20% Off Full Spaw Services with Junior Groomer/ Apprentice
Groom'd Mock #3
February 5-7, 2027
February 5, 2027
Orland's Biography:
Animals have always held a special place in my heart. However, my career began in the U.S. Navy as a Catapult Mechanic, where I first learned the importance of emergency response through aviation firefighting and CPR training. After my service, I became a Certified Safety Specialist, OSHA General Industry Instructor, and Certified Associate Safety Professional (ASP) teaching life-saving skills to professionals at Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE), Jacksonville, FL. Today, I serve as the Logistics Division Director at FRCSE (totally different Job) and continue to maintain my certifications in Human CPR, First Aid, and AED. I also hold a Master’s in Aeronautical Science, from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
Beyond my professional roles, I am the proud owner of JeePee’s Spaw in Orange Park, FL—a pet grooming shop with a dedicated team of 12 along my wife Nimsay Rivera Gonzalez, CPG. My experiences have shown me that preparedness and compassion go hand-in-hand when caring for both people and pets.
My path to becoming a Pet Tech Instructor began with a pivotal moment: owning a grooming shop and realizing how crucial it was for my staff to be ready for emergencies. After attending a brief seminar (2HR CPR/First Aid, no hands on) at a grooming convention, I saw the need for more hands-on, practical training. How are we ensuring pets are safe in the Grooming Industry? What are the minimum standards for a professional shop? If we do not know, who else does not know? I could not let this continue and I needed to be part of the solution.
As such, I hope to meet you soon!
FEBRUARY 6, 2027: Creative Grooming Workshop
By Milena Kon - owner of DMK Boutique
Milena's Biography:
Milena Kon is an internationally recognized creative groomer, educator, entrepreneur, and owner of DMK Bowtique. Originally working in sales, she made the bold decision to leave her corporate career and pursue her passion for dogs and grooming full time. What began as a leap of faith quickly evolved into a successful grooming business and a respected career in the competitive grooming world.
With a background in graphic design and a lifelong love of animals, Milena combined artistic creativity with professional grooming to develop a unique style that has earned recognition throughout the industry. Her creative grooming work has been featured in national media and entertainment productions, including projects associated with Netflix and major motion pictures.
Known for her vibrant color work, imaginative designs, and innovative techniques, Milena has become a respected competitor, educator, and mentor. Her accomplishments include earning the prestigious Creative Groomer of the Year title, and her work continues to inspire groomers around the world to explore artistic expression while maintaining safe, professional grooming practices.
Today, Milena shares her knowledge through seminars, demonstrations, and educational events, helping groomers develop creative techniques that can be applied in both competition and salon environments. As owner of DMK Bowtique, she also designs and develops products used by grooming professionals across the industry.
FEBRUARY 7, 2027: Mentor Class
Judge & Mentor: Grazia Adriani Groom Team USA
Grace's Biography:
Grace is an Open Level/Champion groomer who has participated internationally during her career earning numerous accolades, including Best Groomed Dog, Best All Around Groomer, and multiple Best in Show wins. She was honored as the 2020 Barkleigh Honors Up and Coming Groomer and Competitor of the Year after being nominated in both 2019 and 2020. In 2021, she won the Groom Bowl Amateur Championship at Atlanta Pet Fair and was awarded the Peggy Harris Kindness Award at Fun In The Sun.
Since 2022, Grace has held the distinction of being ranked #1 in the country for handstripping and has been ranked on Groom Team USA’s Top 10. She was part of the U.S. Travel Team that competed at the World Team Grooming Championship in Belgium in 2024 and again in 2026 where the team won the Silver medal.
Grace is also a member of the Artero Professional Styling Team and has established herself as a sought-after national and international teacher, speaker, and judge, sharing her expertise at industry events around the world. Continuing her education, Grace has decided to focus on becoming a grooming competition judge.
She currently owns and operates the highly regarded Miami Beach Pet Spa where she grooms, teaches, and mentors aspiring groomers. On her time off, Grace enjoys spending time with her Standard Poodle Penelope, Kerry Blue Terrier Kona, and Lakeland Terrier Velociraptor.
Creative Grooming WorksHop
Event Description
Take your grooming creativity to the next level with award-winning creative groomer Milena Kon. This hands-on seminar is designed for groomers looking to expand their artistic skills while learning techniques that can be applied in both competition and everyday salon settings.
Discover how creative grooming can elevate client experiences, showcase your talent, and help you stand out in a competitive industry. Topics will include color placement, design planning, creative styling, safe product application, finishing techniques, and presentation strategies used by top competitors.
Whether your goal is to step into the competition ring or bring fun, eye-catching services into your salon, you'll leave with practical knowledge, inspiration, and techniques you can immediately put to work.
What You'll Learn
✨ Creative design concepts and planning
✨ Safe color application techniques
✨ Competition preparation and presentation
✨ Artistic grooming and finishing techniques
✨ How to incorporate creative services into salon offerings
✨ Building client excitement through customized designs
Limited to 12 Participants
Perfect for groomers interested in competition grooming, creative expression, social media marketing, or adding unique services that set their salon apart.
Mentor Class
Event Description
Take your grooming skills to the next level with personalized feedback from Groom Team USA member and award-winning competitor Grazia Adriani. This unique mentor workshop is designed for groomers who want to improve their technical skills, gain confidence, receive constructive critiques, and learn techniques that can be applied in both competition and everyday salon grooming.
Participants will benefit from hands-on feedback, professional evaluations, and educational demonstrations focused on improving execution, efficiency, finish work, breed expression, and presentation.
🐩 Morning Session
Poodles & All Other Scissoring Breeds
Maximum 10 Participants
5:00 AM - 8:00 AM Salon open for preparing dogs
8:00 AM Check-in (Dogs on Table)
9:00 AM Competition Begins
10:00 AM Sally Break
10:15 AM Continue Grooming
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM Final Critiques with Grazia
🎓 Learn with Grazia
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
An educational session covering:
Competition grooming strategies
Judge expectations
Ring preparation
Grooming efficiency
Artero tool demonstrations and techniques
🍽️ Lunch
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
🦮 Afternoon Session
Sporting, Stripped & Scissored, and Wire-Coated Breeds
Maximum 10 Participants
2:00 PM Check-in
3:00 PM Competition Begins
4:00 PM Sally Break
4:15 PM Continue Grooming
5:15 PM - 6:00 PM Final Critiques with Grazia
Whether you're preparing for your first competition, working toward certification, or looking to elevate the quality and consistency of your salon grooms, this workshop provides valuable feedback and mentorship from one of the industry's most respected competitors and educators.
Mentor day Prep Instructions
Pets should arrived Bathed and Prepared for Competition
All pets should arrive bathed and prepared as is for an actual competition.
From: Barkleigh Procedures and Protocols
- Contestants who have not checked in 15 minutes before contest start time will not be permitted to compete.
- Dogs should be clean, dry, and free of mats and tangles. Nails should be clipped and/or filed, ears clean. Sanitary and pads may be clipped prior to competition. All other grooming must take place during contest time frame with exceptions as noted in Poodle, Pre-Groomed Creative and Runway.
- Must be of an age appropriate for competition environment. Suggested age is between 1 year and 10 years.
- Must appear healthy, in good condition and free of infectious disease and parasites.
- Must not show obvious signs of pregnancy or nursing.
- Must not show signs of viciousness or aggression.
- Must NEVER be left unattended.
- Must be properly cared for with food, water and exercise while on the show premises.
- Must be leashed when not crated or not being groomed.
- Must follow applicable vaccination regulations for the county they reside.
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