Our Team
The Team Behind Blue Man Dog
Mia Gyzander
Founder & Head Trainer
Blue Man Dog founder and Certified Professional Trainer, Mia Gyzander, has worked with horses and dogs for over 30 years. In the past decade alone, she has worked with hundreds of behavior-issue dogs, fosters, volunteers, and adopters, setting them up for success by offering continuing support. Besides being a licensed obedience trainer, she evaluates and rehabilitates shelter dogs to get them ready to be adopted. She tackles everything from extreme fear to aggression and focuses most of her work on behavior-issue dogs.
(License CPDT-KA)
Tracy Serpanchy
Fundraising & Gratitude Coordinator
Originally from Sri Lanka, Tracy moved to Australia where her family raised 6 Guide Dog puppies, and she started walking shelter dogs every Sunday. She did the same for a shelter in San Gabriel upon moving to Los Angeles and soon began fostering through LA city shelters too. Tracy now fosters for Blue Man Dog (11 dogs and counting!) and works on our website and newsletters. She ensures donations always get a thank you note.
Samantha swanson
Treasurer & Foster
A pet lover from childhood, Samantha began fostering dogs nearly a decade ago. Immediately she realized that these dogs needed more than love alone. Relying on instincts toward leadership, the fosters became better behaved, but more work was needed. Then Samantha met Mia, who provided all the proper answers to deal with issues that arose. Samantha switched careers to dog walking, to deepen her relationships with dogs and understand them better on a daily basis, adding in training at the same time. In 2019, she opened her own dog walking and boarding business, Four Paws Running.
Julia Burtenshaw
Secretary
Julia grew up in Switzerland surrounded by animals. Upon moving to Los Angeles and learning of the desperate pet overpopulation, she adopted a feisty little mutt through Mia. Since then, she has dedicated herself to helping people and dogs understand one another better. Over the last five years, she has gained practical experience working with all kinds of dogs; from scared to confused and aggressive. As part of Blue Man Dog, she has been involved in many areas; website, social media, fostering and training.
