MEET THE BOARD
Diverse in occupation and experience, yet unified by our passion, purpose, and mission.
Back (L-R)
Carla Sweet+, Kathy Spangler*, Nate Hibschman*, Cameron DeBlasio#, Kyle Schaefer*+, Angela Christner*+, Lindsey Miller+, Theresa Brandon*+, Elaine Whitesides#, Jeanne Lawrence#, Carol Battistini*
Front (L-R)
Keith Gray*+, Ttirado (retired K9)#, Dixie The Praying Dog#, Brian Calvert#
*Denotes Board Member, +Denotes Capital K9 Campaign, #Denotes special friend
Kyle Schaefer
Chair / Co-founder
Corporal, HC Sheriff's Department
Kyle is a Corporal with the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office and currently assigned to the Enforcement Division. He is a graduate of Indiana University with a degree in Criminal Justice and also a graduate of the Indiana University Police Department Cadet program earning his ILEA certification in 1993. He has over 13 years’ experience as a K9 Handler and trainer and currently working with Deaks, an 4 year old Dutch Shepherd.
Carol Battistini, CPA
Treasurer
email: acctg@cik9.org
With her husband Peter, Carol has lived in Avon since 1994. Carol’s professional career included controller for Olive LLP, controller and chief operating officer for Locke Reynolds LLP and practice services administrator for Frost Brown Todd LLC. Since retiring in 2013, she volunteers with Hendricks County Humane Society to include serving on its board of directors. Carol also volunteers with the Hendricks County Historical Museum. Pictured here is their coonhound mix Claire: this was her first day with us a year ago!
Kathy Spangler
Fundraising Director
email: giving@cik9.org
Assistant Vice President, Old National Bank
Kathy has been in community banking for over 29 years. Kathy co-chairs the Ace committee for Old National Bank Indy market. Kathy serves as the Fundraising Director for Central Indiana K-9 Association, as well on several other community-based organizations: Treasurer for Westside Professional Women, Board member for Avon Chamber, Avon Education Foundation and Jameson Camp. Kathy Spangler is a volunteer for Avon PD Night Out Against Crime, Gleaners Food Bank, Seeds of Hope and Military Veterans Resource Group.
Keith Gray
Historian/Photographer
Explosive Detection Canine Handler, TSA/DHS
Keith has been with the Transportation Security Administration since 2005 where he started his career as a screening officer. In 2011 he became an Explosive Detection Canine Handler with the agency and was partnered with his first canine Ttirado who is a Labrador Retriever. Keith was part of the agencies first recruits of passenger screening canine teams trained to detect moving odor on individuals traversing through the airport. Keith transferred into the Indianapolis International Airport in 2014. Keith and Ttirado worked as a team for 8 solid years before Ttirado retired in 2020. Keith is now partnered with a German Shorthaired Pointer named Ari. Keith has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Grand Valley State University and also volunteers with Central Indiana Labrador Rescue Association.
Theresa M Brandon, MBA
Past Chair / Co-founder
email: info@cik9.org
US Department of Labor, retired
Theresa has extensive non-profit experience with several years of service on various Boards of Directors: National Board of Directors, for Women in Management, Inc., she was the Founder and Past Chair of the Cedar Hill Pet Memorial Project, Inc. in Texas, and with the Greater Dallas Military Foundation's Board of Trustees. She has worked with Police and Fire Department personnel in Texas when she built a War Dog Monument and helped to launch a Shadow Fund in 2014 and 2016, respectively. Early in 2019, she helped to create the Central Indiana K9 Association, Inc., and serves as the Chair. After 24+ years of federal service, which includes 9 years as a US Marine from 1980 to 1989, Theresa is a decorated and disabled veteran and her last rank was as a Sergeant.
While Theresa and her husband Clark have had several rescues over the years, pictured here is Daisy Mae, a bone-faced Sharpei who, despite her happy face, was our fearless protector and a great watch dog. Nobody messed with her!
Nathan Hibschman
K9 Training Coordinator
email: training@cik9.org
Deputy, HC Sheriff’s Department
Nathan is a K9 Handler and Trainer with the Hendricks County Sheriff's Department. He is a graduate of IUPUI where he obtained a BA in Economics with a minor in History from Indiana University. In 2008, Nathan started as a reserve with the Hendricks County Sheriff's Department and was later hired full time in 2012. In 2015, Nathan was partnered with K9 Edo who at the time was an 18-month-old German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix. Edo was born in Slovakia and came to the Sheriff's Department as an untrained dog. Since then Nathan and Edo have completed both narcotics detection and patrol school making Edo one of four dual-purpose K9s currently with the department.
Lana Pedigo
Volunteer Coordinator
email: volunteer@cik9.org
Case Manager, Brauman Law Offices
Lana retired as a Realtor after 24 years and from the Court system after 21 years. She is currently Case Manager at Brauman Law Offices in Brownsburg. Having seen the valuable work that K9 teams do, she was all on board when she heard about CIK9. After losing her German Shepherd Dog, Esa to cancer and her retired racer Greyhound, Honey, she now has a 12-year-old Yorkie rescue, Molly. Molly really thinks she’s a 95-pound Rottweiler. Lana also volunteers and serves on the Board of Directors of Central Indiana Lab Rescue & Adoption, Inc.. She truly believes “it’s all about the dogs”.
Angela Christner
Recording Secretary
HR Business Partner, FedEx Ground
Angela does not work in law enforcement and has never been on a Board of Directors. When Angela learned about the Central Indiana K9 Association, Inc., she told Theresa Brandon, "You had me at dogs!" Angela has been with FedEx for 17 years and is currently an HR Business Partner at the FedEx Ground operating company. Angela works with her husband as a real estate agent. She also gives back to the community by working with organizations such as Gleaners Food Bank, Keeping Indianapolis Beautiful, and BOSMA Enterprises. Angela has two dogs named Macy (white dog) and Sofie (black dog).