Meet Your Hosts

Susan Briggs, MA, CPACO

Co-Founder/Co-CEO The Dog Gurus

Susan Briggs is a Certified Professional Animal Care Operator, author, speaker, and pet care business expert. As co-founder of The Dog Gurus she brings over 18 years of experience in the pet industry with 12 years as co-owner and operator of a successful dog daycare, lodging, grooming and training business in Houston, Texas. In addition to being a co-author with Robin in publishing Off-Leash Dog Play and Knowing Dogs, Susan used her educational background in accounting and published Counting Noses: Accounting and Financial Management Guidelines for the Pet Services Industry. Susan enjoys making it easy for owners to understand the numbers side of their business so they can focus on care quality. In 2015 Susan co-founded the Professional Animal Care Certification Council whose mission is to provide independent testing and certification for pet care professionals. The program embraces Susan’s passion for providing quality care for animals.

Kari Campbell, CPACO

Business Growth and Lead Coaching Gurus

The Dog Gurus

Kari Campbell, a Certified Professional Animal Care Operator, founded Dog Tired K9 Activity Center in Anchorage, Alaska. She has over twenty years of experience in the pet care industry with direct pet care, animal rescue and advocacy. Her passion is to provide the highest level of care quality for clients through education, compassion, and communication. She is a founding member of The Normandy Project, a pet food bank, and has volunteered with Friends of Pets as past president and board member, and the Anchorage Animal Control Advisory Board. She currently serves on the Professional Animal Care Certification Council Board of Directors. Kari was born in Santiago, Chile. Her unique upbringing is matched by her unique professional experience as an accomplished opera singer, with an educational background in vocal performance. Having toured through Japan, Europe, and the United States, she has performed with several opera companies and orchestras. Although her education and singing experiences have been very rewarding, her lifelong dream has been to work with animals.

Courtney Emken

Profit Network Coaching Guru

The Dog Gurus

Courtney Emken and her husband Bart opened DogBoy’s Dog Ranch in 1995. Pioneers in the pet industry, DogBoy’s was the first dog daycare to offer group play in Texas, the first pet care facility to commit to science-based positive reinforcement training, and the first to require dogs to be spayed or neutered for lodging or daycare. The child of entrepreneurs and artists, Courtney used her business degree, creativity and drive to carry DogBoy’s from a tiny mom & pop biz to an internationally known and award-winning pet care facility, grossing over $1.5M a year. Courtney’s passion for small business and growing entrepreneurs was carried down to her employees, who were taught open book management so they understood how businesses work, and many have gone on to chart their own paths in the dog world. After 26 years, Courtney & Bart sold their property and retired early. Courtney loves knitting, traveling, spoiling her dog, and sharing her business acumen serving on nonprofit boards and committees.