Our 2019 Speakers

Heather Carter

Heather Carter

Heather Carter graduated from Orlando School of Dog Grooming and at 19 opened her 1st salon in Central Florida. Now 20+ years later she currently owns her 3rd successful salon FairyTails Pet Spaw in Winchester, Kentucky. Heather has studied art professionally since 2007 at Plymale Gallery in Lexington , Ky. Her passion for art and animals inspired her to start Tickled Pink Pet Designs which features her art and products from her designs. She currently offers paint classes and commissions.

Chris Anthony

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 housecall 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

Diane Betelak, NCMG, has owned Heads and Tails Professional Dog Grooming, Inc. in Liverpool, NY since 1982. She groomed competitively in the U.S. and abroad and has numerous “Best in Shows” and “Best All-Around Groomer” wins and placings in prestigious competitions. In 1996, Diane qualified for the GroomTeam USA traveling team and went to Milan, Italy, where she won “Best in Show” with her Standard Poodle, helping the team clinch the gold medal. In addition, she has judged all major grooming shows throughout the United States and Canada and is a certifier for N.D.G.A.A. In 1997, she was the recipient of the Cardinal Crystal Award for American Groomer of the Year, and in 2011 was named its Grooming Competition Judge of the Year. Although now retired from competitive grooming, Diane remains active as a grooming educator for Andis Company where she teaches the finer points of grooming across North America. Diane has also been showing championship Standard Poodles in confirmation and obedience since 1987, winning multiple titles. She is now actively competing in agility with her current poodles, Sid, and Rickie Boa.

Nadia Bongelli

Nadia Bongelli

English Cocker
Contest prep seminar
Doodles
Snap-on comb hacks
Salon hand stripping
Dave Campanella

Dave Campanella

Dave Campanella
Mindy Dinwiddie

Mindy Dinwiddie

A part of the grooming industry since 2009, Mindy Dinwiddie opened her own business, in the back bedroom of her house.  She now has a thriving business in Litchfield, Michigan with which was voted the Best of the Best Groomers in Hillsdale County, Michigan in 2017. An avid mentor with the help of Paragon School of Pet Grooming Inc, Mindy has helped several peers through schooling and online. She now competes in Freestyle, Asian Fusion, and Poodles Grooming. She also works with the American Kennel Club as their expert groomer for various articles and as a CGC Evaluator, but most recently has been published in Modern Styles Special Edition Doodle book.

Anne Francis

Anne Francis

Anne has been a professional pet stylist for over 20 years, joining the team at The Village Groomer & Pet Supply in Walpole, Mass in 1995. The Village Groomer received Best Independent Retail Grooming Salon twice by the Cardinal Crystal Achievement Awards. Anne was the recipient of the Cardinal Crystal Award for Journalist Of The Year for her work on the instructional article in Grooming Business Magazine, “The Grooming Table.” She has been a member of Groom Team USA for 2014, 2015 and 2016 and finished in the top 5 the last 2 seasons. She has been recognized for her incredible scissor work, as well as the “Taxi Award” at the NEPGP for the best expression and character on a mixed breed. Anne is excited to share her knowledge she has gathered over the years as she transitions into being an educator in the industry that she loves.

Laura Civello Hearn

Laura Civello Hearn

When Laura Civello Hearn was asked, at age four, what she wanted to be when she grew up, she proudly declared “A dog of course!” When she realized that was not genetically possible, she settled on pet grooming. She has worked in a variety of grooming settings including a corporate salon, doggie day care, and as an employee of a mobile grooming company.

She moved to College Station, TX in 2011 with only her tools, talent, and a dream: to groom pets in clients’ homes.  Once she found this sweet spot, she knew that her soul’s purpose was to be a house-call pet groomer.

Laura has since expanded her knowledge and started giving educational seminars and she has recently published “A Practical Guide to House-Call Grooming”, which is a guidebook for house-call groomer veterans,  newbies and everyone in between!

