Our Founders

Camp K-9 of Marin was founded by Wendell & Claire-Marie Laidley, who are Marin County residents with long-standing ties to the community. As the primary owners of the business, the Laidleys bring a strong business background and a commitment to excellence in everything they undertake.

Wendell Laidley

Wendell was formerly a principal and portfolio manager at RS Investments in San Francisco where he specialized in technology-oriented equities. In August 2006, RS was acquired by Guardian Life Insurance Co. and after selling his equity interest in the firm, Wendell resigned to focus on his own businesses. Prior to joining RS Investments, he was a director and senior equity analyst at the Credit Suisse First Boston Technology Group, and before that held research analyst positions at the Deutsche Bank Technology Group; Wessels, Arnold & Henderson; and Volpe, Welty & Company. Wendell holds a B.A. in economics from Hobart & William Smith College and engaged in post-graduate studies at Cornell University (Japanese FALCON program) and Princeton University (Princeton-In-Asia Fellowship program). In addition to Camp K-9 of Marin, Wendell founded and currently operates Realm Cellars, a high-end wine label that produces Bordeaux-style varietals from Napa Valley beginning with the 2002 vintage.  Wendell other interests are to improving his golf game, training for triathlons, and spending quality time with his son.

Claire-Marie Laidley

Claire-Marie is a Bay Area native having grown up in the East Bay and San Francisco prior to moving to Marin County. After several years of studying landscape architecture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she moved back to the Bay Area to complete her studies at California College of Arts & Crafts where she received her BFA in Interior Architecture. Claire-Marie can currently be found shuttling her son all over Marin and San Francisco County to his various activities, volunteering in several Marin County community organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors for The Bay Area Discovery Museum.  Her other interests relate to collecting and refurbishing early mid-century furniture, sharing her husband's passion for wine, and spending time with their two Labradors, Oliver & Sophie.