In the 90’s Shannon Heggem burst onto the pet care scene and quickly became THE go-to expert in luxury pet care. She launched one of the very first-ever pet suite facilities in 1992, an unheard-of concept back then. Shannon is known to be a trailblazer, trendsetter, and pet industry pioneer. She has achieved every international certification possible; she is one of only three people in the world who currently hold dual certifications in both grooming and kenneling.
EDUCATOR: Shannon began educating in 1999 when she opened the Montana School of Professional Dog Grooming. She soon realized the need for training in the boarding kennel industry also, and thereby transformed the school into the Fast Track Institute of Pet Careers.Through FTI, Shannon expanded her training programs to include the boarding kennel industry and pet sitting, in addition to the grooming programs. Since then, she has trained thousands of successful pet professionals through her programs.
LUXURY: Shannon has designed high-end pet care facilities on four continents, earning the distinction as the global authority for true luxury in pet care. Her design work has been featured in magazines and on reality television.
“The biggest milestone in my career thus far was getting the phone call from FOX Network to learn that Gordon Ramsay personally requested my design services for an episode of Hotel Hell. The Vermont property that was being featured on his show had a boarding kennel onsite which was in drastic need of attention. The owner of the inn had no idea that a kennel makeover was part of the reveal; I appeared to be just a normal guest…until the end! To play such an integral role in helping the business owner take his boarding facility to the next level was an amazing life experience and career milestone indeed!”
-Shannon Heggem
Watch the Four Seasons Episode of HOTEL HELL by clicking here!
Shannon’s life-long dedication to the pet care industry:
CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Kennel Operator, American Boarding Kennels Association
National Certified Master Groomer, National Dog Groomers Association of America
Certified Master Groomer, International Professional Groomers, Inc.
Certified Pet Care Technician, American Boarding Kennels Association
Advanced Certified Pet Care Technician, American Boarding Kennels Association
Certified Pet CPR, American Red Cross
ACCOLADES & ACHIEVEMENTS
Owner/Operator Doggy Day Care & Pet Resort (1992-2013)
Founder/Educator Montana School of Professional Dog Grooming (1999-2013)
Founder/Educator Fast Track Institute of Pet Careers (2004-2016)
Pet Luxury Consultation since (1994-current)
Internationally-acclaimed Keynote Speaker since 1999
Member of the prestigious National Speakers Association since 2003
Former certifier for International Professional Groomers, Inc.
Former member Board of Directors International Association of Canine Professionals (Cesar Millan was also a board member)
Freelance writer for industry publications including Pets +, Pet Services Journal, Grooming Business Magazine, Pet Business Magazine, and many other print and online sources.