Meet the
Dog-Harmony Team
Dog-Harmony is a 501(c)3 education non-profit. Our team members work hard in all roles to uphold Dog-Harmony’s mission to reduce shelter dog populations through humane education. Our team members are a community professionals, volunteers, and (most importantly) dog lovers just like you!
Want to get involved? Find more information about Dog-Harmony’s mission.
Are you a business looking to give back to the community?
We want to talk to you about our sponsorship packages and how you can support us through your business.
Our Founder
Nancy Bown, CPDT-KA
Founder
Nancy Bown is a graduate of the Animal Behavior College in Santa Clarita, California, and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). She is a Animal Behavior College Mentor Trainer trainer and an Intermountain Therapy Animals evaluator.
While operating her dog daycare and dog training business, she saw how many dogs were being relinquished or returned to shelters because the owners and dogs weren’t given the proper education and training to build forever lives together. She also noted that otherwise good dogs were being turned in to shelters because children did not know how to interact with dogs, such as running up to strange dogs to pet them, or pestering and grabbing grandma’s Chihuahua while it was eating, resulting in bites.
As a result, Nancy created Dog-Harmony Inc., a different “breed” of rescue, focusing on humane education for children and the community while also offering training necessary to keep dogs in their homes.
Our Board of Directors
Holly Karr
Chair, Board of Directors
Holly Karr is an I.T. Agile Coach / Program Manager at Beast Code. She is a native of Okaloosa County and her passion for making our area better for everyone, including the four-legged ones, drives her to help Dog-Harmony succeed in their mission. Holly is married to Russ Karr, an Air Force veteran pilot, and enjoys public speaking, being a life-long learner, and an avid crocheter. She serves on the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, is the Vice President of the Community Solutions of the Emerald Coast (One Hopeful Place), is a member of both One Okaloosa EDC’s TeCEMN group and the Business Leaders Council, and is a general member of the Emerald Coast Science Center Board of Directors. Holly joined as the Chair of our Board of Directors in 2024.
Angie Graham
Secretary, Board of Directors
Angie Graham, originally from the Philippines, now resides in Pensacola with her husband, Dan, their son, Caden, and their two dogs, Breezy and Vito. She works as an analyst at Navy Federal Credit Union and is pursuing a master’s degree in Instructional Design and Performance Technology at UWF. Angie enjoys family dinners while watching their favorite shows. She joined our Board of Directors as the Secretary in 2024.
Rachelle Graves
Board of Directors
Rachelle Graves is the Director of Special Events at the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Krista Landen
Board of Directors
Krista Landen was born and raised here on the Emerald Coast, and she has worked at Gulfshore Air Conditioning for more than 12 years. She has a chocolate lab, Decoy, and two children: Oliver and Kari Marie. When she is not working, Krista enjoys spending time with her husband (Adam, also a native) and their family outside. Krista enjoys meeting all of the attendees at Dog-Harmony events and networking, so make sure to stop by and get to know her!
Our Volunteers
Christie Solomon
Volunteer
Christie volunteers with Dog-Harmony by providing social media management services and participating in children’s and hospital programs as a therapy dog team with her canine best friend, Chloe. In 2019, Christie formed Elevate Next, a digital marketing agency providing website design and public relations services to Elevate organizations to the next level of profitability and brand awareness. Christie’s philanthropic focus is on animal rescue and education, and she can frequently be seen with her dog, Chloe, whom she adopted from Dog-Harmony in 2017.
Andrew Farmer
Volunteer
Andrew Farmer is a realtor with Scenic Sotheby’s International Realty in South Walton. A longtime resident and real estate agent in the well-known County Highway 30A beach community, Andrew works with families, investors, and developers interested in the most coveted neighborhoods along 30A. Andrew leverages his creativity, passion for marketing, and years of experience in real estate and the vacation rental industry to go the extra mile for each of his clients. When Andrew isn’t selling homes, he is spending time with his son, Hudson, and their dog, Vivian.
Ken Kraft
Volunteer
Ken was born in Wilmington, Delaware, and has spent most of the past three decades here on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Always having a hand in sales he has worked in everything from art, ladies shoes, clothing, and luggage. After a detour dabbling in lifeguarding-firefighting-EMT work, he has spent nearly 20 years in the jewelry industry. For the last 17 years, he has worked for McCaskill and Company in Miramar Beach in sales and merchandising. After McCaskill and Company donated a timepiece for a Dog-Harmony event, Ken realized it was time to both adopt and volunteer. His girls, Paisley and Lola, are both chihuahua rescues, with Lola coming from Dog-Harmony. When not at work or with the dogs, you can find Ken at the gym, yoga, the beach, practicing martial arts, skiing, mud-running, cooking, watching movies or out enjoying live music.
Janie Schmidt
Volunteer
Born in Miami, Florida, and raised in North Georgia, Janie is a revenue manager for St. Joe Hospitality after years of experience serving in various marketing and public relations roles for hotels, small businesses, agencies, and nonprofits alike. With formal communications and hospitality education from Piedmont College and Florida State University, her versatile knowledge and skills allow her to accomplish just about anything she sets her mind to. When she’s not setting room rates or analyzing trends, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Josh, and her dogs, Finn and Hammy.
Clare Bassett
Volunteer
Clare Bassett is a single mother of three grown children who moved to Florida from Michigan more than 10 years ago. Originally born in England, she has owned and taken care of many different animals from a hedgehog to a horse! When her children were in elementary school, she started on a long career of volunteerism that culminated in a lifetime achievement award for volunteering from the Clarkston school district. She started and ran many educational and fun programs for children that are still in use today. Clare also served on the PTO board for a total of 10 years and multiple school district committees. That need to volunteer in areas close to her heart brought her to Dog-Harmony, and she loves to help with all the different events.
Today she does many different jobs for a long list of clients, including one of her favorites which is pet sitting!
10th Year Anniversary Sponsor
Community Partner
Our Capital Sponsors
Event Sponsors
