BARBARA PRUECKEL

Barb Prueckel is a world renowned groomer, salon owner, competitor, speaker and judge. She has owned her salon in Calgary, Alberta for 20+ years. Barbara was Groom Team Canada Travel Team Captain for 8 years. She has traveled the world judging grooming competitions and speaking to all kinds of groomers. Barb has been awarded many Best In Shows, multiple "International Groomer of the Year" titles and in 2015 the prestigious Barkleigh Honors "Judge of the Year" Barb was a Gold Medalist with her Bichon Frise at the World Grooming Championship in Spain. She produces Mastergroom Canada, Canada's largest and most prestigious grooming show, bringing in world class speakers and judges from all over. When Barb is not traveling the world educating groomers she resides in Calgary AB with her husband Mark and their adorable mixed breed pup Dodge.

KITTY DEKEERSGIETER

Kitty hails from Kortrijk, Belgium and is a World Renowned Groomer, Speaker and Judge and we are all so lucky to have the opportunity to learn from her! Kitty is the co-founder of Groomania, one of the largest grooming events in the world! Groomania has hosted the World Grooming Championships in 2017 and 2022. Kitty began showing dogs as a child, and later, as a professional groomer and handler she “made up” many champions. She won multiple Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, Best in Shows and Best All Round Groomer awards in both Europe and America. In 1996-1997 she won the prestigious title of “World Champion Poodle Groomer” and the coveted Cardinal Crystal Achievement Award for “International Groomer Of The Year” at Intergroom in New York, USA. Kitty is the creator, and designer of Tikima Pro Wear for Groomers, K-Design (the world famous dog silhouette stickers), Show Tech professional grooming products and is together with her husband Darren Cooke the owner of Transgroom NV. Kitty is an international grooming contest judge, grooming speaker and demonstrator and has led seminars all around the world to educate groomers and to promote the grooming industry.

LORNA PHILLIPS

Lorna has been grooming dogs and cats for the past 32 years and she has owned her business It’s a Dogs life Pet Spa for 22 years. In 2007 she took her staff to a competition trade show in Las Vegas , at that show she knew she was hooked on the competition and seminars side of the grooming industry! Since then Lorna has hosted competitions and seminars in Saskatoon and travelled the world successfully competing.

In 2017 she competed in Belgium with Groom Team Canada. Helping form a Board of directors in 2015 to assist Canadian Groomers track their progress in competition has been a passion for her. With the help of fantastic sponsors and supporters GTC has been able to send 2 teams to compete all expenses paid. She enjoys helping others grow their skills through speaking and judging.

In 2022 she hosted a learning event called Groomstock in Sask. She is proud of this unique event and will be hosting again in 2023. Lorna lives on an acreage outside of Saskatoon, loves to spend time with her horses and any other creature that comes her way. She has two beautiful daughters that are both groomers as well.

ALLISON ALEXANDER

We're so proud to welcome BC's own Allison Alexander to the judging and speaking panel at WCGF! Her knowledge of grooming and presenting all breeds (especially her heart breed the Poodle) will be invaluable to our competitors and seminar attendees alike!

With more than 550 All-Breed Best in Shows, Allison is proud to have been highly awarded at such prestigious shows as Crufts, the World Dog Show, Westminster Kennel Club, and the AKC Invitational.

In addition to her wins as an all-breed handler, Allison has spent more than 30 years perfecting the art of presenting one of the dog world's most difficult breeds to master: The Poodle. Today, she is internationally recognized as one of the world's most talented and experienced Poodle handlers.

Allison has proven that hard work, dedication, and passion can take you absolutely everywhere in this wonderful sport, which is why she is committed to supporting, promoting, and giving back to the dog community. Currently, she is President of the Canadian Professional Dog Handlers Association, Vice-President of the Canadian Kennel Club Foundation, and a regular contributor to dog magazines in several countries.

In 2017, Allison launched Leading Edge Dog Show Academy, the world's first online dog show training school. Her mission is to help mentor a new generation of dog enthusiasts through innovative video-based grooming and handling lessons. She looks forward to working with enthusiastic students as they perfect their skills on the way to the winner's circle.

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OLGA ZABELINSKAYA

Olga is a Nationally and Internationally Certified Master Groomer. She has groomed competitively throughout the U.S. since 2004 and has multiple "Best in Show" and "Best All-Around Groomer" wins as well as 2 prestigious "Winners Circle Champion" titles. Olga was awarded a Lynn Carwell Memorial Award "Best All Around Stylist 2009".

Olga was born in Russia where she earned a Master's Degree in Engineering, as well as finishing law school. After her family moved to the U.S. Olga found a job in the grooming industry. Within 5 years, starting as a self taught newbie she became a member of Groom Team USA through 2008-2014. Olga was a member of the traveling Groom Team USA in 2011, 2013 and 2015 and helped the team to win 2 Silvers and 1 Gold, leading them to become one of the TOP FIVE World Best groomers.

Olga Zabelinskaya was the proud recipient of one of the Grooming Industries highest achievements; the 2009, 2010 Cardinal Crystal American Groomer of the Year Award and the 2009 Congeniality Award. Both honors are categories of the Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Awards, which recognize excellence in the field of competitive and professional grooming.

Olga owns and operates two grooming salons in New Jersey "Elite pet Spa & Boutique" and "Grooming Gallery" which won Cardinal achievement award in 2010. Her grooming experience includes styling dogs for prestigious Westminster, and Eukanuba dog shows and celebrity customers. Olga participates in charity events and does grooming seminars for professional groomers and pet owners all over the country and Worldwide.

Olga is the founder of zolittashears