Rising Star & Pet Stylist Grad: This Is How You Create Lasting Success
Meet Rising Star and Paragon Certified Professional Pet Stylist Arica Penaloza of Pet Supplies Plus in Kennewick, Washington! Arica joins the few Paragon Alumni who achieve our highest level of certification. She’s worked hard, learned so much, and has a deep understanding of the craft. We know she’ll find success and can’t wait to see her flourish!
Her mentor Suesan Watson shares more: “Arica is so deserving of this nomination. She has worked incredibly hard in Level 3, and her grooms were beyond amazing. Arica was eager to get her critiques and see where she could improve for the next groom. She seemed to be able to apply any feedback or check Notes from the Grooming table to get those perfect grooms. I am excited to watch Arica grow in this industry. Congratulations!”
Why did you choose dog grooming as a career?
I chose to become a groomer because I have always found an unspoken connection with dogs. I’ve always wanted to have a house full of puppies but knew this wasn’t an attainable goal, so I felt like grooming was my way of getting to love so many pets that people hold near and dear to their hearts. It’s just so enriching to be apart of that part of people’s lives.
What did you enjoy most during your coursework?
The course work definitely challenged me. I mostly enjoyed the submission work. It really was my time to show the knowledge I have gained throughout my career and the theory work presented to me throughout my paragon work.
What are your future goals?
I hope to share my knowledge with future groomers and to help the dogs that go on my table find a fun and happy experience while getting amazing quality.
Any advice for aspiring groomers?
My advice is to always stay teachable. Sometimes you’ll be surprised the things you can learn from a first year groomer or a 10 year groomer.