Speakers

Lisa Leady is a third generation groomer with 40 years of grooming experience. She is a nationally certified master groomer and a certified for NDGAA (National Dog Groomers Association of America). She began her competition career in 1995 shortly after opening her first salon, Chez Paws.       She has multiple best in shows and best all around groomer awards to her credit. Lisa ranked in the top ten from 2000-2007 to become a GroomTeam USA member during those seven years. In 2006 she was ranked #2 in the US. She was honored to compete in the World competition on multiple occasions with the US traveling team.   Years later after selling her business, she became Head Instructor at two grooming academies, the Academy of Dog Grooming Arts, and Windy City Grooming Academy.        After years of sharing her passion she missed daily grooming and decided to open a mobile salon. This allowed more time to dedicate to hands on workshops and judging assignments. These continue to this day and she has become a popular domestic, and international judge and speaker.   Lisa has been a member of Wahl clipper corporation’s Extreme Team for 15 years. She has a multitude of Barkleigh Honors and Cardinal Crystal Awards to her credit for her substantial contributions to the grooming industry.  She appeared on Animal Planets “Groomer Has It 2” series where she placed as runner up. Lisa is proud to be a regular contributor to the online instructional video platform, “Learn to Groom.com” where her videos are some of the most watched.   Lisa currently owns Primp My Pooch Salon with her husband Eric, and shows and breeds AKC Champion Smooth Fox Terriers in her leisure time. 

I am a professional groomer in DeKalb, Illinois. I started my early life with Standardbred racehorses and turned to pet grooming in 2000, to provide a more stable life for my young daughter. I’ve owned and operated A Groomery Pet Grooming since 2002.

I’m a multi-year member of Groom Team USA, an organization that tallies points from Grooming Competitions to have the top competitors go overseas and compete in the World Contest for medals, similar to the Olympics. In 2017, I was the No. 1 handstripping groomer in the United States. My Airedale, “Zeppelin” (GCH Timberwyk Peak Performance), was my canvas for all of that year and together we won over four Bests in Show and competed all over the country. Zeppelin was also the first dog I ever showed in AKC Conformation.

I have had Airedales since 2004, and have finished Grand Championships in AKC Conformation on both dogs that I have shown. I am currently showing Zeppelin’s nephew, “Hudson” (BIS MRBIS MBISS GCHS Timberwyck The Rock). Together, we were in the top standings in the country for Airedale Terriers the last two years, winning over 45 Terrier Group placements, a Best in Show, and multiple Reserve Bests in Show.

I teach handstripping seminars and webinars all over the country and in Canada. I love to teach and help anyone excel in learning how to trim their show Airedales.

Lori Craig, a globally acclaimed creative groomer, judge, instructor, and the dedicated proprietor of Doggie Styles in Moore, Oklahoma, brings 27 years of expertise to the grooming world. With nearly two decades as a creative competitor, Lori boasts numerous first-place victories, people’s choice awards, and the distinction of being a five-time cover girl for Groomer to Groomer magazine.

Lori’s accolades include the prestigious All-time Favorite Cover, along with recognition as Creative Groomer of the Year and recipient of the Contribution to the Industry and Humanitarian Barkliegh Honors Awards. Passionate about sharing her artistic insights, Lori actively imparts her knowledge to fellow groomers, nurturing their ability to infuse creativity into their craft.

Her influence extends beyond competitions, as Lori has graced the screens of prominent shows such as The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox and Friends, and more. Recognizing the importance of education in creative grooming, Lori founded the Creative Groomers Association, a platform dedicated to enhancing the skills of groomers worldwide.

As an official Opaws Creative Grooming Educator and a proud member of the Wahl Elite Team, Lori continues to contribute to the grooming industry by blending innovation with education.

Misty Gieczys has competed internationally for Creative Grooming and in breed profile competitions. She has multiple international best in shows. Was on the US model dog team that won gold in Taiwan. She has been featured on American and French news broadcasts. She has also been on Inside Edition, Animal Planet, The List, the front page of the Wall Street Journal online, Orlando Sentinel, Out n About Columbus, and featured in documentaries. Misty and her colored dogs have been in a few local commercials for the Pet EXPO and Pet Palace. She also teaches at the Columbus Pet Expo. She is also the face of the Sav-Ur-Fur ad campaign in Groomer To Groomer. She is featured in an ad for Double K in Groomer to Groomer and Grooming Business for winning 2nd in their Rags to Riches contest in 2013.  Black Dog Marketing has done a webinar series that featured Misty as their expert in the pet grooming industry.

