Long-time Board Chair Dan Bean to serve as Interim CEO as the Board Launches National Search Committee

PONTE VEDRA, Fla. (January 5, 2024) — K9s For Warriors CEO Carl Cricco announced today he is stepping down after making key strides to advance the organization’s mission, helping it reach the greatest number of Warrior/K9 graduating pairs and raising its fundraising to the highest levels in the national nonprofit’s 13-year history.

Determined to end Veteran suicide, K9s For Warriors provides highly trained Service Dogs to military Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma. Under Cricco’s leadership, the organization graduated 162 Warrior/K9 pairs in 2023, more than any previous year since the organization’s founding in 2011. Additionally, K9s was able to raise approximately $25 million in total revenue, the greatest amount in its history under Cricco’s leadership in 2023.

The organization is also on pace to successfully achieve its 1,000th pairing in early 2024. In the next five years, K9s For Warriors is positioned to achieve an additional 1,000 pairings.

Originally from the New York tri-state area, Cricco having fulfilled his one year commitment as CEO, has decided to pursue an opportunity in New York City, which will allow him to split his time between Florida and New York and spend more time with family in the northeast.

As part of the leadership transition, K9s For Warriors Board Chair Dan Bean was named interim CEO effective January 6. Cricco will serve as an advisor to Bean and the Board for the next month.

“During challenging times, Carl’s clear vision and steady hand were exactly what this institution needed as we doubled down on our longstanding commitment to help more and more Veterans who considered ending their lives,” Bean said. “Our organization provides them with hope, and it was due to Carl’s hard work and dedication that the organization was able to give them a second chance at life. Because of Carl and his leadership team, the organization graduated more Veteran/K9 pairs in 2023 than ever before, uplifting our ongoing dedication to the incredible legacy of our founder, Shari Duval. There is no other organization that exists in this country with the special expertise we have to lead this vital work of training rescue dogs to help our Veterans who served honorably and deserve our support when they come home. On behalf of the Board, we are grateful for Carl’s commitment to our mission, and we wish him the very best.”

“I am extremely proud of the impact I have had in my three years at K9s For Warriors, first as Chief Marketing and Development Officer and then as CEO. With the support and commitment of an incredible team, we increased fundraising from $13 million in 2020 to more than $21 million in 2022. And remarkably, in 2023, we raised the most revenue we ever have since the organization was founded nearly 13 years ago, allowing K9s For Warriors to help even more Veterans,” said Cricco, who committed to serve as CEO for one year. “This was an incredibly difficult decision. Ultimately, the ability to spend more time with my family in New York, allowing me to better help with some important family matters, helped drive the decision. I want to thank Dan, the Board of Directors, and my leadership team for their support, and I have no doubt K9s For Warriors has its best days ahead.”

Bean, a Navy Veteran who has deep ties to the Jacksonville community and has served on the K9s For Warriors Board since 2011, says his interim role will help ensure continuity and maintain the organization’s high level of operations.

The Board of Directors have launched a national search committee that is led by Tony Goland, an Army Veteran who was a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Co. and then Chief HR Officer and Chief Innovation Officer at Aon, PLC.

“Throughout his time at K9s For Warriors, Carl has consistently made significant contributions and his inspirational leadership enabled continued expansion of K9s For Warriors’ vital mission,” Goland said. “In particular, his relentless efforts to increase fundraising and brand recognition have created a strong foundation on which the next Chief Executive Officer can build. We are all grateful for Carl’s efforts helping to lay the groundwork to ensure that the dedicated and highly capable people of K9s For Warriors can continue to meaningfully help even more Veterans and rescue dogs. I am proud of what this outstanding organization has achieved so far, and I am optimistic that K9s For Warriors will continue to grow and succeed for many years into the future.”

Cricco was tapped as CEO in October 2022. Before joining K9s For Warriors, Cricco was the Senior Vice President of Marketing for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center in New York City. He oversaw research, marketing, creative and sales revenue of more than $60 million annually.

K9s For Warriors Select Highlights

• 162 Warriors and K9s graduated in 2023, becoming the most pairings in the organization’s history and a 30% increase from the previous record of 125 in 2022.
• Out of the all-time Warrior/K9 pairings, 87% have been successful.
• More than 2,000 rescue dogs have been saved, either through pairing with a Veteran, first responder agencies, or through pet adoption.
• 50 Station Dogs have been placed at law enforcement and first responder agencies across the country, including:
  • FBI – California field offices in San Antonio and San Diego
  • Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office – Jacksonville, Fla.
  • Akron Children’s Hospital Dept of Public Safety – Akron, Ohio
  • Tyndall Air Force Base – Panama City, Fla.
  • Clark County School District Police Department – Las Vegas, Nev.
• The Davis Family Mega Kennel opened in 2022, increasing capacity by 88 kennels, which cut the Veteran waitlist for dogs by 50 percent.

About K9s For Warriors

Determined to end Veteran suicide, K9s For Warriors is the nation’s largest provider of trained Service Dogs to military Veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma. With most dogs being rescues, this innovative program allows the K9/Warrior team to build an unwavering bond that facilitates their collective healing and recovery. This treatment method is backed by scientific research (from University of Arizona’s OHAIRE Lab) demonstrating Service Dogs’ ability to help mitigate their Veteran’s symptoms of PTSD while simultaneously restoring their confidence and independence. Founded in 2011 as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, K9s For Warriors remains committed to bringing widespread awareness to Veterans’ mental health and contributing to policy-level reform.

The organization’s operation facilities include: K9s For Warriors National Headquarters (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) Davis Family Mega Kennel (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) Petco Love K9 Center (San Antonio, Texas) and Warrior Ranch (Helotes, Texas).

Find more information at www.k9sforwarriors.org | Facebook | X

###

Media Contacts:

Dani Bozzini, K9s For Warriors

(904) 686.1956 ex. 108

Dbozzini@k9sforwarriors.org