The Professional Animal Care Certification Council (PACCC)
The Professional Animal Care Certification Council (PACCC) is a non-profit organization that aims to recognize and certify high-quality professionals in the animal care industry. The PACCC was established by a team of industry experts to help educate pet parents on the importance of investing in a pet care provider’s education and training. By using industry-developed standards, independent certification identifies the best animal care professionals in the industry. This reputable and objective third-party certification benefits both providers and pet parents alike. PACCC offers three levels of certification to recognize the extensive knowledge required at various career levels in the industry: Certified Professional Animal Care Provider (CPACP), Certified Professional Animal Care Manager (CPACM), and Certified Professional Animal Care Operator (CPACO).
Who is PACCC?
The Professional Animal Care Certification Council is an organization founded by Charlotte Biggs and Susan Briggs, veterans of the pet care services industry. It aims to provide independent certification for pet care service providers. The organization is guided by a Board of Directors with extensive experience in the animal care industry and proven business skills. PACCC has hired a professional and experienced testing company to help develop and manage the certification testing program.
PACCC’s Mission
The mission of the Professional Animal Care Certification Council (PACCC) is to bring independent testing and certification to the pet care services industry. Independent certification is an important step for a rapidly growing, easy-to-enter industry frequently damaged by news reports of serious pet accidents and deaths. Professionals that pass stringent testing, which reflects a professional’s broad base knowledge of animal care, will receive a 3-year certification.
Meet the PACCC Board of Directors
Jennifer van Garderen, CPACO
Board Chair
Jennifer is the Chief Operating Officer for Kennelwood Pet Resorts, a 10-location pet care business in the St. Louis area. Jennifer began her career in the pet care industry in 2001. During that time, she has worked in many areas of pet care, including Day Camp, Customer Service, Marketing, and leadership roles.
“I love leading a team of such dedicated pet professionals. We are tasked with keeping pets safe and finding new ways to enrich their lives. I do not take these tasks lightly and value every opportunity to brighten the day of an employee, customer, and pet.” Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications from Lindenwood University, is a Certified Professional Animal Care Operator, and is Pet CPR and First Aid certified through Pet Tech.
Sami Engle, CPACO
Vice Chair
Sami is the Director and co-owner of Pender Pet Retreat and PenderAIR international pet shipping in Northern Virginia. Having started as a kennel assistant at Pender Veterinary Centre in high school, Sami worked in increasingly progressive clinical roles over the next 14 years, eventually moving on to the Pender management team as the Manager of Veterinary Relations and eventually the Human Resources Director. During her years as a Hospital Manager, she achieved Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) board certification in Veterinary Hospital Management (CVPM) after graduating from the Veterinary Management Institute at Purdue University in 2014. In October of 2017, she transitioned from the main hospital in Fairfax to the Pender Chantilly campus as Operations Director. Most recently, Sami completed her MS in Healthcare Administration from the University of Maryland and achieved her PACCC CPACO certification. Coming from the veterinary profession that relies very heavily on credentialing and education, she is very excited to bring more awareness to PACCC certification as a much-needed standardization and continuation of the care provided to our pets outside of the medical field. A small-scale homesteader spends her days outside of work caring for her two horses, one pony, four cats, four goats, twenty chickens (and one duck that thinks she’s a chicken), two parrots, one toddler, and a large veggie garden.
Nichole Bennett, CPACO
CEU Committee Chair
In 2015, Nichole and her family turned their dream of creating a safe, healthy, and fun space for dogs into a reality when they opened Biscuits Doggie Daycare in Tacoma, Washington. Born and raised in Lakewood, Washington, Nichole graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Being well-educated in everything “dog” is very important to Nichole – she attended the Northwest School of Canine Studies and became certified in Canine Studies in May of 2016 and became a Pet Tech Pet First Aid and CPR Instructor the same year. Nichole will never stop pursuing new opportunities for learning and growth and is excited to help carry on the mission of the PACCC.
Kathy Hennessy
Pet Parent
Kathy is a Pet Parent Board member who is a vocal advocate for everything PACCC stands for. She is a pet parent to two giant and high-energy dogs who benefit from a well-structured day camp program and who occasionally require boarding. She has also adopted a donkey who lives at the Irish Donkey Sanctuary and whom she was able to visit while on vacation. It was while seeking the best care for her first dog that Kathy learned about the lack of training requirements or regulations in the pet care industry. She now believes that instead of having regulated standards, a certified provider demonstrates a commitment to standards, safety, care, and accountability that more pet parents would insist on if they were also aware. In her professional life, Kathy has almost 20 years of experience with technical documentation and instructional design which has helped to fuel her passion for educating pet parents on what independent third-party certification means and the level of comfort that it can bring to a pet parent wanting to ensure the best for their family and community. Kathy also provides volunteer support for local rescue groups by helping with dogs in foster care.
