ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER (ACO) Instructors:

Dr. Karen Dashfield, DVM

Karen is an experienced veterinarian who has spent over 19 years designing disease control programs for shelters, kennels and wildlife rehabilitation facilities throughout New Jersey. She has trained and evaluated search and rescue dogs as well as therapy dogs. She designed the original agility program at a leading animal welfare organization She has treated and monitored over 250 infected dogs in a single facility during a canine influenza outbreak and has worked with numerous facilities to identify, treat and control outbreaks of disease. As director of Sussex County Animal Response, she initiated and ran a shelter for Hurricane Katrina Dogs that received, re-homed and reunited over 200 animals. She was a house call veterinarian who provided regular on-site care for the animals of BARKS (Byram Animal Rescue and Kindness Squad) and Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary.
Currently she serves as the on-staff veterinarian for Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary. Through BARKS she runs a pet-food pantry that distributes pet food to human food pantries and needy families throughout Sussex County, N.J. Karen is also a consultant for Best Friends Animal Society, working on the Best Friends Search and Service Dog Program. For many years she responded to incidents like 9/11 with her dog Sophie. Her down to earth style has made her a sought after speaker for Best Friends, Petfinder, the AWFNJ, St Hubert’s and especially for us as instructor for CDI. She shares her home with her four dogs Red, Dusty, Bella and Sadie, and a cat named Princess. Sadie, a rescued Springer Spaniel, is a search dog in training.

Mark O’Grady
NJ Fire Captain (retired)

Captain O’Grady started his career as volunteer Firefighter in 1985, becoming a career firefighter in 1987 with Roselle Fire Dept, Roselle NJ. He retired in 2015 with 28 years of service as a Captain and 3 years as head of Training Bureau.  Captain O’Grady is a Fire Instructor level 2 in NJ as well as an instructor with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. He is a District Forest Fire Warden with NJ Forest Fire Service. Captain O’Grady has spent 16 years as a wild land firefighter. Captain O’Grady teaches ICS 100 and 700.

Timoteo (Tim) Vazquez
NJ Division of Criminal Justice Investigator (retired)

Timoteo (Tim) Vazquez is the founder and chief instructor of Aikido Centers of New Jersey (ACNJ) Manasquan; and, is also the founder of DT Pro - Defensive Tactics for Professionals. Tim has studied a variety of martial arts and compliance systems. He has over 20 years of law enforcement experience and 30 years of martial arts experience. Tim is retired as a State Investigator for New Jersey. Some of Tim’s extensive law enforcement expertise includes:

  • New Jersey State Police certified officer instructor ID# 57170B in compliance with N.J. State "Security Officers Registration Act, SORA".
  • Former lead Defensive Tactics (D.T.) instructor for an accredited NJ State law enforcement training academy and author of the- D.T. lesson plan currently in use.
  • Former Certified Police Academy Instructor by the NJ Police Training Commission since 1992.
  • Certified FBI D. T. Instructor since 1993.
  • Instructor of Special Tactical Response Teams and member on two separate teams holding position of point man.
  • Former member of N. J. State Street Gang Unit and a qualified Hispanic Street Gang Expert in Superior Court.
  • Recipient of N.J. General Assembly Resolutions and U.S. Congressional Recognition for outstanding law enforcement investigations.

