Leslie is the author of the internationally popular Control Unleashed series of books and DVDs published by Clean Run Productions. Her books have been translated into many languages; people all over the world have learned how to use her science-based and empowering methods to help companion, performance, and working dogs learn how to function optimally without stress in very challenging environments.

If you have a dog that worries about stuff, other dogs, people, noises, dog show judges, the unexpected, Leslie has many fun counter-conditioning games just for you.

Leslie also certifies qualified trainers to teach her program and is proud of her Certified Control Unleashed Instructors all over the world. With her mentoring, Leslie is proud to have built an amazing, supportive, and inclusive community of teachers and trainers, many of us proudly representing queer and neurodivergent nerds in the dog world. Leslie is a popular conference speaker and is excited to be hosting the annual Conference Unleashed!

Adrian Ray-Avalani has always been fascinated by systems of communication. As a computational linguist, Adrian’s training is in human behavior and language use, but to their surprise humans started to make more sense once they got their first dog.

Adrian currently helps manage Control Unleashed’s online presence and assists in in-person CU classes, as well as volunteering at the PAWS animal shelter where they introduce shelter dogs to pattern games.

Outside of the dog world, Adrian enjoys science fiction books and media, adaptive rock climbing, wheelchair hikes, and training their cat Coriander (who can roll over & meow on cue now!)

Adrian lives in Philadelphia with their partner Leslie, two part-time spawn, and a fluctuating number of beasts at any given time. They are probably training one of them right now.

Tom Candy is a Senior Training and Behaviour Advisor for one of the largest dog rehoming organizations in the United Kingdom and is also a behavior and welfare Trustee for Hope Rescue Wales. His duties include assessment, management and behavior modification.

A passion for animal welfare and training led Tom to undertake a BSc (Hons) in bio-veterinary science, and an MSc in clinical animal behavior from the University of Lincoln, UK.

Having started volunteering in rescue at the age of 15, Tom has been involved in a variety of aspects of rescue, including fundraising, home checks, transporting, and general day-to-day activities.

An international speaker, Tom is Clinical Animal Behaviourist with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council, and a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, a Certified Shelter behavior specialist with the IAABC, a Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor - Knowledge Assessed (CBATI-KA), and a full member of the APBC. He is the host of Simplifying Shelter Behaviour Podcast available on Spotify.