Our Staff Ferndale
Meet our team! Did you know? Each staff member is required to become Pet CPR & First Aid certified before completing their status as a Trainee. This helps ensure our Pack Leaders know how to handle any situations that may arise. We are proud to be surrounded by a team of dedicated dog lovers, some of whom have been with us for over 10 years! Read all about your dog's BFFs below.
Mandy Maksimov
Facility Manager
Joined Canine to Five Team in 2019
Pets: German Aussie named Banshee, a Norwegian Forest Cat named Samuel L. Catson, a Tuxedo named Marishka Hargitay, and an orange tabby named Medivh
Mandy was born in Ottawa, Ontario, and lived on a hobby farm just outside of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She has always surrounded herself with all kinds of animals, and finally decided she needed a break from the customer service jobs she'd taken on throughout the years, and wanted to commit herself solely to animals. Canine to Five was the perfect fit! Mandy absolutely adores working (and playing) with our dogs at Canine to Five! She currently resides in Oak Park Michigan with her pets. During her free time, she is usually reading, playing World of Warcraft, or spending time with her fur babies.
Fallon Mills
Pet Care Manager
Joined Canine to Five Team in 2019
Pets: Caesar the Pit Bull
Fallon joined our team with a love for animals that started when she was a child and continues to grows daily. Prior to Canine to Five, she worked at a coffee shop. Fallon currently lives at home with her family while attending Wayne State University full time studying Photography. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and taking pictures, of course! Her favorite thing about working at Canine to Five is being able to work with so many different types of dogs and helping them succeed in the best ways possible.
Amanda Takacs
Customer Service & Canine Concierge Since 2021
Emily Bucuren-Brazier
Customer Service Since 2022
John Spreitzer
Customer Service and Concierge Since 2022
Carlyn Misuraca
Customer Service SInce 2022
Brenna Davis
Customer Service SInce 2022
Ayana Adams
Customer Service SInce 2022
Katie Kobeski
Customer Service SInce 2022
Gerret Vanderham
Pack Leader Since 2018
Felix Freeman
Pack Leader Supervisor 2018
Jesse Guest
Pack Supervisor Since 2020
Oliver Gutholm
Pack Leader Since 2021
Andrea Hawkins
Pack Leader Since 2021
Lydia Hall
Pack Leader Since 2021
Jordan Weisman
Pack Leader Since 2021
Katrice Bailey
Pack Leader Since 2021
Chris Dale
Pack Leader Since 2021
LaShya Jones Montgomery
Pack Leader Since 2022
Jade Rhone
Pack Leader Since 2022
Kiera Adams
Pack Leader Since 2022
Sylvia Marcaccio
Pack Leader Since 2022
Zach Antonelli
Boarding Support Since 2022
Nex Hetrick
Pack Leader Since 2022
Cheyenne Bulinda
Boarding Support Since 2022
Matt Burkholder
Pack Leader Since 2022
Brianna Kitchen
Pack Leader Since 2022
Sam Seeger
Pack Leader Since 2022
Morgan Hawkins
Pack Leader Since 2022
Jessica Lollie
Pack Leader Since 2022
Zach Kenworthy
Pack Leader Since 2022
Zach Aldridge
Pack Leader Since 2022
Emma Ternes
Pack Leader Since 2022
Liz Blondy
Founder and Owner
Founded Canine to Five in 2005
Pets: A Landseer Newfoundland named Clover
Liz is a long-time Detroiter who, after a decade in sales, decided to combine her love of animals and her hometown passion into a career. In 2005, she opened Canine to Five Detroit Dog Daycare in Midtown and in 2013, Canine to Five Ferndale. Both facilities offer daycare, boarding and grooming, and the business also facilitates trainings and hosts events like pack walks and dog-friendly happy hours.
Canine to Five is now recognized as a Detroit small business success story, and Liz has emerged as a staunch and prominent advocate for Detroit’s resurgence. Firmly convinced that small businesses are the key to true revival, she co-founded Open City Detroit, a networking group designed to encourage entrepreneurship, and participates in many initiatives to foster a strong grassroots business community.
Benjamin Paga
Director of Operations
Joined Canine to Five Team in 2015
Pets: 2 dogs named Bonnie & Kiba, 1 cat named Oliver
Ben is our Director of Operations, and going above and beyond for our clients is totally his thing. Coming from a background in the rescue/vet world, Ben says doggy daycare is a completely different environment. "It has been so inspiring to work with a team that loves, adores, and truly wants to learn more and grow with each dog that comes through our door, as well as our clients that treat their pups as their own children."
Ben currently lives in Ferndale with his Shepherd mixes, Bonnie & Kiba, and long haired cat, Oliver. In his free time, Ben enjoys painting, wood burning, trail hikes with his dogs, gardening, and fixing his house. His favorite thing about Canine to Five is “The need to learn more. I love this company because we grow with the times. I love learning more about each and every dog and their individual behaviors, quirks and personalities and then being able to have a conversation with our awesome clients really just makes my day. Seeing a dog go from underconfident to giving that first booty bump to the owner walking in for the first time with a treat pouch is the biggest win for my staff and I. The ability to enrich all dogs' lives is my favorite thing about Canine to Five."
samantha hillmer
Director of Marketing & Client Experience
Joined Canine to Five team in 2017
Pets: A Boxer Mix named Charlie & A Cattle Dog/Terrier Mix named Violet
Samantha is the doer of all things. As our Director of Marketing & Client Experience, she is behind all of our client communication and social media, she helps document and improve our processes, maintains our reservation software, updates our website, writes blog posts, and honestly - so much more.
