5:30 PM – 7:30 PM: Sponsor Showcase + Meet & Greet Reception in the Atrium

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM: Welcome & Coffee Outside Session Room

8:30 AM – 9:40 AM Session: The Doggy Daycare Membership Blueprint: How To Create Predictable Revenue, Lock-In Client Loyalty and Build a ‘Members Only’ Daycare Business Clients Never Want To Leave
Speaker: Dominic Hodgson of Enrich University

Most dog daycares are stuck on the same exhausting treadmill where every month starts back at zero. Owners are constantly chasing new clients, worrying about cancellations, stressing about payroll and praying the daycare stays full enough to survive another month. Meanwhile, a small number of smart operators are quietly changing the game by building recurring revenue membership models that creates, more predictable income, fosters, deeper client loyalty, and attracts higher spending clients, which makes for a much more stable business. 

In this entertaining and eye-opening session, pet business coach and author Dominic Hodgson will show you how to transform your daycare from a transactional service into a premium “members only” club dog owners feel proud to belong to.

This is NOT about selling discounted daycare packages and calling it a membership.

You’ll discover:

• Why most daycare memberships fail before they even launch 
• The psychology behind why people LOVE clubs, exclusivity and belonging 
• How memberships increase loyalty, retention and client spending 
• Ways to create a daycare experience clients talk about and recommend 
• The “Disneyfied” touches that make your daycare stand out in a crowded market 
• How to successfully launch and market your membership without discounting your services 

Dom will also share real-world examples from successful pet care businesses already using this model to create stronger client relationships and more profitable operations.

If you want to stop running a chaotic, low-margin daycare and start building a premium pet care brand with predictable recurring revenue and loyal lifelong clients, this session is not to be missed.

9:50 AM – 11:00 AM Session: Build a Financial Plan That Drives Profitability and Long-Term Growth

Speakers: Claire Cronin & Jacqueline Pait of Live Oak Bank
This presentation is designed to help business owners understand how to build a financial plan that drives profitability, cash flow, and long-term growth. We’ll break down the numbers behind a successful operation — from labor allocation and pricing strategy to balance sheet management and operational efficiency — so owners can stop guessing and start making confident, data-driven decisions. 

More importantly, we’ll explore how to pivot from simply being busy to becoming truly profitable by creating structure, improving visibility into the business, and focusing on the metrics that actually drive long-term value. The goal is to move beyond the chaos of constant activity and build a business with clarity, control, and sustainable growth.

11:10 AM – 12:20 PM Session: Beyond Haircuts or Exit Baths – Build Your Bath & Brush Business 
Speaker: Cara Evans, President of Paragon School of Pet Grooming
In this session, we’re talking about baths! Sounds boring? Maybe you’re thinking, “A bath is just how we return a stinky daycare dog smelling slightly less offensive to their owner.”  But, Bath & Brush services can be so much more than a quick rinse and a spritz of cologne. 

We’ll talk about what actually makes a good bath, common bathing myths, how proper bathing supports coat and skin health, and why prep work matters more than most people realize. We’ll also dive into how Bath & Brush services can improve pet wellness, increase client loyalty, create real revenue opportunities, and allow team members to build valuable hands-on skills within your business.

12:20 PM – 12:30 PM: Lunch Provided in the Atrium

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Sponsor Showcase in the Atrium

2:30 PM – 3:40 PM Session: Employee Policies that Protect Your Business
Speaker: Kira Colon, COO of MAVETRI
Managing employees can feel like navigating a maze of “what ifs” and tough decisions—and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. This session will cover the essential HR policies that dog daycare and boarding businesses need, while also exploring common employee-related challenges. 

Topics will include employee handbook foundations, workplace conduct standards, attendance and leave policies, confidentiality and business protection, and hiring and accommodation compliance. Attendees will leave with practical guidance on building strong, enforceable policies that support a safe, professional, and well-run pet care operation.

4:00 PM – 7:00 PM Sponsor Showcase + Happy Hour in the Atrium

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Sponsor Showcase in the Atrium

9:00 AM – 10:10 AM Session: Game On: Staff Engagement That Works
Speaker: Alex Varney of Considerably Bold
This session explores how gamification boosts staff engagement and ongoing development. From “Enrichment Passports” and Bingo cards to peer recognition programs and spin wheel contests, we’ll share fun, practical ways to build a strong culture and encourage learning. 

