About Us
Meet Our Team
Brandy N. Penna
As long as memory serves, dogs particularly and in general, all four-legged animals have been an integral part of Brandy’s life. Barely more than a toddler, Brandy showed her first dog at the age of four. It came naturally to her as she spent countless hours with her Grandmother and Aunt, who bred and raised show dogs. Driven and enthused, Brandy was a top Junior Handler 1994-1996. She attributes this honor in part to her English Setter, “Betsy,” seemingly the keystone of her career. Growing up around all breeds, Brandy spent weekends and vacations from school assisting at her Grandmother’s kennel and traveling across the United States and into Canada competing in dog shows.
Brandy’s love for animals and the greater quest for knowledge secured her a position at the Westfield Veterinary Group and Wellness Center in 2004. Starting as a veterinary technician, she quickly ascended the ladder, becoming a supervisor and in-patient surgical technician. Brandy continued working at Westfield Veterinary Group for several years until a monumental life-changing event…her son David was born! With David’s arrival, Brandy wanted to spend less time away from home and opened her own small business in town, “Grooming by Brandy.” The business grew by leaps and bounds, far exceeding her expectations and employing and mentoring 4 employees. Grooming by Brandy has become a prominent fixture in the local business community.
Not one to rest on her laurels, Brandy remains an active participant in both dog shows (with her champion Standard Schnauzer Heinz) and horse show competitions with her Thoroughbred horse, Braddock.
In addition to the ongoing growth of Grooming by Brandy, Brandy consistently excels in anything she sets her mind to, inside and outside of the show rings. Plans are “in the works” to breed her dog “Heinz,” adding another notch in her belt as a breeder/owner/handler.
Achieving one of her many goals in becoming a “National Certified Master Groomer”®, she is also honored as an accredited member of the National Dog Groomers Association of America.
One of Brandy’s greatest joys in business is her ability to pass her extensive knowledge down to the dedicated girls she works with. As Brandy says with a smile,
“It is a crazy, busy life, but I LOVE every minute of it!”.
Elisa – Salon Manager
Fur-mom to her two pups (Moose and Waffle) and horse (Tucson), Elisa has been a lifelong animal lover. She spent her teenage years working in a kennel and later received her dog grooming certification through The North Jersey Dog Grooming Academy in 2011. Elisa has experience in the competitive grooming ring and assisting handlers in the dog show world with a background in animal science and behavior studies.
Elisa is a talented groomer with a special interest in terrier and sporting breeds. She has a passion for show grooming and is currently achieving her Master Groomer title. Elisa hopes to continue participating in the competitive grooming circuit and show dogs of her own in the future. Her goal is to one day pass down the knowledge that she has accumulated over the years to the next generation of groomers. The rich history and specialization of dog breeds are something that has always fascinated her. She feels there is always something new to learn! Elisa takes pride in working with a team just as passionate as she is and recognizes the importance of continued education in the grooming field.
When not working in the shop, Elisa enjoys hiking with her dogs and spending time at the barn with her horse. The love she has for her pets is reflected in her care when working on each of her clients. She says,
“The most beautiful thing about dog grooming is the bond you build with individual dogs throughout their lifetime. For many, we are with them from puppyhood into old age, and that is such a special thing!”
Chloe
Chloe joined the Grooming By Brandy team in 2019. She graduated from Central Jersey Grooming Academy in July of 2017, where she had hands-on experience learning the skills to groom and a valuable understanding in dog behavior.
Chloe’s life thus far has been devoted to loving and caring for animals, specifically dogs, as she was raised with pets throughout her entire childhood. At 18, she began working at a pet store and has continued working closely with pets ever since. Chloe is a believer that dog grooming is an art form, and devotes time every day to learn new cuts and techniques. Her passion to create blends perfectly with her love of animals, creating the amazing dog groomer that she is. She has come to be known by Brandy as the “Doodle Queen”, and also excels at grooming Miniature Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers. Chloe particularly enjoys grooming puppies for the first time, in a very calm way, to get them accustomed to the process. Chloe also has experience with hand stripping a variety of breeds.
Chloe’s current plans include mastering all breed standard haircuts, and is working towards becoming a dog show handler’s assistant. She plans to continue educating herself in the grooming field and hopes to become a “National Certified Master Groomer”® one day!
