Sandy Marcal
Founder and President
Sandy Marcal is a lifelong animal lover who has dedicated many years to promoting the wellness of animals. She has devoted the past 23+ years working with K9 teams across the country and assists in securing funds for the organization’s programs and services. Ms. Marcal established the “Healthcare for K9 Heroes” program which offers a pre-paid medical insurance grant for self-funded K9 units in 2016. She produced and hosted an internet/cable television production called, “The Pet Zone” featuring monthly pet professionals for four years. Previously she organized fundraising events for over a dozen different non-profit animal rescue organizations. She currently shares her life with 4 beloved cats.
Jodi Como
Board Member
Tanya Everett
Board Member
Tanya Everett is a former human resources and risk management professional who left the West Coast in Eastern Washington for East Tennessee over two years ago. Her other half is a retired K9 Sergeant who had two working dogs vested by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. To pay the generosity of VIK9s and their donors forward, Tanya began volunteering her time to Vested Interest in K9s in 2018. She is the mother of retired K9 Havoc who is a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois and one-year-old mini–Australian Shepherd, Charlie. They also have a small flock of chickens named after the Golden Girls. Tanya and her family reside in Jefferson County, Tennessee.
Lieutenant Victor Guerrieri, Sr.
Advisory Board Member
Lieutenant Victor Guerrieri is a retired 38 year veteran of the Chicago Police Department. As Commanding Officer of the Chicago Police Department K9 Unit, he was also assigned to SWAT, Dignitary Protection, and Special Operations Watch Commander. Commanding Officer CPD Mobile Field Force, and Tactical Training Unit.
Officer Brian Kelly
Advisory Board Member
Officer Brian Kelly has been a member of the Colorado Police Department (CSPD) since January of 2001. He is currently assigned to the CSPD’s Specialized Enforcement Division Tactical/K-9 Unit. Officer Kelly has been a handler with the CSPD’s Patrol Canine Unit since August of 2006 and is currently working his third certified police canine, Zev. His former partner, K9 Broc was a recipient of a ballistic vest from Vested Interest in K9s. Officer Kelly is a Certifying Official with the NPCA, Field Training Officer and Firearms Instructor. He served twenty-six years in the United States Air Force.
Master Sergeant Ryan Stark
Advisory Board Member
Master Sergeant Ryan Stark is a 24 year veteran of the Oklahoma City Police Department. He has been assigned to the K9 Division since 2006, as well as the Tactical Unit. MSgt. Stark is currently partner with his fourth K9 partner, Jugger, a German Shepherd trained in patrol and explosives detection. After the untimely death of MSgt. Stark’s second partner, Kye, who was killed by a suspect in the line of duty in 2014, Stark’s five year old daughter, Tayte raised over $8,000 on behalf of Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. In, 2015, Kayne was one of seven recipients of a ballistic vest from the donated funds his daughter raised.
Sergeant Erik Johnson
Advisory Board Member
Sergeant Erik Johnson is a 14 year veteran of the Jonesboro Police Department in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He has been assigned to the K9 Unit and SWAT team since 2012. His current duty assignment is the JPD Street Crimes Unit and the K9 Unit Coordinator. Sergeant Johnson was partnered with K9 Gabo who sadly passed away in January 2020. On December 11, 2018, K9 Gabo was shot 5 times during a standoff while trying to apprehend the armed suspect. 4 rounds passed through Gabo critically wounding him but the 5th and most likely the fatal round was stopped by Gabo’s ballistic vest which was donated by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. in 2015 in Memory of K9 Rocco of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
Sergeant Justin Galbraith
Advisory Board Member
Sergeant Justin Galbraith has been a member of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio since December of 2007. He is a certified Taser Instructor, OC Spray Instructor, and Defensive Tactics Instructor. He is assigned to road patrol, the K9 unit, and works with the narcotics division. His K9 partner Fazzo received a donated vest from Vested Interest in K9s, Inc in 2017. Deputy Galbraith and Fazzo were the winners of the Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. first Chevy Tahoe Sports Utility Vehicle giveaway in 2018.
Officer William Perez
Advisory Board Member
Patrol K9 Handler William Perez is a twelve-year veteran of the Des Moines Police Department in the State of Iowa. Officer Perez is currently assigned to third watch patrol with his partner K9 Finn. Finn is a year and a half dual purpose Belgian Malinois, trained in criminal apprehension and narcotics detection. Finn is a high drive K9 partner with a sweet and loving personality. Officer Perez and Finn have been a canine team since April of 2024. Officer Perez is also a firearms instructor, open sight rifle instructor, field training officer, Gracie Survival Tactics Level 1 Instructor, and an acting supervisor. Officer Perez is an 8-year Army combat veteran who deployed to Afghanistan in 2010-2011 with his Scout Sniper Reconnaissance Unit out of Camp Dodge Iowa.
Sergeant Shane Stephenson
Advisory Board Member
Sergeant Shane Stephenson has been a member of the South Portland Police Department in Maine since August of 2009. He is currently assigned as a supervisor for second shift and teaches interdiction at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Sgt. Stephenson and his first partner, K9 Zak, were recipients of 2 vests from Vested Interest in K9s. K9 Ziva is Sgt. Stephenson’s current partner and she just received her first vest from Vested Interest in K9s. Both were dual purpose (patrol and narcotics) K9s that responded throughout Southern Maine. Sgt. Stephenson also serves with the Maine Association of Police doing legislative work in Maine that helped increase the line of duty death benefit for first responders, helped stop the elimination of qualified immunity in the state of Maine and helped allow K9s to be treated by EMTs/transported in ambulances during medical events.