A trusted circle of pet industry experts
Operations, finance, and grooming — three specialists who have built and run pet care businesses themselves, working together to support yours.
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OPERATIONS
Amber Burckhalter
Founder, The Pet Resort Coach — 20+ years building and operating multi-location pet resorts.
What We Bring
Three disciplines, one circle of support
FINANCE
Susan Briggs
Founder, Crystal Canine — fractional CFO services built for the pet care industry.
GROOMING
Samantha Palya
Founder, T.E.S. Pet Business Coach — grooming industry expert and business consultant.
Amber
FOUNDER, THE PET RESORT COACH
Amber Burckhalter brings 20+ years inside the pet care industry. She founded K-9 Coach, the first pet resort to integrate canine behavior with operations, launching the first tiered membership driven pet resort in the country. Amber grew her business into a multi-location, multi-service pet resort, then successfully exited to focus on what she knows best: building successful pet resorts.
Her expertise blends business operations and animal behavior into systems, training, and operations. For Amber, excellent care and solid operations are one and the same.
She is a nationally recognized coach, speaker and author, co-created the industry's first post-COVID benchmarking report, and led coaching teams for The Dog Gurus. She launched The Pet Resort Coach to offer experienced, practical guidance to owners serious about building lasting pet resorts, both virtually and on-site.
Meet the Team
Your Experts
Samantha
FOUNDER, T.E.S. PET BUSINESS COACH
Samantha Palya began her grooming career in 1996 and quickly earned recognition in competitions, including Best Groomer and Best Groomed Dog at Groom Expo in 1998. She now owns Absolutely Pawfect Pet Styling, Inc. and Absolutely Pawfect Orland Park.
Beyond her salons, she mentors apprentices, served as a Dog Gurus coach from 2022–2025, and founded Operation Read-A-Page, which donates books to children at grooming shows. Holding certifications ranging from Pet Tech CPR/First Aid Instructor to Canine Body Language and Pricing for Profits, she also teaches at Moraine Valley Community College and speaks on Enrichment Grooming.
Samantha launched The Enrichment Stylist Pet Business Consulting and Education to help pet business owners with a focus on grooming expertise. In 2026, she launched a workbook series to help business owners accelerate growth.
Susan
FOUNDER, CRYSTAL CANINE
Susan Briggs is the founder of Crystal Canine, a fractional CFO company built exclusively for the pet care services industry. She helps lodging, daycare, grooming, training, and multi-service businesses improve profitability through financial reporting, budgeting, KPI analysis, and strategic coaching.
With a Master's in Accountancy, early experience at Ernst & Young, and firsthand ownership of Urban Tails, a multi-service pet resort in Houston, she brings a rare blend of financial and operational expertise.
She is the author of Counting Noses and a nationally recognized speaker on financial leadership in the pet care industry. Through Crystal Canine, Susan's mission is to help pet business owners gain clarity, confidence, and stronger profits by understanding the numbers that drive their business.
Ready to build your trusted circle of support?
Reach out to start a conversation about operations, finance, or grooming support for your pet care business.