The Special Services Department was created as a group of "dog-intelligent" staff to provide a premium level of service to the core constituency of AKC - Delegates, active breeders/exhibitors, active club members, cluster chairmen, judges, and AKC staff. The Special Services staff is thoroughly familiar with the functions of all AKC's departments so that they know immediately where to go to obtain information or solve a problem. Their service now extends beyond the core constituency.
All calls to Customer Service with questions regarding shows get forwarded to the members of Special Services, as do all e-mails to info@akc.org that involve show questions.
Karla Deithorn, AKC Subject Matter Expert
My career in dogs began at the age of 12 when my favorite uncle let me train one of his Beagle pups for field trials. I moved to Dachshunds the following year. My first Dachshund was Duchess Willagaye, and she ignited my passion for the breed as well as provided my kennel name, Willagaye.
Through the years I have fox hunted with MFH-registered hunts; coonhunted with Black and Tans and Redbones; open-field hunted Saluki and Ibizan Hounds; and now regularly hunt with my Dachshunds and Terriers.
I have taught and competed in obedience for a number of years, earning CDs on Dachshunds and a Saluki, as well as a CDX on a Dachshund. One of my first Dachshunds was also an excellent scent hurdle racer.
I have competed in, organized and judged Dachshund and Beagle licensed and sanctioned field trials. I assisted in developing the AKC Earthdog program and helped to write the Earthdog rules.
I have held offices in various clubs and have served on the board of the National Owner Handler Association.
I currently compete in Earthdog Tests with my Dachshunds, smooth Fox Terrier and Lakeland Terrier. I compete in Rally with my Labrador Retriever. I enjoy a variety of AKC events and write articles for the AKC website on the events I attend.
Working in Special Services is one way I can give back to a sport that has given me so much. I not only get to help the experienced exhibitors with their problems and questions but have contact with the novice exhibitors, who are seeking to add to their knowledge.
Betty Nightengale
The progression from competing in horse shows to dog shows happened for me in 1976. I received an Irish Setter puppy as a first anniversary gift and one thing lead to another. While attending obedience classes with my puppy, I learned he was sired by the #1 Irish Setter and was encouraged to attend a dog show. I entered him in a large specialty show where he won his class. I was hooked.
My involvement with Irish Setters continued for 20 years, owner-handling many dogs to their championships, group and BISS wins. One of my proudest, and most emotional, accomplishments is having owned national specialty winners of both the Veteran Dog and Veteran Bitch classes. I have handled a number of other sporting breeds to their championships including a BIS win.
During graduate school I made a breed change to Whippets and for five years have enjoyed their company. I now share my home with five whippets including two owner-handled specialty winners.
I have held a variety of officer positions in all-breed and specialty clubs. Working with several pet-assisted therapy programs has also proven a rewarding activity. Most recently, I experienced the joy of watching my whippet work at a day program for adults with severe mental illness.
Mari-Beth O'Neill - Assistant Vice President Customer Service
Mari-Beth was born and raised in Philadelphia. Her family had Doberman Pinschers, later joined by Manchester Terriers and Whippets. Mari-Beth competed in Junior Showmanship as well as breeding and exhibiting her Manchester Terriers under the Charmaron prefix. She was approved to judge Doberman Pinschers, Irish Wolfhounds, Scottish Deerhounds, Whippets, and Manchester Terriers.
Mari-Beth joined the AKC staff in October of 1990 as the Associate Director of Judging Research and Development. The activities she has been involved with include the development and planning of the Judges' Institutes, working with the parent clubs on the development of Judges' Education programs and coordination of the Judges' Workshop Groups. Additionally she has coordinated the Judges Guides for new breeds.
In March 1993, Mari-Beth was named Director of Judging Applications. In 1995, Mari-Beth was named Dog Woman of the Year. In October 1996, she was named Director of Judges Education. In August of 2002, Mari-Beth was promoted to the position of AVP of Corporate Training and Development. In 2005 Mari-Beth took over the responsibilities of the Special Services Department and in November of 2006 Customer Service was merged into her responsibilities.
