Pet Industry Women Make Their Way to Red Carpet

July 15, 2014 - PRLog -- PORTLAND, Ore. (July 14, 2014) – Some 25 women making careers in the pet industry are also making their way toward the red carpet for the only award ceremony ever to recognize their vital role  -- no matter what pet audience they serve. Women in the Pet Industry Network (http://www.womeninthepetindustry.com/) (WIPIN), the pet industry’s leading organization focused on women who want to grow their pet businesses, today announced the finalists in its annual Pet Industry Woman of the Year Award contest.

Award categories include Solopreneur, Entrepreneur, Corporation, Advocate and Rising Star. Five finalists were named in each category, and one overall Pet Industry Woman of the Year will be chosen from the 25 finalists on Aug. 15 at the Women in the Pet Industry Conference and Awards Show in Portland.

A panel of four independent judges reviewed and scored nominations for more than 50 applicants in the five categories. The judges included a corporate CEO, an IT professional with a major broadcasting company, a former owner of two vocational schools and the founder/owner of two 30-year-old businesses.

The finalists are:

ADVOCATE FINALISTS
Debra Jo Chiapuzio, president, The Emma Zen Foundation, Anaheim, California
Amy Cox, president, The Paws Cause, The Shot Spot and The Pet Vet, McKinney, Texas
Virginia Hamilton, founder, Canine Commandos of Brevard County Schools, Melbourne, Florida
Patricia Jones, president, Paws PR, Woodside, New York
Teresa Rhyne, author and speaker, Riverside, California

CORPORATE FINALISTS
Gina Dial, vice president of sales and marketing, John Paul Pet, Lampasas, Texas
Gayle Martz, president & owner, GM, Inc., San Clemente, California
Amy Nichols, Founder and CEO, Dogtopia, North Bethesda, Maryland
Stacy Pursell, founder and president, The Pursell Group and The Vet Recruiter, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Lorien Clemens, director of marketing, PetHub, Issaquah, Washington

ENTREPRENEUR FINALISTS
Stephanie Boone, Founder & CEO, Wondercide, Austin, Texas
Colleen Demling,owner and dog trainer, Pawtopia, La Jolla, California
Shannon Heggem, president, Shannon Heggem International, Havre, Montana
Dorla Salling, president, K9 Medicinals, Inc., Reno, Nevada
Sylvia Wilson,founder and COO, Bark Busters North America, Inc., Escondido, California

RISING STAR FINALISTS
Yvonne DiVita, co-founder and CEO, BlogPaws, Thornton, Colorado
Dorothy Hunter, CEO and founder, Paw's Natural Pet Emporium and Bizaccountability, Richland,Washington
Janine Kahn, Editor-in-Chief, Dogster.com and Catster.com, San Francisco, California
Amber Kirsten-Smit, president andco-founder, Furlocity, Inc., San Diego, California
Amy Swartz, owner, Epic Pet Health, Seattle, Washington

SOLOPRENEUR FINALISTS
Robin Bennett, owner, RobinKBennett.com, Stafford, Virginia
Jenn Fadal, media expert andpet store owner, The Pack Mom and Wag, Tampa, Florida
Denise Fleck, iInstructor and author, Sunny-dog Ink, Burbank, California
Lisa Hegland, CEO, Manly Pet, Camano Island, Washington
Lorie Huston, veterinarian and certified veterinary journalist, Cat Writer's Association, Warwick, Rohde Island

The winner in each category and the Woman of the Year will be announced Aug. 15 during an evening ceremony held in conjunction with the conference.

“The Pet Industry Women of the Year Awards were designed to recognize the amazing females who dedicate their time and talents to improving the lives of all pets – dogs, cats, birds, fish, horses and exotics – and their parents/guardians,” said Shawna Schuh, president of WIPIN. “The Awards are a celebration of women who are devoting their lives to the pet industry and shine as beacons of women helping women and pets with passion. Every finalist does the industry proud. It is exciting to honor women of such high caliber with a genuine calling to make the pet industry stronger.”

The Pet Industry Woman of the Year will receive a valuable award package worth thousands of dollars in training and exposure that will include the following:

A full year of media and executive coaching with WIPIN President Shawna Schuh, a certified speaking professional and executive coach;
A featured article in Pet Age magazine and exposure in multiple other pet industry media outlets;
A feature on the cover of the WIPIN’s winter issue of Top Women in the Pet Industry Magazine;
Featured as a guest expert during a WIPIN monthly growth call for members;
Appearances and recognition at pet industry events;
The opportunity to meet and greet at the WIPIN reception during Total Pet Expo in Chicago;
An invitation to walk the runway at the NY Pet Fashion Show just before the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in NYC in February 2015;
Featured as the opening speaker at the 2015 Women in the Pet Industry Conference and Awards Show.

About Women in the Pet Industry Network (WIPIN)

Acquired in 2012 by Shawna Schuh, the current President and Chief Pet Wrangler, WIPIN is headquartered near Portland, Ore., and serves a worldwide membership base of women in all sectors of the pet industry. WIPIN helpsentrepreneurial women grow their pet-focused businesses through unique networking opportunities, valuable business growth options and online resources.

The All About Growth Conference & Awards Show (http://womeninthepetindustry.com/conference/) in August will bring women together to connect, network, and learn how to grow their pet-focused businesses. WIPIN is affiliated with Pet Age Magazine, Black Dog Education, and PetPR.com. With 430 members, and growing daily, WIPIN is the premier networking organization for women in the pet industry, offering members opportunities to connect, share and learn from likeminded professionals. Members share three core philosophies: Give first, grow continuously and connect for reasons that matter. Learn more about the benefits of becoming a member at www.womeninthepetindustry.com/join/. For details, visit www.womeninthepetindustry.com, or contact Schuh at 503-970-5774; shawna@womeninthepetindustry.com; or on her blog at http://blog.womeninthepetindustry.com/pet-biz-blog-things-to-help-your-business-grow/


PHOTOS OF THE FINALISTS ARE AVAILABLE HERE http://womeninthepetindustry.com/2013-wipin-award-finalists-3/