Susan Sherwood, President
My name is Susan Sherwood and I am honored to be the President at POTC. My husband Larry and I have been members since 2017. We live near Elmwood with our three Australian Shepherds: Tyrion, Oliver, and Charlotte. Like many of our members, we started at POTC in a puppy class just trying to get our newest family member off to a good start. We chose to apply for membership at POTC, because it had a wide variety of classes and the instructors showed us that the possibilities for our dogs were endless. Since we became members, Tyrion has received titles in obedience, tricks, and freestyle. Oliver has titled in tricks, freestyle, and CGC. While I do enjoy competition, one of my favorite activities is taking Oliver to perform at nursing homes as part of the Barking Ballroom.
In addition to training our dogs, Larry and I have been active members at POTC. In the past I have served as the purchasing agent, as well as the unofficial assistant to the Director of Training. I have assisted with several trials and classes. I am also the current President of The Barking Ballroom.
Outside of POTC, I am employed by Illinois Central College as a Program Coordinator. I have nearly 20 years of coordination experience for a wide range of populations and educational programs. My responsibilities through my employment have also included budgeting and records management.
I take great pride in my involvement at POTC, and I look forward to sharing my passion and experience as President at POTC.
Shealyn Ashby, Vice President
I am kindly known among my friends as the crazy dog lady. I currently have a 4 year old, Shih Tzu Maltase mix named Ellie Rose and I train my partner’s 7-year old, Australian Shepherd, Mr. Peter Parker. I recently lost my heart dog of 14.5 years, my miniature poodle, Izzie, who taught me all I knew about dogs from a young age and pushed me to spend time learning about and growing my skills in dog training to better both her life but the overall household dynamic that comes with 3 dogs of varying age, size, and temperament. After spending some time building confidence, I am just now beginning to enter the trial ring in Agility with Ellie and Rally with Peter Barker.
Over the years, POTC members have become a second family and support system full of so much encouragement and words of wisdom both for myself and my dogs. I look forward to being able to play a small part in growing that welcoming and supportive environment throughout my time on the board.
Michele Marshall, Treasurer
I became a member of Peoria Obedience Training Club in September 2022 with my dog, Athena, a 2-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback. In the past, I’ve always had yellow labs. When our last lab, Daisy, passed away in 2020, we decided to get a ridgeback. Athena healed our hearts and challenged our patience. We are starting our agility and scent work journeys together. My husband, Mike, daughter, Emilee, and I reside in Bartonville. In my spare time, I love being a crazy chicken lady, beekeeper, and traveling with my family. I previously worked as an accountant for an international company. In addition to being the treasurer of POTC, I am the treasurer of a non-profit organization, Sotos Syndrome Support Association. I also provide accounting services for Dala Development, Wheel Art Pottery, and ICE Process Management.
Kathy Sours, Secretary
My name is Kathy Sours and I am currently serving as Secretary of POTC. I have been a member of POTC since 1969.
I have trained some of my dogs through many obedience titles, including an OTCH in obedience, finished several of my Border Collies to a conformation championship, earned titles in agility and rally and have recently been showing in nosework over several different venues.
I have taught and/or assisted in many classes at POTC – beginners, advanced, and dumbbell work. I have also instructed many 4H classes and judged them on the county level as well as the state level. I have held the position of Treasurer as well as Secretary in the past for POTC.
I believe that every dog should be trained to some level in order to increase the bond between the owner and the dog. Dogs should be well loved, obedient members of families.
Carol Walker, Director of Training
I joined POTC in 1994 with my two Westies after completing Puppy Class and Obedience class with them. I began assisting in Puppy class and eventually became an instructor and taught Puppy Class for several years. Recently I have taught Obedience for Performance, Obedience 1, and Obedience 2 classes. I currently chair our AKC and UKC Obedience Show ‘N Go’s. I have also been a member of the AKC Obedience trial committee for 15 years. Over the years I have participated in Obedience, Rally, Agility, Conformation, Coursing, Fast Cat, Barn Hunt and Earthdog. In the past I served as POTC’s President and Director of Training. In my opinion, our current classes are providing the community and our new members with the foundation they and their dogs need to succeed in any venue they choose. My goal is to help that continue and to help keep Peoria Obedience Training Club successful as well.
