Skedaddle Authors

Bill Dowd

Bill Dowd is the Founder, President, and CEO of Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control. He established Skedaddle in 1989, recognizing the need for professional urban wildlife focusing on humane removal methods. Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control have since had over 200,000 wildlife removals and exclusions with environment-friendly, poison-free methods since day one. Bill obtained his B.PhEd., from Brock University while playing varsity hockey. Bill also played hockey for the Ottawa 67’s and was drafted by the then Stanley Cup Champion New York Islanders. Bill has grown Skedaddle to the largest urban wildlife control company in Canada which currently services over 75 municipalities in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. Bill has also been a guest speaker for many municipalities and educational institutions on urban wildlife.

Marcus Mueller

Marcus is the owner and operator of Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control – Milwaukee. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Marcus combines the academic training (M.S. Wildlife Biology, UW Madison) with the field training and skills to be successful in resolving wildlife conflict for home and business owners. Part of this field experience was working as an intern at a local wildlife rehabilitation center where Marcus interacted with Milwaukee residents experiencing conflict with wildlife on a daily basis. These interactions pushed Marcus to bring these needed services to Milwaukee and officially launch Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control – Milwaukee!

Alex Ritz

Alex joins Skedaddle as the company’s first franchise owner in British Columbia. After graduating from the University of Guelph with a degree in Wildlife Biology & Conservation, Alex earned his Masters of Science of Forestry from Lakehead University. With the opportunity to work with wildlife Alex took a job in forestry working in remote areas across British Columbia. Alex most recently spent time working for Environment & Climate Change Canada. His passion and love of wildlife led him to join Skedaddle to provide families across the Tri-cities with a humane approach to wildlife control. In his spare time, Alex enjoys playing board games with friends and family, playing sports and also dabbles in some wildlife photography.

Steve Tschanz

Steve Tschanz joined Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in 2017 as co-owner of the Simcoe County and York Region locations. Steve brings over 10 years of experience in the home service industry including pest control, lawn care and outdoor holiday decor. Steve also holds a degree in Horticulture from the University of Guelph. Skedaddle’s unique humane approach to wildlife removal, proven franchise system and exceptional support drew Steve to invest. Steve has expanded operations in Simcoe County and York Region to multiple service trucks and looks forward to continued growth in the future.

Noel Erickson

Noel Erickson is the General Manager of our Victoria, British Columbia location. Noel was born and raised in Saskatoon where he gained a love for nature and environmental conservation. After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in Environmental Science, Noel went on to receive his Red Seal in carpentry and opened a construction business in Kelowna, British Columbia. He spent the beginning of his career building net zero homes with the goal of environmental sustainability. Skedaddle presented the perfect opportunity for Noel to combine his knowledge of working outdoors and wildlife conservation into one business. After working as a technician at our Okanagan location for a year, Noel decided to accept the role as General Manager in Victoria with hopes of expanding humane services to more British Columbia residents. When he is not working, Noel can be found on the slopes skiing, water skiing or in the backcountry hiking with his dog.

Brett Robertson

Brett Robertson launched Skedaddle Minneapolis with the desire to bring humane wildlife control services to the community he calls home. As a resident of Plymouth, Minnesota, with his wife and two kids, Brett has first hand knowledge of the area and the wildlife that thrive in the city. Brett graduated from Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2006, and before joining Skedaddle spent several years working in corporate America across the Midwest. Becoming a Skedaddle Franchise partner has allowed Brett to put his decades worth of management experience and business knowledge to use helping property owners in Minneapolis with their wildlife challenges. Brett loves the outdoors and is thrilled to deliver unique solutions and high level customer service to clients.

Phil Campbell

Meet Phil Campbell, a fearless leader with an impressive background that spans over two decades. After graduating from the prestigious US Naval Academy, Phil embarked on a thrilling journey in the Navy, serving in various roles such as firefighter, navigator, and intelligence officer. His commitment to serving his country took him to foreign soil, where he spent nearly ten years honing his skills as an intelligence officer.

Chris Montag

Chris graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and later went on to complete a Masters of Accountancy. In 2008, a job opportunity took him from his hometown of Daytona Beach, Florida to Metro Atlanta, Georgia, where he resettled and started his career path as a Certified Public Accountant. Chris immediately fell in love with the city and went on to spend the next decade building a successful career as a senior finance and accounting executive for several technology companies before launching Skedaddle North Atlanta.

Carol Shelton

Carol Shelton, a proud Baltimore native, combines a passion for wildlife with a dedication to her community as the owner of Skedaddle Baltimore. Carol holds a Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Maryland at Baltimore, and also graduated from the Baltimore School of Massage. In addition to her experience with a number of Baltimore educational and medical centers, Carol has managed and owned two successful businesses.

Tisha Hicks

Tisha joined Skedaddle in September of 2017 as General Manager of both the Toronto and Durham Region locations. Skedaddle's approach to safety, humane treatment of wildlife and high customer service standards were the motivating factors that led her to change industries. Prior to Skedaddle, Tisha built a career in lawn care service, managing locations in both Ontario and British Columbia. Tisha takes pride in providing homeowners with permanent solutions to their wildlife problems as well as the challenge and unpredictability of working with wildlife. In her spare time, Tisha enjoys soaking up the sun with her husband and her dogs sitting around the pool. On most weekends you can find her home full of family and friends enjoying cookouts, games and music.

