Board Of Directors
West Michigan Therapy DogsMeet our Board of Directors
Meet the 2026-2027 Board of Directors!
Our leadership consists of WMTD members who volunteer their time to serve on our board apart from volunteering with their dogs. They help us ensure our organization operates smoothly and continues to grow and improve.
President
Heather McCormick
As President, I am working towards creating a working website that ensures both volunteer teams and facilities that want to partner with us, have access to quick clear information. It is important to me that our organization continues to have a positive impact on our communities for decades to come. I have always worked in the service industry but focused specifically on healthcare. For the last 12 years, I have worked in the veterinary medicine field.
My family has always included dogs. I joined WMTD in 2009 and my first certified therapy dog was Clarence Ebinezer, a French Bulldog. His 10 years of volunteer work showed me just how important dogs are to human healing. All program visits are rewarding, but, our dogs are the ones who pick where we go. Their love of working is what makes our volunteer time enjoyable.
There are very few therapy dog organizations in Michigan, and even fewer that train and support therapy teams on a one-to-one basis. WMTD is unique in its conception and execution. It is very important to me that this organization is viable for years to come. My hope for WMTD is that it is a healthy organization that survives long into the future. Human pain—mental or physical— is something that will forever need the kindness and understanding of a dog.
Vice President
Heidi Yahrmarkt
Treasurer
Jessica Walters
As the Treasurer, I am responsible for managing and overseeing WMTD’s finances, ensuring financial policies are followed, and providing accurate financial reporting. My responsibilities include budgeting, financial reporting, ensuring compliance with regulations, managing accounts, overseeing audits, and contributing to strategic financial planning. I advise the board on financial decisions to ensure the financial health and sustainability of the organization. In my professional career, I am currently a benefits consultant and the COO of Total Control Health Plans.
Growing up on a horse farm, my life was deeply intertwined with animals from a very young age. Our farm was alive with all kinds of animals, from dogs and horses to chickens and barn cats, each contributing its own rhythm to the pulse of daily life. I spent my childhood not just caring for them, but actively engaging in training, nurturing, and even competing with them. I joined WMTD in 2019. My therapy dog, Breslin and I love the Ruff Readers program. He loves engaging with the kids, helping them relax, and enjoys all of their snuggles while I get to listen to them read and learn about them through their stories. My hope for WMTD is to continue to expand access to therapy dogs and broaden the impact of underserved communities as well as to continue to raise public awareness about the benefits of therapy dogs and how they are different from other types of service animals.
Director of Programs
Diane Cutler
As the Director of Programs, I am privileged to promote and oversee the many programs WMTD participates in. As new organizations reach out, I evaluate them for viability with our guidelines and then seek volunteer teams who would like to participate. I have spent my entire professional career in the public library field including managing a branch that continues to have a strong Ruff Reader program. There is nothing that makes my heart happier than watching a child and a dog get excited about books and want to read more.
I’ve been a member of WMTD since 2004 with one Westie or another. My last therapy dog passed in 2019 and we finally added a Westie pup to the family this year. Fingers crossed he will enjoy volunteering as much as I do! My past volunteering has been with Ruff Reader programs in several library branches. Now that I’m retired, I’m excited to try new opportunities with a new pup. I am excited about bringing the new website and online tools to our volunteers. My library positions helped me get comfortable with regular changes as well as teaching technology to others. I hope that the new website will be one successful step in creating meaningful volunteer opportunities for our teams.
Secretary
Marla Ehlers
As Secretary, I keep and publish our board’s official minutes. As with every nonprofit, WMTD board members have many “other duties as assigned,” such as working with Pat Nicholls to update our technology infrastructure to improve communication and to create an intuitive, user-friendly filing system for all our digital resources. We’re also working on making our database of hundreds of members, dogs, and partner organizations more robust. Organizing and implementing key systems for a nonprofit is a natural fit with my current position as Operations Director at a local church, and with my 25 years of experience in libraries, including children’s storytimes, catalog migrations, and administrative work.
CoFounder
Jeanne Lewis
I am currently not a board member but have taken up the “founder” position to observe and contribute where and when I can. I wanted to stay a part of the organization to keep an eye on what I started. I currently teach and test teams that come through our therapy dog classes. I am currently retired, but I have worked previously as a canine trainer and doggy daycare manager.
I never really joined WMTD… I started it. So, you could say I joined at about 2:30 PM, Saturday, May 19, 2001, while sitting in Riverside Park after visiting the veterans home. I don’t have a favorite program, but I enjoy visiting Mary Free Bed. I’d love to see WMTD long after I’m gone. I would like to see WMTD have a true home of its own—a training facility where we can rent space to other trainers. Then, we could have a real hospital bed and several other items we use for training classes
WHAT IS PET THERAPY?
Pet therapy is a broad term that includes animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and other animal-assisted activities. AAT involves animals to help individuals, many with health problems, to cope or recover, whether it’s cancer, mental health issues, physical disabilities, and more. Animal-assisted activities are volunteer-based and meant to provide comfort and enjoyment to senior citizens, children, and others.
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
West Michigan Therapy Dogs, Inc. (WMTD) is a group of volunteers who provide Animal Assisted Activities to various groups in Western Michigan. Our services are free, and we do not accept monetary reimbursement for any of the services our members provide.
DONATE
We are a 501(c)(3) organization, and donations help us continue growing and reaching our goals. If you are interested in supporting our mission so we can serve more people in West Michigan, consider donating.