Debbie Cray
Director
With over 30 years of experience in the animal industry, Debbie brings a deep and well-rounded background to dog grooming education. Her career includes 15 years working in veterinary hospitals, 5 years in the corporate grooming industry, and 15 years as the owner of three highly successful grooming salons, where she trained and employed many groomers.
Throughout her journey—and driven by her passion for dog grooming—Debbie recognized a growing shortage of truly skilled grooming professionals in an industry that continues to expand.
As a business owner, she understands exactly what employers look for when hiring new groomers. She also saw a major gap in traditional grooming education, with some schools teaching large groups or rushing students through programs as short as four weeks—often leaving graduates unprepared and lacking confidence.
Using her decades of experience, Debbie developed a practical, real-world training program designed to fully prepare students for a successful grooming career in just 12 weeks.
Alyssa
Head Instructor Hamilton
Alyssa began her grooming career in 2009 and has spent over a decade perfecting her craft in both pet and show trims. With a focus on quality over quantity, she has built a reputation for providing not only beautiful grooms but also compassionate, individualized care for each dog she works with.
In addition to her hands-on grooming expertise, Alyssa has a strong passion for education. She first stepped into teaching three years ago, leading three full grooming classes prior to taking time off to raise her children. Now, as Head Instructor at Pets in Paradise’s New Jersey Dog Grooming School, she is excited to return to the classroom full-time.
For Alyssa, teaching is about more than techniques—it’s about inspiring confidence, professionalism, and creativity in her students. She finds joy in watching them grow from beginners into skilled, successful groomers ready to make an impact in the industry.
Her goal is to guide each student not just in mastering the technical aspects of grooming, but also in understanding the deeper connection between groomer and pet. This foundation naturally builds trust with clients, creating lasting relationships rooted in care, communication, and professionalism. Alyssa is honored to share her knowledge, experiences, and passion with the next generation of groomers!
Carrie
Head Instructor Marlton
Hi I’m Carrie, owner and instructor of PIP’s Marlton salon location. I graduated grooming school in 2018, and began my professional journey with Pets in Paradise in 2019, aiming to produce high-quality grooms with safety and care always at the forefront. Since then, I continue to take various education classes, earning certifications such as A.K.C. safe, CPR and First Aid, geriatric pet grooming and several others.
In 2023, I became an instructor for the New Jersey Dog Grooming School, sharing knowledge, skill, and confidence with the next generation of groomers. I then took over the Marlton location in 2024, an exciting new chapter to continue to grow and show PIP’s standards to more of our community.
I am dedicated to providing exceptional, safe grooming experiences for every dog, and especially excited to teach these values to our students in the Marlton salon. I am thrilled to collaborate with Debbie and Alyssa to bring this venture to life and look forward to continuing to elevate standards, inspire others, provide our clients with the best experience, and create something truly special together.
