Experienced Staff
The experienced professional staff at HollywoodPaws has translated their wealth of knowledge into a curriculum that will position animal actors and Studio Trainers to become working professionals in the animal actor industry. You and your animal can benefit from their experience and skilled promotional techniques without having to learn the lessons they have learned the hard way over the years through trial and error. Their resumes are long and distinguished (see their Credits), and each member of our staff has unique and special skills to offer.
| Kimberly Kleinman - Admissions / Placement Director |
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Kimberly has been working with animals since she was a young girl. It started like most kids; the family dogs and cats, and then extended to helping with the neighbors young livestock. As a teen Kimberly designed elaborate habitats and terrariums for exotic reptiles and amphibians. Attending UCLA for college Kimberly focused on behavioral studies…. ranging from animal behavior and research into studies of the abnormal and deviant mind.
Still she was searching for more, which lead her to Moorpark College – enrolling in the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program. Where she attained a degree in Training & Management, as well as Education (for live shows and presentations).
Kimberly found her true passion working with wolves and has had experience with raising tigers cougars and lion cubs. Some of the other animals she has worked with include: racoons, large parrots, birds of prey, small & large primates, giraffes, camels, and hyenas.
Eventually, Kimberly found herself at home on a sound stage working animals for film, tv, and commercials. Some of her credits include working with the puppies & kittens for Purina Ads, the Febreze dog, Friskies cat food commercials, the Aflac ducks, squirrels for the post-it notes campaign, capuchin monkeys for Sony, mice for Apple computers, and cockroaches in the film Daddy Day Care. Additionally, she assisted on the following films Charlies Angels, Garfield, Princess Diaries II, Legally Blonde 2, and Terminator 3 to name a few. Some television credits include: That 70’s Show, Providence, Party of Five, Fat Actress, Alias, and American Dreams. Today you can find Kimberly with HollywoodPaws at Los Angeles Center Studios continuing educating pet owners and their pets.
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| Gary L. Wilson - Member: Advisory Board |
Mr. Wilson has a wealth of academic and hands on experience in the animal training industry. He is currently a Professor in Exotic Animal Training and Management and Animal Science at Moorpark College, Moorpark, California. Mr. Wilson also spent several years as the Coordinator of the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program. This program offers education in the care and training of animals, which include methods that are used for working with animals in the entertainment industry.
Some of the classes he has taught include Animal Behavior, Animal Diversity, Animal Training, Animal Training Practicum, Animal Care and Handling Laboratory. He is responsible for designing and updating courses, and serving on animal-acquisition and facilities committees for America's Teaching Zoo.
Mr. Wilson also spent several years as the Coordinator of the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program. In this program, courses focus on the care and training of animals in captivity, including the business and managerial aspects of maintaining animal facilities.
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Ashley grew up in an animal loving family, who not only had dogs and cats but horses as well. Her constant companion in her youth was her dog, Sam, a Scottish Terrier, and her love for Sam is what inspired her at a young age to want to become a veterinarian. However, as she grew her plans changed but her passion for animals did not.
After suffering from a wrist injury and the inability to return to her job at the time, she was prompted by her father to turn her love for animals into a career. Taking his advice, she enrolled into a veterinary technician program and upon completion went directly into a job at a busy veterinary hospital. After having worked in the animal medical field for some and taking notice of the many behavioral issues many of their patients had, she turned her focus to training and behavior modification.
At that point, Ashley went to work for an in-home training company in Orlando, Florida, working one on one with owners and their dogs. Her clients ranged from families who had acquired a rescue dog with major behavior issues such as aggression and needed to take control quickly, to others such a well known, legendary golfer, who merely wanted his good natured Golden Retriever to listen to basic commands and be a well mannered pet in society.
The time she has spent training people and their pets has been very rewarding and she now brings her experience and enthusiasm to Hollywood Paws, where she hopes to continue to help people strengthen their bond with their pets.
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At a young age Joel knew he wanted to work with animals. Like most children he wanted to be a veterinarian but discovered there was more out there than just healing the sick. After seeing a few episodes of "The Crocodile Hunter" he wanted to be just like Steve Erwin and learn hands on as much as he could about animals. In his second year at Cal-State San Bernardino he took a zoology class and his path was set. He transferred to Cal-Poly tech. Pomona which offered Zoology as a major. After two more years studying animals he heard about Moorpark's Exotic Animal Training and Management program.
In this two year program he learned in depth animal training, diversity, behavior, veterinary care and education for live shows. He learned hands on the handling and training of the over one hundred and fifty species at the zoo. This opportunity at Moorpark allowed internships at some of the finest animal facilities in california including the Los Angeles Zoo, the Santa Barbra Zoo, the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific and Universal Studios live animal show. After graduating Moorpark college he continued working with Universal Studios and continued to learn the art of training from some of the best in the business. He now uses his knowledge to educate students and there pets while working on his growing list of credits.
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