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Our Team

Meet the people behind our mission.

Dedicated to Service, <br />United by Purpose

Dedicated to Service,
United by Purpose

Behind every successful partnership between a Veteran and a service dog is a dedicated team of people who make it possible. From skilled trainers and compassionate staff to experienced Board Members, each member of the Canines for Service team brings unique expertise and a shared commitment to empowering Veterans through life-changing canine companions.

Together, we ensure every step of the journey is guided by care, precision, and purpose.

Meet Our Team

Administrative Coordinator

Coming Soon

Board of Directors

Chair
Cara Arrans
Cara is the Accounting Director for Porters Neck Village, a Life Plan Community. She graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Before moving to Wilmington in 2015, she spent seven years in Chicago working in the trading industry as a Financial Analyst. Cara is a lover of animals, especially her two rescue pups, Miles and Wrigley. She is both the daughter of and sister to Marine Corps Veterans.
Vice Chair
Dr. Kurt Ehlert
Kurt Ehlert, MD is a retired orthopedic surgeon with over 35 years of experience in the medical field. He began his medical career with the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps in 1993 in Arizona and worked in practices as both a practitioner and a leader in Wisconsin and North Carolina.
Treasurer
Wes Walker
Originally from Northern Virginia, Wesley has been a Wilmington resident since 2019 along with his wife, sons, two dogs, and five chickens. A US Army Veteran with multiple combat deployments, he has spent his post-service career working in the defense and intelligence technology sector where he currently serves as Vice President of Product at Washington DC based company.
Secretary
Olivier Van Dierdonck
As a healthcare professional, Olivier has held operational positions with rural and urban hospital systems and national physician practice management organizations. Throughout his career, Olivier has gained extensive experience recruiting healthcare CEOs, CFOs, CNO, CIOs, CMOs and other executives who specialize in hospital and physician alignment, clinical integration networks and value-based care development.
Kirk Pugh
Originally from Louisville, KY, Kirk Pugh is a retired executive from the hospitality industry and has lived in the Wilmington area for nearly 24 years. He is the Founder and President of KBT Realty Group, a top-producing real estate team of 20 industry pros. Kirk is also a founding shareholder of PLACE, Inc, a software and management firm based in Bellingham, WA that serves over 400 Real Estate Teams nationwide. Kirk and his wife Janine have three adult children and live with their two dogs Yeti and Gizmo.
Dr. Christian Bolz
Christian received his Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina State University and his veterinary degree from Tuskegee University. After several years of gaining experience as an associate small animal veterinarian in New Jersey and Massachusetts, Dr. Bolz moved to North Carolina. For over three years, he practiced at Animal Emergency and Trauma Hospital in Wilmington, broadening his skills before opening Myrtle Grove Animal Hospital in 2009.
Amy Taft
Amy has been associated with the military her entire life and loves serving the community. As the current Chief Growth Officer for the COMMIT Foundation, Amy brings with her knowledge of the nonprofit space, fundraising, and programmatic metrics and measurement. Amy was drawn to Canines for Service because of the deep love and appreciation she has gained for the value of service animals after her husband received one. Amy saw first hand how service animals can change someone’s life. Her passion for connecting people fuels her desire to see all people become the best version of themselves.
Mario Galante
Mario is a retired high school principal originally from Pennsylvania. After visiting their daughter and her family here in Wilmington for over ten years, he and his wife decided to make North Carolina their home. Mario has been part of several non-profit organizations in PA, including two that provided service dogs to Veterans. He is excited about becoming part of Canines for Service and contributing to the realization of its mission.
Kelsey Connor
Kelsey Connor is the Director of Educational Lending at Live Oak Bank, where she has worked for over ten years. She moved to Wilmington in 2014 and enjoys being part of the vibrant local community. Kelsey spends her free time by the water with her husband, two children, and their rescue pup, Banks. Deeply committed to giving back, she is honored to support our veterans as a heartfelt thank you for their service.
Pete MacEachern
Pete MacEachern is a service-connected, disabled Army veteran with over 12 years of service. He is retired from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs where he worked in many roles including Labor Relations and as a Healthcare Portfolio Manager overseeing many national VA project implementations for veterans. He lives with his wife, Christina, in Hampstead, NC. Pete has three adult children and three grandchildren. He is very excited to work with Canines for Service to improve the lives of veterans who have sacrificed so much for their country.
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Want to Be Part of
Our Mission?

Whether you’re interested in volunteering, joining our team, or sponsoring our work, there are many ways to make a difference. Together, we can ensure that every Veteran who needs a service dog has a partner by their side—and a team behind them.