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PSI's Pet Sitter of the Year™ AwardCongratulations to PSI's 2011 Pet Sitter of the Year™, Jordan Di Marco!
Jordan Di Marco, owner of Dogma Catma Pet Sitting in Boulder, Colo., has been named Pet Sitters International’s 2011 Pet Sitter of the Year™. This award is presented annually to one pet sitter who embodies the passion and professionalism of the pet-sitting industry.
Created by Pet Sitters International (PSI) in 1995, the Pet Sitter of the Year designation is considered the pet-sitting industry’s highest honor.
The 2011 selection process brought in more than 500 nominations for professional pet sitters in 20 states. Serving on this year’s selection panel were David Pearsall of Business Insurers of the Carolinas; Scott Black, 2010 Pet Sitter of the Year; Arden Moore, pet expert and founder of Fourleggedlife.com; and Denise Quashie, founder of Barkworld Expo.
Di Marco joined PSI and opened Dogma Catma Pet Sitting in 2006 after receiving her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Colorado at Denver. She became a Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS) in 2009 and also pursued additional training in Pet First Aid and CPR, as well as disaster animal response and pet behavior.
“Jordan’s clients praised her commitment to their pets, her willingness to go beyond the call of duty and her high level of pet-care knowledge,” said PSI President Patti Moran. “Jordan has also made great efforts to take advantage of continuing education opportunities and support the pet-sitting industry. She is a wonderful example to fellow pet-sitting professionals.”
One nomination described how Di Marco borrowed a 4WD vehicle, waded through three feet of snow and shoveled a driveway to reach a client’s pets while the owner’s were out of town during a huge blizzard.
“If Jordan lived in my hometown, she would definitely be my pet sitter of choice,” said one member of the judging selection panel. “She is dedicated to the well being of both her two-legged and four-legged clients.”
The 2011 Pet Sitter of the Year award is sponsored by Business Insurers of the Carolinas, pet-sitter insurance provider and pet-sitting industry supporter for nearly two decades.
Di Marco will serve as the public face of PSI’s nearly 7,000 independently owned member businesses and represent the pet-sitting industry throughout 2012. She will be officially crowned at PSI’s Quest for Excellence Convention in September.
The other top-five Finalists in the 2011 Pet Sitter of the Year competition were:
Nominate your pet sitter for the industry's highest honor!
The 2012 Pet Sitter of the Year nomination process will open in June 2012. A judging panel will evaluate nominations. The following criteria is taken into account during the judging process:
The Top Five Finalists will be asked to submit additional information and supporting documentation, included but not limited to:
If you have questions about the Pet Sitter of the Year award, nomination process or nomination form, contact PSI at (336) 983-9222, option 1, or e-mail info@petsit.com.
Past Winners
2010 — Scott Black, Personal Touch Pet Sitting, Inc., Kingwood, TX 2009 — Cara Armour, Active Paws, Watertown, MA 2008 — Rob Nager, Decadent Dog Inc., Needham, MA 2007 — Jen Miler, Doggone Purrfect Pet Care, St. Petersburg, FL. 2006— Darlene Ehlers, Pampered Pets Home Care, Blue Jay, OH 2005 —Tammy Iseri, The Pet Sitter, Elk Grove, CA 2 2004—Holly Cook, Special Pet Care Services, Marysville, MI 2003—Dawn Secord, Fur, Feathers and Fins LLC, Chino Hills, CA 2002—Rosary Bovello, Gaithersburg Pet Sitting Inc., Gaithersburg, MD 2001—Mark Gleckman, A Helping Hand, Acton, CA 2000—Pat Love, Pets Are People Too! Hephzibah, GA 1999—Heidi Kistler, The Pawsitively Pampered Pet, Berkeley, CA 1998—Susan Baker, Pet’s Best Friend, Rocky Mount, NC 1997—Sharon & Helene Jones, Sisters Sitting Service, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 1996—Melanie Hocever, There’s No Place Like Home, Phoenix, AZ 1995—Carol Proffitt, Paw Prints Pet Care, Knoxville, TN |
Pet Sitters International (PSI) members may be nominated for this prestigious title by customers, pet-sitting peers and other industry professionals, such as veterinarians.