Meet Our Team
The talented faces behind the clippers
Meet Sam!
Sam has been with us since the very beginning of Kismet and is our manager and pet stylist. And when we say manager, we mean Sam is pretty much the backbone of Kismet. We would be LOST without her.
She’s usually the first one to grab the phone when it rings, and if she hears someone come through the door and has a second, she’s already on her way up front. She’s always paying attention to what’s going on around the salon and jumping in wherever she can, all while somehow getting her own dogs groomed too.
And no dog leaves Sam’s table without some cuddles and love. If she has a free minute during the day, chances are you’ll find her loving on one of the dogs in the salon. She truly can’t get enough of them!
Now, some of the fun things you should know about Sam…
- Her grooming superpower is working with blind and deaf dogs. She grooms a lot of them!
- English Bulldogs make her happiest when she sees one on her schedule.
- Her favorite spa services are our facials and Honey Milk Bath.
- If she could groom any dog in the world? Scooby-Doo. Obviously.
- Her dream addition to Kismet is a coffee shop with unlimited coffee for us and unlimited puppuccinos for the dogs… which honestly isn’t a terrible idea.
- If dogs could answer one question honestly, she’d ask what haircut THEY actually want. We’d all love to hear those answers.
- If you ever want to win Sam over, apparently all you need is Goldfish and Starbucks.
Meet Jessica!
Jessica has been part of the Kismet crew for over two years, and there is truly never a dull day when she’s here. She is such a character and keeps us laughing on a daily basis. Even on the crazy days, everything is a little more fun when Jessica is here.
But behind all of that personality is one of the softest hearts when it comes to animals. Jessica gets very attached to the dogs she grooms, and somehow even manages to get attached to everyone else’s dogs too.
She genuinely cares about every pet that walks through our doors, and there really isn’t much she wouldn’t do to help a pet. She would move mountains to make an animal happier, more comfortable or safe.
Now, some of the fun things you should know about Jessica…
- Jessica says she’s not sure it counts as a superpower, but there’s nothing more fulfilling to her than being able to free a dog from months of matted fur and help them feel comfortable again.
- She couldn’t pick just one breed she loves seeing on her schedule. Pugs, Boston Terriers, Shih Tzus, Pekingese and Bulldogs all made the list. We’re sensing a slight preference for squishy faces here.
- How did she decide to become a pet groomer? She realized she’d rather cut dog hair than human hair. Fair enough.
- Jessica also grooms cats! And apparently dogs and cats weren’t enough because she’s also groomed a bunny, a pig AND a guinea pig. At this point, we’re not sure where she draws the line.
- And after spending all day taking care of everyone else’s pets, she goes home to three dogs, three cats and three kiddos of her own!
- If she could groom any dogs in the world, she’d pick Fang and Fluffy from Harry Potter.
- Her grooming table song of choice is “So Fresh, So Clean” by Outkast, which may actually be the most appropriate grooming song ever.
- When she’s not making pups beautiful, she loves reading and exploring the Metroparks.
- And if you ever want to win Jessica over, Pepsi, Sour Patch Kids or peanut butter M&M’s are a pretty safe bet.
Meet Hayley!
Hayley has been part of Kismet for over 2 years and actually came to Kismet with Jessica, who taught her to groom and inspired her to get into grooming in the first place. They were basically a package deal… a little buy one, get one situation.
Hayley might have the pitch black hair, tattoos and piercings, but hiding underneath all of that is seriously the sweetest little soul.
She is incredibly gentle, soft-hearted, and has this calm energy about her that you can’t help but love. She brings that same gentleness and patience to the dogs she grooms, and somehow the whole salon just feels a little calmer when Hayley is here.
Hayley is also our resident lover of all things earthy and magical. Crystals, zodiac signs, stars, spirits, good energy… if Mercury is doing something it shouldn’t be, Hayley probably knows about it.
When we asked what spa treatment she’d invent if she could make up absolutely anything, naturally she chose meditation with moon charged crystals. We should have seen that answer coming.
Now, some of the fun things you should know about Hayley…
- Grooming superpower: According to Jessica, Hayley smells like lavender and the dogs love it. Huskies make her happiest when she sees one on her schedule.
- If she could groom any dog in the world? Zero from The Nightmare Before Christmas, specifically so she could boop his little pumpkin nose.
- If dogs could talk, she thinks Poodles would be the funniest because they’re “intelligent, judgmental and dramatic.” And she can say that because she has one!
- Speaking of which, waiting for her at home is Poe, her Standard Poodle, best buddy and occasional victim of her creative ideas. If Hayley decides Poe needs a purple and green mohawk, Poe gets a purple and green mohawk. If she could ask every dog one question, it would be “What makes you feel the most loved?” And that might be the most Hayley answer possible.
