Team

At Charlie’s Stay + Play, our team is passionate about providing exceptional care for your pets. With a deep love for animals and years of experience, each team member brings something special to our facility. Get to know the dedicated individuals who make our doggie daycare and training center a safe and welcoming place for all pets.

Lisa Mitzen

Lisa is the passionate co-founder of Business for Good and owner of Charlie Stay+Play, dedicated to enhancing animal welfare. With a deep love for animals, Lisa champions ethical practices and community engagement, ensuring that every initiative supports their wellbeing. Her innovative approach fosters connections between people and pets, transforming lives while promoting a more compassionate world.

Jen Weis

Jen, former owner of Mahogany Ridge Dog Training and Daycare in Malta, New York, dedicated her life to enhancing the well-being of dogs. With a passion for training and nurturing, she created a safe haven for furry friends, focusing on positive reinforcement and socialization. Jennifer’s deep love for dogs drives her commitment to ensuring every pup thrives, fostering lasting bonds between pets and their owners.

Patrick Weis

Patrick has been a dedicated member of Mahogany Ridge for 10 years, driven by his deep passion for animals. He has a special love for rescuing pets in need and has a history of caring for a wide variety of animals, from dogs and cats to rats, mice, gerbils, and birds. One of his most memorable rescues was a baby robin that fell from its nest; Patrick nurtured and fed the bird around the clock until it was strong enough to fly away. His current companions include his beloved Poodle, Lyla, and a Yorkie named Max. You will know Patrick by his great sense of humor and pleasant personality.

Bernadette Flynn

Bernie lives in Colonie with her husband Joe, son Marshall, stepdaughter Rebecca, and a lively mix of 2 Great Danes, 2 Chihuahuas, and 2 cats. Bernie started volunteering at Mahogany Ridge in 2000, eventually becoming a part-time staff member and later transitioning to Full-time in September 2021. She assists with obedience classes and daycare training, and several of her own dogs have completed the facility’s Agility and Obedience programs. Bernie’s love for dogs began in childhood, influenced by a friend’s mother who bred German Shepherds. Though her first dog came at 12, it wasn’t until she got Spirit at 19 that her passion truly took off. While she loves many breeds, Labradors remain her favorite, and she hopes to have one again some day

Kevin Weis

Kevin has been a dedicated team member at Mahogany Ridge for over 7 years and is excited to continue that work at Charlie’s Stay + Play. His passion for German Shepherds is rooted in his upbringing, as his parents used to breed them. Now, he’s taken in two of their dogs, Diara and Zjago, turning his home into a retirement haven of sorts for the old Shepherds. When he’s not at work, Kevin enjoys either playing video games or taking his dogs out for a walk.

Ashlynne Stark

Ashlynne lives in Malta, NY, with her fiancé and their four cats—Poe, Tahoe, Yeti, and Manny. Ashlynne’s lifelong passion for animals began in childhood, where she cared for everything from fish to bunnies, though her love for dogs stands out, having grown up with three Huskies. Before joining Charlie’s Stay + Play, she gained experience at Puppy Love Pet Grooming as a dog bather and grooming assistant and at Petco, but it was at Charlie’s Stay + Play that she finally found her perfect fit, combining her love for animals with a fulfilling career.

Sabrina Wastcott

Sabrina has been working with dogs since 2018, starting her career at a grooming salon before joining the team at Charlie’s Stay + Play. She shares her love for animals with her two dogs, Dixie, a loyal German Shepherd, and Wall-E, a playful chocolate Yorkie. They both enjoy outdoor adventures like fishing and camping with her. A lifelong dog lover, Sabrina got her first dog, BlackJack, at 8 years old and has been committed to caring for animals ever since. After moving to the area two years ago, she’s found her dream job at Charlie’s Stay + Play, where she loves connecting with both dogs and their owners.

