Welcome to APSE

Here are sample slides from the webinar video

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 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.

Moderated by Joshua Cary

Panelists are: Jan Brown, Jody Smith, Paul Franklin, Danielle Chonody

Here are sample slides from the webinar video

Joshua Cary is a pet sitting business owner, coach and author, as well as the co-founder of APSE (Association of Pet Sitting Excellence).

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.

Here are sample slides from the webinar video

Jan Brown is the owner of Jan’s Pet Sitting. She started her pet sitting business in 1997 and currently has 5 employees. Since 2001 Jan has been a Pet Tech Pet Fist Aid/CPR instructor and regularly teaches classes in her community.

Jan also teaches classes on “Starting Your Own Pet Sitting Business.” She is a co-founder of Peninsula Professional Pet Sitters, a local network group for pet sitters and writes a monthly pet column for a local newspaper.

Here are sample slides from the webinar video

Since 2002, Paul Franklin has helped build and restructure businesses across the US. He has helped companies begin with nothing and grow to the 50+ million dollar mark. He is a passionate consultant and business coach with a drive for your success. Paul and his businesses have been featured in numerous magazines, including Crain’s Chicago Business and Pet Age Magazine. Paul is currently working towards his doctorates degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology (Business Design.)

Having a life-long passion for pets, in 2005 Paul became CEO of All For Dogs, Inc.(AFD), a professional pet service solution based in the Chicago Suburbs. AFD heavily screens and contracts current pet professionals and matches them to clients who best match their specialties. AFD has over 700 weekly clients and uses the growth spurts during holiday seasons to launch the business to greater growth.

Here are sample slides from the webinar video

With a passion for culture, marketing and online networking, Chris founded Go! Media International to help you understand how to gain astounding online success.

Chris has been described as ‘driven’, ‘competitive’, even ‘obsessed with marketing’. But what a great benefit this is for his happy, successful clients, who have referred to Chris as “forward thinking, “boundlessly creative”, and “technically savvy.” Chris’ marketing and technology chops were honed over the past 10+ years, gaining international experience and global proficiency in the UK, USA, South Africa and China, among other countries.

Chris successfully executed online marketing campaigns, developed and launched aggressive national and international print and radio advertising campaigns, worked extensively in the UK music industry, and served as Executive Producer for the national XM radio show “The Family Roundtable”, where he secured the appearances of celebrities like Augusten Burroughs, Mo’Nique, Steve Doocy, Ed Begley Jr, Scott Hamilton, Faith Evans, Vicki Lawrence and Patti Davis.

A fundamental supporter of online marketing education, Chris regularly speaks at national and international conferences (most recently sharing the dais with executives from Google and YouTube as well as covering the 2010 Social Media World Forum Europe).

Despite these accomplishments, Chris’ goals and desires have never wavered. He continues to devote himself to helping people understand how to leverage the power of social media to enhance Internet business.

“I am always open to help anyone who needs real, honest, direct, no-nonsense advice. Isn’t that what it’s all about?”

Here are sample slides from the webinar video

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.

Here are sample slides from the webinar video

Shannon Centola is:

• President and Co-Founder of Power Pet Sitter, Atlanta GA
• Owner and Founder of Buckhead Pet Pals, Atlanta GA
• Co-owner of Barking Up the Right Tree, Atlanta GA

Shannon’s role in the pet sitting industry began in 1998 when she founded Buckhead Pet Pals as a single pet sitter and dog walker. Growth of Buckhead Pet Pals took off in 2000 when Shannon was placed on bed rest, and she hired her first pet sitters. Buckhead Pet Pals continues to grow each year since and has been honored as “Best Pet Sitting Company in Atlanta” by Atlanta Magazine. With the growth of Buckhead Pet Pals, Shannon recognized a need for an industry specific software to help with the day to day management of her company. Shannon partnered with two other individuals and co-founded Power Pet Sitter in 2005. Power Pet Sitter is a worldwide, industry leading software that has helped her and many others manage all aspects of their pet sitting businesses with one easy tool. Shannon is the co-owner of another Metro-Atlanta pet sitting company, Barking Up the RIght Tree and she also provides private business consulting to new and existing business owners. All of this and Shannon will tell you her primary role is as a wife and mother to her husband Mike, and their two children. Shannon can still be found in the Atlanta area if not at work, then at her home enjoying her family!