Speakers
Guzal Adekoje
Guzal Adekoje is an AKC Certified and National Certified Master Groomer with years of experience, and also an internationally recognized multi-award-winning groomer and speaker. She is the owner of a mobile pet grooming company and upscale grooming salon in Northern Virginia. Originally from Uzbekistan, she found her destiny in the United States in 2003, when she moved with just one suitcase and $200 in her pocket and built herself up to become a well-known business owner, groomer and speaker in the USA. Recently, in Barcelona, Spain, she took silver in a class competing against groomers from Korea, China, Spain, UK, France and other countries. As a well-rounded groomer, she has earned multiple awards in poodle, all other pure breeds, sporting, handstripping and freestyle classes.
Allison Alexander
A student-become-master of purebred dogs, Allison Alexander has honed her skills through hands-on experience with breeders, handlers, and groomers all over the world. She has become the go-to resource for both beginner and advanced Poodle owners, handling everything from basic grooming techniques to planning and executing the most difficult show trims. Allison is known around the world for her unique teaching ability that connects with students on every level. Allison has presented seminars on grooming Poodles, Shetland Sheepdogs, Australian Shepherds, Spaniels, Setters, Afghans, Affenpinschers, Kerry Blue Terriers, and many others all over this planet. She is also the Creative Educational Advisor and Specialist for Chris Christensen Systems. In 2017, she launched Leading Edge Dog Show Academy, the world's first online dog show training and grooming school. LEDSA has won the award for Best Online Education each year since its inception. Her mission is to help mentor a new generation of dog enthusiasts through innovative video-based grooming lessons.
Kathlena Austin
Sharing the same passion as her husband, Kathlena Austin has been elevating the standards of dog grooming since 2007. A Nationally Certified Master Groomer for over 4 years, her expertise doesn't end there. As an open-level competitor, she continually hones her craft. Kathlena wears multiple hats - she's the Vice President of the San Francisco Bay Scottish Terrier Club and showcases her love for the breed by both showing and breeding Scottish Terriers. As the backbone of 'A Cut Above Grooming Salon', she's led the business for 4 years and recently expanded with a state-of-the-art mobile grooming unit.
Nathan Austin
With a grooming career that began in 2007, Nathan Austin is a true craftsman in the art of dog grooming. Holding the prestigious title of a Certified Master Groomer for over five years, his skills have not only been recognized but celebrated. In 2022, Nathan clinched the title for Best All-Around Groomer at Groom Expo West and was nominated for the Barkleigh Honors Award in multiple categories, including Best Up and Coming Groomer. In 2023, he was acknowledged for Best Educational Video, Best Entertainment Video, and Best Instagram. His crowning glory came when he was honored as the AKC Master Groomer of the Year in 2023. As an entrepreneur, he's also been the proud owner of a flourishing grooming salon for the past four years.
Allison Brooks Sebastian
Allison Brooks Sebastian is a National Certified Groomer, and despite her career beginning just four years ago, she has been nominated for multiple Barkleigh Honors Awards and has won multiple grooming competitions. Under the age of 25, she is a salon owner and social media educator who uses her platform to share grooming education and awareness across the industry.
Lindsey Dicken
Lindsey Dicken is a NCMG. Lindsey has won multiple awards including best all-around groomer, best in show, best scissored poodle, was nominated for a Barkleigh honors and cardinal crystal American groomer of the year award. Lindsey has qualified for groom team USA's top ten stylists every year she was eligible, reaching # 6 her very first year. She was the #1 ranked groomer in the nation for 2007, 2009, and 2011. She traveled to Germany in 2009 to compete in the world team grooming championship where USA took the gold and to Belgium in 2011 helped her team earn the silver medal.
Teri DiMarino
An industry veteran, Teri has owned and operated successful salons and mobiles in Florida and California. A winning grooming contest competitor, Teri was a member of three GroomTeam USA Gold Medal teams. A multiple Barkleigh Honors and Cardinal Crystal Award winner, Teri was a regular columnist for Groomer to Groomer Magazine as well as a popular speaker and judge at seminars and trade shows across the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
Dr. Cliff Faver
Dr. Cliff Faver, a 1987 graduate of CSU, is the founder/owner of Animal Health Services in Cave Creek, Arizona. He is the US distributor for Iv San Bernard products. He uses the two businesses as a means of merging the grooming and veterinary professions to pursue his life's passion of healing and helping pets. Dr. Faver is an international speaker and teaches the ISB Pet Aesthetician Certification program. He is a member of AVMA, AAHA, AZVMA, a sponsor for the CPPGA, a Board member for the Burbank Kennel Club, and previously served on the Novartis Lead Committee, Hill's International Global Veterinary Board, and is still active in a Veterinary Management Group.
Judy Hudson
International Grooming Industry Speaker and Judge, Judy Hudson, holds an Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology and is a National Certified Master Groomer and certifier for the National Dog Groomers Association of America. Judy owns and operates Groomingtails Mobile Pet Grooming in Nashville, Tennessee. Judy has multiple Best in Shows and Best All Around Groomer awards to her credit and stayed in GroomTeam's top 10 groomers for four years. Having retired from the contest ring, Judy enjoys sharing her knowledge and experiences with new groomers. She is also a level V Rodan and Fields skin care consultant.
Angela Kumpe
Internationally renowned creative stylist and instructor, Angela Kumpe has more placements in creative styling than anyone, worldwide. She won the first ever Barkleigh Honors Award for Creative Competitor. She is the author of A Creative Collection, a step-by-step guide to creative styling. Angela's work has been featured on Animal Planet, TLC, The Today Show, Regis and Kelly, and ABC Nightline as well as in The New York Times and on the cover of Groomer to Groomer magazine. Angela is the owner of Angela's Grooming and Pet Spa in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Macie Pisa
Macie has been grooming professionally since 2012. She started competing in 2014 and quickly rose to the top, becoming one of the youngest competitors in open division. Since then, Macie has catapulted her career in competitive grooming, with multiple Best in Show placements at the top grooming shows in the USA and Canada. She earned her Master Groomer certification from NDGAA in 2016 and a coveted spot on GroomTeam USA in 2019, where she was ranked #5 , 2022 she ranked #6 and 2023 she ranked #3. Macie was been nominated for Barkleigh Honors Up and Coming Groomer of the Year in 2017, and the Brian Stoppa Congeniality and Spirit Award in 2020. In 2021 she won season 1 of Pooch Perfect USA. Macie is passionate about continuing education and teaches techniques and skills at grooming shows across North America and Asia. Macie Specializes in Bichons and Poodles but has proved herself proficient in many breeds and techniques.