The purpose of our advisory board is to make sure the APSE is consistently providing its members with useful, current and effective resources. We are grateful for their support and involvement.
Danielle Chonody — APSE Co-Founder
Danielle Chonody is the owner and operator of Protecting Max — Your Pet Sitting Partners in the Mid-Cities of Dallas Fort Worth. Danielle has over 7 years experience running her own in home pet sitting business.
She ran her pet sitting business for several years as a solo pet sitter before successfully expanding her business by hiring contract pet sitters and virtual assistants. Danielle is also a licensed Pet Tech Pet Saver first aid instructor.
In 2007 Danielle created the blog WorkingwithPets.com. For over 2 years Danielle has used her blog to share best practice, marketing, business management, staffing, and customer service tips to help other pet sitters to grow and succeed in their pet sitting businesses. Danielle is also an influential social networker and is known for promoting the sharing of ideas and pet sitting best practices by actively networking with other pet sitters online.
Danielle continues to work as a technical trainer and has transferred her teaching skills to mentor and coach pet sitters through her group coaching program the "Circle of Pet Sitting Excellence." She also offers one-on-one coaching programs designed for pet sitters on the topics of marketing, operational systems, and staff hiring and management.
Joshua Cary — APSE Co-Founder
Joshua Cary is a pet sitting business owner, coach and author.
He created the PetSittingOlogy Training Program & Blog as a way teach others how to start or grow their own pet sitting business.
Joshua uses the methods he and his wife implement in their own New York-based pet sitting company — Alitia's Animals.
With a background in web design, Joshua has spent more than 10 years behind a computer building and developing websites for small business owners. He brings those very skills and talent to the table to help pet sitters work smarter (not harder) by increasing the role of a website within a pet sitter's marketing plan.
Joshua was able to reach the elusive six-figure mark in pet sitting services during the first year Alitia's Animals was in business by simply harnessing the power of a well created and designed website.
He greatly enjoys helping others succeed.
Thom Somes — Founder of Pet Tech
Thom Somes, "The Pet Safety Guy" is the President and Founder of Pet Tech, the first international training center for pet CPR, first aid & care for dogs and cats. He encourages pet owners and Pet Care Professionals to learn the skills and techniques of pet CPR, first aid & care and is an advocate for adopting pets from animal shelters and rescue groups.
Having been in the medical field for more than 35 years, he has trained more than 20,000 people in Basic Life Support, First Aid, and Pet CPR, First Aid & Care.
Thom is dedicated to pet health, safety, care and welfare, emphasizing the importance of spaying and neutering, establishing a good relationship with veterinarians, obedience training and the early socialization of all pets.
Diana L. Guerrero — Animal Behavior & Training Expert
Animal behavior & animal training expert Diana L. Guerrero (Ark Lady) has been working professionally with wild and domestic animals since the 1970s.
Regularly featured in the media as an animal expert, her comprehensive experience is matched with an impressive list of credentials.
Guerrero has been affiliated with some of the top wild and domestic animal facilities in the world and holds numerous certifications and degrees in the animal field.
The Ark Lady is the author of Blessing of the Animals, What Animal Can Teach Us about Spirituality, Resources for Crisis Management in Zoos & Other Animal Care Facilities, Flea Control Secrets, and Help! My Pet is Driving Me Crazy!
Diana also served as the animal behavior and training columnist for the American Association of Zoo Keepers for ten years and has written columns for a variety of other publications around the world.
At one time she owned and managed a pet sitting service and is past president of the Pet Sitters Association of Southern California but today most people know her simply as the founder of Ark Animals and the Pet Parenting School.
Learn more about this animal expert at her website http://www.dianalguerrero.com.
Christopher B. Holley — Attorney At Law
Christopher B. Holley is licensed to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. An experienced litigator, Mr. Holley has appeared before numerous State and Federal courts of all levels in these jurisdictions and others for the past 15 years.
His primary litigation concentration focuses on criminal law, traffic, commercial litigation, business torts, tort defense and domestic relations (Divorce). When he is not litigating, Mr. Holley also assists clients with business matters such as business formation, stock purchase/sales, asset purchase/sales, operation, contract review and other day to day needs of a small business man.
Finally, Mr. Holley enjoys providing legal services to those who are in need of wills, living wills, powers of attorney and other routine personal documents.
