Anjie Coates

During her 34 years in the grooming industry, Anjie spent as much of it learning about every aspect of not only grooming but about business. She knew she had to share the knowledge she had gained and began teaching grooming, and business so others could learn the secrets of her success. This has also led her to teach Pet Tech First Aid & CPR classes for pet professionals and pet owners alike. Her passion for continuing education shows through in her achieving CMRG  (Certified Master Rabbit Groomer) as well as CCE, ACG, and PGC. This brand ambassador for All For Groomers is currently publishing the first rabbit grooming book in the industry.

Ashley Hanvey

Ashley Hanvey began her career in Dog Grooming in 2010. She is the owner of That Scrumptious Pooch, LLC a Mobile Dog Grooming Business in Easley, South Carolina. She has multiple certifications including International Certified Pet Groomer, Petcare Dermatech Specialist, Master Pet Aesthetician, Master Groomer Behavior Specialist, Certified Canine Esthetician, and is currently pursuing DAATA-ICDG certification. She maintains membership with The International Society of Canine Cosmetologists, The Association of Holistic Pet Professionals, and Pawsitiveed. Her goal is to perfect “A Whole Approach to your Dogs Wellbeing” through extensive continuing education and lots of love and patience for her furry clients.

Barb Hoover

Barb has been active in the pet grooming industry since 1985. She is a National Certified Master Groomer and Certified Canine Esthetician.

Believing in the importance of continuing education, Barb organizes, attends and teaches classes throughout the country on all aspects of the grooming industry. She has been interviewed by, and written articles for various trade magazines, been nominated for several Barkleigh Honors awards and won the prestigious David G. Salzberg Cardinal Crystal Achievement Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Grooming Industry in 2007. The Difficult Dog was awarded the 2018 Barkleigh Honor Award for Book of the Year.



Chrissy Neumyer Smith

Grooming and training became a passion in 1986 when I started my first summer internship at a boarding kennel as part of my school’s Animal Science program. I watched grooming during my lunch breaks and stayed after work to watch the training classes. I graduated from Essex Agricultural and Technical Institute’s Animal Science program in 1989 with experience with a wide variety of pets and farm animals. I was able to jump into the grooming industry through an apprenticeship in 1992. I have also worked as a veterinarian technician gaining many years of skills that have been a tremendous help in both dog training and grooming.  

I was one of the first house-call groomers and trainers and opened Happy Critters in 2000.  I love grooming small, as I like to call them “my little behavior cases,” and thrive when working them through fears, stress, and anxiety.  In October 2018, I started my podcast Creating Great Grooming Dogs. It’s about where grooming and dog training meet.  My show allowed me to get noticed as an educator and opened doors to speaking for Barkleigh at grooming expos.  I love teaching and look at dog training as logic puzzles, and grooming is the art.  As much as I love teaching, I love learning and geeking out with other dog professionals.  The more knowledge I possess, the more I can give back to those I educate. One of my current hobbies is a strong passion for Flyball with my current Border Collies Brok and Po.  Flyball started for me with Isa in 2005, and over the years have been awarded numerous titles. We also dabble in Rally Obedience.

Markie James

Passionate about pets and their well-being, Markie James is a dedicated professional in the field of pet grooming and care. She is a North Carolina Native with 15 years of experience, where she has honed her skills and expertise in the art of pet grooming, ensuring the comfort, health, and happiness of our furry friends.

She owns and operates Bark Side Pet Grooming which has won numerous local awards for excellence and quality. Markie has competed in grooming competitions where she has placed Best First Timer, Third Place at APF 2020, Honorable Mention at APF 2021, and Third Place at Safari Palmetto 2022. Recently, she has had an article published in Groomer to Groomer Magazine.

Markie has made it her mission to share her knowledge and techniques with fellow groomers and pet owners. Her dynamic and engaging (humorous at times too) teaching style captivates audiences, making learning a fun and interactive experience. Join Markie in her highly informative and inspiring pet grooming seminars, where you’ll gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to excel in the world of pet grooming. Together, let’s create a happier, healthier, and more beautiful world for our beloved furry companions!



Michelle Knowles

Michelle Knowles, MPAI, ICMG, owner of All Things Paw, has over 30 years of experience as a private and professional pet care provider. Michelle is a Certified Master Groomer and a Master Pet Aesthetician. She has apprenticed, volunteered, worked, owned and managed in salons, kennels, zoos, and veterinary hospitals across the country. Michelle has also been trained in Tuscany, Italy in therapeutic work, hand stripping and advanced dermatological care. Michelle wrote the foundation of the ISB esthetician program and has  extensive experience with fear and trauma recovery, elderly pets, and a focus on managing allergic/dermatological disorders. Michelle is certified through NDGAA, IPG, The Whole Pet Academy, and teaches advanced aesthetics at the Whole Pet Grooming Academy and is a nationally recognized speaker in her field

Mindy Dinwiddie

Starting out as a career woman, she worked in both Law Enforcement and the corporate world. After overcoming cancer in 2006, She decided she was going to do something that would truly make her happy. She quit her current job and began working under a local groomer to learn the tools of the trade. Now owning her own family run grooming business, she has worked hard for the high standards of comfort and care that they give all their canine clients. Every chance she gets, she still works to further her education of new techniques and tools. She also travels variously throughout the year to help in the education of others in different topics of grooming. These include Asian Fusion, Tools and Products of the Trade, and my most popular, Caring for Geriatric and/or Obese Dogs.