About Us

Carmen Trojcak

OWNER

 Carmen started with Thunderhawk Canine in April of 2017. Her love for dogs began early on, and she was in an ideal environment for that love to thrive. She grew up in her parents dog grooming shop. 

Carmen met Christie, the owner of Thunderhawk, when she participated in the Putnam County 4H project, training her Sheltie in showmanship, obedience and agility. Shiloh excelled under her guidance, placing first in most of his classes! She then started training dogs in 2017 with Thunderhawk through 2022. Starting December of 2022 she started up Inspired Paws of Cookeville!

With titles in Dock Diving in NADD with Hawk DS, DM, and DE . Carmen also is a member of the Queen City Road Runners flyball team having titles with Hawk in Flyball with FD, FDX, FDCH, FDCH-S, and FDCH-G. She also attended a National Event with Hiraeth where some of the very best Dutch Shepherds had gathered from across the country. Hiraeth and Carmen got their BH-VT in IGP, CASU, conformation ring for a National Breed Specialty. Carmen earned two (her first two) working titles participating in all 3 events earned her a “Triple Crown” participation certificate as well…. one of only 8 dogs from across the country.

She enjoys fostering young dogs for local rescues, giving them a great foundation to begin their new lives with. Carmen also is a member of the Queen City Road Runners flyball team, and instructs AKC STAR Puppy, Basic, and Intermediate Obedience Classes at Thunderhawk Canine. Carmen became an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, CPR First Aid Cat and Dog Certified, and Certified Canine Fitness Trainer.

Anna Kathryn Stites

KENNEL TECH

Anna Kathryn graduated from Tennessee Tech in May of 2024 with a B.S. in Biology and a concentration in Zoology. In 2020, she spent two years first as an animal behavior intern with and then as a trainer and kennel technician for Thunderhawk Canine, LLC. Anna Kathryn has a variety of animal care experiences as a house and farm sitter, as well as 8 years of volunteer hours with the horses at Manna’s Hana Riding Center, a local non-profit. She has a soft spot for rescue dogs, managing and training her own. She joined Carmen with Inspired Paws in January of 2022. Anna Kathryn enjoys working the dogs’ brains, designing enriching puzzles and games to entertain and challenge them.Anna Kathryn is a biology student at Tennessee Tech who found Thunderhawk through our accredited internship program. After a semester shadowing the other trainers and cleaning lots and lots of kennels, she stayed on as an official employee to begin working dogs.

She then transferred over to Inspired Paws of Cookeville!

Zuzu is her childhood dog who has never met a stranger and will never pass up the opportunity for a belly rub. Anna Kathryn recently took on the challenge of raising and training two rescued littermates, Sami and Robbie. She has worked hard to help them both reach their full potential as individuals. With these two, she’s begun her journey into the world of dog sports, working on agility with Robbie and nosework with Sam.