Misty started at Petsmart as a dog trainer and after 2 years started grooming in 2005. She then went to run the grooming program at Pet Palace where she worked at all 3 locations and established their grooming business.

She has attended Nash Academy for specialized dog grooming training and continues to take continuing education classes throughout the year. 

She is a Pet Tech CPR & First Aid Instructor. 

She owns one standard show poodle, Zeus, two show Kerry Blue Terriers, Ateryu and Anubis.

GM of Sales and Operations at Whitman’s Sharpening, Nick Sklar was raised at the sharpening wheel. With more than twenty years of experience working with grooming equipment and the people who use it, Nick is an expert in proper equipment selection and care. He has done extensive research with top scissor companies and assisted with product design for several brands including Chris Christensen and Whitman’s products.

Dr. Molly started Molly’s Pampered Paws in 2014 working as the solo groomer in a (very) used grooming van. Together, with co-owner and husband Todd, they have built a diversified multi-million-dollar pet industry business consisting of grooming salons, a mobile grooming fleet, as well as boarding, daycare, and training facilities. 

In addition to helping run the organization, Dr. Molly has a grooming background, Master’s in Business Education-Corporate Training, a Doctorate in Management-Organizational Leadership with a dissertation on Employee Turnover in the Pet Grooming Industry, teaches Business Applications at a local TN college. Combined with Todd’s 15+ years of leadership experience as COO, Dr. Molly & Todd work together to combine education, experience, and best practices to help other pet professionals succeed! As a team, they are passionate about coaching and educating the next generation of successful pet industry business owners while helping groomers set boundaries and achieve optimal work/life balance through their podcast The Pawcast: The Business Side of the Pet Industries and coaching services.

 Tiana Walters came in to grooming from the veterinary field with experience showing animals from childhood. She and her mule were quite the team on at the national level in both junior and open gymkhana events for multiple years as a child. While still in highschool her first dabbling in dog grooming was learning to handstrip her personal JRT.  As an adult she traded the mules for giant dogs, started showing Great Danes, and was the president of her regional breed club for 5 years. She went on to college getting an associate degree in business and bachelors in animal science. She worked as a tech for nearly a decade including 4 years emergency at ISU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. She also spent some time at the racing chemistry lab drug testing dogs and horses. After switching to grooming full time she began competing in 2014 in order to certify. That year she earned her master's with both   

Owner and professional pet stylist Cassandra is certified in pet CPR and first aid. She frequently attends trade shows, seminars and classes to improve her grooming skills and knowledge. She has been grooming for 10 years. She is passionate about her successful mobile grooming business and helping others achieve their goals in understanding the business side of grooming.

 She has 4 dogs; a Newfoundland, two Great Danes, and a Boston Terrier. She also has two cats, two parrots, and a lot of fish!

 Jessica Uzzetta is a Nationally Certified Master Groomer with a passion for continuing education and bringing groomers together to better the industry as a whole. Building strong family relationships with her fellow groomers and growing the grooming industry family. She has been competing in grooming competitions since 2012 and earned multiple 1st place and a Best in Show award quickly reaching the highest level in 3 short years. She is a single mother of 2 beautiful girls who owns and operates an upscale salon and Mobile grooming business in Wentzville, MO. She is passionate about her poodles in showing, breeding, rescue and education. She started rescuing dogs when she was just 10 years old. In addition to grooming Jessica has also been an active Veterinary Technician for almost 20 years. Her passion for animals and education to her clients, peers and the public are shown everyday.
 

Marie Winkeler has been a pet stylist for over 20 years and competing since 2010. She has worked in Chicago and St Louis. She loves taking seminars, going to dog shows and working with breeders. But mostly, she loves working with other groomers and sharing knowledge.

Novi Zugic, a Serbian native, is a distinguished figure in the world of dog grooming, renowned for his exceptional talent and unwavering dedication. With a background rooted in canine companionship and a passion ignited by his toy poodle, One and Only Ozzi, Novi embarked on a journey that led him to numerous victories in grooming competitions, including coveted titles like Best in Show. As the owner of Novi Grooming in Countryside, IL, Novi leads a team of skilled groomers, many of whom he has mentored to become competitive dog groomers themselves. With a commitment to continual education and excellence, Novi is not only a seasoned grooming expert but also a guiding force in the grooming industry, inspiring others to reach new heights in their craft.