Groom Expo information coming soon!
*Last year's info below
Speakers
Dana Chavez-Rey
Dana got her start as a lead veterinary technician at the North Peninsula Humane Society from 1998. While working there she witnessed firsthand the importance of basic care for our pets. She worked in many areas of the veterinary world before becoming a groomer in 2005 and founded A Purrfect Groomer. After 10 years in the brick and mortar salon she decided to go mobile and has been at it ever since. As a feline grooming expert, Dana was a founding member of the Intellectual Groomers Association and she wrote the guidelines that were used in feline certification. Now a Global Educator with Andis, Dana brings her vast knowledge of feline grooming to the everyday groomer.
Guzal Adekoje
Guzal Adekoje is an owner of a mobile pet grooming company and upscale grooming salon in Northern Virginia. Originally from Uzbekistan, she found her destiny in the United States in 2003, when she moved here with just one suitcase and $200 in her pocket. Today, she is a successful business owner. Guzal is a multiple award winning pet stylists and national certified groomer who competes in the grooming contests in the USA and abroad. She is a well rounded groomer and placed in poodle class, all other pure breeds, sporting, handstripping and freestyle classes. She is an open level competitor with a lot of knowledge ready to share. Guzal loves to learn and teach. She continuously improves her skills and shares her knowledge with others.Guzal has a very giving personality and loves helping people and animals. In addition to being a groomer, Guzal is a very talented teacher. Her passion is in developing methodology that makes learning easy and fun. She has degrees in teaching and global affairs with concentration in business. In the past she worked both with kids and college students. She says her passion is in grooming, her love is in teaching and her head is in business.
Chris Anthony
Chris Anthony, weary from her travails in retail management and office work, found her calling when she discovered pet grooming. Her near fifteen year journey in this career has led her through many opportunities, experiences & life lessons, including grooming and managing in both small and corporate salons, and starting her own successful house call grooming business in New Jersey. Supplementing those life lessons by educating herself on the varying aspects of her career, she always sought out innovations in pet care, education, grooming techniques, tools and products. Now her passion for grooming & education has added more in depth knowledge on scissors, scissoring techniques and ergonomics to help preserve her own health and longevity in her chosen profession.
Diane Betelak
Diane Betelak is a Nationally Certified Master Groomer and has owned Heads and Tails Professional Dog Grooming, Inc. in Liverpool, NY since 1982. Diane groomed competitively in the U.S. and abroad and has multiple "Best in Shows" and "Best All-Around Groomer" wins. She qualified for the "GroomTeam USA" traveling team in 1996 and went to Milan, Italy where she won "Best in Show" with her Standard Poodle. Officially retired from active competition Diane is an International Grooming Consultant for The Andis Company. She has been a speaker and has judged all major grooming shows throughout the U.S. and Canada. Diane is also a certifier for N.D.G.A.A.
Dr. Tiffany Bierer
Dr. Tiffany Bierer has spent the last 28 years with MARS Pet Nutrition researching nutritional strategies to benefit cat and dog health. Dr. Bierer holds a PhD from the University of Illinois in Food Science/Nutritional Biochemistry and a BS in Animal Sciences, also from the University of Illinois. During her time at MARS, her areas of research have covered several health benefit spaces including skin and coat, immune system, arthritis, obesity and dental health. She has also appeared on Animal Planet’s Dogs 101. Today she serves as the Grant Chairman on the Board of Directors for the PEDIGREE Foundation and is a member of the Veterinary Advisory Board for the Nashville Zoo. At Mars Pet Nutrition NA, she currently manages Raw Material Development for and lives in the Nashville area with her three cats Dunn, Svea and Weber.
Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins
Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins is the Owner/Master Groomer at Love Fur Dogs in Glencoe, Illinois. Named "Best Groomer in Chicagoland" by the Chicago Tribune, she has been grooming, breeding, and showing several breeds of dogs and cats for over four decades. A retired career teacher now living in Virginia, Jennifer is an International Certified Master Groomer with an expertise in the science and history of dogs and the unique needs of the wide variety of pet coat types. She was featured on Season Three of the Hulu Television Series "Small Business Revolution" as a Grooming Expert. Jennifer also writes magazine articles and has won an award for her blog. She has been active in legislation that affects pet groomers, building state grooming associations, groomer education, and credentialing. She has published a poster and is working on a book of the same title, "A Groomers Guide to the Fifteen Coat Types," based on her ground-breaking seminar.
