August 2023
PACCC SNACKS NEWSLETTER
AUGUST 2023
Tasty little updates on what’s happening with the PACCC!
CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Meet Bill Hillis, CPACO!
Bill is the Co-Founder and CEO of Social Pet Hotel and Daycare, an enrichment-based pet care business with 3 locations in Charlotte, NC. Social Pet provides dog daycare, lodging, grooming, and training.
PACCC: How did you find out about PACCC?
I was first introduced to PACCC through connections at IBPSA. Several members of IBPSA were and still are involved.
PACCC: What was your motivation for becoming PACCC certified?
At the time we started looking into PACCC certification, the state of North Carolina had zero certified professionals. There was also an increase in publicized pet boarding and daycare accidents that in some cases included negligence. Cases of respiratory infections in canines were becoming more common. Overall, the general public was becoming concerned about the lack of regulation in our industry. We felt that certification would help differentiate us from others.
PACCC: Has being certified made a change to your business?
Certification set us apart from day one. My wife and business partner, Amy Hillis, and I earned our certifications within a year of each other becoming two of only 4 certified professional operators in the state of North Carolina. We immediately worked on a marketing campaign that would highlight this along with the unique ways we operate that promote the health and safety of each dog in our care. It is now a requirement for our Managers and Director of Operations to become PACCC-Certified within 18 months of being in that role. A lot of people claim to be professionals and experts in the field of pet care. We say PROVE IT by sitting for the exam and then staying current through Continued Education Credits (CEUs). Actions speak louder than words.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Congratulations to Our Newly Certified Professionals!
The following are those who joined the PACCC in the June 2023 exam cycle:
Professional Animal Care Operator Exam
Cathy Brooks, Sarah Hornbuckle
Professional Animal Care Manager Exam
Vesna Ader, Alana Arcia, Myranda Bowe
Professional Animal Care Provider Exam
Jordan Aaron, Mayrin Aguilar, Kimberly Burrows, Joseph Casabona, Lanndis De Lallo, Nicole Dides, Emily Evans, Daphne Filiberti, Reba Frank, Julianne Grove, Ysabel Lavitz, Katharine Lee-Kramer, Marantha Malloy, Brianna Neri, Rachael Osborn, Melanie Roldan, Savannah Simon, Tara Soucy, Brenna Spaulding, Van Visciglia
Thank you for your commitment to the safety and well-being of pets in your care.
We are happy to have you as #partofthepaccc!
EXAM UPDATE
2023 Exam Dates
The remaining exam date for this year are as follows:
November 4-18, 2023 (Registration Deadline is October 11)
2024 Exam Dates
The exam dates for 2024 have been announced! They are as follows:
March 2-16 (registration deadline is February 7)
June 8-22 (registration deadline is May 8)
November 9-23 (registration deadline is October 9)
Check out paccert.org/exam-info for detailed exam information.
Practice Exams
If you are planning on testing this year, the practice exams are a fantastic way to prepare. Each exam gives you the opportunity to:
- Review the type of content included on the actual exam
- Learn more about question format, style, and level of difficulty
- Assess any areas of weakness
For more information on practice exams visit paccert.org/practice-exams.
EVENTS
Pet Boarding and Daycare Expo
We look forward to attending this year’s pet boarding and daycare expo east conference in Hershey, PA, from November 6th to 9th. If you are attending, be sure to come to our booth and say hello!
CVMA
In July, Stephanie Shipley and Amy Hillis represented PACCC at the Canadian Veterinary Medicine Association (CVMA) conference. Their booth received a lot of attention as they raised awareness about the need for certification in the pet care services industry. Veterinarians need to obtain their education, pass an exam, and certify in order to practice medicine, so why should it be any different for those in the non-medical field? The show was a huge success and PACCC plans to attend more Veterinary shows to spread the word in the veterinary community that certification should be part of their ability to recommend a pet care provider to clients.
PACCC Orientation
On Wednesday August 16th, PACCC hosted an orientation session for new certified professionals. Visit the private Facebook Group for the recording of the session.
Best Practices Sessions – earn 1 CEU!
Join us on Thursday August 24th at 2pm EST for a best practices session for certified professionals to discuss how to leverage the certification in marketing activities and during events. You’ll also learn about different materials that are available to certified professionals to print and share. The registration link can be found on the private Facebook Group.
