Meet Our Team

Married in 2009 in West Virginia, we spent the next decade in comfortable careers (Mark as VP of a construction firm, Melody most recently working on the investment side of BB&T) while volunteering with our local animal shelters in our free time. In 2019, we decided to take a leap of faith and try to make a living of our passion of working with animals. We had already fallen in love with this area having visited here multiple times on vacation. So we quit our jobs, moved to Charleston, and spent the next seven months preparing through training programs, mentoring, and shadowing, while designing a facility with the perfect balance of luxury and fun. In March, 2020, our dream really began, as we opened the doors to The Island Pawplex.

 I was born and raised in Charleston. I have three dogs (Blossom, Clover, and Daisy), one kitten (Aster), and a crested gecko. I love animals of all shapes and sizes. I have worked with dogs for over six years and have loved every minute of it! In our free time you can find us at dog-friendly events around Charleston. I am also certified in pet CPR and first aid.

I'm from Missouri and just recently moved to Charleston. After getting my Bachelor's degree I decided that animals were my real passion, and I have now been working with dogs for more than two years. I previously worked at a boarding and daycare pet hotel in St. Louis, and I started with The Island Pawplex in July of 2020.

I’ve been a professional dog groomer since 2003, taking eight years off to serve my country in the USAF. I attended a wonderful school in KY to refresh my skills after my military service. I’ve had two grooming businesses of my own and I’ve worked as an instructor at a grooming school. I am a lover of all animals and own a dog, a cat, and a pet snake. I believe in the quality of a groom over the quantity of grooms and I have always worked one on one with every dog I groom. My goal is not only to provide a beautiful groom but to develop a trusting relationship with each pet and help them have the best grooming experience possible.