Who We Are
Matt Crites
Matt Crites, MS (Project Canine Director and certified therapy dog team) volunteered with Project Canine for several years before joining the Board in 2021. He has a graduate degree in electrical engineering and has leveraged those engineering skills in various environments from car manufacturing to government research in remote sensing. He also has years of experience in small business and facilities management with a focus on operations in Seattle-area hospitality and canine services. Since 2022 he has had two certified therapy dog partners: Blue, Australian Shepherd and Princess Leia, Greyhound. (Photo: Matt’s therapy dog partner Blue and his recently passed therapy partner Princess Leia.)
Donna Frindt
Donna Frindt (Project Canine Executive Director, instructor, and examiner, certified therapy dog team) has been with Project Canine in various roles since February of 2011. She brings years of business experience in marketing communications, project management, online business management and executive coaching to Project Canine. She has worked in a variety of business environments from large, Fortune 500-sized organizations to small entrepreneurial firms. Donna partnered for nearly 8 years with her Australian Shepherd, Dash, to provide therapy dog visits weekly at the Ronald McDonald House as well as to support a wide variety of Project Canine special events and programs. Donna is also a certified instructor and examiner and she leads all steps of the Project Canine certification process on a regular basis. Donna’s current therapy dog partner is another Australian Shepherd (related to her first one), named Blue. (Photo: Donna's therapy dog partner Blue. Blue is an Australian Shepherd.)
Steve Hansen
Steve Hansen, MA (Project Canine Board Treasurer) comes to Project Canine with extensive management experience in social service, technology, and project delivery at companies ranging from Fortune 100 to small startups in fields including education, software, health care, finance/banking, and defense/aerospace. Steve, along with his retired racing Greyhound Hoyt, joined Project Canine in June 2013. They enjoyed visiting at Ryther, Seattle Public Libraries, and the Ronald McDonald House. Steve’s second canine partner is also a retired racing Greyhound, Princess Leia. They retired from visiting in 2021. Prior to the COVID pandemic, Steve developed and managed Project Canine’s Bow Wow and Books children’s literacy program. (Photo: Steve's most recent therapy dog partner Princess Leia. Princess Leia is a Greyhound.)
Missy Hughes
Missy Hughes, CPDT-KA (Project Canine Board Secretary, instructor and examiner, certified therapy dog team) is a professional dog trainer and was a longtime member of the Great Dog management team in Northgate. After a thirty-year career in corporate communications and many years as a volunteer and board member with a variety of non-profit organizations, she followed her soul-dog Augie's advice and started working with dogs full-time. Missy has worked with dogs professionally for many years, in roles ranging from dog walker, to daycare dog handler to Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). She teaches a variety of classes and provides private training for all kinds of canine clients. She also leads Project Canine exams and classes and is a certified handler for Blue Australian Shepherd and Princess Leia Greyhound. (Photo: Jake is Missy's non-certified companion dog.)