William Hollingsworth

William “Bill” Hollingsworth is currently the Executive Director of the Humane Society of Ocean City, New Jersey with over 18 years of experience in the Animal Welfare field.  He is a Certified Animal Control Officer, former Animal Cruelty Investigator and Dog Trainer. In his role as Executive Director with the HSOC, he is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the animal shelter and the veterinary center.  Among some of his major accomplishments as Executive Director, he was responsible for the establishment of a fully functional veterinary center that is not only focused on providing affordable medical care for the pets in the community but also attends to the medical needs of the shelter residents. Mr. Hollingsworth wrote the Animal Emergency Operations plan for the City of Ocean City and in 2012 it was activated during Hurricane Sandy with positive results. In 2015, the Humane Society of Ocean City received national recognition at the Westminster Dog Show as the Shelter of the Year.
Mr. Hollingsworth is a former law enforcement officer who served with the Haverford Township Police Department in various capacities including patrol, narcotics investigations, and special operations. After his career in law enforcement, Mr. Hollingsworth worked for the City of Ocean City in the Department of Economic Development.   In addition, Mr. Hollingsworth is a certified instructor for the State of New Jersey C.E.R.T.  (Community Emergency Response Team) and teaches the Responding to Animals in Disasters Course for the City of Ocean City.  He  holds several FEMA certifications and currently works with the Ocean City's Office of Emergency Management with the Animals in Disasters Annex.
Mr. Hollingsworth has his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from West Chester University and has teaching certification in Elementary Education from Rosemont College. He also is a member of the Association of Animal Welfare Advancement and Association of Fundraising Professionals.  Currently, Mr. Hollingsworth lives in Somers Point NJ with his wife Julie and several adopted shelter dogs and cats. 

John C. Saccenti
President, Founder and Chief Educator for CDI

John C. Saccenti attended Fordham University where he received his Bachelors in Education, Masters in Education and Political Science, as well as his Educational Specialist Degree. After service as an Army officer and undercover work with the FBI, Mr. Saccenti served as a teacher and administrator before working with the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice. Before his retirement from that agency, his primary responsibility was the development of all Basic Law Enforcement Training. His work included the design and writing of the Basic Course for Investigators, the redesign and writing of the Basic Course for Police Officers and other major basic and advanced law enforcement courses.

Mr. Saccenti served as President of the National Association of Local Boards of Health and advised the US Surgeon General and the White House on public health policy. He has served as a consultant to the Office of the Attorney General, Office of Counter-Terrorism. He currently serves as a consultant to the United States Department of Justice. Mr. Saccenti is a nationally known speaker on public health, law enforcement and training development and management. He is the author of many articles on both law enforcement training and public health and serves as an adjunct professor at several New Jersey colleges.

Geoffrey R. Goyette
Vice President of Training & Development, Career Development Institute
NJ Certified Animal Control Officer & Former Animal Cruelty Investigator, NJ Certified Emergency Manager, NASAR Certified Sartech II

Mr. Goyette He is the Bureau Chief of the Middlesex County Animal Response Team as well as a NJ Certified Emergency Manager. He is a member of the NJ State Animal Response Team (NJSART). His experience includes working as an Animal Control Officer, Animal Shelter Manager, ACO supervisor, animal cruelty investigator, and responding to several disasters. He is a certified NJ Police Training Commission instructor and teaches Animal Behavior, NJ Animal Laws, Wildlife Control, and Pet First Aid in the NJ Certified Animal Control Officer and NJ Humane Law Enforcement Officer Courses for Career Development Institute (CDI). He has completed Human Search and Rescue training and been certified as a SARTECH II. He was recognized by the United Way as a “Hometown Hero” for his volunteer work with animals and co-founded an all volunteer 501c3 animal rescue organization. His therapy dog, Belle was inducted into the New Jersey Veterinary Association Animal Hall of Fame in March 2014. Belle passed away in 2017. Prior to the preceding accomplishments, Mr. Goyette had a highly successful 40-year career as a business executive where he and the groups he managed achieved numerous national honors. He lives with a 9-year-old terrier mix named Anna who he rescued at 5 weeks of age and shares ownership of a English cream golden retriever named Oakley with his granddaughter (a college senior).

Belle  (In Memoriam)

Belle was a 13 year old golden retriever who was a nationally recognized therapy dog and co-instructed
Pet First Aid classes. Belle was in most class photos and her wonderful personality was an inspiration to everyone she met. She passed away after a battle with cancer. Belle received recognition from the American Kennel Club and is enshrined in the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association Animal Hall of Fame for her  teaching efforts as well as her work with children, senior citizens, and nursing home patients. Belle achieved distinctive certifications as a Canine Good Citizen and AKC Therapy dog. Belle had been featured on a statewide television program, Aging in Middlesex County as well as having had many articles written about her.





Career Development Institute
Post Office Box 5024
Kendall Park, NJ 08824
732-821-6997

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