BLAKE HERNANDEZ
Blake Hernandez, Master Certifier AKC & NDGAA, is a Dog Grooming Educator known all around the world. Best recognized for his Retro Poodle patterns and flowing locks, Blake is also a 7-time Barkleigh Honors winner for his excellence in the ring as well as his free education online. Having reached over 10k in-person students globally, the numbers are only growing with his easy to understand and relatable way of teaching.
JENNIFER BISHOP-JENKINS
Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins started showing dogs when she was 21 years old, the year she also started teaching high school. Over the last four decades Jennifer has owned, showed, and bred several breeds of dogs and cats. She has titled several Champions, including a Futurity winner, a Top Producer, and a Grand Champion.
Jennifer has been a Certified Master Groomer since 1985 and professionally grooming since 1981. Jennifer’s primary career was as a high school and college teacher for three decades. Jennifer has master’s degrees in history and the equivalent in education. Her love for teaching is reflected in the passion with which she always engages her audiences.
Jennifer's passion and mission is the well-being of all dogs . . . and to make sure all dogs get groomed correctly for their natural coat types. She works to help build a movement within the pet grooming industry to groom all dogs correctly for their natural coat type. Just because a dog is a pet and not a show dog does not mean that they deserve any less to have their coat understood and cared for in a way that protects them for their lifetime. Through her widely acclaimed program on "The Fifteen Coat Types" she proposes a grooming industry-wide discussion on standardization of terminology and best practices in grooming for each coat type.
Jennifer is also a prominent victims’ rights activist and advocate for violence prevention after the murder of her sister, brother-in-law, and their unborn child in 1990. Jennifer was selected in 2010 for the Illinois Women's Institute of Leadership (IWIL) and has run for office. Jennifer was the National Program Director for Victims and Survivors for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. In what she describes as her proudest life achievement, as Illinois Director for Marsy's Law she led a six year, multi-million-dollar campaign to amend the Illinois Constitution for enforceable victims’ rights, which passed overwhelmingly in 2014 and is now Article 1, Section 8.1 of the Illinois Constitution.
Jennifer began grooming full-time for the first time in 2014 when she opened Love Fur Dogs in Glencoe, Illinois. From her years in the dog show world, Jennifer knew the correct coat care for every breed and coat type of dog. The grooming at Love Fur Dogs was modelled on those best practices. A year after she opened Love Fur Dogs, she was named Best Groomer in Chicagoland by the Chicago Tribune.
Jennifer's speaking, writing, and teaching career in the Grooming Industry has built a global audience. In addition to her ICMG Master Groomer certification, she is three times Barkleigh Honors nominated for her writing and speaking. Jennifer holds several other credentials such as the PGC (Professional Grooming Credential) from WPA (World Pet Association).
Jennifer founded the Illinois Professional Pet Groomers Association in 2014. She played a pivotal role in helping groomers to be defined as "essential" in Illinois during the pandemic. The national Hulu Network television program Small Business Revolution on Season Three featured Jennifer as the "Grooming Expert" in the "Shampooches" episode.
Jennifer started speaking at grooming conferences in 2015 to great reviews. Jennifer published her first "Groomers Guide To The 15 Coat Types" Poster in 2022, and released a new larger wall size expanded content edition in 2024, with a planned book of the same title. Jennifer is one of the few Certified Master Groomers in the USA who is also a Master’s Degree educated career teaching professional. Jennifer and her husband Bill Jenkins (College Professor/Author) live in Virginia along with their Australian Shepherds and Miniature Poodles.
GUZAL ADEKOJE
Meet Guzal Adekoje: The Award-Winning Groomer Transforming the Industry
Guzal Adekoje isn't just a groomer – she's a force of nature in the pet styling world. This internationally recognized, multiple award-winning groomer and speaker has spent years honing her craft, earning top certifications from the AKC and National Dog Groomers Association.
Guzal's journey to success wasn't easy. Hailing from Uzbekistan, she arrived in the United States in 2003 with just a suitcase and $200. Through sheer determination, she built a thriving mobile pet grooming business and upscale salon in Northern Virginia. Today, she's a renowned competitor in global grooming contests.
Guzal's expertise spans from Poodles to sporting breeds, hand-stripping to freestyle. As an open-level competitor, she's passionate about sharing her wealth of knowledge with others. Her educational approach emphasizes individualized attention, offering small group classes, private lessons, seminars, and webinars to accommodate all skill levels and learning styles.
But Guzal's impact extends beyond the competition floor. She's the driving force behind LaFursion, a company dedicated to making top-tier grooming tools and education accessible to all. LaFursion's membership model provides exclusive discounts, referral bonuses, and the opportunity to learn at your own pace. It's Guzal's way of giving back to the grooming community that nurtured her success.
Style matters to Guzal. She believes groomers are artists, deserving of products that make them feel as great as they look. That's why she's created a line of uniquely designed, high-quality tools to elevate the grooming experience.
Guzal's background in global affairs and business, combined with her education and grooming degrees, make her a powerful voice in the industry. Her philosophy?
"My passion is grooming, my love is teaching, and my head is in business."
Get ready for a grooming revolution with Guzal Adekoje at the forefront.
LINDA LAW NCMG
- Certified Master Groomer in Virginia
- Owner/Founder of Canine Clippers, Inc.
- National Certified Master Groomer
- Grooming for 40+ years
- Founder of Virginia Groomers Association
- 1993 ‘Enterprise Woman of the Year’
- Coordinator, speaker, and judge at national pet events
Linda Law is a Certified Master Groomer with the National Dog Groomers Association of America and International Professional Groomers, Inc. Her family members have been professionals in the fields of pet care, training, and grooming for four generations.
Ms. Law founded Canine Clippers School of Pet Grooming in 1982 and the Virginia Groomers Association in 1987. In 1993, Virginia Women in Business of Northern Virginia nominated Ms. Law ‘Enterprise Woman of the Year’.
She has shown in national dog grooming competitions and has been invited to judge and speak, not only at the American Kennel Association, but other national grooming competitions as well.
Along with owning a grooming salon in Northern Virginia and hosting grooming
demonstrations, she council’s professional groomers interested in starting their own
practice which includes brick and mortar, at home groom set up and mobile pet
grooming businesses.
She also raises Toy Poodles and Arabian horses on her farm in Central Virginia.
Ashleigh Lopez
With 15 years of grooming experience, Ashleigh has built a career blending skill, creativity, and a deep love for dogs—especially poodles! As the owner of Little Jenna’s Grooming she has owned and operated her own grooming salon for the past eight years, giving her firsthand experience in what works best for both groomers and pet owners. She has worked with countless dogs, helping them look and feel their best while also mentoring groomers to refine their craft. Ashleigh holds a non-sporting certification from the NDGAA, has shown her own poodle in the conformation ring, has won 1st place in a sporting competition and 3rd place in a freestyle event, and is actively working toward her Master Groomer certification. While she loves breed-standard trims, she also enjoys adding Asian Fusion flair to pet grooms and isn’t afraid to get creative with color—her own three standard poodles are often sporting fun, vibrant styles! Beyond grooming, Ashleigh is a mom of three kids, a lover of all things pink and sparkly, and a firm believer that learning should be both fun and practical. In her salon, she shares not only techniques but real-world tips to help her groomers gain confidence, tackle challenging dogs, and bring out the best in every groom. Whether it’s mastering topknots, handling a sensitive pup, or adding a touch of flair to everyday grooms, Ashleigh is passionate about helping fellow groomers build confidence in creating beautiful, functional grooms that pet owners love.