Rich Schlatter, CPACP
Board Member
Richard E. Schlatter is a seasoned pet care industry leader with more than 20 years of experience driving operational excellence, team development, and customer experience innovation across multi-location, high-volume facilities. As a Board Member of the Professional Animal Care Certification Council (PACCC), he is dedicated to advancing professional standards, education, and certification within the animal care industry.
Richard currently serves as General Manager at Purr ‘n Pooch, where he continues a career defined by strong financial performance, high employee engagement, and exceptional client satisfaction. Throughout his career, he has led large-scale pet care operations generating millions in annual revenue, consistently achieving industry-leading results in customer satisfaction, employee retention, and revenue performance. His leadership has produced award-winning teams, top-tier customer ratings, and best-in-class operational efficiency across multiple locations.
Known for his ability to build high-performing teams and scalable systems, Richard has successfully launched new facilities, developed comprehensive training programs, and led company-wide initiatives in customer experience and crisis management. His expertise spans operations, marketing, staff development, and emergency preparedness within 24/7 service environments.
A lifelong learner and industry advocate, Richard holds a certification in Hospitality Management from Cornell University, along with numerous professional credentials including Professional Animal Care Provider (PACCC). He has also earned certifications through leading organizations such as IBPSA, Fear Free Pets, and The Dog Gurus. He is an active speaker at national conferences and industry events, sharing insights on leadership, staff retention, and operational excellence.
Through his work with PACCC and the broader pet care community, Richard is committed to elevating the professionalism, safety, and quality of care across the industry.
Zack Luers, CPACM
Board Member
Zack Luers began his career in the pet care industry in 2013 and is the Manager at Scout’s Honor Pet Retreat in Bloomington, IN. Zack earned a bachelor’s degree in Management with a minor in Human Resource Management from Indiana University in 2020 and began as the Manager of Scout’s when it opened its doors in 2021. Zack strives to provide a positive and engaging environment for both his staff and the dogs in their care, as evidenced by their IBBY award at the 2023 IBPSA Flow conference for Best Medium-Sized Facility. Zack is a CPACM and is always continuing his education by completing certifications, research, and networking with other pet care professionals. Zack lives with his partner Chloe, their three dogs (Aspen, Bindi, and Harper), as well as their cat, Todd!
Jennifer Wolf-Pierson, CPACO
Board Member
Jennifer Wolf-Pierson is a pet care professional with over ten years of hands-on experience across boarding, daycare, grooming, training, and multi-unit operations. She currently serves as National Safety Manager for Best Friends Pet Hotels, supporting over 80 locations across 25 states and growing, with a focus on operational safety, risk management, and scalable best practices.
Previously, Jennifer spent nine years as General Manager and minority stakeholder of ABC Pet Resort & Spa, where she led day-to-day operations, team development, and safety initiatives prior to the company’s acquisition by Best Friends Pet Hotels. She also served as a coach for Turnkey, Inc., a Houston-based design-build and consulting firm specializing in veterinary and pet care facilities, advising on operations, safety, and facility functionality.
Jennifer holds multiple professional certifications, including CPACO, CPDT-KA, and PetTech Pet CPR & First Aid Instructor, and regularly contributes to industry education through speaking, writing, and mentorship. She is passionate about advancing professional standards in pet care and supporting PACCC’s mission to elevate safety, accountability, and operational excellence across the industry.
Savannah Dillard, CPACM
Board Member
Savannah is the co-owner of The Barkmore in Bowling Green, KY, a pet daycare and boarding facility that has been serving pets and their families for the past four years. She began working in the pet care field in 2015 and spent seven years in a veterinary hospital gaining extensive experience in animal health, behavior, and client care before opening her own facility.
“In a state like Kentucky, where the pet care industry has very limited regulation or standardized oversight, professional certification and education are incredibly important. I’m honored to be part of a community that is committed to raising the standard of care, safety, and professionalism in our field, and I’m excited to help support the continued growth of our industry.”
Savannah holds a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Western Kentucky University and is a Certified Professional Animal Care Manager (CPACM) through PACCC. She is one of only five CPACM-certified professionals in the state, three (Including herself) are part of her team at The Barkmore. She is also a Pet Tech First Aid & CPR Instructor and Fear Free Certified.