Speakers

Scott began his love of pets at the early age of 10 when he went with his father, who was a carpenter, to an Airedale Terrier breeder’s kennel to do some work. He spent more time playing with the Airedales than helping his father and this led to the attraction and love of dogs, in which he would dedicate his life to.

In 1992, Scott started a successful pet styling contest ring career and his winning began to take off. His most prestigious wins include Best Pet Stylist in Show at the U.S. Pet Pro Classic twice and the coveted Intergroom International Groomer of the Year award. Scott has had a successful international judging and speaking tour having traveled to England, Italy, Brazil, Scotland, France, Argentina, Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, Greece, Australia, and Canada. He has received several nominations for the Cardinal Crystal Achievement Awards, winning the award of Congeniality in 2001 and Judge of the Year in 2014. He was also the recipient of the Barkleigh Honors Speaker of the Year award in 2017 and Book of the Year in 2021.

Scott is also active in the show ring as a breeder of Kerry Blue Terriers under the Kiluntin prefix. 

Kelsey Ann Sexton is an award winning Nationally Certified Groomer with almost two decades of Professional Pet Grooming experience. She owns an award winning salon outside of Nashville, TN that focuses on customer relationships for routine grooming services. She's also a member of Foxy Roxy Supply Company's Pro Team. Kelsey was nominated for Barkleigh Honors Speaker of the Year in 2022 and has a passion for continued education in the Pet Grooming Industry.

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.

Madeline has been a dog groomer since age 16, and at 21, opened her own successful salon.  Driven by a passion for animals, they actively compete in grooming competitions and show dogs.   Madeline is a passionate groomer who's been pampering pets since 16! At 21, she opened her own thriving salon.  Totally obsessed with animals (they're basically her personality!), she loves competing in grooming competitions and dog shows. Dedicated to education and continuous growth, Madeline is eager to share her expertise. She believes in lifelong learning within the ever-evolving world of pet grooming.

Denise Heroux didn't set out to reshape the pet grooming industry — she just kept solving problems she saw in front of her. Twenty-eight years later, she owns three Awesome Paws Pet Salon locations in Ohio, including a cat-exclusive spa that her feline clients take very seriously, and she's become one of the most trusted voices in professional pet styling.
As Founder and President of the Pet Stylist Relief Fund and co-founder of the Ohio Professional Pet Groomers Association, Denise has built community and infrastructure where there wasn't any. Her work has earned her the Barkleigh Honors Award for Contribution to the Industry, an IGA Rescue Competition win, Advisory Council Member of the Year in vocational education, and a Barkleigh Up-and-Coming Speaker nomination — recognition that reflects what she's actually been doing on the ground for nearly three decades.
Through The Ambitious Groomer — her business education platform, podcast, and suite of tools — Denise now channels all of it into helping grooming professionals build careers that are sustainable, scalable, and worth showing up for every day. She speaks regularly at SuperZoo, Groom'd, Pet Pro Classic, and Barkleigh Expos, bringing the same directness to the stage that she brings to everything else.
She's not just talking about what's possible. She's built it.

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!

Julie is a Certified Pet Groomer and Graduate of Essex Agricultural And Technical Institute’s Grooming And Kennel Management program. She is also a member of North Shore Kennel Club, The Poodle Club of Massachusetts and Old Colony Obedience Club. In earlier years, Julie attended many grooming competitions to showcase her skills, and won many Best In Show and Best All-Around Groomer awards. Having owned and run a very successful grooming business based in Gloucester, Massachusetts for over 20 years, Julie recently decided to sell the shop to focus more on her passion for handling Poodles the AKC show ring. After starting in the late 90s as an assistant, Julie has handled many Toy, Miniature and Standard Poodles to their Championships and has had many Group Wins, multiple Best In Shows, and multiple Specialty Best In Shows including her most recent, piloting Truman (MBISS GCHS Rodells Steady As They Go) to Best In Show at the prestigious Poodle Club Of America 2025.Julie is a Certified Pet Groomer and Graduate of Essex Agricultural And Technical Institute’s Grooming And Kennel Management program. She is also a member of North Shore Kennel Club, The Poodle Club of Massachusetts and Old Colony Obedience Club. In earlier years, Julie attended many grooming competitions to showcase her skills, and won many Best In Show and Best All-Around Groomer awards. Having owned and run a very successful grooming business based in Gloucester, Massachusetts for over 20 years, Julie recently decided to sell the shop to focus more on her passion for handling Poodles the AKC show ring. After starting in the late 90s as an assistant, Julie has handled many Toy, Miniature and Standard Poodles to their Championships and has had many Group Wins, multiple Best In Shows, and multiple Specialty Best In Shows including her most recent, piloting Truman (MBISS GCHS Rodells Steady As They Go) to Best In Show at the prestigious Poodle Club Of America 2025.Julie is a Certified Pet Groomer and Graduate of Essex Agricultural And Technical Institute’s Grooming And Kennel Management program. She is also a member of North Shore Kennel Club, The Poodle Club of Massachusetts and Old Colony Obedience Club. In earlier years, Julie attended many grooming competitions to showcase her skills, and won many Best In Show and Best All-Around Groomer awards. Having owned and run a very successful grooming business based in Gloucester, Massachusetts for over 20 years, Julie recently decided to sell the shop to focus more on her passion for handling Poodles the AKC show ring. After starting in the late 90s as an assistant, Julie has handled many Toy, Miniature and Standard Poodles to their Championships and has had many Group Wins, multiple Best In Shows, and multiple Specialty Best In Shows including her most recent, piloting Truman (MBISS GCHS Rodells Steady As They Go) to Best In Show at the prestigious Poodle Club Of America 2025.