WEBINARS
Gingr Webinar Recording
In July, PACCC Diamond sponsor, Gingr, co-hosted a webinar with us on Data-Driven Decision Making for Pet Care Professionals. In case you missed it, you can access the recording here. Thank you to Alyson Fisher for her wonderful presentation! We learned a lot and look forward to having more educational webinars soon.
Pet Parent Webinar
Stay tuned for a Pet Parent webinar in September that we will be announcing on our Facebook page!
PET PARENT SPOTLIGHT
May and Brooks are guardians of 4 rescue dogs, Cooper (approximately 10 year-old blind English Setter), Rufus (4 year-old deaf Border Collie), Pepper (5 year-old English Springer Spaniel), and Oona (2 year-old Black and Tan Coonhound). They live in Winnipeg (Winterpeg), MB, Canada. The dogs enjoy dog sports ranging from agility and nosework to Treibball. Nature walks and any relationship-building activity are May’s favorite way to spend time with them.
We asked May and Brooks why third party certification in the pet care industry is important as a pet parent? Here is what they had to say:
“Third party certification allows us to place further trust in pet care professionals who take care of our family members. In our case, our local Certified Professional Animal Care Provider not only demonstrates a profound wealth of knowledge, but also the professional skills needed to form plans and prioritize the needs of our dogs and us with flexibility and creativity as information changes. Knowing that she is third party certified allows us to trust her process and intentions in combination with her high ethical standards, compassion, and years of experience.”
CURRENT CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS
If you are currently certified with PACCC, ensure you have joined our private Facebook group and that your information is up-to-date in our Certified Directory. To modify your personal information, click here.
Recertification Reminder
Several Certificates expire this December and November 30 is the deadline to submit your recertification application. Visit paccert.org/recertification to get started on the recertification process!
Reimbursement for Marketing Materials
PACCC is currently offering a reimbursement program (up to $250 USD) to certified professionals who are interested in printing our marketing materials, such as the PACCC banner, for use at tradeshows or at their place of business. These resources can be found on the private Facebook group or on the PACCC Portal.
CEU UPDATES
Log CEUs on the go with the PACCC App!
The PACCC Portal makes it easier for certified professionals to track their CEUs. The platform saves the information you input so you don’t need to try and remember past CEU programs when you go to recertify. You can access the PACCC Portal on the Mobile app, which is a great way to add your CEUs on the go! Learn more at paccert.org/paccc-mobile-app.
Goodness Wins
Mastering Your Customer Journey, a Goodness Wins course, has been PACCC-approved for 2.25 CEU hours! This course was created by Paramount Success Group for pet care professionals. Mastering Your Customer Journey includes best practices, tools, strategies, and scripts for speaking and texting with pet parents. Learn more by visiting the Paramount Success Group website.
MEDIA MENTIONS
JM Pet Resort
PACCC Certified Professional, Jeni Mather, was recently mentioned in an article in Pets+ Mag for her amazing accomplishments with JM Pet Resort, the facility that she founded. Congratulations Jeni for an incredible article about your well-deserved success!
Social Pet Hotel and Daycare at Northlake Now Open!
Social Pet Hotel & Daycare, owned by PACCC Chair, Amy Hillis, and her husband, Bill Hillis, was mentioned recently by Explore Charlotte as they are opening their third facility location in the north Charlotte area. They were also featured on a TV segment for WBTV Charlotte! Congratulations Amy, Bill, and those who work at Social Pet Hotel & Daycare!
A Word from our Sponsors
Health Technology
Health Technology Professional Products Inc. is the leader in animal care cleaning solutions. Our goal is to help you lower your cleaning costs by teaching your staff how to properly clean with the best tools available for Pet Boarding & Daycare. Our animal care cleaning consultants will help you choose the right product and equipment to get the cleaning results you’re looking for. Health Technology Cleaning Consultants understand the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy facility, and we can provide a one stop shop for all your animal care cleaning solutions.
Gingr
Unleash a tail-wagging transformation for your pet-care business with Gingr! Say woof to simpler scheduling and paw-some record-keeping. Gingr makes scheduling appointments, communicating with clients, and managing pet info a breeze! And guess what? When you join, you’ll fetch the first two months absolutely free! Elevate your pet-care business today and have more playtime with your furry friends.
