Christein Sertzel, NCMG, ICMG, WPAPGC, AKC-MPG,CMA, CCMT, AHAE, MRP, CNAMT, CCE, DAATADG
Christein grew up in a dog and horse family with a childhood filled with pets and farm chores, and she learned at a young age to value kindness to animals and to hold an awe of nature. Chris also began to learn grooming while quite young in age from a mentor and went on to learn proper handling and showing of several other breeds as well, as part of the AKC dog show circuit.
While still in school Christein took a walk in job at a grooming salon and was hooked. After several months at this high volume shop, she left to get formal training and certification working as an intern. After a year, she took more time off to travel and follow the grooming competition circuit, fascinated with our industry icons and the newly developed GroomTeam. After two years of travel as well as doing some grooming study and one on one training, she used the last of her savings to purchase her first grooming salon.
Over the years, she has worked in several of her own salons, vet clinics, as well as corporate salons. All the while Chris gained knowledge and experience with a growing passion to educate and network with other groomers in effort to be at the forefront of her career and to benefit the grooming industry in ways larger than herself. After another 24 years of hands-on grooming, training, and working at growing her knowledge of all matters of grooming, it was time for a major change.
Christein received formal certification first in canine massage therapy, Reiki energy work and acupressure, and then in applied aromatherapy and flower essences therapy and basic TCM. Christein spent 3 years of hands on training and apprenticeship, with those who practiced both canine massage and acupressure as well as animal energy work and kinesiology.
At the same time Chris also started a non profit grooming association she titled the Wisconsin Association of Professional Pet Stylists, now also under the name Wisconsin Pet Groomers Association, to fill her need to work with and learn with other stylists, and to create a networking and educational medium for fellow groomers. Christein strongly believes in working together for the betterment of our grooming and pet care industry. By continuing our grooming education on all levels whenever possible, this awards personal growth and helps accomplish making grooming a career profession.
In effort to provide learning opportunities for all interested stylists, Christein often gives hands-on and one on one training seminars and mentors stylists as they climb the industry ladder. Chris also takes on students and seasoned stylists to train at her salon to get them started out right or to help them with applied breed grooming and techniques and certification.
In 2021, Chris opened Sage Pet Grooming Academy in Mazomanie, WI and worked to have this academy become one of only four World Pet Association credentialed learning institutions in the country as a post secondary trade school for pet grooming. Christein developed an in-depth and challenging formal testing and certification program for stylists to achieve their Certified Master Pet Stylist title, as well as many learning seminars throughout the year for WAPPS/WPGA members. Along with other membership benefits for state grooming association members and fellow groomers, Chris co-hosts an annual Pet Stylist Invitational- a trade show consisting of multiple educational classes and a three-tiered grooming competition.
Lately Christein is grooming and training, offering online educational opportunities, and has created an entire line of excellent canine skin & coat care products for the grooming professional called GOOD KHARMA- Canine Spa Therapies & The Scentered Dog. She also developed her own signature line of Element Grooming Shears and a unique line of stripping knives. Chris also works hand and digital rendering for illustrated educational charts including a complete set of canine physiology reference charts titled, "The Canine Reference Series".
Through this variety of work, she has been nominated for multiple categories 2 years in a row for the coveted Cardinal Crystal Award and has gained professional recognition from her peers for her ability. In 2021 Chris received the Book of the Year Barkleigh Honors nomination for her 2nd edition of Caring For the Canine Coat book.
Today Christein is the only nationally accredited Holistic Animal Educator within her industry, and has since spearheaded starting the Association of Holistic Pet Professionals for herself and other groomers to take part in towards embracing an encompassing grooming group to support other stylists interested in alternative care & mindful grooming practices.
Christein also spearheaded and now helps co-chair the National Alliance of Grooming Associations along with many amazing industry professionals all volunteering their time and skills to help support state associations and network between states to support our country's pet groomers and stylists.
Chris also recently finished her largest project- a Canine Esthetician certification course for the pet care professional along with a wonderful reference book titled, “Caring For the Canine Coat”. With this project accomplished, Chris continues to move forward with her Mindful Groomer Series of courses and classes which are a WPA credentialed educational library, and is headed into creating ongoing webinars and training videos, writing various articles, all the while working on three new educational books, "Canine Massage For the Pet Stylist", "The Tao of Grooming", and "Creating the Complete Pet Spa".
Christein is also a USA and IJA sanctioned panel competition judge, but has recently retired from the grooming competition world. As well, Chris also sat as the State Director for the National Cavalier Rescue Trust as a coordinator for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescue networks.
Five years ago, Christein retired as a breeder under her Windyway Cavaliers kennel name and left her seat with the NCRT, but still assists in relocating, fostering and transporting dogs of all breeds who are in need of support and rescue efforts. Last year a long time coming pet project of launching Vintage Hearts Senior Rescue also took shape.
As a lasting and final accomplishment, Chris finished her National Master grooming certification with both the NDGAA and IPG, and got back into the competition ring while doing it.
This year, Christein also completed the AKC’s prestigious certification program and attained her AKC Master Pet Groomer certification.
Aside from her career developments and adventures in our grooming industry, Chris is loving and learning from her family- three children, her dogs, and looking always forward to a bright future of possibilities.
"It is my greatest blessing to have my wonderful family and to be able to provide for them; to be able to have a job which I love, to make friends and help so many others, and to be able to share my life with so many pets".
INDUSTRY AUTHOR, SPEAKER, EDUCATOR, MENTOR and INVENTOR :
Finer DeTails Pet Spa
Special Kneads Canine Massage
Sweetgrass Pet Wellness Center
Sage Pet Grooming Academy The Scentered Dog, products
Midwest Academy of Pet Styling Certified Canine Esthetician, course MiracleBath, product
WAPPS & WPGA- Founder The Mindful Groomer, book & class series GroomCrate, products
MPGA- Founder Caring For the Canine Coat, book Canine Spa Therapies, products
NAGA- Founder and Ambassador Creating the Complete Pet Spa, book ZenDenz, products
AHPP- Founder and Ambassador Canine Massage For the Pet Stylist, book TableHuggers, products
Holistic Grooming Quarterly- periodical The Essential Groomer, products ComfyThumb, product
The Tao of Grooming, book Element Shears & Infinity Stripping Knives, products
MY PET GROOMING INDUSTRY LIST OF CREDENTIALS IS DISCLOSED ON THE EDUCATION PAGE