Title: Owner, Master-Certified Groomer

Company: B-Pro Grooming

Location: Brampton, Ont.

Barbara Hodgkinson is a master-certified groomer and gold medalist with more than 50 years of experience in the field. Her company, B-Pro Grooming, was established in 1975, and is an environmentally focused business with its own special line of shampoos and grooming products. Ms. Hodgkinson established the B-Pro Dog Grooming Academy in 1995. Known for its professional training program, the school is approved by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities under the 2005 Private Career Colleges Act and tuition is tax-deductible. Ms. Hodgkinson’s business has expanded to four locations throughout Ontario. She formerly spent 10 years teaching at Sheradon College.

B-Pro Grooming is a Family-run store and pet grooming academy that provides full-service grooming services, including free de-fleaing, de-skunking, special considerations for age and health, treatment of nails, ears and anal glands, water massage, hot oil treatments, medical and hypo-allergenic treatments, and parasite and skin disorder shampoos. She also offers special line of shampoos and grooming products made specifically for the company with top-quality natural oils and organic ingredients. Ms. Hodgkinson decided to become a professional groomer because she wasn’t happy with the services offered by most groomers. She was formerly the Canadian educator for Sunbeam Products Inc. and an equipment advisor for Pet Supply House.

Ms. Hodgkinson attributes her success to passion, dedication, and love of her clients. She keeps abreast of changes in her profession through her memberships with the Brampton Board of Trade, Brampton Business Centre, National Dog Groomers Association of America, and International Professional Groomers Inc. In the coming years, Ms. Hodgkinson intends to continue offering her excellent services and publish a book.