Local Author Event: Dennis Erickson and his dog Rocket

Come meet Dennis and his superhero pup, Rocket! Rocket, The Superhero Therapy Dog is the true story of Dennis’s Jack Russell terrier being adopted from the Langlade County Humane Society and finding a new purpose in life as a therapy dog for residents, staff, and visitors at Eastview Health and Rehabilitation Center in Antigo, Wisconsin. From his first day on the job and adventures on his days off, this is a heart warming story that is a fun read for kids and adults. The book is also being translated into Spanish, German, Hebrew and Japanese so it can be used as a teaching tool for schools with ELL, English Language Learners or ESL, English as a Second Language programs.The illustrator, Brian Ponshock, is a syndicated cartoonist who is using his artistic talents to tell the story for those children who are not yet reading, see his work here.

Dennis Erickson grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, oldest of four siblings, attending LaFollette High School and UW-Madison with a BS Degree in Agricultural Business Management. After college he held several positions with Farmers Home Adminstration, an agency of the U.S.D.A over ten years of his career based out of Shawano, Appleton and Antigo. After ten years of federal service, he made a job change and began working for the Boy Scouts of America. He started in the position as a Camp Director, a Camp Ranger, a District Executive, then became a Senior District Executive and completed his twenty year career in the position of District Director. A change in direction for five years took him to a part-time position as a Resident Care Technician at Central Wisconsin Center, a state run facility for developmentally diasabled adults. During the last three years while in his position at Central Wisconsin Center, he also served part-time as Curator of the Sun Prairie Historical Library and Museum. After moving to Northern Wisconsin, he landed a position as Activity Assistant at Eastview Health and Rehabilitation Center in Antigo, Wisconsin where the story begins about Rocket. Dennis has had a passion for all things outdoors, specifically Silent Sports and hospitality cuisine with a creative flair to share his creativity in the kitchen with guests. These two passions sparked the creation of his rustic lodging business known as Evergreen Outpost with two small rental cabins in the heart of Northern Wisconsin.