Nadia Bongelli
Nadia Bongelli has been grooming pets since 2009 and competing since 2012. Her accolades include Barkleigh Honors Up and Coming Groomer of the Year in 2016, Best All Around International Groomer at Intergroom 2017, five Rising Star Gold Medals, Rising Star of the Year award at Intergroom 2016, two Canadian BIS awards and had numerous Open Level placements in Canada and several in the United States. Nadia's proudest moment was being awarded Canadian Groomer of the Year at the very first Canadian Grooming Industry Awards. She is a Nationally Certified Master Groomer with the National Dog Groomers Assoc. of America, Inc. and a certifier with the Intellectual Groomers Association. Her ultimate goal is to represent her country on Groom Team Canada with her peers.
Elli Bultemeier
Elli found her passion for grooming over a decade ago when she started as a bather at PetSmart. Not long after training to be a groomer there, she moved to the private sector. She is an award-winning competition groomer, certified pet aesthetician, NCMG, and co-owner of Retro Stylist wear. In 2017, Elli started at Smoochie Pooch and currently wears many hats as she is currently a marketing development and regional manager, helping run a company with more than 7 locations and about 40 employees. She is passionate about helping the business grow and creating an employee first, compassionate work environment for her team.
Dave Campanella
Dave Campanella is an informative and entertaining seminar speaker, contributing trade columnist and genuine grooming enthusiast. He has over 30 years of pet industry knowledge, and has been Best Shot Pet Products sales, marketing, and product director for 15 years. He and his wife Tracy have co-owned a full service pet salon and self-wash in Ohio prior to relocating with Best Shot to Kentucky. Together they enjoy exhibiting at grooming shows, being industry ambassadors and showing their Kerry Blue Terriers, Lowland Polish Sheep Dog, and Samoyed.
Anjie Coates
During her 30 years in the grooming industry, Anjie Coates realized that more than just dogs and cats needed her, so she began to specialize in rabbits and other small mammals. At Furry Tails, the salon she co-owns in Holden, Mass, she has created a niche market as a rabbit groomer and is recommended as the “go-to rabbit groomer” by veterinarians as far away as Maine. Her passion for continuing education shows through in her achieving CMRG (Certified Master Rabbit Groomer) as well as CCE, ACG and PGC. Combining that drive to be educated with a need to share that knowledge has led her to teach Pet Tech First Aide & CPR classes for groomers and pet owners alike. This brand ambassador for All For Groomers is currently publishing the first rabbit grooming book in the industry.
Rachel Colant
Rachel Colant is an award-winning, second-generation dog groomer with over eleven years of experience. She put her stamp on the grooming industry as the go-to drop coat specialist and has become known for the cutest Yorkies in all the land. Her passion for education has led her to the coveted position of lead groomer at Jess Rona Grooming in Los Angeles where she oversees competition-level grooming on every dog, every day. Her ultimate goal is to continue to elevate the industry through education and her signature gentle grooming techniques.
Jonathan David
Jonathan David has been the recipient of multiple scissoring awards, multiple Best All Around Groomer awards and Best in Show earning him a position on GroomTeam USA in 2008 and 2009. Jonathan was also a contestant on Animal Planet's "Groomer Has It" and has been featured as a grooming expert on multiple television shows. Currently, Jonathan owns and operates his salon, Lap of Luxury Dog Spa in Delray Beach, Florida and is a board member of multiple dog clubs.
Teri DiMarino
An industry veteran, Teri has owned and operated successful salons and mobiles in Florida and California. A winning grooming contest competitor, Teri was a member of three GroomTeam USA Gold Medal teams. A multiple Barkleigh Honors and Cardinal Crystal Award winner, Teri was a regular columnist for Groomer to Groomer Magazine as well as a popular speaker and judge at seminars and trade shows across the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
Mindy Dinwiddie
Mindy Dinwiddie owns Classy Canine in Litchfield, Michigan. She began grooming in 2007, having her own shop by 2008. She started in a back bedroom of her house, growing her business to a storefront. Her experiences include daycare, boarding and training. All while consistently furthering her education by attending expos, seminars and private lessons from top stylists in the industry, Mindy has been competing for three years. With a passion for learning and teaching, she began speaking in 2017 after having one of her grooms published in Doodle Modern Styles Special Edition. Mindy is also a Brand Ambassador for Evolution Shears.
