Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nicole Packin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Nicole, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with something countless entrepreneurs have had to figure out on the fly – how have you dealt with the rise of remote work?
Implementing remote work was a must for me after my husband, and I relocated to Dallas, Texas, to be closer to family. By splitting up my prior role into two, I hired a Director of Operations to manage the day-to-day and a Director of Customer Experience whose role is to take care of all our client needs.
Running a business remotely has been successful for Miami Pet Concierge for a few reasons. Number one, our systems and processes were in place before I considered remote work. Number two, I have a solid and reliable team who work independently when providing services for our clients, but on the whole, they work together so that we all succeed.
Finding valuable tools such as Slack, Airtable, and our internal client portal allows MPC’s management and the entire team to communicate around the clock and stay up to date on all things company-related 24-hours a day.
Nicole, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
About Me:
Nicole’s career working with animals began in Los Angeles, California. After graduating from the University of Miami with a BS in Communication, Nicole moved to the West Coast to pursue a television career. While working for William Morris Endeavor (formerly known as William Morris Agency), Spelling Television, and Jerry Bruckheimer Television, Nicole began volunteering for The Amanda Foundation, an animal welfare organization.
Finding her work with dogs a life changer, Nicole moved back to Miami, Florida, intending to learn all that she could about animal welfare in her hometown. Immediately, Nicole began working for the Humane Society of Greater Miami. She was involved in all aspects of the organization’s operations fundraising and helped lead the capital campaign for the organization’s Soffer-Fine Adoption Center in North Miami Beach, Florida.
In 2007, Miami Pet Concierge was developed and began out of both a labor of love and need. After years of working in and around the animal shelter system, Nicole learned that one of the number one reasons pets were being given up or returned was “time,” or lack thereof. With this knowledge, Nicole started a business that would help pet parents and teach pet parents how to be the best. With just a little guidance, education, and support, Nicole has had the opportunity to work hand and paw with thousands of amazing domesticated animals and their families, caring for and teaching them how to cohabitate peacefully.
Continued learning is significant to Nicole. Since MPC’s opening, she has continued to grow and learn as much as she can about animal health and proper pet care. Nicole is currently enrolled in the Certified Canine Fitness Trainer (CCFT) program at Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, with the expected graduation date of Fall 2022.
Nicole’s Education & Training:
Bachelor’s in Communication from University of Miami
Master’s Certificate in Applied Animal Behavior (UW-AAB) from University of Washington
Certificate in Small Animal Massage (SAMP) in Maintenance, Performance, and Rehabilitation from Northwest School of Animal Massage (NWSAM)
Certificate in Myofascial Release Therapy (MFRT), Trigger Point Therapy (TPT), and Stress Point Therapy (SPT) from NWSAM
Certificate in Canine Water Therapy from La Paw Spa – Levels One and Two of Heart of Canine Aquatics Training Programs
Certified Fear Free Professional
Certified in Pet CPR & First Aid from ProPetHero
Certified in Feline Communication from Maddie’s University
Nicole is married and is the proud momma to Slater (Russian Blue mix), Kevin & Jenny (Spinone Italiano’s).
About Miami Pet Concierge:
Miami Pet Concierge was created out of both a labor of love and need. After years of working in and around the shelter system, Nicole learned that one of the number one reasons pets were being given up or returned was due to “time,” or lack thereof. It was astonishing that a pet parent would willingly hand over their beloved pet than find an alternative to keeping it under their roof. Excuses ranged from working too late, not being able to get home at lunch, a busy travel schedule, a new baby, the list went on. So, with this knowledge, Nicole set out to start a business that would help pet parents and teach them how to be the best they can be. With just a little guidance, education, and support, Miami Pet Concierge has had the opportunity to work hand and paw with thousands of amazing domesticated animals and their families, caring for and teaching them how to cohabitate peacefully.
Animals have always been a passion for Nicole. If you were to ask any of her family members and friends, they would each have a story about how she wanted to bring home any animal in need, whether a lizard, possum, stray cat, or dog, as a child. That love swept her off her feet and led Nicole to create not only the most magical of businesses out there but a career where every day brings laughter, tail wags, and tons of meows. She prides herself on a dedicated, professional, and loyal staff, who, like Nicole, LOVE WHAT THEY DO.
Miami Pet Concierge strives to provide professional and quality care and always has our client’s pets and best interests in mind.
