Page 98 - ShowSight, March 2020

LINES FROM LINDA: BY LINDA AYERS TURNER KNORR
Top: Field Director, Conformation/RHP Field Coordinator Patrica Proctor, AKC President and CEO Dennis Sprung, AKC RHP Handler of the Year Carissa Shimpeno, RHP Director/VP of Dog Show Judges Tim Thomas, RHP Field Coordinator/AKC Field Rep Gina Wieser, RHP Field Coordinator/AKC Field Rep Mary Dukes
Bottom right: Like Mother like Daughter: Gwen DeMilta and Carissa Shimpeno recognized as AKC 2015 Breeders of the Year .
For many years as she traveled with her Mother, Carissa had the opportunity to train and care for the dogs and to develop relation- ships with each animal. Through those years of experience Gwen DeMilta prepared her daughter to reach her ultimate goal of becom- ing a professional handler. At age 20, Carissa’s dream came true and she began her career as a professional.
When I asked last year’s AKC RHP award recipient, Frank Mur- phy, to comment on competitor Carissa Shimpeno, Frank replied, “Carissa is one of my favorites at the shows. She has a spirit that if she lets you discover, you will want to spend a few moments with her. Plus she is a reader and that means she is a thinker. For those lucky enough to know her, I’m sure Carissa ranks high on everyone’s list!”
Not only has Carissa achieved her dream of becoming a top pro- fessional handler, she has also been blessed as a breeder. In 2015 she and her Mother were named AKC Breeders of the Year.
“NOT ONLY HAS CARISSA ACHIEVED HER DREAM
OF BECOMING A TOP PROFESSIONAL HANDLER, SHE HAS ALSO BEEN
BLESSED AS A BREEDER.
IN 2015 SHE AND HER MOTHER WERE NAMED
AKC BREEDERS OF THE YEAR.”
96 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2020