Leader Dog Alumni Board

Leader Dogs for the Blind is proud to launch our first-ever Alumni Board, a groundbreaking milestone in our organization’s history. 

The Alumni Board is a powerful new initiative designed to foster a connected community among Leader Dog graduates. It offers meaningful opportunities for mentoring, networking, and advocacy creating pathways for alumni to support one another and stay actively engaged in our mission. By strengthening ties between clients, this board will help build a lasting sense of belonging and shared purpose, while also extending connections to our broader network of volunteers, donors, and team.

This newly formed board is made up of 12 dedicated graduates who are committed to cultivating a supportive client community and shaping the future of Leader Dog programs. For the first time, alumni voices have a formal platform to influence and enhance the client experience ensuring that every stage of the journey is informed by those who’ve lived it.

A group shot of all the Alumni Board and the CEO wearing red or navy-blue polos.

Alumni Board Leadership Team

  • A woman with long black hair smiles toward the camera as she kneels holding the leash of the yellow Lab Leader Dog next to her. The dog also looks toward the camera.

    Juanita Lillie

    Alumni Board Leader
    Chair

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    Juanita Lillie

    Juanita has been a proud client of Leader Dogs for the Blind since 2008, experiencing firsthand the transformative power of the organization’s programs and community. She considers her Leader family – including staff, clients and volunteers – to be among the most important relationships in her life.

    Working in the federal government and with a Master of Arts (MA) degree, Juanita brings both academic knowledge and lived experience to their advocacy work.  

    Juanita joined the Alumni Board eager to help in mentoring, event planning, fundraising and development, advocacy, digital outreach, program initiation and team leadership. She is passionate about using these abilities to create meaningful change and support others in the community. 

    Juanita also enjoys traveling with Leader Dog Resi, exploring new destinations and broadening their perspective on the world. 

  • A man smiles toward the camera as he kneels next to his yellow Lab Leader Dog. The dog is in harness and is looking toward the camera.

    Jeff Hawkins

    Alumni Board Leaders
    Vice Chair

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    Jeff Hawkins

    Jeff has been among the highest profile representatives of Leader Dogs for the Blind since receiving Leader Dog Gracie in July of 2012.  Despite being diagnosed with an inherited form of juvenile macular degeneration in his early twenties which ultimately caused his blindness, Jeff enjoyed a successful managerial career in the paramedic industry for more than 20 years. 

    In 2011, Jeff attended Leader Dog for orientation & mobility services. A year later, and after becoming proficient with his white cane, Jeff returned to receive his Leader Dog Gracie, who worked at Jeff’s side for nearly 10 years. 

    Gracie retired in early 2021 and handed the harness on to Dove, who continues to help Jeff once again live the amazing life he always has. 

    Jeff is an avid snow skier, a passionate ice hockey player, travels extensively and has discovered a love for wilderness backpacking.  Jeff resides in a Michigan lakefront home with his wife, Linda, where they spend summers boating, jet skiing, water skiing, and enjoying other lake activities. 

    Jeff joined the Alumni Board looking to help other Leader Dog graduates through mentoring, event planning, fundraising, advocacy and public speaking. He looks forward to using his unique skills of connecting and communicating with others to grow this new community. 

  • A man with short blond hair smiles toward the camera as he kneels next to his black Lab Leader Dog. The dog is in harness and is also looking toward the camera.

    Stuart McGregor

    Alumni Board Leaders
    Secretary

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    Stuart McGregor

    Three-time Paralympic and Boston Marathon champion, Stuart has never allowed challenges to define his limits. Stuart transitioned from being a teacher to working in the federal government creating accessibility standards for people living with disabilities, where he developed a deep expertise in accessibility policy.  

    Stuart’s Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, combined with his experience as an athlete and coach, has given him comprehensive knowledge of both mental and physical health, understanding the unique considerations facing individuals with disabilities. 

    Passionate about Leader Dogs for the Blind’s mission and the transformative impact of guide dog partnerships, Stuart embraced this opportunity in the Alumni Board at Leader Dog. His heart is for people, and he is eager to come alongside Leader Dog to help enhance our vital mission. 