Anne Headings, Sr. Board Member
I’ve been a POTC member for 35+ years and have been an instructor/ assistant for obedience and rally classes many years. I have held the Junior Board member position in the past. As Senior board, I’d like to help keep our club building well maintained, clean and presentable for the public, for ourselves and the many trials we hold annually. I have trained Border collies over the years in obedience to the UDX title, rally to the RACH, in herding started and in Freestyle at advanced. I’ve also trained Beagles to the CDX and in tracking, Currently I’m training Chickie a beagle and Rio a border collie in obedience, rally, and freestyle.
Kim Moss, Jr. Board Member
Hi, my name is Kimberly Moss but most everyone calls me Kim. I am currently on the board as the Junior Board member and enjoy being a part of this team. I have been a member of POTC for about a year and a half now. I live in Pekin but grew up on a farm out in Trivoli and have always had animals. I’m married and have 2 boys, both in their early twenties and starting careers of their own. They both have dogs and have taken them through puppy and manners classes here at POTC.
I have 1 dog, my travel partner, my yellow lab, Boudreaux, better known as Boo. We started out in Manners class after Covid shut everything down so we missed out on puppy class. We have taken a couple other classes after that but mostly Boo and I participate and enjoy obedience and agility but would like to dip our toes in a few other areas to try new things. We are just getting started. My other passion besides Boo is barrel racing horses. I have 4 horses that I train and give lessons on as well. I’m also working with my miniature pony to train for equine therapy. Between the horses and my 1 dog, I keep pretty busy.
I work part time as a lab technician and part time as an Equine and Canine Sports Massage Therapist. I love helping animals of all kinds, but these 2 are my true passion. Being a part of POTC family helps to expand that passion and I’m excited to serve and do my part!
Angie Perrilles, Advisor
I’m Angie Perrilles and I currently hold the position of Advisor to the Board for POTC. My first experience with POTC was a puppy class with my Black Lab, Sadie, in 2005. Due to my job at the time, I was unable to continue the fun. I trained her on my own at home but I knew she would be great at agility and other sports. I was finally able to join POTC in 2013. At that time, I also had Sawyer and Meadow, two of Sadie’s pups. Sadly, we suddenly lost Sadie in August, 2017. This past year we have given a home to Cabela, another one of Sadie’s pups.
We have been involved in POTC’s agility, rally obedience, canine freestyle, tricks and flyball activities. Outside the club, we are also involved in dock diving and a frisbee League. We have hopes of starting nose/scent work, barn hunt and obedience. We have earned titles and championships in AKC, UKC, WCRL, NADD, NDAL, WCFO, CPE and K9 Frisbee Toss and Fetch.
Since joining POTC, I helped with Puppy and Manners classes for about a year and have been the lead instructor in Manners since 2015 in addition to Rally in 2019. I have also helped with the introduction and instruction of the Therapy Dog Prep Class as I have had two Certified Therapy Dogs (Sadie and Meadow). I enjoy helping handlers with young dogs who need help reinforcing basic manners, as well as older dogs who may have never had proper training.
When we aren’t at the club, I am busy at work as an Athletic Trainer/Physical Therapy Assistant at OSF Rehab (formerly Great Plains Orthopedics). I have been a St. Jude Memphis to Peoria Runner for 21 years and I have served on the Peoria Humane Society Board since 2011. I enjoy being involved in various groups and activities. POTC has become a second home to us and is one of our Happy Places!
Sally Miller, Courtesy Chair
Linda Doerfler, Webmaster
I am an honorary member who joined the club in 1995 with my first obedience dog. After 30+ years in the IT industry, I recently retired to enjoy my time traveling and training my toy poodles. I have held various board positions over the years including secretary and director of training. I am currently webmaster for the POTC website as well as trial secretary for various agility events sponsored by the club. I am also an AKC ACT evaluator for agility.
I currently have three dogs at home including my youngest which is just starting out in agility. In my spare time, I am also a dog sports photographer, acting as show photographer for many different dog sport events.