Outside of having an knack for technology, Sam has over 10 years of experience working with animals! She has worked everywhere from grooming salons to vet clinics, working with border patrol K9’s, horses, and has even helped deliver newborn puppies. She loves working at Canine to Five because basically everything she does is also her hobby! Writing, social media, graphic design - it truly is her dream job. Sam also loves that Canine to Five is all about being positive and provides a healthy outlet for dogs who would otherwise be bored at home. "Working for a business that shares your same values and training beliefs is so great. I know my own dogs are happy and safe at Canine to Five, so it's easy for me to communicate the benefits to potential clients when doing my job."
Samantha currently resides in Allen Park with her husband, Matt, her two daughters, Hailey & Hannah, and her two dogs, Charlie & Violet.
melissa daris
Human Resources Manager
Joined Canine to Five team in 2021
Pets: A Sheltie named Luna and a Bengal cat named Ivan
Melissa came to Canine To Five with a background in Human Resources and Management. She previously worked in animal medicine at an ER and Specialty Veterinary Hospital. This combined experience made her the perfect fit for Canine To Five.
Melissa takes care of all of Canine To Five's employees whether it be recruiting, benefits, payroll and anything else "HR"
Melissa currently resides in Royal Oak with her husband Tom, daughter Eva, son Tommy, her dog Luna and cat Ivan.
cullen perry
Manager of Training & Development
Joined Canine to Five Team in 2012
Pets: 4 dogs - Birdie, Beowulf, Sabretooth, and Charlie, 5 cats - Elvira, Inana, Ishie, Lulu, and Flea, and a catfish named Salvador
Cullen is our dog guru. As our Training Manager, he makes sure all of our Pack Leaders are proficient in dog behavior and body language, and that all of our dogs are being taken care of properly and with positive techniques. When asked what his favorite thing about CTF was, he replied, "The dogs, obviously. I like that we have created an environment that can be healthy, positive, and enriching for so many different personality types. I love that our staff puts in the work to help dogs learn the skills they need to be successful. Our level of dedication and knowledge, matched with customer transparency and education, means that we can provide a beneficial service that is unique within the industry."
Cullen currently resides in Detroit with his 4 dogs, Birdie, Beowulf, Sabretooth, and Charlie, his 5 cats, Elvira, Inana, Ishie, Lulu, and Flea, and his catfish, Salvador.
Kaitlin Lulofs
Canine Concierge Supervisor
Joined Canine to Five team in 2016
Pets: A Cocker Spaniel named Noah, and two delicate Millipedes named Thorne and Admiral Rodcocker
Kaitlin is a Pack Leader who joined our team in 2016. She previously lived in Denver, Colorado where she was a live-in care provider for a special needs Chow Chow and studied Mortuary Science. The very first day she moved back to Michigan, she was walking around her neighborhood and saw Canine to Five.. her eyes lit up! She knew she had to work with us.
Kaitlin currently resides in Ferndale with her roommate, her Cocker Spaniel, Noah, and her different species of insects! During her free time, she legitimately plans all year for Halloween, watches Law & Order, and is currently learning how to drive so she can get her license! She is also always trying to convince the world that leggings are pants. Her favorite this about Canine to Five? “All the dog kisses, duh!”
Cecelia Perry
Employee Recruiting & Company Events Manager
Joined Canine to Five Team in 2014
Pets: 3 Dachshunds named Simon, Garfunkel, & Tazz, a mystery mutt named Lurch, and two cats, Julius & Angelo
Who's that lady walking 4 dogs at once? It's our HR Manager, Cecelia! In 2014, Cecelia joined our team looking to break out of the food industry. Her brother, Cullen, had already been a Pack Leader with us for 2 years and introduced her to Canine to Five. Starting out as a Pack Leader herself, Cecelia quickly moved up to Supervisor, then Facility Manager at our Midtown location, in just 3 short years! Between her love for animals growing up, and her managerial skills from working at Qdoba, we knew she would be a perfect fit.
Lou Ray
director of finance
Joined Canine to Five team in 2019
Pets: Suzie & Blue Ray the Lab Mixes
Lou is a Certified Public Accountant who joined our team to provide our company assistance with accountability, metrics, and strategy development. Prior to Canine to Five, he owned and operated an industrial supply distribution company. When he isn't talking finances, Lou enjoys golfing, cycling, hiking, and traveling up north. He has owned dogs his whole life, and currently resides in Grosse Pointe with his wife and two dogs, Suzie & Blue Ray. Lou says his favorite thing about Canine to Five is our employees and their enthusiasm for the dogs in our care.