About Our Staff

Eyes Ears Nose and Paws' Chief Executive Officer is Maria Ikenberry. Maria has headed two businesses and managed revenues of over $100,000 annually in those positions, in addition to serving in the capacity of project manager for three other businesses. Before joining Eyes Ears Nose and Paws, Maria coached adults with Attention Deficit Disorder and ran a business managing residential rental properties. Her work experience includes project, purchasing and financial management; administration; and personnel management. In addition to strong communication skills and a problem-solving attitude, Maria has shown particular skill at maximizing returns while cutting costs significantly. She has seven years' involvement in canine scent detection training and was the founding president of Central North Carolina Search and Rescue, a Triangle-based nonprofit. Maria's education includes a semester with the National Outdoor Leadership School, a 3 year course of study in life coaching with the Optimal Functioning Institute, and a BA in Physics from Bryn Mawr College.

Deb Cunningham brings a breadth of experience to the role of Program Director. She received her Associate of Science Degree in Assistance Dog Education at the Assistance Dog Institute (ADI), the premiere school for assistance dog education. During her time at ADI, Deb worked with over 50 service dogs, was the lead trainer for 8 service dogs, and orchestrated the placement of 7 service dogs during intensive 2-week Client Training Camps with her student team. She has been training dogs for 26 years and has focused on canine scent detection training and education since 2001. As a member of 2 search and rescue teams in NC, she certified as a scent-discriminating air scent wilderness dog team with her dog Finner, responded to 27 searches in the field, and studied human remains detection with a number of experts in the field. She helped develop the NC Search and Rescue Advisory Council canine certification standards and became the first handler to test (and pass) the beta standards. Her previous education includes a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Swarthmore College, and she is a licensed electrical contractor in the state of North Carolina.