Our Staff

Matthew Corso - CoFounder / Chairman of the Board of Directors

Matthew founded CSDA with his wife, Rebecca, in 2017. Matthew has spent the last 23 years working in the technology and business consulting world.  As the Executive Director, Matthew brings his years of business experience to the helm of CSDA ensuring that, as a business, we are sustainable to serve the community. Matthew, along with Rebecca, has been instrumental in driving CSDA and its direction. 

​Renee Cardoza - Executive Director / Board Member

Renee’s passion in dog training began after attending Petsmart training classes with her two pups Lily and Ragnar.  After some research, she found Animal Behavior College. Through schooling, she met the amazing team at Your Pro Dog Trainer and she was hired on and has continued to work there as an Assistant Manager and expand her dog training knowledge over the past two years. Renee loved the idea of training service dogs and she received the opportunity to join the California Service Dog Academy. She is currently CPDT-KA, and CBCC-KA certified through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, and has her Service Dog Coach Certification through Cooperative Paws. Renee has always had a love for dogs and wants to share what she knows with others. Her goal is to help owners find that special bond with their dogs through training, love and understanding.

 ​Brygette Branco - Sentinel Dogs Program Coordinator

Brygette has been working with dogs professionally for over 7 years. She is CPDT-KA certified has her Service Dog Coach certificate through Cooperative Paws. She is a member of several professional organizations including the IAABC, APDT, and CCPDT. Brygette enjoys training her own dogs, Stoli and Hex. In her free time, she enjoys trick training with her dogs and earning trick titles through the AKC. Brygette has been working with California Service Dog Academy since 2019 and is very excited to continue helping clients find more confidence and independence through their service dogs. 

​Jareth Bizieff- Associate Trainer/ CARE Dog Program Coordinator

Jareth has been training dogs over the last 4 years. He is the dog father of 2, and is always implementing new training with his dogs at home. Jareth began working for California Service Dog Academy in 2021, and is currently in the process of attaining his CPDT-KA certification through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. Jareth is a firm believer in positive reinforcement training. He loves to see the dogs advance in their training, and looks forward to going to work each day with them.

Dahlia Ruiz - Associate Trainer

Dahlia has owned dogs her whole life but found her calling to do more with dogs after adopting her three dogs, Petra, Pernille, and Maple. These dogs showed Dahlia that dog training is her passion, so she made it her goal to make it her career. This led her to enroll in Animal Behavior College, where she mentored under the staff at CSDA. Once completing the program and earning her ABCDT certification, Dahlia joined the team at CSDA in 2022. Dahlia has also completed her MBA from Fresno State in 2023! Dahlia loves working with clients and the variety of dogs they come with. She values the uniqueness of each handler and dog team and is so excited to meet you and your pup!

Our Board

​Matthew Corso - Chairman
Renee Cardoza - Secretary
Christopher Ulicki - Treasurer 
Cheri Provancha - Veteran Director
Josh Gordon - Civilian Director
Vacancy