 At the end of the 2008 season , Priola retired from the program , and John Graves , a former Ralphie Handler , was brought on as the Assistant Director . In the summer of 2015 Graves was promoted to Program Manager , replacing Gail Pederson who retired after 20 years of helping the program . Graves now oversees the day to day activities of the program and the training of the Handlers and Ralphie . In the spring of 2016 Taylor Stratton , also a former Ralphie Handler , was brought on as the new Assistant Coach . 
