Meet Paragon Certified Groom Tech Sherry Jerome: Turning a Lifelong Love of Dogs Into a New Career
Meet Paragon Certified Groom Tech Sherry Jerome! Based in Newton, Kansas, Sherry is the proud owner of Stable Companion Grooming. Before finding her way to the grooming table, Sherry spent years serving her community as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and working in Urgent Care. Her career was built around compassion, attention to detail, and caring for others, skills she now brings to her work with dogs.
After retirement, Sherry decided it was time to pursue something she had always loved: working with dogs. Her passion for grooming grew through her experience with her own Australian Shepherds and her desire to provide specialized care for farm dogs, whose coats often come with their own unique challenges. Through Paragon’s Groom Tech Certification, Sherry expanded her grooming knowledge, refined her skills, and gained the confidence to bring what she learned directly to her clients.
Her mentor, Priscilla Wall, shares:
“Sherry shows amazing promise as an up-and-coming groomer. Her work is beautiful and she has such a bright and pleasant personality. I am proud to be her mentor and cannot wait to see all that she accomplishes throughout the curriculum!!”
Why did you choose dog grooming as a career?
I am the proud owner of Stable Companion Grooming in Newton, Kansas. Before finding my way to the grooming table, I spent years serving my community as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and working in Urgent Care — a career built on compassion, attention to detail, and showing up for others when it matters most. When retirement came, I knew I wanted to spend the next chapter of my life pursuing something I had always loved — working with dogs.
What truly sparked my passion for grooming was my own Australian Shepherds, and the moment I realized something important: groomers who truly understand farm dogs are few and far between. The everyday realities of a working farm dog — the grime, the tangles, the smells, the sheer toughness of their coats — require a groomer who not only has the skill, but the heart and firsthand experience to handle them with confidence and care.
What did you enjoy most during your coursework?
The materials and videos. I gained a ton of knowledge and then applied that to my clients. Working with the dogs and just seeing the transformations that I was able to accomplish was magical.
What are your future goals?
To become a Paragon Certified Pet Groomer and beyond.
Any advice for aspiring groomers?
Do it. I waited a long time and would be so much further along if I’d just started when I had the dream. Take the chance!
Sherry’s journey is a great reminder that it is never too late to pursue a passion. With her dedication, experience, and growing grooming skills, we can’t wait to see where her journey takes her next.