Rachel Hottel, Director of Design & Production

I grew up in Davie County, NC and was known to draw on every surface available as a kid. Halfway through high school, I took a course to learn the basics of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Up until that point I was lost on how to make a career out of my love for art, aside from teaching or becoming a viral sensation overnight, and this one class changed the game for me. I went on to study Graphic Design at Appalachian State University, and I developed an appreciation for screen printing and photography there as well.   

After college I landed at a one-stop-shop where I honed my design abilities, with a focus in apparel, and learned the ropes of many print processes used in marketing. After six years I had the itch for something more, and I crossed paths with Lucky Dog at the perfect time for a change in pace. This opportunity is not only a sweet spot for my skills and background, but a blessing to count myself a part of such a strong team.  

While there is not an athletic bone in my body, the passion Lucky Dog has for volleyball is contagious: everything we do is centered on the player. I may regret not being a part of a team in school now, though I never minded having my head in a book instead.  

You can’t be too loud about a cat preference at a place called Lucky Dog, but my only children are of the feline variety!  

We adopted Ren as a kitten in 2017 while living in Boone, and I begrudgingly accept her preference for dad over me. She enjoys an impromptu 3AM wrestle with the curtains, is seldom seen without a Halloween spider toy, makes a mean biscuit, and runs our house with all bark and minimal bite. 

Zuma landed with us shortly after the unexpected loss of another cat in 2021, and I had no idea the tiny kitten we brought home would turn into such a large fluff. She keeps to quiet spaces until a rare mood for attention strikes her, and she will not be taking questions regarding her Grinch-inspired ear tufts.