Admitted: 1994, Commonwealth of Virginia; 2001, Maryland; 2001, District of Columbia. U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; U.S. District Court, District of Colorado; U.S. District Court, District of Maryland; U.S. District Court, District of Columbia; U.S. Courts of Appeal, Fourth and Eleventh Circuits; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Eastern District of Virginia.
When not in Court, you are likely to find Chris spending time with his family or dog. He regularly plays softball and flag football in various Fairfax County leagues. With what other free time he has left, Chris enjoys grilling and spending time with his friends.
Edward B. Jones — CPA
Mr. Jones serves as a Member of Kossler Jones & Company, LLC. with experience in public accounting, specializing in tax preparation and planning, compliance and consulting services. His clients range from corporations, businesses and individuals, to trusts and estates.
Mr. Jones is a top advisor in our firm providing expertise to clients on issues such as multiple state taxation, job cost accounting and the accounting and tax requirements of small government contractors. Mr. Jones also specializes in start-up ventures and small business accounting systems. He has guided hundreds of entrepreneurs through the troubles and tribulations of starting their own business, and properly recording their transactions. His past start-up clients have ranged from government contractors and professional services to franchises and health care providers.
Mr. Jones's clients in the animal related fields includes animal hospitals, dog walking company's, non-profits, and pet daycare facilities. He is a regular speaker at the Northern Virginia Pet Sitters' Association, and has spoken at Pet Sitter's International's yearly meeting.
In addition to his strengths in taxation, Ed is an experienced accountant and controller, previously involved in the operations of one of the largest locally owned HVAC corporation in Northern Virginia. He received his degree from The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and he has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 1998.
Ed Jones is a member of the:
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA)
- Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce
- Herndon Dulles Chamber of Commerce
- Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce
Joseph Giannini — Pet Sitting Business Owner
Joseph Giannini owner of Urban Out Sitters in Chicago started his business as a small dog walking service and quickly grew it into one of Chicago's premier places for pet's to play and stay.
Working with clients such as The Chicago White Sox and Harpo Studios, Joseph quickly learned that he had no small business. "Learning what not to do was the most important part of growing my business."
With 2 locations and a third opening this year, Joseph has insured his continued success and is proud to be a part of the APSE Advisory Board.
Danielle (Bella) Vasta — Pet Sitting Business Owner
Danielle (aka Bella) Vasta is the dynamic personality behind Jump Consulting, Bella's House & Pet Sitting, and the former co-founder for The Business of Pet sitting. She is a proud graduate of Arizona State University with a B.A. in Human Communications.
Danielle is based out of beautiful Scottsdale, AZ and started her first business in 2002 when she was only 20 yrs old. She has been nationally awarded (2007) and recognized as a leader in the pet sitting industry and helped coach countless business owners helping them understand and reach their fullest potential.
She has innovatedly created programs to boost sales in a down economy, and gathered the community together for many events that inadvertently bring more awareness to her pet sitting brand and land her in the papers and newscasts. (For more information please see: www.jumpconsulting.net/proof)
Danielle has a passion for helping others and showing them how they can unleash their inner relationship building talents through networking, marketing, and creating community events. After all, why pay for advertising when "a relationship lasts longer than a business card?" She can help any small, home based business take the "jump" with their business through her motivation, inspiration, and challenging ways.
Danielle is looking forward to helping APSE take it to the next level and help revive the entrepreneurial spirit in the pet sitting industry.
Laura Taylor — Pet Sitting Business Owner
Laura Taylor is the founder and owner of Parrot 'n' Pet Sitting Services located in Whitby, Ontario. Her business grew into a 6 figure operation after just 18 months of hard work, networking and perseverance and now has 9 employees and growing — but growing through what she calls "Creative Marketing Development" which she will share with APSE members in her articles and publications.
Laura is also the founder and main web designer of the newly launched PetBiz Branding focusing on creating CMS pet websites and pet blogs using Wordpress and specializes in web hosting for pet businesses as well as creating articles supporting pet business growth through more creative website development ideas. Lastly, Laura is also one of the co-founders of the former company - The Business Of Pet Sitting, LLC.
Laura brings to APSE her knowledge of pet business development, and Web design but also is known as a "Creative Director" who thinks and creates Pet Business Marketing Ideas out side -of- the- box. Laura believes in constantly re-inventing yourself as a entrepreneur and pursuing differentiation between yourself and other pet businesses and strives to create unique ideas and creative marketing concepts that help to distinguish the pet business owner from it's competition and has a high belief in client retention programs.
