The Team
Who We Are
Angelica Manzo
Operations Manager
Angel grew up in El Paso in a house that was basically a small zoo—birds, iguanas, a ferret, a fish, and always, always dogs. She went on to earn her degree in Criminal Justice and while she is still very much passionate about it, it turns out dogs win every time.
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Her path into the kennel world took a while to click. About seven years ago, she boarded her dog for the first time and thought, that seems like a fun job — then didn't think much more of it. It wasn't until 2022, after moving to Austin and figuring out her next step, that she came across kennel job listings and decided to take a chance. She got hired at Jackie's and fell in love instantly, quickly learning just how much heart this work takes when caring for other people's babies. She was instantly dedicated to ensuring every pup got the card they needed which ultimately led her into her role as Operations Manager, now overseeing multiple locations.
Her favorite part? Getting to know every dog who walks through the door—every shape, size, and personality—and their people too. For Angel, this isn't just a job. It's the career she didn't know she was looking for.
Drake
General Manager
Drake started his love and obsession with animals from a young age. He had a lot of various pets growing up, or as many as a military family lifestyle would allow, but always had an affinity for dogs! Throughout his childhood he spent time volunteering at various shelters, or even petsitting for extra summer money, just to spend more time with pups. With that, his passion for taking care of pups grew, but got put on the back burner when he went off for his Associates in Criminal Justice.
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After some schooling, Drake couldn’t shake the feeling that he needed to go back to working with animals. He began looking for places around, eventually landing himself an interview here at Jackies for a Kennel Tech position nearly 40 miles away from where he was currently living in San Marcos. He fell in love with the dogs, as well as the unmet passion the other team members had for animals as well, and knew this was where he belonged.
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He moved his Fiancé, along with his troop of pets to Austin, and has been with the Jackie’s crew ever since. Joined usually by his pups Sage and Aspen, you can most often find him spoiling the other pups around the facility with cuddles and baby talk aplenty!
Angel Lopez
Jackie's Enrichment Center Manager
Angel is originally from Perth Amboy, New Jersey. His passion for dogs began when he adopted a Beagle rescued from a kill shelter. With no prior training experience, he trained her himself — and she went on to become a certified therapy dog, visiting hospitals and schools. That journey landed Angel his first dog-oriented job, and as others noticed his results and asked him to train their dogs, he decided to formalize his skills through Animal Behavior College, earning his dog training certification. Angel has worked professionally with dogs since 2017, starting with board-and-trains and building experience with aggressive and working dogs. That path led him into personal protection K9 work, along with protection work and bite sports.
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Looking for a fresh start, warmer weather, and to be closer to his mother, Angel moved from New Jersey to Austin, Texas. He joined Skyblue, working with a wide range of challenging dogs, before moving to the Enrichment Center — a role suited to dogs needing extra guidance and care. As Enrichment Manager, Angel tailors each dog's day to their needs, whether that's the treadmill, tug, fetch, or simply finding what helps them thrive.
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For Angel, every dog is different, and helping each one live life to the fullest makes the role deeply rewarding. Dogs gave him so much — in many ways, they saved his life — and giving back to them isn't just a career. It's something he's grateful to do.
Kyra Green
Assistant Manager
Kyra has been an animal lover for as long as she can remember. Growing up, she helped her mom raise boxer puppies, an experience that sparked her lifelong passion for animal care. She always was fascinated with interacting with and observing animals, whether they be domestic or wild. As she entered the workforce, Kyra naturally gravitated toward animal-focused roles, gaining experience in veterinary offices, grooming salons, kennels, and rescue organizations. She also worked at Austin Wildlife Rescue, where she rehabilitated and cared for injured or orphaned native Texas wildlife.
At home, Kyra shares her life with her fiancé, her Australian Shepherd Orion who loves joining her at daycare, and three cats: Pippa, Ollie, and Cazador.
Brian Wilber
Assistant Manager
Brian grew up in El Paso, Texas, in a family where golden retrievers were always a part of life. From an early age, he developed a deep love for animals and a strong appreciation for the bond between people and their pets. In 2023, Brian relocated to Austin in search of a fresh start and a new chapter in his life. Before joining Jackie’s Play & Stay, Brian worked in corrections—a career that was very different from where he is today. Moving from a structured environment in corrections to spending his days surrounded by happy, energetic pups was definitely an unexpected change, but it quickly became one of the best decisions he’s made.
What started as a completely new direction has turned into something Brian genuinely loves. He enjoys getting to know each dog’s unique personality, watching them grow in confidence, and making sure every pup feels safe, comfortable, and cared for while they’re with us.