Dr. Cliff Faver
Dr. Cliff Faver, a 1987 graduate of CSU, is the founder/owner of Animal Health Services in Cave Creek, Arizona. He is the US distributor for Iv San Bernard products. He uses the two businesses as a means of merging the grooming and veterinary professions to pursue his life's passion of healing and helping pets. Dr. Faver is an international speaker and teaches the ISB Pet Aesthetician Certification program. He is a member of AVMA, AAHA, AZVMA, a sponsor for the CPPGA, a Board member for the Burbank Kennel Club, and previously served on the Novartis Lead Committee, Hill's International Global Veterinary Board, and is still active in a Veterinary Management Group.
Erin Flynn
Erin Flynn started her grooming career 16 years ago and has always had a passion for improving her skills while providing a safe and comfortable setting for dogs of all sizes and types. In 2021, Erin and her friend opened Furst Place Pups, offering high quality care and grooming in Dayton area. Her focus has been on mastering handling and technical skills with a focus on difficult and mobility challenged dogs. More recently she has applied those skills to the show stage and looks forward to many more years of competing and educating.
Gavyn Freeman
Gavyn is an award-winning Nationally Certified Master Groomer through the National Dog Groomers Association of America. Within only four years of his career as a first generation Pet Stylist, Gavyn has achieved a variety of accomplishments and accolades. He opened and operated his own salon while completing his Bachelor's degree in 2021. In 2022 he was nominated for the Barkleigh Honors Up and Coming Groomer of the Year Award after his first year in the competition ring. He now travels the country competing as an Open level competitor with the hopes of someday earning a spot on GroomTeam USA. When he isn't at trade shows or grooming at his salon, Gavyn enjoys creating content on Instagram (@GroominGavyn), and showing his Kerry Blue Terrier and American Cocker Spaniel in the AKC conformation ring.
Jayne Gallagher
Who would have thought that someone who grew up in a "No Pets Allowed" household would end up spearheading some of the most iconic grooms in the country? Jayne graduated from the Jersey Shore Grooming Academy in the year 2000, took courses from the prestigious Nash Academy, and took private lessons from top pet stylists and GroomTeam members from around the globe. She marks herself as a perpetual student, always excited to stay sharp in her craft. She is an award-winning legend who is known far and wide in the grooming community, even being featured as a competitor in the 2021 cultural phenomenon Pooch Perfect on ABC Network. Jayne specializes in creative styling, salon freestyle, Asian fusion, poodles, and bichons.
Elizabeth Gibbs
Elizabeth Gibbs is an award-winning National Certified Master Groomer who has been in the grooming industry for over ten years. She spent nine years of her career in corporate and worked her way from a bather up to a grooming trainer. In 2018 she was nominated for Barkleigh Honors "Up and Coming Groomer of the Year". She has been featured on the educational video page "groomsource" and you can now catch her in the grooming ring competing in open level or showing her Bichon and English Cocker in the AKC ring.
Juanita Harris
A groomer of 10 years and former owner of Grooming by Juanita, a storefront located in Pennsylvania, Juanita is now a Brand Marketing Associate for Ryan’s Pet Supplies. Prior to her career, Juanita completed her Degree in Law and spent time researching animal behavior which helped her understand the connection between dogs and humans. Juanita also has an extensive career in high-end sales, retail, and corporate level, as well as private grooming based in New York City which helped her have insight into building successful client relationships. In building a successful online brand, Juanita has worked with brands including Andis, Hydra, Duke & Winston, Skout’s Honor, Blackworks, Chippin’, and more!
Blake Hernandez
Blake Hernandez is a NCMG and three-time Barkleigh Honors recipient. He is best known for his online persona and caterwauling lyrics that speak to our industry. Blake has brought innovation and current outside trends to the grooming industry from Personality Marketing to the FoxEye, a phone holding device for the everyday groomer or aspiring influencer. Blake runs Foxy Roxy's Pet Salon in San Diego, CA, in addition to competing in grooming contests and dog shows all over the country. He is the co-creator and founder of GroomSource, an app made for groomers' continued education, as well as creator and producer of many products with Foxy Roxy's Supply Co. Blake was also a feature groomer in Netflix's "DOGS" documentary and a contestant on ABC's Pooch Perfect Season 1.
