Smoky Mountain Service Dogs

About Us

501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Chartered in the State of Tennessee
All volunteer organization
Accredited by Assistance Dogs International
Financials

Board of Directors

Mike KitchensChairman/Spokesperson

Mike Kitchens resides in Tellico Village, Loudon, TN. Masters Degree from Western Kentucky University, continuing education degree from Texas A & M School of Business. Has served on numerous boards, including Texas State Industrial Accident Board, Corpus Christi Drug Abuse Council. Is a Vietnam Era Veteran, having served in the US Army. Retired from DuPont Company after having held Senior Management positions in Sales, Marketing, and Human Resources.

Steve BartoloneVice-Chair

Steve currently resides in Tellico Village, Loudon, TN with his wife Joyce who is an Advanced Foster for SMSDogs in training. Steve received his Bachelors in Business from Northwood University and his Master’s Degree in Business from Central Michigan University. In addition, Steve served as an Instructor for Dale Carnegie Public Speaking. He is retired from General Motors Corporation as the Marketing and Product Director for Chevy Trucks and SUV’s. Steve’s strengths of public speaking, sales and marketing will greatly serve the interests and mission of SMSD.

Adri BlignaultTreasurer

Adri Blignault, Controller, joined Strategic Acquisitions Group (SAG) in 2021. Adri has extensive involvement in and exposure to multinational manufacturing and business operations in North America, Western Europe, Asia, and Africa. Adri was previously with the Flexider Group, where she held various operational and financial positions: Director of Operations, Director of Finance, Business Development Manager for manufactured products in Automotive, Aerospace, Oil & Gas Markets within established or startup facilities. Prior to that, Adri held various financial roles within manufacturing companies for the automotive market.

Adri received a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Port Elizabeth in South Africa, majoring in Accounting and Cost. During her career, Adri joined the South African government on various “Made in South Africa” marketing and branding missions in Europe, Asia, and North America and led a team that was named “Exporter of the Year” for medium-sized business based in South Africa by the Exporters Club.

John FearnSecretary

John currently resides in Tellico Village, Loudon, TN with his wife Barbara. John brings an international flavor to SMSD as he received his Chemical Engineering Degree from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom. John brings a strong marketing background to SMSD and will be highly involved in the pursuit of sustaining business partners. John has served as a Board Member of the Food Industry Suppliers Asso., the International Association of Food Industry Suppliers, Board Chair of the Food Industry Suppliers Asso., and as a board member of the Sauk County Humane Society in Wisconsin.

Suzy KitchensBoard Member at Large/Chairman Emeritus

A native of Maryville, Tennessee, Suzy currently resides in Tellico Village in Loudon. She is a Registered nurse and worked in various medical areas (surgical nursing, Manager of an Occupational Nursing program for a local hospital and a Sales Executive for a national orthopedic company). She retired after 20 yrs as a Radio Sales Executive. Her SMSD Board responsibilities include management of the SMSD Canine Training Staff and the Veteran Liaison duties assisting veterans through the application process to receive a service dog.

Laurie BirtBoard Member at Large

Laurie Birt brings an extensive skill set to the Board. As leader of the SMSD Community Events Team, and as one who handles our wonderful canines, Laurie has worked diligently to promote SMSD in many ways. Laurie will focus on Community Events, Education, Public Relations, Special Events and provide input on issues of strategic importance in regards to the mission of SMSD. In addition, Laurie is handler for the SMSD Canine Ambassador Hooligan.

Carla NavasBoard Member at Large

Carla currently lives in Tellico Village with her husband Mark, where they have made their home since 2019. Carla has worked as an executive in the mortgage industry for the past 40 years, running several very large operations as well as being a founding member of a couple of startup companies where she performed a variety of roles, basically whatever was needed to get the fledgling business off the ground.

She has previously served on the board of the Simi Valley Education Foundation which raised funds to provide grants to local teachers for classroom projects that were no longer funded by the state. She has lived all over the US in the course of her career but opted to settle here in East TN for the beauty of both the surrounding landscape and the people who inhabit it. Carla was at once drawn to SMSD once she attended a Passing of the Leash in 2017. She has served in several roles since joining us in 2019, most recently co-raising a puppy, Bentley, with another local couple.

Carla’s father, grandfather, uncles, brother-in-law and nephews have all served in the US military so she feels that this is her opportunity to serve those who have given so much to safeguard our country.

