Helen McNenly - 2022 - Meritorious Service

Helen McNenly of Novelty, Ohio, served as trial secretary for her first one-ring USDAA trial in February 2006. Her next trial, just a few months later, was a three-ring trial for the Mid-Atlantic Regional. Since then, she has served as trial secretary for countless local trials and performed that role at Cynosport from 2011 to 2021, earning her the moniker “Trial Secretary Extraordinaire.”

Her daytime role as a dental office manager has served her well in juggling the countless tasks she performs to help clubs before and after trials. But where Helen really shines is her ability to swiftly manage and communicate on-site schedule changes and field questions on scoring, titling and rule changes. Her motto is “the competitor is the customer,” and she does everything she can to make the competitor experience a positive one.

Outside her role as trial secretary, Helen is a breast cancer survivor and a decorated agility competitor with her rescue dogs. She took her first agility class in 1997 after her rescued Greyhound mix, Princess, showed signs of being agile walking on curbs, jumping off docks and climbing ladders. That class launched a hugely successful agility career. She is also viewed as the local face of USDAA and often the voice of the competitor.