Denise Heroux
Denise Heroux owns Awesome Paws Pet Salon, a Cleveland-based chain with two locations and active plans for expansion. Awesome Paws fosters a healthy environment for employees and pets with a focus on employee investment and learning. While managing both locations and a staff of over 20 employees, Denise finds time to work with the Ohio Professional Pet Groomers Association, which she founded. The association focuses on setting a higher standard for pet safety, business-building opportunities, versatile learning experiences, and creating legislative fluidity in the industry. You may have listened to Denise on both the Women PetPreneurs and Small Business Hiring podcasts.
Judy Hudson
International Grooming Industry Speaker and Judge, Judy Hudson, holds an Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology and is a National Certified Master Groomer and certifier for the National Dog Groomers Association of America. Judy owns and operates Groomingtails Mobile Pet Grooming in Nashville, Tennessee. Judy has multiple Best in Shows and Best All Around Groomer awards to her credit and stayed in Groomteam's top 10 groomers for 4 years. Having retired from the contest ring, Judy enjoys sharing her knowledge and experiences with new groomers! She is also a level V Rodan and Fields skin care consultant.
Markie James
Markie James is a NC native, member of Foxy Roxy Pro Team, member of the NDGAA, and graduate of the CVCC Advertising and Graphic Design Program. She has been grooming for over 14 years and owns Bark Side Pet Grooming which has won numerous local awards for excellence and quality. Markie has competed in grooming competitions where she placed Best First Timer, Third Place at APF 2020, Honorable Mention at APF 2021, and Third Place at Safari Palmetto 2022. Recently, she had an article published in Groomer to Groomer Magazine.
Melissa Jepson
Melissa Jepson has owned the award-winning Pupscale Pet Salon in California since 2013. As a founding member of the Association of Holistic Pet Professionals, she believes in creating a soothing environment for all aspects of grooming. She is thrilled to partner with Precision Sharp to offer high-quality products and also enjoys teaching webinars through Pawsitive Educational Training when she isn't traveling. Nearly two decades of experience and a comprehensive knowledge base have made it possible to impart a fresh take with practical applications to her students which she hopes they'll use long after the seminar has ended.
Alyssa Kasiba
Alyssa Kasiba is an international award-winning creative groomer. She has almost 15 years grooming experience, and she began competitive grooming in 2016. Over the past years, she has specialized in creative grooming from competing on stage to teach the know hows. In the 2022 season Alyssa won 30+ awards nation wide, was on the cover of Groomer To Groomer magazine twice and ended the year won the Barkleigh Honors Creative Groomer of the Year. You may have seen her featured on Night Line News, Good Morning America, or as a Finalist on ABC's dog grooming competition show, Pooch Perfect. Alyssa has found a passion for teaching the art and creativity of grooming and can't wait to share it, through @Toesnbows on Instagram, private classes, or her favorite classrooms at a Barkleigh show!
Angela Kumpe
Internationally renowned creative stylist and instructor, Angela Kumpe has more placements in creative styling than anyone, worldwide. She won the first ever Barkleigh Honors Award for Creative Competitor. She is the author of A Creative Collection, a step-by-step guide to creative styling. Angela's work has been featured on Animal Planet, TLC, The Today Show, Regis and Kelly, and ABC Nightline as well as in The New York Times and on the cover of Groomer to Groomer magazine. Angela is the owner of Angela's Grooming and Pet Spa in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Suzanne Marchetti
Suzanne has groomed for 35 years and has owned her own business for 24 years. Her most recent business was Uptown Paw in Huntington Beach, California. She ran a 6,000 square foot cage free daycare, boarding, and grooming facility. She is a charter member for both the SCPGA (past president) and CPPGA. She holds a Certified Pet Aesthetician from IV San Bernard, a CAH certification from WWPSA, working on her IPG licensing and is an award winning competitive groomer. She is owner, breeder and an AKC licensed professional handler. She is also a board member for the Burbank Kennel Club.
Amanda McGrath
Amanda is a Certified Feline Master Groomer with a unique talent for time management and organization. She has over 15 years of grooming experience and opened her own salon in 2009 where she grooms both dogs and cats. In addition to grooming, she has also worked in the veterinary field for the last 20 years. Amanda is currently on the management team of a four-doctor small animal veterinary hospital in New Wilmington, PA. By combining her experience in both industries, she created a consulting firm that helps veterinary hospitals improve their grooming departments and provides interview coaching and business organization training.
