Our Staff

Dan Settle - President
Dan is the President and owner of Friends Forever and brings with him a rich experience of animals. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Physiology from UC San Diego and a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership from National University. He has owned pets all of his life and understands the deep bond which can develop between pets and their owners.

Prior to becoming the owner of this business, Dan had a 16 year career in law enforcement with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department. He worked a variety of positions during his career there which included being a canine handler and ultimately the head canine trainer for the entire department. Dan worked with two canines, Urk and Hunter, while he was with the department.

Dan understands the deep sense of loss which is felt at the passing of a cherished family pet. Although Dan was forced to leave his law enforcement career due to a work related injury, he finds satisfaction knowing that he can assist others who find themselves faced with the same sense of loss. Dan has raised the bar in the pet aftercare industry by forming a company which is trustworthy, credible, and dedicated to honoring the pets of each and every client he serves.

Brian Stigler - Vice President
Brian joined the company as an owner to help Dan expand the reach of the services that have been established at Friends Forever. Brian grew up in a small rural town in Ohio outside of Cincinnati. He was surrounded by animals as a child, tending chickens, ducks, goats, and an occasional wild rabbit or two. His family also kept company with several cats and dogs over the years. Part of the family menagerie was a pair of German Shepherds that had a litters of 10 puppies. Several of these puppies eventually became part of the Police K-9 team in southern Ohio. This became a common ground for Brian and Dan’s friendship.

Brian eventually left rural Ohio with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. He has worked for over 25 years in the Aerospace Industry, initially supporting the Nasa Space Shuttle program and other rocket related research. The last several years of his career have been spent supporting our Warfighters and those that protect the freedoms in this country.

Like Dan, Brian has a strong respect for all creatures in this world and he understands the connection between pets and their owners. His vision for Friends Forever is to further strengthen the original goals that Dan desires to bring to this business; maintaining the integrity of the services we provide, and ensuring respect and honor for the animals that we bring into our families as pets.

Alex Hernandez - Facilities Manager
Alex has over 12 years of experience in the Pet Care business. He has demonstrated excellent abilities to operate and manage the day to day activites that support the Friends Forever Mission. He ensures that each and every pet we receive is given the care and respect that we as a company, operate by. His knowlege of the business and compassion for the families that we serve make him an invaluable member of the team.