The Dogsmile Team
Jon Totten
Founder, Executive Director, Instructor
Jon was born and raised in Wisconsin where fell in love with the great outdoors as a young boy. He headed west to Idaho at the age of 18 in search of a higher education and a career in the wilderness. Idaho’s vast mountains, rivers, and lakes didn’t let him down. Upon graduation from the University of Idaho, Jon became a professional outdoor educator with the North Idaho College Outdoor Pursuits program where he spent 12 years leading countless adventures and falling deeply in love with sailing. Jon would eventually earn his US Coast Guard Captain’s license and leave the college to work as a professional sailor piloting boats in the San Juan Islands of Washington state and throughout the Caribbean Sea.
Jon has returned to North Idaho with the intention of creating therapeutic sailing opportunities for EVERYONE. “Boat rides make people feel better; but not everyone has access. I’m gonna fix that. I”m gonna give it away.”
David Kilmer
Director, Instructor
David Kilmer, aka Capt K, craved adventure at sea since he was a wee lad and his father built him a little wood craft named Skipper-N-Dad. When he first sailed, an old salt advised him: “keep your seabag packed and never turn down a boat ride.” That was good advice. He worked five seasons in the Caribbean as a charter captain and sailing instructor and wrote a book, A Peril to Myself and Others, about the experience. He and his sweetheart, Rebecca, cruised their 36-foot sailboat from Bellingham to the Bahamas via the Panama Canal over 10 seasons, 15,000 miles and 12 countries. He is the private captain of the 60-foot sailing yacht Sizzler on Lake Coeur d’Alene. David understands the life-changing power of boats, water and kindness.
Katie Linder
Director
Katie is an experienced creative strategist and graphic designer who has helped launch brands and marketing campaigns to audiences of all sizes throughout her career. She is passionate about the process of creating genuine connections through art and design and especially loves working with entrepreneurs to bring their vision to life. Outside of work, Katie loves playing in the outdoors with her husband and two wild boys who love to camp, ski, hike and boat. She recently completed her first marathon and bike race… and now needs to learn how to swim.
Terry Brinton
Instructor
Terry learned to sail as a child in the beautiful lake country of northern Ontario, and has been completely hooked ever since. When he's not leading Dogsmile Adventures, Terry teaches sailing, leads trips, and serves up equipment rentals for all manner of outdoor recreation with North Idaho College’s Outdoor Pursuits department in Coeur d’Alene ID. Terry holds a US Coast Guard captain's license and is a gifted instructor. When he’s not messing about with boats, bikes, and skis, Terry enjoys making things and telling jokes with good friends.
Kaci Yachechak
Instructor
Kaci grew up racing sailboats on Flathead Lake in Montana. She spent several months living on a sailboat in Mexico in high school. In college she spent summers on Flathead Lake running the racing program and teaching junior sailing. Now she has settled in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and races on any kind of boat she can get her hands on. She loves sharing her passion and knowledge for sailing.