Since our doors opened in May of 2007, our mission has been to provide Miami’s pet parents with personalized pet care plans based on their pets’ species, age, breed, health, and lifestyle while keeping their pets in the comfort of their own home through all stages of their life. Our goal is to educate pet owners to be great pet parents.
We care when you can’t be there! ®️
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I believe what helped us build our reputation within the Miami market is two-fold. For one, Miami Pet Concierge offers “peace of mind.” What that means is that we are reliable, responsible, and respectable. We will go above and beyond for our clients and their pets to ensure they are safe, well cared for, and loved. As a result, our clients are relying on us and trusting us to provide care for their beloved pets while at the same time giving us access to their homes and lives—secondly, my vast knowledge about domesticated pets, animal health, and welfare. Education is essential to me, and I’m always seeking new information. As a result, Miami Pet Concierge’s clients have learned that they can rely on me for any questions or concerns about their pet’s wellbeing, and for those questions or concerns I can’t address, they know I will go above and beyond to find the answers.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
As the youngest of four and only girl, it wasn’t always easy growing up. Not only did I want to be able to do everything my siblings could, but my biggest desire was also to be as bright as each of them. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with Dyslexia as a child, and by the time I reached third grade, my reading comprehension was terrible, and my struggles with math were undeniable. I was pulled out of regular classes to go to “special school” for those with learning disabilities, and often I was made fun of for being slow, dumb, or illiterate.
As I got older, the struggles with my reading became easier to hide by dogging classes when I knew it would be my day to read aloud or by skipping words I couldn’t pronounce as if they weren’t on the page.
As my brothers ventured off to Dartmouth, Amherst, and Standford for college, I remained home, they are 9, 6, and 5 years older, and I settled into middle school and high school. When I finally entered college at the University of Miami, I found my footing my sophomore year when I was dared by a friend to apply for a study abroad program in the Film School. I still don’t understand how or why I was chosen, but a semester in Prague was the answer to my prayers. I finally learned how I learned best, by hands-on learning or creating something from nothing.
When I returned to complete my Junior year, I changed my major to Communication, focusing on Screen Writing and Creative Writing. I realized that I was able to learn through writing, a different approach to those who succeeded by reading ten chapters and taking a standardized test.
I graduated with honors and immediately moved to Los Angeles to chase my dreams of working in the television business. Over ten years, I achieved three promotions, including an offer for one of the most prestigious and competitive positions any young person who wants to work in Hollywood could wish for. A spot in the William Morris Agency (now known as William Morris Endeavor) mailroom to become an Agent.
Although I turned down the offer, I had the opportunity to work for two of the most prolific television producers, past and present (Aaron Spelling and Jerry Bruckheimer).
In all of my roles, a large part of my job was to read scripts, break them down, and determine if the writers were exciting and good enough to create new one-hour dramas potentially. It’s funny how things turn out. This little girl from Miami who struggled with reading, spelling, and numbers exceeds her expectations in an industry where less than 1% of people succeed. Still, it ends up being in the same area that she once struggled so desperately with- reading.
During my ten years in Los Angeles, I found another interest – dogs. While others were paying for psychotherapy, I volunteered at a non-profit for animal rescue and got hooked. Then, to the shock of many, I backed my bags and returned to Miami to learn all that I could about animal welfare in my hometown and came up with the idea of opening a small pet care business- the rest is history.
When I opened the doors to Miami Pet Concierge in 2007, most people, family, and friends thought I was crazy. “So you’re going to walk dogs and care for pets for a living,” some would say, while others suggested I get a real job, ask me what I was doing with my life or stop state bluntly that I was wasting my life.
In May, I will celebrate 15 years in business. I believe my continued fortitude, learning, trials by error, and a fantastic team have kept my dream alive and thriving. I still find times when I compare myself to my brothers or think about being in a room filled with my peers skipping words I can’t pronounce when I’m reading aloud. However, now I have apps like Grammarly to help me and a husband who’s always there to proofread my work. I don’t think we ever forget the hard times, but we use those hard times to propel ourselves to achieve our dreams.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.miamipetconcierge.com
- Instagram: miamipetconcierge.com
- Facebook: Miami Pet Concierge
- Twitter: petcaredivas
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/miami-pet-concierge-miami-2?osq=miami+pet+concierge
Image Credits
Femke Tewari Photography