Megan Kingsland

Megan Kingsland

Megan has grown up in a groom shop along side her Mom. She has been bathing and assisting since middle school days. Megan is actively learning to groom from Emily and Kristie and taking continuing education class as often as possible to further her knowledge as a groomer. Megan began her competition career in 2014 with a Bichon. Megan is a grooming industry budding speaker as well as a Pet 1st Aid and CPR instructor. She also is a co show producer for Mardi Gras Pet Expo.

Nicole Kallish

Nicole Kallish

Manager of Education at Andis Company

Nicole Kallish, Manager of Education at Andis Company, attended The Academy of Dog Grooming Arts in Illinois, worked at several shops and kennels. In 2006 she opened and successfully ran her mobile grooming business for 6 years in Illinois then Florida. After selling her mobile business she opened Sarasota Grooming Company which she owned and ran for 5 years. Nicole had worked her way up the ranks in the grooming contest ring earning many 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placements in entry and intermediate levels, including Best Groomed Dog. She received her first “group” placement at the All American Grooming Show in 2011. Nicole won the title of “Rising Star of the Year” at Intergroom in New Jersey in 2013 and moved on to the “open” or “expert” level. Nicole was also a Barkleigh Honors nominee for “Up and Coming Groomer of the Year” in 2011 and 2012 and a nominee for the Cardinal Crystal Achievement Awards “Mobile Groomer of the Year” 2011 and 2012.

Nicole is a Certified Master Groomer, Industry Speaker and Judge, and former Liaison for Groom Team USA.  Nicole currently owns 3 miniature poodles and is showing Sofia in AKC Conformation and Pippa in many AKC Sports events.

Angela Kumpe

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.

Pam Lauritzen

Pam Lauritzen

Pam Lauritzen, MPS, Meritus has been a leader and pioneer within the Pet Styling Industry for over 30 years. She is recognized by her peers as an accomplished Pet Stylist, Pet Styling Judge, Lecturer, Author, and Trade Show Manager. She has authored numerous articles for pet styling association newsletters, pet industry trade publications, and has served as a field editor for “Groom & Board” magazine. She also is past Publisher and Editor In Chief of “PetStylist”, a trade publication committed to advanced education.

Pam is recognized and respected throughout the industry for her tireless effort to promote pro- fessionalism, education, and the organization of Pet Stylists. In this capacity, she co-founded the Illinois State professional Dog Groomers Association and the Southern Association of Professional Dog Groomers and served as the their first President.

Pam was also instrumental in the creation of Professional Pet Groomers Certification, Inc. (PPGC) where she served as their President and first “Certification Coordinator”, and was selected by her peers to be the first “Certified Master Groomer” and Certifier in the United States.

In 1988, by virtue of her outstanding pet styling credentials and accomplishments, Pam was select- ed to be the first “Chairman of the Board” of International Professional Groomers, Inc. and is cur- rently the founder and Executive Director of the International Society of Canine Cosmetologist (ISCC).

Pam is the creator and manager of the U.S. Pet Pro Classic, a major pet styling show and the largest such show in the American Southwest. She continues to conduct a variety of “Advanced Continuing Education” seminars on a variety of subjects including skin and coat care, fitting shears, the mechan- ics and art of pet styling, carding and handstripping techniques and breed specific styling techniques

Brenda Mendez

Brenda Mendez

Brenda represents a fresh voice in the grooming industry. With a quarter century of experience in various salon settings, she has developed a unique perspective on learning and a motivation to stay involved and encourage innovation. Brenda’s laid-back style and humorous approach to teaching have her encouraging her students and peers alike, “Never limit yourself to one source of learning.” Her professional career began in 1993 when she started grooming pets and she has since obtained status as a Certified Master Cat Groomer through the Professional Cat Groomers Association, through which she is also certified, and is a Certified Professional Groomer through the IPG. Her memberships within the industry are extensive and she regularly attends and shows at events across the Midwest.

2020 Speakers Coming Soon!

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