinator
Division: Resource Development & Marketing
Location: Missouri Facility
Bobby Hayden
Board Member
Division: Board of Directors
Location: Missouri Facility
Ashlyn Snyder
Program Coordinator
Division: Program Management
Location: Missouri Facility
Ashlyn Snyder
Ashlyn became involved with Retrieving Freedom in 2018 as a stage 1 foster through Iowa State University. While fostering, she found a passion for the service dog industry that outweighed her interest in animal medicine. After graduation from ISU, Ashlyn pursued a Master’s Degree in Animal Science at the University of Maryland, all the while sating her love for service dogs as a puppy sitter for an organization in Maryland. Not long after graduating from UMD and moving home to the Midwest, Ashlyn joined RFI as a Program Coordinator in September 2021.
Kyle Herrick
Board Member
Division: Board of Directors
Location: Missouri Facility
Kirby Martin
Apprentice Trainer
Division: Dog Training
Location: Missouri Facility
Kirby Martin
Kirby’s love of animals can be traced all the way back to her very first pet, an imaginary cat named Mary who accompanied her everywhere as a toddler. She has since graduated to real pets of all types, but found she has a particular affinity for both dogs and horses. Kirby graduated from the University Missouri in 2018 with a degree in psychology, and went on to apply her skills handling show horses and managing enrichment for their canine companions. Kirby and her boyfriend Lane, along with their dogs Hank and Ella, and horse, Gavin, recently moved to Warrensburg Missouri, where Kirby is relishing the opportunity to work with Retrieving Freedom.
Keri Uzpen
Board Member
Division: Board of Directors
Location: Missouri Facility
Macy Broyles
Apprentice Trainer
Division: Dog Training
Location: Missouri Facility
Izabelle Bunn
Sr. Kennel Technician
Division: Facilities Management
Location: Missouri Facility
Izabelle Bunn
Izabelle's passion for working with animals began while she was working at a cat sanctuary. Izabelle graduated in 2019 and is hoping to pursue a career as a Veterinary Technician. One of her favorite things about working at Retrieving Freedom is learning the dogs' different personalities.
Courtlin Sanders
Kennel Technician
Division: Facilities Management
Location: Missouri Facility
Mariah Voitl
Kennel Technician
Division: Facilities Management
Location: Missouri Facility
Gavin West
Board Member
Division: Board of Directors
Location: Missouri Facility