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.
Andrea Cohen
Relations/Outreach Manager
Andrea has always loved animals, especially dogs and horses. The family story goes that even as a baby she would reach out from her stroller, wanting to pet passing dogs. Andrea grew up with two German Shepherds and a Labrador Retriever. As an adult, Andrea and her husband adopted two rescues, a Pitbull and a Staffie-Boxer mix. Most recently, Fiona, a Blue Man Dog rescue German Shepherd, has joined the family. A retired high school history teacher, Andrea spends her BMD volunteer time working with the rescues weekly, writing the newsletters, learning about the rescue and shelter world, fostering and assisting in other areas as needed.
Tanya Garcia
Social Media Manager
Tanya has been an animal lover since childhood, growing up with a menagerie of pets including ferrets, birds, shepherds, cats, and snakes. Today, as a foster and a social media content creator for Blue Man Dog, Tanya believes that social media is the ultimate megaphone for raising awareness about the shelter crisis and helping good dogs find loving homes. She’s also gained valuable insights into dog behavior from Mia, thanks to training sessions with her own dog.