Additional involvement has been as the Delegate for the American Manchester Terrier Club, member of the English Cocker Spaniel Club of America, Doberman Pinscher Club of America, Bryn Mawr Kennel Club, Westbury Kennel Association, Moore County Kennel Club, Delaware Valley Manchester Terrier Club, and Quaker City Doberman Pinscher Club.
Before joining the AKC staff, Mari-Beth taught elementary school for 12 years and coached at the Junior High level.
She currently resides in Cary, NC.
Chris Strom
Chris Strom bought her first purebred Cocker back in 1970. Upon the advice of the breeder, she attended her first dog show as a spectator, and loved it. In an effort to learn how to groom her dog, she took a job at a grooming shop operated by serious Poodle breeders and exhibitors, thus further spawning her interest in shows. A few short years later she went to work for professional Cocker handlers Charlotte & Terry Stacy and really learned how to groom her dog!
After working with the Stacy's she went back to school but always had a puppy or show dog in tow. Over the years she has finished several Champions and has owned and exhibited a variety of breeds; Afghan Hounds, English Cockers, Irish Setters, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and a Bulldog. After years of "hair care" she has settled on Whippets and presently shares her home with 2 Champions.
In 1992 Chris accepted a job with the American Kennel Club when it conveniently relocated to Raleigh where she was residing. She started in Customer Service and moved to Special Services when the department was developed in August of 1996. January 2001 Chris accepted a manager's position in Companion Events working with Obedience, Tracking & Canine Good Citizen. August of 2003 she decided to come back to her old job.
As Chris states, "I was working on projects in Companion Events and realized how much I missed direct contact with the dog people. I'm a people person and customer service is my forte. I am delighted to be back and available to assist the serious fancier with whatever questions or needs might arise."
Christine Weisse
An avid dog lover her entire life, Christine Weisse focused on a variety of breeds in the sporting group until her love of the Labrador Retriever took over. Christine's involvement in the fancy ranges from Conformation to Obedience and Hunt Tests. She has titled dogs in all three sports and strives to have Working Certificates and Canine Good Citizen certification (CGC) on every dog she owns. Christine is a CGC evaluator and has been instrumental in testing dogs at the AKC office so they can be eligible to accompany their owners to work in the N.C. building.Christine has had the opportunity to work with a professional field trainer and has learned to train her Labrador Retrievers to compete in hunt tests. She is proud to be an AKC Hunt Test judge. Christine is active in her local Retriever Club in many capacities including marshalling and website design.
Christine currently has 10 Labs of all three recognized colors but has gained respect as a breeder of fine Chocolates under the Registered Kennel Name of PantherCreek Labradors in Graham, NC. She is currently a member of the Labrador Retriever Club Inc., Cary Kennel Club, Yakin River Waterfowl and Retriever Club, and Raleigh-Durham Labrador Retriever Club, where she served as a board member until her employment at AKC.
Christine came to the American Kennel Club with years of experience in the Information Technology world as a technical project manager at IBM. She started her AKC career in the AKC Event Operations Division in March 2003 and moved to the Companion Events Department six months later. In December 2005, Christine joined the AKC Special Services department, looking forward to the opportunity to work closely with and serve some of the most active members of the fancy, while striving to continue to contribute to the sport of purebred dogs.
Theresa Bowling
Theresa was born and raised in Southern Maryland. She moved to North Carolina in 1994 along with her husband and 2 children. She started working for the American Kennel Club in November of 1999 as a Customer Service Representative in the Customer Service Department. Here she was a senior rep who assisted customers with online registration problems as well as registration matters. In April of 2006 she transferred to the Special Services Department where she handles Registered Kennel Name applications and Impure Breeding cases.
She has always been a dog lover and enjoys having a Boston Terrier as a member of her family.