- And if you want to win Hayley over, apparently all you need is a cherry lollipop. After work, she’s perfectly happy with some pizza and a cozy book.
Meet Megan!
Megan has been part of Kismet for over 2 years, but she’s been grooming for over 20 years! She started as a bather, fell into grooming from there, and the rest is history.
If we had to describe Megan in one word, it might be unflappable. She seriously has the patience of a saint. Nervous dog? Wiggly dog? Dog having very strong feelings about their groom today? Megan stays calm, patient, and softly tells them, “It’s okay.” Because of this she’s especially wonderful with anxious pups and those who may not enjoy grooming, because she listens to what they’re telling her and doesn’t get stressed when they’re having a rough day.
Megan never seems to worry about what the day might bring. She just walks in with a smile and is ready for whatever. We could tell her she has 100 Huskies on her schedule and she’d just say, “Okay!” and get to work.
Now, some fun things you should know about Megan…
- Grooming superpower: Anxious dogs. Which, if you’ve ever watched her work with one, makes perfect sense.
- Newfies, Giant Schnauzers, and Cavaliers are the breeds that make her happiest to see on her schedule.
- Her favorite spa service is our Honey Milk Bath because it makes them silky soft
- When she isn’t grooming, Megan loves paddle boarding. In fact, after a day of making pups beautiful, that’s her favorite way to unwind.
- If she could groom any dog in the world, she’d pick Cujo. And considering everything we just told you about Megan, of course she would.
- And if you’re looking to win Megan over, you have options: Coke, Rice Krispie treats, glazed or strawberry donuts, ice cream, or Starbucks. Basically, just show up with snacks and your odds are pretty good.
Meet Sydney!
Sydney has been part of Kismet for about a year and definitely prefers to stay behind the clippers instead of in front of the camera. She’s not exactly our social media butterfly, so for her spotlight, you get the illustrated version instead. Honestly, we’re just happy she agreed to let us do a spotlight at all.
If there were such a thing as a human exclamation point, it would be Sydney. She has the biggest, most contagious laugh and once you get her excited about something, there is absolutely no bringing her back down. That energy follows her into work, too. She is an incredibly hard worker, moves with a purpose, and somehow gets SO much done in a day.
No task is too big or too small for Sydney. She’s incredibly independent and always one of the first to offer when something needs done. A client needs called or messaged? She’s on it. Goodie bags need made in a pinch? She’ll jump in. Some random job around the salon needs handled? Sydney’s probably already offering to do it.
You can always tell when one of Sydney’s request dogs walks through the door because she quite literally jumps for joy. She pours that enthusiasm into the dogs too. She’s constantly talking to them, praising them, and telling them how brave they are. Between all the talking, praise and excitement, her dogs can’t help but wag right along with her.
Now, some fun things you should know about Sydney…
- Grooming superpower: Helping anxious pups feel safe and reminding them that everything is okay.
- Pitties make her happiest to see on her schedule.
- Her favorite spa service is our facials because, in Sydney’s words, “they smell so good!”
- Waiting for her at home are her pups Stevie and Garlic, and her cats Max and Monte.
- If she could groom any dog in the world, she’d pick Lassie.
- She sings her dogs the “she’s so brave” song while she grooms them, which tells you pretty much everything you need to know about Sydney at her table.
- Fastest way to her heart? Donuts! And after work, she’s happiest taking a nap with her pups
Meet Chelsie!
Chelsie has been grooming for almost 6 years, but she’s only been at Kismet for about 8 months and somehow skipped the awkward “new person” phase entirely. She fit right in. She’s laid-back, quick-witted, and has a way of talking to you that makes it feel like you’ve known her forever.
Chelsie’s approach to life seems to be, “Oh, this is what we’re doing? Okay, cool.” And we mean that in the absolute best way. Chelsie does not question the vibe. Chelsie does not fight the vibe. Chelsie simply becomes the vibe. Hyper, excited dog bouncing around like they just drank three espressos? Suddenly Chelsie is hyped too. Sleepy old senior operating on approximately 0.5 mph? No problem. Chelsie has nowhere to be. We live here now. Whatever energy a dog brings to her table, she rolls right along with it.
She brings that same easygoing attitude to the rest of the salon. Tell Chelsie something and you’ll probably get a very calm, “Yep. Okay. Got it.” But she really does get it. She listens, asks questions and makes sure she fully understands what you mean, which is especially important when a pet parent is trying to explain exactly how they want their pup groomed. She genuinely wants to understand what you’re asking for, and if she’s not sure, she’ll keep asking questions until she does.
Now, some fun things you should know about Chelsie…
- Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus, Pitties, and Bernese Mountain Dogs are the breeds that make her do a little happy dance when they pop up on her schedule.
