Driven by a profound interest in the convergence of technology and customer experience, Drew is a repeat entrepreneur with an extensive background in operations, sales, and finance who has spent most of the last decade in the pet industry. Currently, he is CEO and Co-founder of Goose, a pet technology company focused on innovative solutions for pet service providers. Prior to Goose, Drew co-founded Yardstick, a premium boarding and daycare provider in the Southeastern US, and was active in a number of strategic investments across the pet consumer, lighting systems, and healthcare technology industries.

Meet Kira Colon, the HR powerhouse and Chief Operating Officer at MAVENTRI! With over seventeen of experience in Human Resources under her belt, Kira is your go-to person for handling all those day-to-day HR and Payroll tasks with finesse. From administrative duties to providing personalized counsel and guidance, she’s got it all covered.

As an HR (SHRM-CP) and Payroll (CPP) certified professional, Kira brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to every aspect of her work. She is passionate about partnering with small businesses to create HR and payroll systems that are compliant, streamlined, and technologically advanced, ensuring your business thrives in the modern world.

With Kira and her team leading the way, you can trust that your business’s HR and payroll operational needs are in the best hands possible.

Claire joined Live Oak Bank in October of 2015 as part of the Hotel team. In 2018, Claire moved onto the vet and then pet facility team, where her focus has been on assisting customers with financial options, including acquisitions, expansions, start-ups, and renovation projects.

Her goal is to provide financial solutions that allow her clients to continue growing their businesses.

Claire resides in Atlanta, GA, with her husband Brian and three kids, Emmet, Fintan, and Emer.

Cara began her professional grooming career in 2007 as a bather. After graduating from grooming school, she quickly grew her skills and opened her first mobile unit at age 23, with a second separate mobile business opening years later. In addition to entrepreneurship, she held multiple roles within the pet care industry, including emergency vet tech, and later operations and leadership roles within the boarding, daycare, and grooming industry.

Cara joined Paragon in 2024 as Director of Operations and began her role as President in December 2025. She loves bringing her broad experience and love of the industry to the businesses and students that Paragon serves.

While she doesn’t groom professionally any longer, she enjoys grooming her German Shepherd and her Sphynx cat (yes, they need groomed too!) In addition to her dog and cat, she also shares her home with her husband, Wes, her horse, Court, and 16 chickens.

Sean Felty is a seasoned leader in the pet boarding and daycare industry, bringing over two decades of hands-on experience to help business owners turn chaos into clarity. 

As the co-owner of six thriving facilities in Pennsylvania, Sean has navigated the ups and downs of growth, from humble kennels to multi-location success. Frustrated by unpredictable labor costs, he adapted proven strategies from his healthcare background to create a game-changing approach that’s saved his businesses—and his clients—hundreds of thousands in profits. 

Through Next Tree Strategies, Sean now shares his expertise, empowering pet care owners with simple, effective tools to streamline operations and boost their bottom line without compromising care. He’s on a mission to help industry owners thrive and boost profits.

The Pet Biz Wiz, Dom Hodgson, is the world’s leading pet business coach and marketing strategist. Since 2011 he has helped over 1812 frustrated pet business owners to double or triple their revenue and create an impactful business while working less.

His superpower is helping ambitious heart-centered petpreneurs to stand out, systemize and scale up their business. He also helps them become published authors and recognized experts in their field.

Dom has written 8 books and mentored thousands of pet business owners through his Pet Business Inner Circle Coaching Programs.

Dan Kennedy said this about Dom; “Dom Hodgson is Europe’s Number 1 Business Coach of Dog Walkers, Dog Trainers and Pet Sitters.”

Michelle Huie, originally from New York and now based in Missoula, MT, is a serial entrepreneur and founder of two innovative companies. In 2013, she launched VIM & VIGR, a woman-owned brand redefining compression legwear with style and function. Under her leadership, VIM & VIGR earned spots on Inc. Magazine’s 5000 Fastest Growing Companies and Best Workplaces lists, and has donated over $250,000 in product to frontline healthcare professionals through its annual scholarship program.

In 2024, Michelle founded ShopDot, the first retail solution designed for service-based businesses to access the $5 trillion retail market. ShopDot is gaining traction in the pet services industry, enabling groomers, trainers, rescues, and shelters to generate new revenue streams without inventory or operational hurdles. In 2025, ShopDot was recognized with the Purina Pet Care Innovation Prize, highlighting its impact and leadership in the pet care space. Coming from a family of small business owners, Michelle is passionate about helping local businesses become trusted sources for recommended products in their communities.

Michelle holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Chicago and an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc., Thrive Global, and CNN.

