David O'Connor

In 2018, David chose to keep a 13-year-old pet grooming business alive, even as it faced closure. As he invested countless hours into sourcing the right equipment and talent to meet the needs of current and future customers, he found early support from the close-knit pet community around him. Recently, he has participated in several business accelerator collaborations to hone his operations, augmented his unique leadership style with the help of locally-focused business advisors, and opened his marketing and communications activities in an internship with university students from across the country (literally).

David, who has a master's in theology and ministry from Boston College, has watched his vision for kindness oppose many toxic norms of the pet grooming industry. He hopes not only to grow his business in the future, but further spread his message of empathy as it applies to employees, clients, and the greater community. David truly embodies the vision, “To extend the love of pets beyond pet care.”