Mackensie Murphy
Mackensie Murphy is a second-generation pet stylist, following in her mother's footsteps and becoming the very first second generation GroomTeam USA. In 2005, Mackensie started her own grooming career at the young age of 18. Mackensie began her competition career in early 2011 and has been awarded multiple Best in Show awards, Best All Around Groomer awards and is a five-time winner of the prestigious Liz Paul Memorial Best Scissored Poodle Award. Mackensie consistently stayed among the top three competitors and earned herself a position on GroomTeam USA in 2012 which she has sustained up to this current year.
Mary Oquendo
Mary Oquendo is the Founder of Pawsitive Educational Training; an online membership portal for professional groomers, and Spirited Dog Productions; which offers business consulting to busy pet professionals. Mary is a Certified Master Pet Tech Instructor and takes a holistic approach to handling animals. She holds the titles of Reiki Master and Advanced Crystal Master, and is on the board for the Association Of Holistic Pet Professionals. In addition, she is the Recipient of the 2012 Cardinal Crystal Award For Outstanding Achievement In The Pet Industry. You can listen to Mary on her two podcasts: Women Petpreneurs and The Traveling Groomer. She is also the author of the Mobile Groomers Bible and Holistic Pet Grooming.
Ashley Pacini
Ashley LaVonne Pacini, owner of Ashley's Barks n' Bubbles in Port St Lucie, FL, has been in the grooming industry since the age of 14 as both a bather and a groomer. She graduated from Merryfield School of Pet Grooming, and became the youngest Nationally Certified Master Groomer with the NDGAA only 3 months later. Ashley is the winner of numerous grooming competition awards, including a Best in Show, winning 1st Place with a Kerry Blue Terrier at Hyponic IGC in South Korea, moving from Entry to Open Division's Top 15 in 2019, placed in the GroomTeam USA Top 10 in 2020 and was nominated for Barkleigh Honors "Up and Coming Groomer of the Year" award in 2018. She is currently on the World Team for Hyponic Americas.
Samantha Palya
Samantha Palya started her grooming career in the year of 1996 at Great Lakes Academy of Professional Pet Styling. She entered her first competition at the All American Grooming Show in 1996. From then she earned placements in poodles, and handstripping in her division. She was awarded Best Groomer and Best Groomed Dog in Show for a handstripped terrier at Groom Expo in 1998. At the age of 21 she opened Absolutely Pawfect Pet Styling. Samantha apprentices to help give opportunities to future pet care professionals. She holds certificates for CPR and Pet Safety, Skin and Hair, Salon Sanitation, Canine Body Language, Dog Gurus College, Pricing for profits, and many more.
Chris Pawlosky
Christina is a Certified Master Dog Groomer (NDGAA), Certified Feline Master Groomers (CFMG), is Pet Tech certified in CPR and Pet First Aid and a Grooming Shop owner since 1985. She worked 20 years for the Manufacture of Oster Professional Products, as their National Training Manager (Pet). She is a breeder of Poodles and Brussels griffons and was a professional handler for over 15 years, finishing many different breeds to their championships. She has won multiple Best All Around and Best Groomed Dog in Show, and was on GroomTeamUSA three different years. She is now partnered with Judy Hudson to produce the GroomingProfessors.com. The Grooming Professors share their many years of grooming, competing, and dog show conditioning and handling with the industry.
Macie Pisa
As a second-generation groomer, Macie has been immersed in the dog world her whole life. She has been grooming professionally since 2010. Macie started competing in 2014 and quickly rose to the top, becoming one of the youngest competitors in open division. In 2016 she was nominated for the Barkleigh Honors Up and Coming Groomer of the Year Award. She will continue to travel and compete nationally until she achieves her dream of making GroomTeam USA. Macie co-owns the Laundromutt in Kenmore, NY.
Adriane Pope
Adriane Pope is an award-winning Pet stylist in Breed Profile and Creative Grooming. Her specialty is extreme creative styling and creative abstract design. Adriane is owner/groomer of Adriane's Groom and Go Mobile Grooming in Conway, SC., and also the owner of Rivertown Bed and Biscuit Luxury Kennel since 2004. She has 24 years of grooming experience, and has been mobile for 22 years. She started competing in breed profile in 1997 and started the creative world in 2004.
