Joey Villani

Joey Villani’s life in pet care and grooming began when he was only nine years old, during a visit to the Super Dog Salon in New Jersey. Invited to lend a hand by salon owner and family friend, John Nash, Joey brushed a sheepdog named Cecilia and so began an unbelievable career.
After 18 years as an instructor for Nash’s renowned grooming schools, Joey began to open his own salons. In 1998, he purchased the Nash Academy in New Jersey, which he owned and operated for ten years.

Now a well-known pet industry speaker and judge, Joey has been nominated four times for the Cardinal Crystal Award for his outstanding achievements, and three times for Grooming Contest Judge of the Year. Joey was also a 7-time nominee for a Barkleigh Honors Award.

He has been enthusiastically involved with Intergroom International for 31 years and has been instrumental in expanding the organization’s reach into Belgium, Italy, and France. He is one of the original members of the International Judges Association and serves as a Ring Master and Core Judge. In 2010 he received the award as the grooming industry Man of The Year. In 2008 he became the Dogfather on Animal Radio. In 2015 became CEO of Intergroom international and is the brainchild and Vice President of the newly formed World Dog Expo and pet grooming Ambassador of Conair Pet. In 2018 Joey was chosen for the highest award in the grooming industry, outstanding contribution to the industry award, and also the AKC leadership award which he is only the fourth person to ever to receive.
His outgoing nature and unforgettable charisma have made Joey a natural television personality, with appearances on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Good Day NY, The Katie Show, Mike and Juliet, and two seasons of both Animal Planet’s Dogs 101 and judge on Groomer Has It.
Joey’s lengthy friendship and professional affiliation with the Nash family continues to this day. Joey has contributed to the development of the Nash Canine Reference and the Groomers Reference, the first online, all-breed, encyclopedic resource created specifically for pet care professionals. In his continuing efforts to provide excellent grooming and pet care training, Joey is working with the Nash Team to create an International Educational Consortium of Pet Grooming & Styling Schools. The Consortium aims to standardize education and terminology for all students aspiring to become bathers, groomers, and stylists, to increase professionalism in the pet care industry, and to provide a uniform curriculum utilizing the Nash systems and methodology. Joey also helped create the national grooming standards of PPGSA.

Today, Joey continues to innovate and explore new dimensions in the pet care and grooming industry. Not surprisingly, Joey says this is just the beginning.

Joey's other notable accomplishments include:
Advisory Board to Groom Team USA
Advisory board to Merryfield Pet Grooming School
Pet grooming advisor to BabelBark/BizBark