John Drach has been the Training Director at Dogs for Better Lives since 2011, supervising the Assistance Dog Trainers, Kennel Techs, Client Services, and Adoption staff. He has spent 27 years in the Assistance Dog industry starting as an Apprentice Trainer at DBL.
John has trained Hearing Dogs, Service Dogs, Seizure Response Dogs, and Autism Dogs and has placed more than 350 dogs during his tenure career. John also spent 15 years at Paws with a Cause in Wayland, MI and has written Apprentice Manuals on Assistance Dog training for the U.S. Department of Labor and has trained numerous trainers on the proper training of Assistance Dogs of all types.
Harvey Potts has more than 20 years of professional experience in the nonprofit sector and since 2016 has successfully overseen Dogs for Better Lives’ development, communication, and marketing programs.
Prior to joining DBL Harvey worked in senior managerial positions with several national nonprofit organizations, including Restore America’s Estuaries, National Wildlife Federation, and Washington’s National Park Fund.
Earlier in his career Harvey worked internationally, serving a 3-year term with the U.S. Peace Corps in Poland, working in Bialowieza National Park (second oldest national park in the world to Yellowstone), overseeing their first-ever national grant funding program.
Harvey received his Masters in Environmental Education and Planning from Pacific Lutheran University.
Trish Welch is a graduate of Oregon State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise and Sport Science. She worked in the fitness world for nearly 10 years as a Group Fitness Instructor, Exercise Specialist and Fitness Director.
Looking to further express her passion for serving people, Trish made a career change to the non-profit sector by becoming the Executive Director of The Arc Jackson County, For People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. During her 20 years at The Arc, Trish led the development of new programs and services unique to the area as well as other parts of Oregon and the United States. One of her signature community events was the creation of Live to Dance with The Arc Stars – an evening showcasing the talents and abilities of people who experience disabilities, while educating the local community that people who experience disabilities are no different from you and her.
Trish currently serves as a member of the Rogue Valley After Five Rotary Club. In her free time, she enjoys a variety of indoor and outdoor activities such as traveling, fishing, camping, golfing, water sports, and spending quality time with her rescue dog Floyd and close friends. Trish, along with her husband Jim, have three children – the oldest two are now attending her alma mater.
Bryan Williams became Dogs for Better Lives’ fourth President and CEO in August 2018. Prior to DBL, Williams was Canine Companions for Independence’s (CCI) Southeast Regional Executive Director in Orlando, FL since 2016.
During his time at CCI, the region achieved record-breaking placements including hearing dogs, significantly increased revenue, welcomed a new Chapter to the region, and unveiled and implemented a plan to improve campus grounds. Bryan is passionate about analytics and metrics, introducing several operational dashboards. He also served on the national Strategy and Systems Team which focused on improving business processes. Prior to CCI, Bryan was the Executive Director of the Community Foundation of South Lake (Clermont, FL), a nonprofit which focuses on providing leadership to enhance the quality of life in South Lake County by identifying community needs and seeking philanthropic support to meet those needs.
Preceding the Foundation, he worked as the Development Director and then CFO for Halifax Humane Society (Daytona Beach, FL), a nonprofit that exists to protect animals from cruel, neglectful and exploitative treatment.
Bryan and his wife Rachel have three young children and are looking forward to exploring southern Oregon and the Pacific Northwest as a family.