    As an Alumni Board member, Stuart is particularly interested in contributing through mentoring fellow alumni, advocacy, fundraising and event planning to strengthen the Leader Dog community. 

Alumni Board Mission

The Leader Dogs for the Blind Alumni Board exists to build a dynamic and inclusive client community by fostering meaningful connections among Leader Dog graduates. The Alumni Board ensures that the client’s voice and perspective are actively represented. Its mission is to amplify the voice of the alumni community and collaborate with the Leader Dog team. To ensure the board continues to represent the diversity and lived experiences of our client base, future positions will be open to applicants.

Alumni Board Members

  • A woman with long brown hair smiles toward the camera while holding a white cane folded into a square in front of her face like a frame.

    Krista Webb

    Alumni Board Member

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    Krista Webb

    “They whispered to her: you cannot withstand the storm. ‘I am the storm,’ she whispered back.”

    Program Completed: O&M

    Leader Dog Graduate Since: 2022

    Location: Texas

  • A man with dark hair and glasses smiles toward the camera. Next to him is a yellow Lab Leader Dog in harness, also looking toward the camera.

    Enrique Marroquin

    Alumni Board Member

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    Enrique Marroquin

    “Empowered by trust and determination, I work to create a world of accessibility and independence.”

    Program Completed: Teen O&M and DeafBlind Guide Dog

    Leader Dog Graduate Since: 2024

    Location: Texas

  • A woman with brown curly hair and glasses smiles toward the camera. Next to her is a yellow Lab Leader Dog in harness, also looking toward the camera.

    Kelly Lemke

    Alumni Board Member

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    Kelly Lemke

    “Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.” -Verna Myers

    Program Completed: O&M and Guide Dog

    Leader Dog Graduate Since: 2019

    Location: Minnesota

  • A man with light colored hair and a goatee smiles toward the camera. Next to him is a yellow Lab Leader Dog in harness, also looking toward the camera.

    Joey Johnson

    Alumni Board Member

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    Joey Johnson

    “The greatest gift you can give someone is the independence to live their own life”

    Programs Completed: O&M and Guide Dog

    Leader Dog Graduate Since: 2022

    Location: Georgia

  • A woman with dark curly hair smiles toward the camera. Next to her is a yellow Lab Leader Dog in harness, also looking toward the camera.

    Andi Nicole Horstkotte

    Alumni Board Member

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    Andi Nicole Horstkotte

    “I am forever thankful for the independence and joy Leader Dog has brought into my life.”

    Programs Completed: O&M and DeafBlind Guide Dog

    Leader Dog Graduate Since: 2023

    Location: Tennessee

  • A woman smiles toward the camera. She has short curly hair and is wearing hoops. She holds a long white cane where the handle is a teal color.

    Rita Harris

    Alumni Board Member

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    Rita Harris

    “Love, kindness, and serving others can make a difference; Making a difference starts with you.”

    Program Completed: O&M and Guide Dog

    Leader Dog Graduate Since: 2015

    Location: Georgia

  • A woman with short, light brown hair smiles brightly toward the camera. Next to her is a yellow Lab Leader Dog, also looking toward the camera.

    Elizabeth Fryseth

    Alumni Board Member

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    Elizabeth Fryseth

    “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” – Edith Wharton

    Program Completed: O&M and Guide Dog

    Leader Dog Graduate Since: 2016

    Location: Wisconsin

  • A woman with short grey hair kneels as she smiles toward the camera. Next to her is a yellow Lab Leader Dog in harness. She holds the guide dog's leash in one hand and pats him with the other.

    Teresa Arroyo-Llosa

    Alumni Board Member

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    Teresa Arroyo-Llosa

    “At the end of August, 2000, I went to Leader Dogs For the Blind to get my first guide dog; the day in which Dixie a female-yellow-lab was issued to me, that is when the door to real independence opened. The Alumni Board will give me the opportunity to share my experience of independence with those who want to live it.”

    Program Completed: Guide Dog

    Leader Dog Graduate Since: 2000

    Location: Ontario, Canada