Anjie Coates

During her 36 years in the grooming industry, Anjie spent much of it learning about every aspect of grooming and 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 owners and become a Certified Master Pet Tech Instructor. Her passion for continuing education shows through her achieving CMRG, ICMCG, CCE, PGC, and PGCE. In 2023, her book “The Quintessential Rabbit Book” won the Barkleigh Honors, Book of the Year.

Annette Crystal Andrews

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Chris Bear Anthony

Chris Anthony, weary from her travails in retail management and office work, found her calling when she discovered pet grooming. Her nearly 20-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 of scissors, scissoring techniques, ergonomics, and self-care to help preserve her own health and longevity in her chosen profession. She is the owner/groomer at Have Shears Will Travel and customer service VP at Evolution Shears. Chris is also honored to have co-founded the New Jersey Professional Pet Groomers Alliance and serves as its current Chairwoman.

Denise Heroux

Denise Heroux has over 25 years of grooming experience, is an educator and speaker, and owns Awesome Paws Pet Salon; a Cleveland-based chain with 3 locations with active plans for expansion. Awesome Paws fosters a healthy environment for employees and pets with a focus on employee investment and learning. While managing all locations and a staff of over 25 employees, Denise finds time to work with the local pet pantry to help with donations, attends events to aid local pet charities and founded the Ohio Professional Pet Groomers Association. This association focuses on setting a higher standard for pet safety, business-building opportunities, versatile learning experiences, and creating legislative fluidity in the industry. Denise has given live seminars on business subjects at industry events that focus on business owners expanding their salon with employees, building a sustainable work culture, and how to handle employees within the workplace. You may have listened to her on both the Women PetPreneurs and Small Business Hiring podcasts. She is passionate and dedicated to help create good work environments for business owners and employees. 

Mary Oquendo

Mary has worked with thousands of students and has beamed with pride as she watched as professional pet educators reach and change the lives of their students.

Mary was awarded the 2012 David Salzberg Outstanding Contribution To The Pet Industry. Mary was first nominated for a Barkleigh Honors Award in 2012 and has been every year since.

Before founding Pawsitive Educational Training, Mary has spoken and continues to speak at numerous professional pet educational conferences since 2006, as well as been published in Groomer To Groomer and Natural Awakenings magazines as columnists.

Mary got her start in the pet industry in 1998, when she answered a help wanted sign at a corporate grooming facility and in 2002 operated Pawsitively Pretty Mobile Grooming Salon until she retired in 2019.

Mary’s first student was a mobile grooming client who was coerced into taking her pet first aid class. Once the class ended, her client hugged her and thanked her. From there it was no stopping her.

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.