A healthy, engaging culture not only motivates your team but also reduces turnover and strengthens long-term retention. These tools help teams stay motivated, recognize progress, and turn professional growth into something rewarding and repeatable. You’ll leave with at least three fresh, actionable ideas to engage your team right away.

10:20 AM – 11:30 AM Session: The Triangle Offense of Recruiting
Speaker: Joe Latona of WalkerScout
WalkerScout presents “The Triangle Offense of Recruiting” at the Dog Handlers Summit — a fast, practical session on sourcing, screening, and securing All‑Star staff for dog daycares. Learn how to build a magnetic employer reputation and attract top professionals the way Michael Jordan drew elite talent to the Chicago Bulls.

11:40 AM – 12:50 PM Session: Building a Team That Stays Without Breaking the Bank
Speakers: Sean Felty, Founder of Next Tree Strategies & Eve Molzhon, Founder & Owner of Dog Handler Academy
Building a reliable team in the pet care industry is about more than just filling positions—it’s about creating systems, expectations, and onboarding processes that set employees up for success while keeping labor sustainable for the business. In this session, Eve Molzhon and Sean Felty break down what happens in the critical first 60 days of employment and how pet care businesses can improve retention without overspending on payroll. 

Eve will speak about onboarding, training structure, culture, communication, and the employee experience that shapes whether team members stay engaged or quickly disengage. 

Sean will discuss labor sustainability, staffing expectations, managing by FTE (full-time equivalent), and how strong operational systems help identify performance issues early while protecting profitability. 

Attendees will walk away with practical strategies to hire intentionally, onboard professionally, reduce turnover, and build a stronger, more sustainable team.

12:50 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch Provided in the Atrium

1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Sponsor Showcase in the Atrium

3:00 PM – 4:10 PM Session: From Guesswork to Signals: Reading the Pricing Trends Shaping Dog Care
Speaker: Drew Brinkoetter of Goose
The dog care industry is full of pricing “rules” that don’t hold up under scrutiny. This session cuts through assumptions by looking at the signals hidden in industry pricing data: how rates vary by service type, what high-performing businesses do differently, and where operators tend to underprice without realizing it.

Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all strategy, this talk helps attendees interpret trends in a way that’s relevant to their own operation. You’ll learn how to spot warning signs in your pricing, understand market movement without chasing competitors, and make adjustments that reflect both demand and the care experience you provide.

What you’ll learn:

• Which industry trends actually matter when evaluating your prices, and which assumptions often lead operators in the wrong direction.
• Spot recurring patterns across boarding, daycare, and add-on services that quietly limit revenue, even in strong markets.
• See how booking patterns, service choices, and timing provide clearer guidance than anecdotes or gut feel.
• Walk away with a practical framework for when to change prices, when to hold steady, and how to reduce friction when adjustments are needed.”

4:30 PM – 7:30 PM Sponsor Showcase + Happy Hour in the Atrium

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Sponsor Showcase in the Atrium

9:00 AM – 10:10 AM Session: Time Is Money: Using Time Studies to Increase Operational Efficiency and Profits
Speaker: Jess Okon, Executive Director of International Association of Canine Professionals
In the competitive world of pet boarding and daycare, operational efficiency directly impacts profitability. Join Jess as she delves into how time studies can optimize daily operations, streamline processes, and enhance customer satisfaction. Facility owners will learn to identify bottlenecks, reduce wait times, and allocate resources more effectively. 

By leveraging time study techniques, owners can make data-driven decisions that boost productivity, reduce costs, and ultimately increase profits. Discover practical strategies and real-world examples tailored to the unique needs of pet care businesses, ensuring your facility runs smoothly and remains competitive.

10:20 AM – 11:30 AM Session: Title and description to come!
Speaker: Chad Mackin of Pack to Basics and Something to Bark About Podcast

11:40 AM – 12:50 PM Session: Pet Retail Panel. 
Speakers: Michelle Huie of ShopDot Pet, Melinda Stanford of Bark & Bone, Eve Molzhon of Dog Handler Academy

12:50 – 1:50 PM Open Networking / Wrap-Up