Jess Rona
Jess Rona is a dog groomer in Los Angeles and is known for her Instagram, @JessRonaGrooming that has over 100k followers and features her signature slo-mo videos. She directed the Tegan and Sara music video for "100x", had a dog featured in Beck's "WOW" video, and directed a commercial for the Standard hotel featuring her grooming clients. She's been featured in O magazine, Marie Claire, Glamour, Elle, and Paper among many others, has been featured on several news programs including the Today Show and Good Morning America, and has had several write ups online. Some of her celebrity clients include: Katy Perry, Andy Garcia, Maria Menudos, and Marnie the Dog.
Victor Rosado
With 26 years of experience in professional grooming and conformation, Victor Rosado is a NCMG with NDGAA, ICMG, and is a certifier with IPG, as well as a Grooming Contest Judge and a Licensed All Breeds Conformation Judge for FCPR/FCI. As a competitive groomer, Victor Rosado is a multiple Best All Around and Best in Show winner, and one of the top groomers on GroomTeam USA. Victor is a member of American Spaniel Club, an AKC Breeder of Merit, and an exhibitor of American Cocker Spaniels for 20 years with multiple Best in Show and Best in Specialty Shows wins. Victor is also an Oster Ambassador in Latin America and owner of Davis Puerto Rico.
Arielle Scavnicky
Arielle Scavnicky has over 13 years of experience ranging from working in corporate salons, private shops, and veterinary clinics. In 2016 she opened the Cleveland Grooming Academy, a grooming school certified through the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools. She is a National Certified Groomer, active competitor through Barkleigh and IJA, and president of the Ohio Professional Pet Groomers Association. Arielle has dedicated her career and future to creating a safe and fun learning environment for the new and upcoming groomers.
Jay Scruggs
Jay and his wife, Michelle, own Here Comes the Groom, a highly successful mobile grooming salon in Germantown, Tennessee. Jay has won multiple Best in Show and Best All-Around Groomer awards and helped Groomteam USA win the Gold medal in Calgary, Canada, in 2001. Jay was named American Groomer of the Year in 2001, Groomer of the Year Award at Westminster Dog Show in 2002, and Grooming Judge of the Year in 2004. In 2003 Jay won an International Gold and Bronze medal in Barcelona, Spain, helping groomteam USA win the silver team medal. He and Sue Zecco offer seminars nationally. Jay won a Barkleigh Honors Award at the event that he emceed.
Kelsey Ann Sexton
Kelsey Ann Sexton is an award winning Nationally Certified Groomer with almost two decades of Professional Pet Grooming experience. She owns an award winning salon outside of Nashville, TN that focuses on customer relationships for routine grooming services. She's also a member of Foxy Roxy Supply Company's Pro Team. Kelsey was nominated for Barkleigh Honors Speaker of the Year in 2022 and has a passion for continued education in the Pet Grooming Industry.
Tammy Siert
Tammy has been grooming and competing for over 24 years and now manages a busy upscale salon in Hinsdale, IL. She made GroomTeam USA in 2008, 2011, 2012, ultimately achieving her goal to travel to every show that was GroomTeam sanctioned for four years, and has been the Secretary for GroomTeam USA since 2013. Tammy has been the National Grooming Consultant for Espree Animal Products and works for Andis Company as a part of their Small Animal Education Team. She received certification from the USA Judges Alliance in 2012 and now judges at shows around the country and internationally. Tammy is certified in Animal CPR and First Aid and is currently working on becoming a Certified Master Groomer.
Nick Sklar
Nick Sklar is a seasoned professional with a deep-rooted passion for grooming tools and the art of sharpening. Raised amidst the whirling sharpening wheel, he has acquired over two decades of hands-on experience in the realm of grooming equipment and its dedicated users. Nick's expertise lies in meticulous equipment selection and the art of nurturing their longevity. As the General Manager of Sales and Operations at Whitman's Sharpening for just about a decade, Nick engaged in comprehensive research collaborations with renowned scissor companies, cementing his reputation as a go-to expert in the field. Notably, he has played a pivotal role in product design for esteemed brands like Chris Christensen and Whitman's products, contributing to their success through his invaluable insights and assistance.
Corina Stammworthy
Corina stumbled into the dog grooming industry by chance, but has brought fresh eyes and new ideas. She opened The Laundromutt, a self-service dog wash and grooming salon, on the concept that washing your own dog should be easy and fun. She believes that your dog should always be in the most educated hands, and in the cleanest and calmest environment possible. Corina is a college biology instructor and is currently in graduate school for Biotechnology.
