I wanted to personally introduce myself to everyone and explain not only who I am and where I come from within the working dog world, but also why we, as an organization, created the Full House Invitational and what we hope it represents moving forward. I have been involved with working dogs for more than 30 years, with the majority of my experience centered around the sport of IGP. My journey originally began in the Netherlands-based KNPV program, where I spent several years learning the intensity, realism, structure and problem-solving approach that Dutch-style training is known for. That foundation taught me the importance of pressure, performance, and building dogs that could truly work under stress and accountability. After realizing that competing with in KNPV required Dutch citizenship, I transitioned to French Ring. I gained tremendous experience there as well and developed an even deeper appreciation for strong dogs, serious training systems, and competitive performance. Eventually, however, due to the limited number of clubs and opportunities available nearby, I found my long-term home in IGP. Over the decades, this sport has become far more than just a hobby to me - it has become a lifestyle. In the early 2000s, I became the first handler within the USCA (United Schutzhund Clubs of America) to win a National Championship with a Belgium Malinois. That dog, HOT (Handler Owned Training), helped showcase the power, versatility, and capability of the breed on the national stage at a time when the landscape of the sport looked very different than it does today. Many people within the working dog community still remember that moment and what it represented for the future of the breed in high-level competition. Since then, I have personally trained more than eight dogs from puppyhood through IGP3, while also helping more than 40 handlers title dogs to IGP3 with both young and adult dogs. Throughout those years, I've worked through every stage of development imaginable - foundation building, relationship building, tracking, obedience, protection, trial preparation, troubleshooting problem dogs, and preparing teams for high-level competition. In addition to training and competing, I have also had the opportunity to serve the sport in leadership roles. I have served four years as a USCA Regional Director and later served as both a Regional Director and board member of the AWMA (American Working Malinois Association). Those experiences gave me a broader understanding of the working dog community, the challenges organizations face, and the importance of creating opportunities that genuinely benefit handlers and competitors. Today, I continue to run a local training group where handlers travel weekly from across the region to train together, exchange ideas, and push each other toward higher levels of performance. That environment has reinforced something I've believed for years: There are an incredible number of talented dogs and dedicated handlers in the sport who deserve more opportunities, more recognition, and more reward for the amount of sacrifice they put into this lifestyle. That belief is ultimately what led to the creation of the Full House Invitational. Over the years we have watched competitors invest thousands of dollars, endless travel, countless training hours, and years of dedication into developing serious working dogs - often receiving little more than ribbons, titles, and bragging rights in return. At the same time, many people within the sport have become frustrated by politics, favoritism, limitations, and systems that sometimes overshadow true performance. The vision behind the Full House Invitational was to create an event centered around performance, pressure, entertainment, and reward - while bringing excitement back into high-level competition. We wanted to build an atmosphere where serious handlers could showcase their dogs in front of spectators who genuinely appreciate powerful working dogs and competitive excellence. We wanted to create something that motivates handlers to push harder, train better, and pursue greatness. Most importantly, we wanted to create an environment where results matter more than politics and where performance speaks louder than reputation. This isn't about who someone knows. This is not about popularity. This is not about favoritism. This is about what happens when the pressure is on and the dog steps onto the field. The Full House Invitational was designed to reward real work, real training, real dogs, and real performance. As the organization grows, our goal is to continue pushing the sport forward by creating events that competitors are proud to be a part of - events that raise the standard, attract spectators, generate excitement, and give handlers something meaningful to work toward beyond traditional titles alone. We believe the future of the sport should include bigger opportunities, bigger stages, and bigger rewards for those willing to put in the work. Big pressure. Big performance. Big payouts. At the end of the day, the best dog and the best team should win - period. We appreciate everyone who has already supported the vision and believed in what we are trying to build. This is only the beginning, and we are excited to see where it leads. Play Your Hand. Prove Your Dog.