2025 Pet Sitter World Educational Conference

See You in San Antonio for PSW25!

We can't wait to see everyone who's registered for PSI's upcoming 2025 Pet Sitter World Educational Conference, September 9-11, in San Antonio, Texas. 

Collin Funkhouser

Collin Funkhouser is a dedicated pet sitter and co-host of the "Pet Sitter Confessional" podcast, both of which he runs alongside his wife, Meghan. Together, they have built a successful pet sitting business, providing compassionate and reliable care to pets and peace of mind to their owners. Recognizing the need for community and shared knowledge in the pet care industry, Collin and Meghan launched their podcast to offer insights, interviews, and resources for fellow pet sitters. Through engaging conversations and expert advice, they aim to elevate the standards of pet care and foster a supportive network for professionals in the field. Beyond their professional endeavors, Collin and Meghan are proud parents of two amazing kids, balancing family life with their passion for animal care and community building. They’re committed to education and togetherness in the pet care space.

Laura Cassiday

Laura Cassiday is a certified cat behavior consultant (CCBC) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and a Fear Free certified animal trainer. Laura is the founder of Pawsitive Vibes Cat Behavior and Training, where she works with cat guardians around the world to address behavior challenges and strengthen the human-feline bond. Her work focuses on helping fearful, aggressive, and anxious cats feel safe and understood in their environments. Laura also serves as Feline Division Chair for the Pet Professional Guild and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Applied Animal Behavior at Virginia Tech. She has been a part-time professional cat sitter for the last three years with Furever Friends Catsitting in Baltimore, Maryland.

Jessica Davis

Jessica Davis, BS, CDBC, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, Elite FFCP, is a certified dog trainer and behavior consultant with a strong focus on positive reinforcement and relationship-based training. Since beginning her career in 2015, she has worked extensively with reactive, fearful, and undersocialized dogs, earning multiple professional certifications along the way. Her work is rooted in helping families build lasting, positive connections with their pets through compassion, communication, and practical training strategies. Jessica is also a passionate advocate for responsible pet ownership and works to reduce dog overpopulation in the San Antonio area through education and accessible services. She brings a wealth of hands-on experience, empathy, and insight to every talk, aiming to inspire and empower others in the world of animal care and behavior.

Anne-Marie Kaden

Anne-Marie Kaden has been involved in animal and pet care all of her professional career. She built and ran a successful pet sitting business in North Carolina from scratch to six-figures in just five years. She sold her first business in 2022. Anne-Marie knows and understands the pet care industry intimately and is now operating her second pet sitting business, Tiny Paws Pet Sitting in Colorado alongside her bookkeeping operation. This means that Anne-Marie understands the unique aspects of a pet care based business. Anne-Marie has experience working with small business service providers such as pet sitters, dog walkers, groomers, dog trainers, gourmet dog bakeries and Etsy retailers. She is a QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor, Bookkeeper Launch Certified and a member of the Digital Bookkeeper Association.

Michelle Kline

Michelle Kline is the founder of DogCo Launch, where pet care businesses learn to grow and scale, specifically in daily dog walking services. Michelle Kline grew her pet care business to 25 employees and 600 clients during the pandemic before selling to pursue a career helping pet care business owners elevate their businesses to the scale and size they want while protecting their time freedom.

Denise Fleck

Denise Fleck is the Pet Safety Crusader™, inspiring people of all ages to “Be the one who makes the difference in the life of an animal!” Raised by a gentle giant, Ulysses the Great Dane, Denise has dedicated her life to caring and advocating for animals. As a proud dog mom to thirteen canines, her soft spot lies with senior dogs, so she joyfully serves as the Executive Director of The Grey Muzzle Organization. Denise believes there is no greater love than reflected in the affectionate gaze of a senior dog. Prior to Grey Muzzle, she volunteered for 15 years as a "boots on the ground" animal rescuer.

Fleck's commitment to animal welfare led her from a career as a movie studio publicist to pouring her heart into training, researching, practicing, and then developing her own Pet First Aid & CPR curriculum which she has taught to more than 33,000 pet parents and pet professionals.  She demonstrated these skills on television, including CBS–TV’s ‘The Doctors,’ Animal Planet, KTLA, and CNN, but now focuses on training the next generation of animal care instructors. She also created courses in pet disaster preparedness and first aid for birds, rabbits, and other four-legged friends. Learn more at www.PetSafetyCrusader.com.

Jessica Milam

With an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for exceptional customer service, Jessica Milam has transformed multiple businesses across diverse industries into customer experience powerhouses. As the founder of a thriving in-home pet care company, Fur Services Fur Pets, and owner of a SignGypsies franchise, she brings decades of experience managing mid-six-figure operations in industries ranging from pet care to HVAC and electrical services—and even a distinctive Gondola company. Throughout her career as a small business advocate, Jessica has proven that exceptional service isn't just about transactions—it's about creating lasting relationships that keep clients coming back. Jessica was also named PSI's 2025 Pet Sitter of the Year.

David Pearsall 

David Pearsall is the vice president of Business Insurers of the Carolinas (BIC) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, which provides the Pet Sitter Liability Protection Policy and other insurance products to PSI members in the U.S.

Visit www.psi-ins.com to learn more or contact BIC by phone at 1-800-962-4611.

Kim Tank

Kim has always known she was destined to work with animals and has devoted her life to working in pet care. After living in Concord for many years, she relocated her family to Pollock Pines, CA, in 2016, to raise goats and (more) chickens. She has three cats, and a dog named Kevin.

Kim is a former registered veterinary technician with 13 years working in hospitals, a Certified Professional Pet Sitter with Pet Sitters International (PSI), a member of PSI, Texas Pet Sitters Association, Florida Pet Services Association, speaker at several pet sitting conferences, author of several articles in PSI magazine, earned a certificate in Pet Loss Support, a certificate in HR from CSU East Bay, and is a hiring coach for other pet sitters.

Kim splits her time between the Bay Area and El Dorado County to maintain a close connection with her sitters, her clients and their loving pets. When not working, she loves running, kayaking, mentoring other pet sitters and exploring El Dorado Wine Country.