Joe began dog walking in 2008 and built a standout team that, by 2018, completed over 60,000 dog walks. Drawing on experience with a recruitment process outsourcer for the airline industry and success building pet-care teams in Chicago, he founded WalkerScout to create the first national recruiting solution for the pet care industry.

Starting in 2019, Joe expanded hiring efforts across Illinois, California, and New York. Since 2023 he’s spoken at major industry events (NAPPS, FPSA, IBPSA, DogCo Summit, Pet Boarding & Daycare), published with PSI, and in 2024 was invited to join the PIN Network of pet care experts.

Supported by a team of recruiters, WalkerScout has conducted thousands of interviews, helped hire hundreds of pet-care professionals, and generated millions in client revenue. Their mission is to keep animals safe, ensure fair candidate opportunities, and deliver strong ROI for small business owners.

Chad Mackin took his first professional dog training job in March of 1993, and his passion has always been helping family dogs live happier, more fulfilled lives. Throughout his career, he has focused on finding ways to achieve that more efficiently and with less friction. A former co-host of the Dog Training Conversations and Something to Bark About podcasts, Chad has taught workshops across the United States, Canada, England, Australia, and New Zealand.

Eve Molzhon’s interest in dogs began in 2000 as a board member for Capable Canines of Wisconsin, a non-profit service dog organization. In the corporate world, she worked in sales management, marketing, and project management, but CCOW inspired her to delve into the animal care industry. She is a member of APDT, IACP, IAABC, and IBPSA. In 2013, she opened Fun Fur Pets Dog Daycare and Boarding. 

As business grew, Eve saw gaps in employee training, so she created an online, video-based, fully automated staff training program, Dog Handler Academy. 

At Fun Fur Pets, she created Dog School, a program for dog socialization and obedience training and subsequently opened a second business for a similar program, the Dog School of Minnesota. In early 2023, Eve built and opened Pawesome Pets Country Club, an enrichment-based dog daycare and pet boarding facility. Eve also created 2nd Chance to Shine, a non-profit organization that provides basic manners training and social rehabilitation to several dogs who are currently in rescues throughout the Midwest.

Jess Okon is a leading expert in professional pet care with extensive experience in the industry. Her current focus is on collaborating with the industry’s top pet product companies, specializing in pet boarding and daycare operations. Over the years, Jess has mastered all aspects of the pet industry, from grooming to managing high-volume dog hotels, daycare, and training facilities across South Florida. 

Her reputation was built by working with start-ups during their planning phases, launching new services, driving sales, and developing robust policies and procedures to support company growth and development. Jess’s expertise is further enhanced by her dog training experience, making her a well-rounded professional dedicated to elevating standards in pet care and operational efficiency.

Jacqueline Pait joined Live Oak Bank in September of 2015 as an Underwriter where she underwrote loans from all Live Oak Bank industries.

In 2016, she transitioned to a Loan Officer where she was part of a team who focused on craft beverage financing. Jacqueline now works solely with veterinarians and pet care facilities. She is responsible for analyzing, evaluating, and structuring new loan opportunities.

Prior to joining Live Oak Bank, Jacqueline worked for Wells Fargo as a personal banker and business banking specialist. A graduate of University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Jacqueline earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Finance.

She resides in Wilmington, NC with her husband, Roby, son, Brayden, and daughter, Anderson.

Registered Veterinary Technician turned entrepreneur and industry educator, Melinda Stanford built her career first in small animal medicine before transitioning into equine anesthesia, working with Thoroughbred racehorses in California. In 2022, she and her husband Sean purchased an existing grooming salon and pet retail store, combining their passion for animals, business growth, and family life into what would become a thriving multi-service pet care company in Indiana. Together, they now operate Bark & Bone, which includes a salon, mobile grooming division, and retail operation, all while raising their four beautiful children.

Self-proclaimed “the world’s worst groomer,” Melinda credits her success not to technical grooming talent, but to systems, leadership development, customer experience, and operational strategy. Her unique perspective allows her to help pet professionals stop surviving behind the table and start leading profitable, sustainable businesses that create freedom for both their teams and their families.

Today, Melinda is passionate about educating and empowering pet business owners through speaking engagements, mentorship, and real-world business strategies rooted in growth, culture, and operational excellence.

Alex Varney is the Vice President of Operations at Pinnacle Pets Play & Stay and the founder of Considerably Bold, a consulting brand dedicated to elevating standards in the pet care industry. 

With a decade of experience leading a 40-person team through rapid growth, COVID, structural challenges, and operational overhauls, Alex has built a reputation for clear systems, empowered teams, and compassionate leadership. She creates training programs, operational frameworks, and leadership tools used by facilities nationwide. 

As a speaker, Alex blends psychology, practical experience, and tested systems to help pet care operators strengthen their teams, improve their operations, and build sustainable success.