Canine Clippers School of Pet Grooming

Our Team

Rebecca Nilson, Secretary

Rebecca Nilson: I began working for Linda Law, as her administrative assistant, in 2003. Since I worked from my home office, some distance away, I knew her other employees only via the telephone. Although I live on a small horse farm with a variety of furred and feathered friends, my only experience of pet grooming came through viewing the movie “Best in Show”. Over the years I’ve gotten to know and love Linda and her family and I respect and appreciate her wisdom about people and her knowledge and expertise in handling and grooming animals.

When Linda asked me to write profiles for her groomers, I initially regarded the project as a straight forward ‘question and answer’ series of interviews. I thought the groomers would educate me more about their techniques and skills in this field and, since I live among so many, less about the emotional aspects of working with animals. Instead, I found the experience of ‘interviewing’ this intelligent and highly intuitive group of groomers to be a very humbling experience. I found their understanding and respect for their animal clients awe-inspiring. Each had an eloquent and unique way of communicating love for both work and clients. I can’t thank them enough for their time and trust in telling me about themselves and their work and in educating me about some of the most deserving, and loyal participants in our lives: our pets.

Ronda Nottingham, NCMG, Head Instructor

Ronda Nottingham, NCMG, Vice President for Canine Clippers, is certified by ‘The National Dog Groomers Association of America’ as a Master Certified Groomer, specializing in Terriers, Sporting, and Non-sporting dogs. She is working on her certification as a Master Groomer. Ronda has won 19 awards, (winning over 117 entrants) for “Best Rapport and Most Kindness, Compassion and Patience” at the 2000 ‘GROOMEXPO’ in Hershey, PA. She also has won extensive awards in Profiling and Hand Scissoring. The most challenging and rewarding prize was received for styling a Kerry Blue Terrier. Grooming this majestic and sculpted animal is difficult for any professional groomer; some specialize in and groom this breed exclusively. Ronda was awarded a 1ST Place Prize at the 2000 Virginia Groomers Association for her work with this challenging Terrier.

Although she grooms all breeds and expresses no favorites, she is most sensitive to older, geriatric pets, who are often only trustful of gentle handlers who are sympathetic to the special needs and requirements of their age.

Ronda also loves teaching the grooming students at our school. High on her priorities are teaching breed standards and safety. She greatly values the opportunity to give students a great start in a rewarding career and to share methods on how to make a good living in the trade.

Ronda, 35, is Linda Law’s youngest daughter and was born into the business. When she began grooming, over 20 years ago, she found a skill which came naturally (she, and her older sister, Deanna, have ushered grooming into its third generation). Ronda was born in Las Vegas and raised in Virginia, where she’s now lived for more than 25 years.

She has worked in professional salons in Illinois, Maryland and Virginia, and stresses a clean and tidy environment as one of the most important features in choosing a grooming salon. She cites that one of the most difficult and expensive aspects for a professional groomer, is styling a pet which first needs extensive de-matting. This should be part of routine care and cleaning, to which the owner can greatly contribute by combing their pet regularly, between salon visits. Ronda finds that her greatest satisfaction is in seeing the pet owner’s elated response after a beloved family member has just been transformed by a professional and skilled groomer.

Ronda lives with her three sons, Jacob, Erik and Kaden, in Locust Grove, VA. Sharing their home is ‘Squirt’, a Shih Tzu, two parakeets and one turtle.

Scott Eason, Office Manager

Scott Eason has been working with Canine Clippers School of Pet Grooming as the Office Manager since 2005. He has an Associates Degree in Business Administration from Northern Virginia Community College. In addition to the responsibilities of scheduling clients and managing a busy school and office, Scott is proficient with the ‘Kennelsoft’ computer program, which was designed specifically for grooming salons. He helps teach students the program, along with other business aspects and applications important to operating a grooming salon.

His easy-going and gentle manner helps pets, their owners and even students to trust him and have a feeling of security. He is a valuable asset to the school and helps make it such a favorable environment to anybody who enters.

Ever since he was little, there has always been some sort of pet around. At the age of 7 he got his first dog, Bo-Bo, a Cocker Poodle mix, who stuck around for almost 13 years.

Outside of work, Scott is also a writer. For several years he has been working on the manuscript for a novel and is now trying to get it cleaned up and submitted for publication.

Scott lives in Fredericksburg with his fiancée and is the proud father of a baby girl born in September of 2011.

Jessica Moore, Instructor/Manager

During her junior year in high school, Jessica knew that she wanted to work with animals. She contacted Canine Clippers School of Pet Grooming and has been with us at our Dumfries shop since February 2006. Since graduating from our school in 2007, she has gotten her NDGAA non-sporting certification and is currently building a trophy collection by competing in grooming competitions. She is the quintessential animal lover who believes that most dogs are unwavering in their desire to please their owners and steadfast in their fierce loyalty (as is Jessica to her family, profession, and company) .

Jessica appreciates how available pets are to bolster one's spirits or to provide comfort and reassurance. Many dogs are adept at reading a situation and will act accordingly. She once experienced a dog's 'radar' when she found herself in an environment in which she felt unsafe. She felt protected when a nearby dog sensed the situation and stayed with her, stationed as a sentry.

Jessica likes creative style and to put color into animal lives. Tactile and physically demonstrative herself, Jessica is comfortable handling pets, including cats, and she challenges their reputation for being difficult. Under her capable hands, and because she knows how to read their body language, bathing a cat is actually an enjoyable experience.

Jessica was born in Arlington and grew up in Dale City. She currently lives in Dumfries with her blue calico kitty 'Peaches', and her Toy Poodle 'Pearl Jamm' (aka Tina Turner). To relax, she enjoys fishing, good jokes and long walks on the beach.

Marquis Reed, Handler & Bather

Marquis, a young handler & bather, has been working in our Dumfries salon since 2009. He works very well with his charges. He knows that, in order to calm them, agitated pets need to be petted and talked to, and that cats, especially, need to be treated cautiously.

Marquis was born and grew up in Woodbridge, with a large family of five brothers and one sister, along with many pets, including dogs, hamsters and turtles. He went to Forest Park High School, where he also sang in the school choir. He hopes, someday, to become a groomer. He lists his favorite dogs as Pitt Bulls (he had several growing up), Chihuahuas and Miniature Schnauzers.

When not working with animals, Marquis likes to sing Rhythm & Blues. His favorite R&B entertainer is Chris Brown.