Amy Baker
Tier I Team Leader
With 25 years of experience as a Speech-Language Pathologist and later a career in banking, Amy Baker brings both clinical and community-minded experience to NLTD. A former 4-H dog trainer and active volunteer, she now serves as a Tier I Lead supporting therapy dog teams working with seniors in care settings. Amy values being part of a kind and compassionate team that reliably brings comfort and connection to seniors during significant life transitions.
Shawna Orr
Tier II Team Leader
Shawna brings nearly 30 years in hospital and health care systems, IT operations, and team communication to her role as Tier II Team Leader with Northern Lights Therapy Dogs. Known for calm problem-solving and strong team support, she excels in fast-moving environments where clarity and compassion matter.
Growing up in Montana, she saw how hard it can be for kids in foster care and treatment settings, and she believes outstanding therapy dog teams can make a meaningful difference—especially for schools and health centers that lack funding for specialized dogs. A lifelong dog lover, she is dedicated to building capable, confident teams ready to serve.
Liz Hogenson
Tier III Team Leader
Across her lifetime, Liz Hogenson has served as a First Responder, 4-H leader, teacher, author, lobbyist, mother, and rancher. With retirement came not a slowing, but a redirection of purpose. Liz committed herself to training her collies for crisis-response work, focusing specifically on developing them into highly skilled Crisis Response Canine (CRC) therapy dogs capable of operating within emotionally intense and rapidly shifting environments.
Liz is deeply aligned with NLTD’s advanced mission set, bringing both firsthand responder knowledge and the maturity, steadiness, and discretion required for trauma-informed deployments. She has repeatedly witnessed the profound impact our dogs have as they de-escalate, stabilize, and create pathways to intervention for individuals experiencing psychological or emotional distress.
Rhonda Albertson
Volunteer Outreach Coordinator
Rhonda brings a background in community banking with a focus on understanding and serving the specific needs of customers and employees while ensuring full compliance with policies and procedures. Her extensive volunteer experience includes work with 4-H, service on a school foundation board, and various leadership roles within her local church, as well as traveling to support hurricane cleanup and recovery efforts.
During her two years with Northern Lights Therapy Dogs, she has had the honor of serving law enforcement, wildland firefighters, and students in trauma-informed settings, bringing cheer to retirement homes, and supporting students in crisis.
Having witnessed firsthand the meaningful impact that highly trained therapy dog teams provide to individuals and communities, Rhonda is excited to serve as Volunteer Outreach Coordinator. In this role, she looks forward to growing NLTD’s dedicated volunteer base and strengthening connections across Montana to continue meeting the diverse needs of those we serve.