President
Roxane Jourdain
Roxane Jourdain started in collies in 2018, after her mixed breed dog Auriga introduced her to dog sports. Roxane now breeds under the kennel name Serac and has produced multiple CCA national specialty versatility qualifiers as well as other performance and conformation-titled dogs. Her main interests are herding, rally obedience and conformation, and she currently serves on the board of the Collie Health Foundation. Outside of dogs, Roxane is a university chemistry lecturer.
Vice President
Lorna Willhelm
In addition to being the Vice President of the Collie Club Austin, Lorna is also the Assistant Secretary/Materials Committee Chairperson for the Collie Club of America. She is also a current member of the Dog Training Club of Dallas County, the South Texas Collie Club and the Collie Health Foundation. Lorna and her husband Rex acquired their first Collie, MBISS GCHS Capella’s Mirabeau Blue Dakota Wynde FDC SCN SIN CGC TKN, “Dakota” in July of 2013. They now have two smooth girls, one rough girl and one rough boy. Lorna, Rex and the dogs of Dakota Collies are involved in scent work, agility and conformation.
Treasurer
Holly Griffith
My grandparents had collies when I was young, but I didn’t get my first collie until 2001 when I adopted one that came through the animal shelter where I worked. We earned titles together in AKC obedience and rally. Since then I’ve titled my Collies in obedience, rally, canine freestyle and conformation. My work with my dogs earned me a write up in the “Front and Finish” magazine. The height of showing in conformation came with a Best in a Specialty Show with my beautiful male bred by John Buddie, CH Tartanside Owain of Highland. His son, who I bred, earned an AKC Trick Dog title and Heelwork to Music title. While it is great to win titles it is the time I spend with my dogs that keeps me involved in dog sports.
Holly Griffith - Owain Collies
Secretary
Sydney Marshall
Sydney has been in love with dogs since she was a young child. She got her first dog, a Siberian Husky, Lieutenant Tiberius RN, or "T", in 2015. With him she discovered her love of dog sports and dog training. Sydney’s love of Collie’s began when she found Ch. Scalloway's Dream Temptress HT RN, or "Nyx" in 2020. Sydney, Tiberius and Nyx dabble in rally, obedience, barn hunt, scent work, agility, herding and conformation. Sydney and Nyx completed Nyx's championship title together, completely owner-handled by Sydney. Nyx is Sydney's first AKC Champion titled dog. Sydney's love of various dog sport venues continues to grow with both her dogs adventuring with her.
Board Director
Patt Caldwell
I grew up loving Collies due to, of-course, the Lassie television program. Growing up, we had three pet Collies. As a teenager, I would ride city transportation to go to the benched Chicago International Dog Show to see all the beautiful Collies. As an adult, I started my immersion into AKC sports with two obedience Collies and moved into Conformation, establishing my kennel; Alaric Collies. Since then I have served the Collie Club of America as a District Director, assistant to our national Junior showmanship Chairperson, Chairperson of the Breed Education Committee, and an election coordinator. I am the current secretary for the Collie Health Foundation and hold memberships in the CCA, Collie Health Foundation, Collie Club of Austin, Central States Collie Club, and Chicago Collie Club. Within each of those clubs, I have served in various officer positions and on numerous committees. I am an approved AKC conformation judge for Collies and All-breed junior showmanship. Collies I have produced have been honored with multiple BOB specialty wins. At the CCA national, our dogs have received several awards of merit, two selects, best bred by exhibitor, best American bred, and most recently, winners bitch. Retired from 42 years teaching general and special education, I am becoming more involved in AKC venues new to me.
Board Director
Wyatt Griffith
Wyatt Griffith has been a long time supporter of the Collie Club of Austin since 2001. He has supported many events and worked in the very demanding position of Club Treasurer and Board Director for many years. Wyatt enjoys the dogs and company, but his favorite past-time is spent cuddling his Collies!
Board Director
Lea Bertsch
I started out in collies when my youngest daughter insisted on getting one. I already had shelties and really didn't want to have another breed. I told her if she wanted a collie she would have to save her money - and she did - she was 6. We finally had enough to buy “Lassie” from Debbie Price who had Capella Collies when she was 8. And that was the start of Scalloway Collies and Shelties. Both my daughters showed in Jr. Showmanship until other school interests took over - and I kept the collies.
I enjoy showing my own dogs when I am able and so far have championship titles, points or performance titles on all my dogs. Presently I have 7 collies at my house at various ages. I’ve raised and shown collies since about 1998 and have had about 45 champions or near champions. I have had 3 generations with versatility awards and 2 more on their way to one. I recently started in nosework, but started with shelties in obedience 50 years ago and have done rally and herding. I started training in agility and tracking with my shelties and will continue with my collies. I have loved being in dogs and plan to continue my lifelong hobby as long as I can.