About Us
Our Mission
Circle Tail’s mission is to empower, educate, and inspire individuals and communities through professional training and partnership of highly-skilled service oriented dogs.
The Beginning
Circle Tail was established in 1997 by Marlys Staley, who was a physical therapist who specialized in burn and wound care for 18 years. She was inspired to change careers after touring a training center for guide dogs in Florida, which compelled her to apply her background to a brand-new profession: training service dogs.
Circle Tail’s first facility was just a barn on Staley’s Pleasant Plain property.
Today, the property has a Living & Learning Center that houses adult dogs and provides a comfortable space for staff and volunteers. The center increases Circle Tail’s capacity for training and enhances the lives of our dogs and the people they serve. We have a modern training and education center where we perform obedience, agility, and nose-work training. The education center also has a grooming station and small dog supply store.
Maura & Gerria
Annual Reports & Financials
Employment Opportunities
Circle Tail is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected classification.
Meet the people
Brad Phillips, Executive Director
Brad is the Executive Director of Circle Tail, Inc., a role that allows him to combine his passion for service and community impact. Before joining Circle Tail, Brad spent over 20 years in the financial industry, including the last four years as a partner and executive at American Mortgage. A proud Army veteran, Brad is deeply committed to giving back and making a positive difference.
He holds a degree from Miami University, an MBA from the University of Notre Dame, and is a proud alum of Moeller High School. Outside of his professional life, Brad enjoys traveling, cheering on Notre Dame, and cherishing time with his wife, Meghan, their son, Hunter, and their two beloved dogs, Bella and Rocky.
Marlys Staley, Founder/Director of Operations
Board of Directors
Jen Kiblinger, President
Jen began volunteering with Circle Tail in 1999 and just fell in love with the organization and everything it represents. She is amazed at how far Circle Tail has come. She has helped grow Circle Tail from a barn to a new Training & Education Center, Early Learning Center for the puppies, and Landen Living & Learning Center where we can comfortably house and train our adolescent/adult dogs. Professionally, Jen works as a Scientific Director for a small biotech company. For fun, she enjoys hiking with her dogs, traveling, and having good times with friends. She shares her home with her two cats Maisy & Ramona, Circle Tail’s ambassador, Golden Retriever, Breslin, and an array of service dogs in training that she fosters.
Tyler Noel
Treasurer
Tyler joined the Circle Tail Board of Directors as Treasurer in September of 2024. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, is a CPA , and works as an auditor at Barnes Dennig & Co. He specializes in the construction industry and is also a member of the employee benefit plan audit practice. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, golfing, traveling, and hiking with his wife, Amelia, and goldendoodle, Kona.
Amanda Karn
Secretary
Amanda is Director & Assistant General Counsel, North America Hair Care, at The Procter & Gamble Company. She has also served as counsel for the Company’s North America Skin Care business, as well as Labor & Employment counsel to the Company across various of its businesses.
Amanda joined P&G after working as an associate at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP. She holds a J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Miami University.
She also serves as the Treasurer for the Ohio Women’s Bar Foundation and has held the position of President of the Southwest Ohio Chapter of the Association for Corporate Counsel.
Amanda was first introduced to Circle Tail during a continuing legal education course in 2018 regarding workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities, where a Circle Tail service dog was featured. She is excited and inspired by the growth of Circle Tail since then and all of the people and students it has served through its service and facility dog programs.
Matt A. Cook, CCP, Compensation Consultant, U.S. Bank
Chelsea Zesch Jones, Secretary-Treasurer, J. Cromer Mashburn Family Foundation
V. Ruth Klette, Attorney, Klette Klette Mauntel
Pat Lillie, Relationship Manager, Wells Fargo
Barbara Scull, CPA, Retired
Max Yamson, Executive Director, Camp Livingston
Professional Advisory Panel:
Janet Clem, DVM
Angie Del Greco
Matt Hennessey, DVM
Elida Kamine, Attorney at Law
Lori Staley, DVM