OUR TEAM
Established by a husband and wife duo and now led by an invaluable partnership of family and friends who share the same vision and contribute unique strengths, our collective is built upon a solid foundation of teamwork and mutual respect. We know that earning the trust of each dog and client in our program is a privilege, so each day we pride ourselves on striving to do just that while providing reliable and loving care.
RaymondRaymond has a profound connection with dogs. His understanding of the root to their actions and needs paves the path for progressive development of appropriate behavior and expectations. He guides the culture of our dog groups by honing communication through clear requests and rewards of affection, gaining their trust and respect.
As a child, the outdoors offered him the adventure and freedom he thrived on. At only five years old, he and his twin brother, Richard, were approached by Marin Search and Rescue Bloodhound trainers to help them further challenge their dogs. The idea was that identical twins share the same DNA, but their distinct smells, though similar, are not exact. So, at a very young age, Raymond was playing hide and seek with the best seekers around. This sparked a lifelong desire to learn more about the amazing capabilities of dogs and how to guide them to reach their full potential. His early career was mainly devoted to pursuing his passions for food and teaching, which included leveraging his culinary degree and keen senses to become a Certified Master Taster, as well as empowering children to create and enjoy their own healthy dishes, supplemented with small pet care projects on the side. During this time, he also started mentoring high school students through their transition into adulthood with a local program called PYC, where he continues to volunteer today. In late 2007, Raymond decided to focus on working more profoundly with dogs, gradually evolving his approach to canine development and building a solid base of satisfied and appreciative clients, ultimately establishing Having A Ball! in 2014 with wife, Katelyn, younger brother, Paul, and dog, Miles, all faithfully by his side. RichardRaymond and Katelyn were thrilled when Richard expressed a desire to offer his support to our growing family business in the spring of 2017. With success came a very apparent need to grow with someone we could trust to help take the reins and continue propelling the business forward beyond our own capabilities. As Raymond’s twin brother with 15 years of experience in education, child care, and child development, working both in classrooms and in program development and administration, Richard was truly our missing piece. His eagerness to absorb and fully support our core philosophies and also contribute his own ideas and expertise has allowed us to fine-tune our operations, expand our services, and build a more sustainable foundation. He typically provides our first point of contact and handles service and enrollment inquiries, scheduling for ranch groups and most private services, leads the ranch team daily, and offers a range of private services including boarding and day care.
|
Miles & KatelynAs Raymond’s greatest supporters of embarking on this journey, his dog, Miles, and wife, Katelyn, have rallied behind him wholeheartedly to help this vision come to life. While Miles loves having a ball with his dad and buddies every day, he also serves as a valuable mentor and guide during group activities. Relying on his solid grasp of appropriate behaviors along with his shepherd instincts, he dutifully helps reinforce directions and boundaries and supports our newer and younger dogs in developing their social skills. He is also proud to show off his tricks when he gets to help with behavior training. Katelyn similarly takes pride in employing her skills to support the family business, serving various operational and financial functions. Drawing from her diverse administrative and legal background, she pitches in mainly behind the scenes, managing our books, records, and systems. She also collaborates with the leadership team on business strategies and planning. Having a deep fondness for animals since childhood, she relishes any opportunity to get outside and play with dogs when she can.
|
PaulAfter being persuaded to leave his former dog walking position, Paul became Raymond’s first family member to join Having A Ball! and has been with us since the beginning. As the business continued to grow, his experience and the relationships that he cultivated with so many of our dogs and clients earned him a leadership role in our walk program. He has remained a strong support as we've transitioned these groups to the ranch and also provides a variety of private and overnight services.
EricWhen the need arose to expand our ranch team, Richard was thrilled to bring on Eric, a long-time friend with whom he has spent endless outdoor time, building the relationships between their two families. Eric joined us in 2017 with enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn and quickly became a valued asset. His energy is infectious, and he bonds particularly well with dogs that share his playful spirit. Eric is also happy to provide boarding and private visits along with daily outings at the ranch.
|
AlexFrom trekking through the Himalayas to being an entrepreneur through his own business endeavors to a lifetime of caring for pets, Alex came to us in 2019 with a wealth of experiences that made him exceptionally well suited to lead groups of dogs. His love of nature and adventurous, creative spirit have found much fulfillment in this role, and he has enjoyed building a structured and supportive environment with the dogs in his care. Now a core member of our ranch team, he also offers boarding and day care.
MattA very dear and trusted family friend of over 20 years, Matt leaped at the chance to join our ranch team in 2018 and support our momentum toward a new stage of growth. His upbeat and fun-loving attitude truly brightens the spirit of our groups. His sense of compassion and warmth has a way of putting those around him at ease and encouraging even the more cautious to break out of their shells and play. Along with ranch outings, Matt also offers day care, weekend walks, and boarding.
|
LianneAnother of the Lacerda siblings, Lianne joined our team in 2016 and was instrumental in fostering the growth of our ranch and boarding programs, quickly gaining a loyal following. Her warm, friendly, and caring nature and enthusiasm for getting to bond with dogs and play a key role in the family business (not to mention photography skills!) have made her a strong asset to our ranch team. She also welcomes dogs for overnight boarding and other private services and supports scheduling.
DeeAs a private walker, Dee has allowed us to expand our ability to offer services to dogs who do best with one-on-one attention. She has graciously contributed to the care of many furry houseguests with her husband Paul, and she loves having the opportunity to build close relationships with the dogs and clients that she serves. Her background in child care and nurturing spirit have made her a great fit for our private walk, visit and boarding programs.
|