Meet the Team

Jimmy joined the HK9 Team in November of 2022. A disabled Veteran, he shares a passion for the HK9 mission. Jimmy is married and has two boys, Ethan, 22, who lives in the Joplin area and Ryne, 20, who is currently serving in the United States Marine Corps. His military service included three tours to Iraq with the 160TH Special Operations Aviation Regiment as well as many TDY missions to South America.

Outside of Heartland, Jimmy is also a volunteer firefighter and is closely tied to Peterson Outdoors Ministries and takes disabled Veterans out on the water kayak fishing.

Jimmy has a service dog and her name is Riley. She is a PTS & Anxiety service dog trained in pressure therapy, block, post, and watch.

Chris Fleming served as an air traffic controller in the United States Marine Corps. During that service, he learned the leadership skills and “never give up” attitude to become a successful entrepreneur and multi-business owner within the pet care community. His wife, Misty, is also his business partner and his greatest accomplishment is raising two young men who are starting their own small business: the oldest, Nathaniel, is a kennel owner, the youngest, Anthony, a certified dog trainer.

Chris lives with 3 dogs, a Poodle, Frenchie, and Papillion and a rescued cat at home. With over 20 years working with dogs, he understands the importance of the Human-Animal bond and the potential healing it provides.

Army veteran and VA Peer Support Specialist working in general mental health, substance use disorder clinic and the trauma recovery team. Robert also works with kids in a Judo Ministry and enjoys doing Judo, Tai Chi and hanging out with his dogs. He is married and has two adult children.

James Childers is a Navy veteran who spent the majority of his military time attached to the 11th Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron. James utilized his college fund to pursue a career in mental health and has been a professional counselor for over 16 years, with an emphasis in post traumatic stress disorder.

By focusing on the needs of the community, James has been able to put his military experience and education to good use and has garnered recognition for his professional accomplishments, as well as his contributions volunteering for a variety of local non-profit and government positions.

Jennifer and her husband Michael have been married for 26 years. They are the owners of Union Station Deli & Event Center. Previously, they were the owners of Simple Simons Pizza in Joplin for 10 years. Mike is a retired Combat Veteran of 26 years, leaving Jennifer to “hold down the fort” during deployments. Both extremely patriotic, they have made a point of hiring Veterans and those in need or a “hand-up”.

Jennifer is extremely active in the community and Veteran issues and is passionate about HK9 and helping as many Veterans as possible.

A Graduate of Carl Junction High School, Cody enlisted in the Army and served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2006 to 2010, serving in multiple positions in an infantry squad.

Following the military he used his GI Bill to fund his technology certifications, and now works in the tech industry, at a local managed service provider.

He has a passion for assisting other veterans, and bringing awareness to the mental health crisis that is affecting our veterans.

Cody is also in training with his service dog Willow.

Madison Stratton served as a Radio Operator and Regimental Legal Chief in the Marine Corps. Battling PTSD, she started her journey of recovery through various programs and eventually found Heartland in 2023. Because of her efforts, she is now in college pursuing a Bachelors in Graphic Design and on the road to graduate school. Due to her struggles, she is fiercely devoted to the community and the health and welfare of veterans around the country.

Madison was paired with Gunther, a standard poodle, and has shown immense improvement in her mental health. “Its truly night and day compared to where I was to where I am now. I can’t thank my friends, family, and the community enough for helping me through everything.” Gunther and Madison have now become inseparable.

Mike is our newest addition to our amazing board. He is a 22 year Army Veteran. Not only is Mike the owner of Union Station Deli with his wife Jennifer, he also owns a handyman business. He enjoys motorcycles and golf. He is married and has 2 dogs and a cat.

Ted serves as the Development Director for Heartland Canines for Veterans and has helped the organization in several volunteer capacities since its founding in 2015. Ted served in the United States Air Force for more than 32 years. His military awards and decorations include the Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, Meritorious Service Medals, Air Force Commendation Medals, Humanitarian Service Medals, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and several other awards. During his military career, Ted accumulated over 6,000 hours flying on helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Ted also flew over 500 hours of combat missions during Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

His own experiences and exposures during his military career led him to co-found Compass Quest Veterans Advocacy Group which operated from 2015 – 2025. Compass Quest supported Veterans and family members with services and support in crucial areas. He has worked with state legislators to advance quality of life issues for Veterans. He also serves as a mentor on the Jasper County Veterans Treatment Court. He is a life member in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans and the Air Force Sergeants Association.

Ted organizes and leads many community activities such as the Joining Community Forces Council, Veterans Ascent Transition & Entrepreneurship Program, the Veterans Volksmarch, Chose Joplin, the Heartland Patriots Festival and much more. He serves on the Board of Directors at the Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity and actively supports affordable housing build and repair projects for area veteran families. He also serves on the board of directors at A Dog’s Dream whose mission is to find homes for former breeding dogs. He was recognized by the Missouri Lt Governor in 2025, when he was inducted into the Missouri Veterans Hall of Fame.

Ted has a dog, Baylor and cat, Anna and enjoys spending time with them and his family, especially his grandsons.

Jim has been with HK9 since the spring of 2023. Jim’s experience includes over 30 years of banking. He has been involved in the Veteran scene, working closely with his son, Jimmy, for 10 years. Jim works closely with volunteers and the dogs in training to give them the best experience possible.