- Weirdest thing she’s ever found in a dog’s coat? Two entire Jolly Ranchers AND the arm of an action figure… all in the same dog. There is a lot to unpack here.
- Her grooming superpower is connecting with pets and making sure their groom isn’t just comfortable, but that they have some fun too.
- If she could ask every dog one question and they HAD to answer honestly? “Am I funny? Be honest.”
- Chelsie says she “could be bribed for anything for a Coke Zero.”
- After work, she loves going home, making dinner, and playing video games with her husband.
Meet Sarah!
Sarah has only been part of Kismet for a few months, but grooming definitely isn’t new to her. She started grooming in high school and has pretty much made a life out of it ever since.
Sarah came to us after spending years in a much faster-paced grooming environment, and you can absolutely see it in the way she works. This woman MOVES. But somehow, the speed does not translate into cutting corners. Her grooms are beautiful, detailed, and meticulous, and watching her hand scissor is seriously impressive. She’s one of those groomers who can make something look effortless. She’s enjoying finally getting a chance to slow down, and enjoy the dogs a little more.
Although “slow down” only applies when there’s a dog on her table. The second Sarah has downtime, she needs to be doing something. If she’s not grooming, she’s sweeping, cleaning, doing laundry, or finding something else to keep herself busy. We haven’t quite figured out if Sarah knows how to sit still yet.
Sarah also has this naturally comforting way about her. “Honey, it’s okay” can be heard just as often with the people as it can with the dogs. There’s just something very warm and reassuring about her that makes pets and people feel cared for and completely at ease.
She may be newer to our grooming software, but she’s already mastered one very important part: the pictures! Sarah’s grooming report photos are adorable!
Now, some fun things you should know about Sarah…
- Bull Terriers make her happiest to see on her schedule, which makes sense because she has a 14-year-old Bull Terrier of her own at home, along with her 7-year-old daughter.
- Her favorite spa service? Our monthly packages! Apparently Sarah appreciates the ridiculous themes as much as we do.
- And according to Sarah, if her dogs could leave her a Google review: “Very tall lady singing loudly. Told me I was a good baby. Then made bird noises to take a picture.”
- Fastest way to her heart? Coffee. And at the end of the day, she’s happiest going home to her “special girl,” Chiquita Bananas.
Meet Nikki!
Nikki is the owner and founder of Kismet K9 Pet Spa. Although you won’t find her behind a grooming table anymore, there’s a pretty good chance she’s doing… something for Kismet. Answering messages, making goodie bags, planning the next ridiculous spa package, ordering things nobody knew we needed, taking pictures, rearranging something, checking in a dog, or coming up with another idea that the rest of the crew will soon be dragged into. There is almost always something happening in her brain.
Nikki started Kismet because she wanted grooming to feel different. She wanted to create a place where dogs weren’t expected to be perfect, groomers were encouraged to listen when a dog was struggling, and doing what was best for the dog mattered more than getting the perfect haircut.
Somehow, that little idea turned into this.
A salon full of incredibly talented women, hundreds of dogs we know by name, clients who have become friends, entirely too many themed photo shoots, and a business Nikki is ridiculously proud of.
These days, you’re much more likely to find her behind a computer than behind a grooming table, but she’s still very much involved in the day-to-day chaos. Probably too involved, if you ask the staff.
She’s always paying attention, always looking for ways to make Kismet better, and usually has another idea before everyone has finished implementing the last one. The staff may occasionally wish her brain had an off switch. But underneath all of the ideas and day-to-day chaos is something pretty simple: she cares a whole lot about Kismet, the people who work here, and making sure the dogs who walk through our doors are treated kindly and cared for as if they were our own.
Now, some fun things you should know about Nikki…
- Dogs have pretty much always been part of her life. She was practically born with a leash in her hand and grew up training and showing dogs.
- At home, she has two very different sidekicks: ZZ, her German Shepherd, and Dexter, her Chihuahua.
- If she isn’t working on something for Kismet, there’s a good chance you’ll find her in the kitchen. She loves to bake—and she’s equally happy being on the receiving end of baked goods.
- The easiest way to win her over? Baked goods and Starbucks. It’s really not complicated.
- Christmas is hands-down her favorite holiday, which probably explains why she needs very little encouragement to turn absolutely anything into a theme.
- When she’s not working on Kismet, she’s usually off having fun with her three girls, who keep life every bit as busy and entertaining as the salon.
- She is incapable of doing anything “just a little.” A simple idea has a tendency to become a whole thing by the time she’s finished with it. If you’ve ever wondered how a normal grooming appointment somehow ended up involving a themed photo shoot, goodie bag, matching bandana, and specialty spa package… now you know.