Anna Stowell
Anna Stowell, widely known as “The Doodle Queen,” is a 28-year-old entrepreneur and proud owner of Zoom Groom, a highly successful grooming salon in Hopkins, Minnesota. At the age of 14, alongside her mother, Anna's journey transformed a modest operation grooming dogs in the basement of a rental into a thriving enterprise. Driven by her determination and passion for animals, she embarked on a journey of self-education and skill acquisition. Her self-taught expertise allowed her to develop a unique approach to grooming, combining her inherent creativity and eye for detail with a deep understanding of animal behavior and needs. Today, Zoom Groom stands as a testament to Anna's unwavering dedication and entrepreneurial spirit. With a team of nine talented groomers, Anna continues to lead her salon to new heights of success.
Colin Taylor
Colin Taylor, author of ‘What Would Colin Do? 101 Situations and Solutions for Every Dog Groomer’ and founder of the Colin Taylor Academy is an international multi-award-winning groomer, who has been in the industry for 30 years. After more than 20 years of grooming in the US, Colin has returned to the UK to continue his career. His aim is to bring the same level of excitement and energy to the dog grooming industry worldwide. Colin is also an international judge and speaker and runs and manages Master Groom Dog Grooming Contest.
Arisa Thomas
Los Angeles-based dog groomer and social media influencer, Arisa Thomas is the go-to styling expert for turning dogs into cute and cuddly bears. She started her grooming career in 2010 in hopes of following in her mother's footsteps. Together they opened Blue Pooch, along with her sister. The women-powered trio quickly became popular for their Japanese-inspired pet trims. With a following of well over 300k followers on TikTok and Instagram, Arisa is making her mark as a "modern day" dog groomer by inspiring, entertaining, and educating dog groomers, pet parents, and pet-obsessed fans!
Joey Villani
In 1998, Joey purchased the Nash Academy in New Jersey which he owned and operated until 2008. Now a well-known pet industry speaker and judge, Joey has been nominated 14 times for the Cardinal Crystal and Barkleigh Honors awards. He has been enthusiastically involved with Intergroom International for 33 years and has been instrumental in expanding the organization's reach into Belgium, Italy, and France. Joey is one of the original members of the International Judges Association and has made many television appearances. Today, Joey continues to innovate and explore new dimensions in the pet care and grooming industry. In early 2009, Joey became part of the Animal Radio on-air staff where he is known as "The Dogfather".
Dan Williams
Daniel J. Williams is the managing director of EZ-Groom Pet Products Inc. in Oak Park, Michigan, U.S.A. He holds an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Lawrence Technological University, earned a master’s degree in business administration from Baker College, and has completed the University of Chicago Advanced Leadership program. He has authored numerous articles on cosmetics, and metallurgy as it relates to pet grooming shears. Dan has designed and engineered a number of manufacturing projects at metal-making factories in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Over the past 22 years, Dan has served as president and CEO of three small closely held organizations where he managed a number of mergers and acquisitions. Dan has worked with EZ-Groom since 2002.
Olga Zabelinskaya
Olga is a Certified Master Groomer and owns two grooming salons, Elite Pet Spa & Boutique in Madison, NJ and Grooming Gallery in Morris Plains, NJ. She has multiple BIS and Best All-Around Groomer wins as well as two prestigious Winners Circle Champion titles. Olga is 2009 and 2010 American Groomer of the Year by Cardinal Pet, and was awarded the Lynne Carver Memorial Award as Best All Around Stylist 2009. Olga was born in Russia where she had a Master Degree in Engineering and finished law school. Olga was a GroomTeam USA member 2008-2012 and won the Silver medal in Belgium, 2011 as a part of the traveling team. Olga co-hosts many pet fundraising events.
Sue Zecco
Sue is a 2011 Barkleigh Honors Award winner. She is a Certified Master Groomer with both the National Dog Groomers Association (NDGAA) and the International Professional Groomers (IPG). She has been grooming for over 30 years. She has won multiple grooming awards, including her biggest show accomplishments: 1998 International Groomer of the Year and 1999 Oster Invitational Tournaments Grand Champion. Sue has been a member of GroomTeam USA since 1997 and broke all records in 1999, earning 113 points. She is also a Wahl Clipper Corporation spokesperson. With Jay Scruggs, she conducts a series of full-day seminars called Super Styling Sessions. Sue breeds Standard Poodles under the "Dreamcatcher" prefix.