Studio Crew

Nemo and Suzanne Ryan, Co-Founders/CEOs

Nemo and I served jointly as Executive Directors until Nemo’s recent passing. He offered a lot in the way of inspiration and leadership, was the best motivator ever (not that you had the option of telling him “no” or ignoring him), and we were virtually inseparable.

Even without him at my side going forward, I will always have him in my mind and heart to keep pushing me toward fulfilling the mission of Big Black Dog Studio:

• as inspiration for my art studio,
• motivation for my dog advocacy efforts to encourage more adoptions of Big Black Dogs, Little Black Dogs, Black Cats and of all senior and large breed dogs in desperate need of homes but who too often get overlooked at shelters,
• creation of graphics and memes to help bring awareness through social media and web marketing the urgent need for the adoption of of dogs waiting to be loved.

Eenie Meenie My Nemo (“Nemo”) Ryan, former Canine Executive Officer & Marketing Director

In loving memory of My Dog, who passed away on August 10, 2018. More about his life can be found on the page dedicated to The Chosen One.

His spirit was loving, kind and gentle, unless you were a squirrel.

 

 

Miss Daisy Mae, CEO and Marketing Director

Effective September 24, 2018, Miss Daisy Mae Ryan joins our organization at the helm of Big Black Dog Studio. Hailing originally from Alabama, this lovely young lady got straight to work greeting fellow staff members and making them feel welcome in their own home, like the true Southern Belle she is.

Daisy Mae brings her enthusiasm for trying new things and her calm personality into this leadership role. If Nemo himself could have interviewed her for the position he created, he would have hired her, and in fact, we believe that his spirit led her to us and us to her. We welcome her warmly and look forward to the direction her leadership shall take us.

Phoofie, Chief Fluffy Officer & Public Relations

Phoofie is a Maine Coon mix who is no stranger to computer use and marketing. When not deep in contemplation about the next public relations efforts, he can be found sitting in the screened room watching lizards and dragonflies try to figure out how to leave the enclosure.

He has often posted on our Facebook page, mostly just to annoy Nemo.

 

Sparky, General Operations Manager, Accounting and Head Cookie Counter

Every organization needs a down-to-business, serious type who pays attention to costs, salaries, biscuit inventory, and all the necessities that go into the actual running of a firm. Sparky is just the dog for this job.

His no-nonsense approach to just about everything long ago got him nicknamed, “the old man in the little dog suit.” He has agreed to come out of the shadows and help lead BBDS as we begin this post-Nemo phase.

He is a Chihuahua-Beagle mix from the best we can tell, and his hard-headedness is only matched by his ability to find a crumb in the most unlikely of places. In addition to his operation management duties, Sparky is also head of janitorial services.

In his spare time, Sparky enjoys nibbling grass and yodeling.

 

Rico, former VP of Graphic Design

Rico interned with us for three years, during which time, this rising star began as a model in the art studio, then quickly moved up the ladder to junior associate in Marketing and finally to VP of Graphic Design. He was an integral part of morale boosting during the time the studio was in flux during Suzanne’s chemo, and was active on the Board of Directors until he and his human moved on to co-founding Rico’s Essentials, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Live Wise Naturals, makers of natural supplements held to a strict standard of purity. Please be sure to visit Rico over at www.LiveWiseNaturals.com.

 

Boo Boo Scissorhands, Research Assistant

Boo Boo is our Research Assistant. He is a pretty quiet worker and gets into every nook and cranny to discover everything he can about everything. This work is extremely exhausting, so when he is not poking into things, he can be found under furniture and other hidden away places, napping and getting ready to investigate new and interesting matters.

 

Beanie Lou Hoo, Office Administrator

Beannie is also a behind-the-scenes kind of worker. She doesn’t like to be singled out for attention, hates to be in front of a camera, and just goes about her days making sure that things are filed away wherever they are supposed to be (according to her) so they can be (hopefully) found again. She has her paws into everything.

 

And of course, no organization can fully function without the assistance from the many volunteers we have been blessed to have over the years!