Tom BradleyBoard Member at Large

Tom Bradley joins the SMSD Board of Directors just having retired from an air traffic control career with the USAF and Federal Aviation Administration. Tom followed the military service of his dad, an Army Air Corps WWII B-17 top turret gunner who got shot down on his last scheduled mission and evaded capture, and his oldest brother who served as a USAF Vietnam pilot. His oldest son is currently serving our country as an Air Force Intel Officer.
Leading into retirement, Tom knew he wanted to volunteer his time somewhere. Being a veteran and proud owner of 3 dogs, it took all of 4 minutes of a SMSD promo video to convince him his heart needed to be with SMSD.
Tom and his wife Diana relocated to Tellico Village after 35 years in the Washington DC metro area and look forward to assisting our wounded veterans and supporting the SMSD mission.

Col. Joseph M. Tedesco, Jr., US Army (Retired)Board Member at Large

Board Member At Large

Joe currently resides in Tellico Village, Loudon, TN with his wife Marla. Joe is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he was commissioned a Lieutenant of Infantry. Over the past 26 years, he has led American Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen on four continents. His command tours included: company commands in the 7th Infantry /Division, VII Corps in Stuttgart, Germany; battalion command in the III Corps, and a Joint Support Group Command at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. His culminating active-duty tour was at the Pentagon, where he served on The Joint Staff as a Division Chief on the Army Staff. On the Joint Staff, Colonel Tedesco was an International Staff Officer responsible for logistics coordination with all European, Middle Eastern, and African nations. On the Army Staff, he was responsible for the continual formulation of the logistics procurement and operational program of $18 Billion. Stationed at The Pentagon on 9/11/2001, his division was attacked and destroyed. On that day, Joe led a successful evacuation of his soldiers and civilian staff officers. After retirement from the military, in 2008, he was selected to be the Senior Mentor to the First Deputy Minister of Defense of Afghanistan. In retirement, Joe, along with his wife Marty are very active in their church and local community.

Colonel Tedesco holds a Bachelor’s Degree from West Point and a Master’s Degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University. He is a graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Among his commendations are the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Afghan Medal of Bravery.

John NametzBoard Member at Large

John is a retired Optometrist, and resides in Tellico Village, Loudon, TN with his wife Cheryl. John is originally from St. Louis, Michigan and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Olivet College where he was an all-conference basketball player on three conference championship teams. . Received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Ohio State University. His wife Cheryl is a graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education who specialized in education for the visually impaired. John and Cheryl have been involved in many civic clubs and non-profit organizations over the years. Among those organizations are Rotary, Kiwanis, United Way, and others. Among many of John’s community awards are The Healthy Children Award in recognition of his dedication to improving the health of Michigan Children, the Paul Harris Fellow Award by Rotary International, Michigan Optometrist of the Year, member of the Michigan State Board of Examiners, and recipient of the Olivet Distinguished Alumni award from Olivet College. John served on the Board of Trustees for First Presbyterian Church in Grand Haven, Michigan. He and Cheryl are now active members of the Community Church in Tellico Village. Along with other board members, John will play a major role in the future and strategic direction of Smoky Mountain Service Dogs.

Brian GoadBoard Member at Large

Brian Goad resides in Lenoir City, TN. He is the managing partner of Fidem Interop, LLC. The company is a software and services company for the healthcare industry nationally. Brian has a BS in Computer Engineering from Troy University, served on boards for Keep Blount Beautiful and served with the Boy Scouts of America as Camping Chair and Scout Master. He is a Veteran of the US Army where he was a Military Policeman and served in that capacity as a member of the SRT team and a Military Police Investigator. He is married to Diana and they have two adult children in the area. Brian’s passions include Veterans and Dogs, so SMSD is a perfect fit.

Jim CaughornBoard Member at Large

Jim is President/Owner of Graphic Creations in Knoxville, TN., a family owned business since 1987. A graduate of the University of Tennessee with his Bachelor of Science degree, Jim is very active giving back to his community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley. Jim also serves as President of the Knoxville Business Association Group. He looks forward to playing a key role in the strategic development of SMSD and is well qualified to assist in a number of functional areas including, Finance, Special Events, Fundraising, Marketing, Community outreach and networking. As a Sustaining Partner, Graphic Creations will also assist SMSD on social media presence./development.