Lisa Mitzen
Lisa Mitzen

Lisa is the passionate co-founder of Business for Good and owner of Charlie Stay+Play, dedicated to enhancing animal welfare. With a deep love for animals, Lisa champions ethical practices and community engagement, ensuring that every initiative supports their wellbeing. Her innovative approach fosters connections between people and pets, transforming lives while promoting a more compassionate world.

Jen Weis
Jen Weis

Jen, former owner of Mahogany Ridge Dog Training and Daycare in Malta, New York, dedicated her life to enhancing the well-being of dogs. With a passion for training and nurturing, she created a safe haven for furry friends, focusing on positive reinforcement and socialization. Jennifer’s deep love for dogs drives her commitment to ensuring every pup thrives, fostering lasting bonds between pets and their owners.

Patrick Weis
Patrick Weis

Patrick has been a dedicated member of Mahogany Ridge for 10 years, driven by his deep passion for animals. He has a special love for rescuing pets in need and has a history of caring for a wide variety of animals, from dogs and cats to rats, mice, gerbils, and birds. One of his most memorable rescues was a baby robin that fell from its nest; Patrick nurtured and fed the bird around the clock until it was strong enough to fly away. His current companions include his beloved Poodle, Lyla, and a Yorkie named Max. You will know Patrick by his great sense of humor and pleasant personality.

Kevin Weis
Kevin Weis

Kevin has been a dedicated team member at Mahogany Ridge for over 7 years and is excited to continue that work at Charlie’s Stay + Play. His passion for German Shepherds is rooted in his upbringing, as his parents used to breed them. Now, he’s taken in two of their dogs, Diara and Zjago, turning his home into a retirement haven of sorts for the old Shepherds. When he’s not at work, Kevin enjoys either playing video games or taking his dogs out for a walk.

Ashlynne Stark
Ashlynne Stark

Ashlynne lives in Malta, NY, with her fiancé and their four cats—Poe, Tahoe, Yeti, and Manny. Ashlynne’s lifelong passion for animals began in childhood, where she cared for everything from fish to bunnies, though her love for dogs stands out, having grown up with three Huskies. Before joining Charlie’s Stay + Play, she gained experience at Puppy Love Pet Grooming as a dog bather and grooming assistant and at Petco, but it was at Charlie’s Stay + Play that she finally found her perfect fit, combining her love for animals with a fulfilling career.

Tyler Simerly
Tyler Simerly

Tyler is a certified professional obedience trainer and instructor with over five years of hands-on experience in practical, real-world training. His diverse background spans animal shelter behavioral work, pack management, and ethical breeding programs. Today, Tyler leads private lessons and group classes at Charlie’s, specializing in everything from foundational obedience to complex behavioral challenges. He is an IACP member, a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator, and is certified in pet first aid. Outside of work, Tyler enjoys managing daycare groups and actively training his own two American Staffordshire Terriers and French Bulldog.

Kyle Kees
Kyle Kees

Kyle is a hardworking and dedicated individual who brings a strong work ethic and deep commitment to everything he does at Charlie's Stay + Play. He lives locally with his parents, his younger brother Mason, and their dog, Ruby. In his free time, Kyle loves spending time outdoors and heading to the beach. His wide variety of hobbies includes swimming, fishing, golfing, playing basketball, video games, and snowboarding.

John Green
John Green

John has been involved with dog agility for 18 years, competing both locally and nationally with several of his dogs. He is currently training his Border Collies, Angus, Rage, and his newest addition, Epic, and enjoys taking daily walks through the fields with his 14½-year-old Border Collie, Ember. John loves working with both new and experienced handler teams to help them reach their agility goals, and he finds true reward in watching their growth and partnership develop.

Teresa O'Connor
Teresa O'Connor

Teresa joined Charlie’s Stay + Play as a part-time team member in October. Her love for caring for pets began in childhood and continued throughout the years of raising her family. When she isn't caring for pups at work, Teresa enjoys dog sitting for her neighbors, taking long walks, and spending quality time with her grandson.