Julie Nowicki Dudley            

BIOGRAPHY

I have been an animal lover since childhood, when I cared for a dog, cat, guinea pigs, a pony, birds…. Then I grew up and started a career that left little time for animals. Starting with a degree in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I worked in technology for six years until I realized I was really more interested in people than computers. I completed an M.S. in Human Factors at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst followed by 10 years of consulting in customer research and user-centered design, and served on the board of the Usability Professionals' Association.

From 1999 to 2002 I ran my own user research consulting company which had 13 employees at its peak. This experience gave me a great sense of financial management as well as marketing. In 2003 I accepted a position at Microsoft as a user research lead and program manager, where I created a learning framework for Windows Vista.

The move to Washington was a chance to bring animals into my life again -- Smitty, a greyhound who no one wanted, and Ash, an old female greyhound who was a racer and brood female for her entire life. I truly appreciated the amazing loyalty and joy of dogs for the first time, understood how they could impact the lives of people, and found a special soft spot for the old ones. I spent a significant amount of time volunteering for OldDog Haven, fostering over a dozen old dogs, creating a fundraising plan, and setting up technology solutions for this fast-growing rescue organization. I also completed a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from the University of Illinois.

In early 2008, I decided to take a chance on a dream, and founded The Grey Muzzle Organization, a non-profit organization that helps improve the lives of older homeless dogs. I enjoy applying my entrepreneurial, management, research, and non-profit skills to this endeavor, as well as my love of old dogs. To keep kibble in the bowls, I also work with small businesses and non-profit organizations, helping them improve their business processes, via Silver Pearl, Inc. I live with my husband Barry (who keeps everyone laughing when it gets a bit crazy), two old dogs, and often a foster dog.

Julie with Lucky, an old, neglected Basset Hound that she helped.