The American Kennel Club® is pleased to announce the hiring of Doug Ljungren, Director of Performance Events. Ljungren will join the staff in Raleigh, NC effective March 1, 2007. He and his wife, fancier Judy Cheshire, will relocate from Washington State.
Ljungren has extensive background in both the sport of purebred dogs and in business management. Prior to accepting his position with AKC, he worked at the Port of Tacoma in Washington State for 14 years as a Business Planning Manager. As an integral part of the management team, Ljungren lead the small, local port to become the fifth largest container port in North America. Prior to his position at The Port, he was employed by the Weyerhaeuser Company and Masonite Corporation. In addition, for the past 11 years, Ljungren has served on the Washington State Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors, an advisory committee that meets with the Governor and executive staff on issues impacting the State’s economy.
Ljungren also has over 30 years of experience in the sport of purebred dogs breeding German Wirehaired Pointers and as a judge. He has participated in field trialing, conformation, obedience and hunting tests with his GWPs. Ljungren is a member of the German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America, East Seattle Pointer Club and Sea-Tac German Wirehaired Pointer Club.
Ljungren has served as the National Field Trial Chairman of the GWPCA three times and is the vice-president of the Northwest Field Trial Council, an organization assembled to address issues facing the field trial clubs in the Pacific Northwest.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Doug to our team,” said Vice President of Performance Events Bill Speck. “Doug’s professional experience coupled with his years of dedication to the sport will serve him well in this position.”