Meet the Judges
Jessica Cooke | Yuppy Puppy
Cooke took home top honors in our 2021 America’s Coolest contest. Her multi-service business in O’Fallon, MO, continues to excel at grooming, day care, boarding and training, and on-site rescue Yuppy Puppies Forever has helped find new homes for even more dogs whose owners have passed.
Lyn M. Falk | Retailworks, Inc.
Falk is owner and president of the award-winning design, branding and display firm that helps businesses big and small in a variety of industries. She is an international speaker, registered interior designer and consumer behavior specialist.
Anne Ferrante | American Pet Products Association
As senior vice president of Member Relations & Business Development of APPA, Ferrante has been instrumental in growing membership from 300 in 1998 to more than 1,000 companies. She also has helped establish the organization’s National Pet Owners Survey as a global resource for all segments of the pet industry.
Jane Harrell | ’cause Digital Marketing
Harrell is president of ’cause Digital Marketing and co-owner of Working With Dog. Together with her team of 24 top marketing professionals, she provides simple, focused and effective solutions to pet business pros seeking to make a great impact and have a great life.
Bo Nelson | WholesalePet.com
As president and founder of the leading online wholesale ordering hub for pet products, Nelson is dedicated to helping small-business owners become more successful. With a penchant for small businesses and a passion for customer service, he loves to talk with anyone in the pet industry.
PAMELA MITCHELL | PETS+
As editor-in-chief of PETS+, Mitchell spends her days deeply entrenched in the world of small pet businesses. She tells their stories with the help of writers and contributors, the latter being retailers and service providers in the PETS+ Brain Squad, making this magazine the only peer-sourced publication in the industry.
chris burslem | SMARTWORK MEDIA
Burslem is group managing editor at PETS+ parent company SMARTWORK MEDIA, whose unique focus on helping independent business owners has given them a useful resource, a voice, and a forum to show off just how darn cool they are.