James Roberts

James spent most of his life in the UK before moving to Canada and has experience working in both education and IT before trying his hand at humane wildlife control. He is passionate and enthusiastic about helping homeowners get some piece of mind with their wildlife issues. During his personal time he enjoys playing soccer with his son and daughter and is a fan of London's Arsenal F.C.

Deanna Samuelson

Deanna Samuelson is an experienced operations leader and the proud owner and operator of Skedaddle Denver. Before transitioning into franchise ownership, Deanna led global sales support teams at Thryv Inc., where she successfully implemented strategies that significantly improved operational efficiency. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated strong leadership in managing high-performing teams, developing innovative solutions, and delivering exceptional customer service. In 2024, Deanna made the transition to owning a Skedaddle franchise, driven by her passion for humane wildlife control and her commitment to serving the Denver community. Focused on providing safe, effective wildlife solutions, she is dedicated to building a customer-first business that upholds the company’s core values of ethical wildlife management. Deanna’s leadership style emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement as she works to grow a thriving business that meets the increasing demand for humane wildlife control in the Denver area.

Kara Finn

Kara Finn is a proud resident of Columbus, Ohio, and a seasoned business leader with extensive experience in the aviation industry. With a strong background in operational efficiency, team leadership, and strategic planning, Kara has successfully led large teams, managed multimillion-dollar budgets, and implemented process improvements that have consistently delivered measurable results. Her expansive career includes senior roles at Jet East/West Star Aviation, Jet It, Constant Aviation, and Bombardier-Learjet, where she honed her skills in driving cost savings, improving customer satisfaction, and navigating complex regulatory environments. Now transitioning into entrepreneurship, Kara is excited to leverage her expertise to become the co-owner and operator of a Skedaddle franchise. Her experience managing operations across multiple locations and leading teams positions her perfectly to run a successful wildlife control franchise. Kara’s passion for solving problems, commitment to customer service, and deep understanding of operational excellence will allow her to offer humane, efficient solutions to her local community and beyond. Her background in strategic business planning, financial management, and continuous improvement ensures she is well-prepared to thrive in this new venture, offering sustainable wildlife control services to the residents of Columbus while upholding the high standards she has always championed in her career.

Chris Grabas

Chris Grabas obtained his DEC in Industrial Electronics 2003 from Vanier College, and his DEC in Environmental & Wildlife Management (formerly Ecological Technology) from Vanier College 2007. He has been a National Canadian Soccer Referee since 2010, won the 2010 Referee Builder Award for Bourassa Region.

Brandon Crawford

Growing up in St. George Ontario, Brandon Crawford was raised with an appreciation of the natural world and a passion to help preserve it. He went through all levels of scouting in his youth and received the Chief Scout Award after completing ventures. Co-Directed underprivileged day camps at Five Oaks, while overseeing the nature programs. Brandon graduated from St. John’s College and proceeded to Sir Sanford Fleming where he graduated in 1999. Brandon has been part of the Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control team since 2002. He enjoys the fast-paced nature of the wildlife business, and the unique line of work it brings.

Jordan Spoelstra

Jordan Spoelstra has dedicated much of his life to service — through his military career, community service efforts, and his work with Skedaddle. A member of the Canadian Armed Forces since 2004, he served as a full-time reservist, including an operational tour in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 2006. After nearly two decades in the military, including years in recruiting, he officially transitioned to civilian life in April 2025. During this time, Jordan spent two years working closely at a homeless shelter, deepening his commitment to helping others. In October 2017, Jordan and his business partner, Reubin Kuc, took on the opportunity to operate Skedaddle’s London location. The two met through their church and share a strong commitment to community and service. Jordan is genuinely excited to connect with the people of London, exploring the community alongside his wife, Deanna, and their three children. For him, it's about building meaningful relationships, making a positive impact, and helping homeowners protect their properties from wildlife.

Beau Burgunder

Beau Burgunder, co-owner of Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Pittsburgh, has deep roots in the city—his family has been part of the community for over a century, operating one of the country’s first Dodge dealerships starting in 1922. After years of working for large corporations, Beau and his wife Cathy began searching for a new opportunity that aligned with their values and strengths. Skedaddle stood out as the perfect fit. With Beau’s background in home repair and remodeling, along with extensive experience in sales and service, he saw an opportunity to put his skills to work in a meaningful way while building something of his own. A proud lifelong resident of Pittsburgh, Beau is deeply committed to serving the community that has shaped him. With strong family ties to the city and a deep appreciation for its people, he’s excited to offer high-quality, humane wildlife control services that his neighbors can trust. Beau sees Skedaddle as more than just a business—it’s a way to give back to the city he loves by helping residents solve problems safely and responsibly. While his passion for the outdoors remains an important part of who he is, what motivates him most is the opportunity to build strong relationships with local homeowners and contribute to the well-being of both the community and the environment.