MEET THE STAFF

Familiar faces who strive to make you and your pet happy.

Johnelle Ciano

Johnelle Ciano

Owner, Certified in Pet CPR and Pet First Aid

Johnelle opened Emma Marie’s in 2010 after years of operating her mom’s dog grooming business. Coming from a grooming background, she loved what she was doing, but as she continued to groom, it became apparent that the community needed more than just a grooming shop. She felt the dog community needed a safe place for dogs to expel energy, provide quality grooming services, offer balanced diets, and provide overnight lodging all in one facility. So, with her mother’s blessing and her husband Chris’s help, she opened Emma Marie’s in Mattapoisett named after their late Australian Shepherd.  In October 2020 Johnelle & Chris expanded opening a second facility located in North Dartmouth this facility provides quality services and care for the pet community.

Chris Ciano

Chris Ciano

Chris is the husband of Emma Marie’s owner, Johnelle. He grew up in Salem NH & graduated with the class of 97’ at Salem High School. Chris owned and operated 7 Honey Dew franchises for over 20 years, in 2016 he changed paths & started his own excavation & real estate development company. When he’s not digging holes, Chris assists with building, design & maintenance of Emma Marie’s two locations.
Laura Goguen

Laura Goguen

Mattapoisett Salon Lead

Laura grew up in Marion and graduated from Old Rochester Regional High School in 2009. She joined the staff in 2014 and graduated from Animal Behavioral College 2016 to become a certified dog groomer. Laura resides in Rochester with her husband and daughter. She is a proud owner of two German Shepherds Gunther & Red . In her spare times she enjoys taking them on hiking adventures.

Laura is Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid Certified by Pet Emergency Education.

Jessica DiOrio

Jessica DiOrio

Certified in Pet CPR and Pet First Aid

Formerly known as Jessica Souza, Jess grew up in Acushnet, MA and graduated from Old Colony Regional Vocational High School. She grew up around animals all her life, and now owns a french bulldog named Abby, and a french mastiff named Nala. She currently resides in Riverside, RI with her husband Matt, daughters Kyra & Mia, and son Matt Jr. She has been with Emma Marie’s since 2011 and has worked in all of the departments, but her passion is in the grooming room.

Jess is Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid Certified by Pet Emergency Education.

Shelli Knox

Shelli Knox

Certified in Pet CPR and Pet First Aid

Shelli has been with Emma Marie’s since its opening. She enjoys working with the clients and their pets. Shelli has a chocolate lab named Bitty! In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband, children and her grandchildren.

Shelli is Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid Certified by Pet Emergency Education.

Chelsea Petrouski

Chelsea Petrouski

Certified in Pet CPR and Pet First Aid

Chelsea grew up in Fairhaven and currently resides in Swansea with her husband Nick and daughter Emilia. She grew up on her grandparents family farm and always had a love for animals big and small. Chelsea attended Bristol Aggie and graduated in 2010 from Small Animal Science. She joined the staff at Emma Marie’s in the fall of 2012. In Chelsea’s free time enjoys being with her two corgi’s Yogi & Meadow.

Chelsea is Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid Certified by Pet Emergency Education.

Leslie Boyle

Leslie Boyle

Certified in Pet CPR and Pet First Aid

Leslie lives in Mattapoisett with her husband Kevin. She was a client for two years before joining the Emma Marie’s team. When Leslie’s not working you can bet she’s off traveling, adventuring with her rescue dog Gidgette or spending time with her husband, kids & grand fur babies. 

Leslie is Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid Certified by Pet Emergency Education.

Adam Bigos

Adam Bigos

Team Leader

Adam lives in Fairhaven and has been with Emma Marie’s since 2011 and loves it. Along with his love for animals he enjoys hiking, camping, and basically anything that involves being outside. Adam has a daughter that is coincidentally named “Emma Marie” and another one named Ellie. On a typical day you will find Adam outside enjoying the day with the dogs.

Adam is Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid Certified by Pet Emergency Education.

Matt Alves

Matt Alves

Team Leader

Matthew lives in Fairhaven and graduated from Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, in the Computer Aided Drafting shop. As a child he grew up next to a dog breeder and has always loved dogs. Matt joined the staff in the fall of 2015 and works in the boarding/daycare area. He currently owns two labs who he loves to spend time with.

Matt is Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid Certified by Pet Emergency Education.

Anne Harrison

Anne Harrison

Team Leader

Anne joined the staff in December 2017 working as our marketing & design specialist. If she’s not working here you will find her modeling part time. She graduated from Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, in Health Career Services in 2016. She currently resides in Mattapoisett with her fiance Alex, with their cat Hunter & crazy Vizsla sisters, Hazel and Harlow.

Anne is Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid Certified by Pet Emergency Education.

Stephanie Fowlie

Stephanie Fowlie

Stephanie attended Bristol Aggie and graduated in 2016 with a major in Small Animal Science. Stephanie joined the crew in September of 2019, working hands on with our Daycare & Boarding pups! She knew animals were her passion, which led to her graduating from Unity College in May 2020 where she majored in Captive Wildlife Care and Education with a minor in Zoology. She has been volunteering at the Fairhaven Animal Shelter since 2017 and still does it on her days off. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her naked kitty, Creature.

Kim Aguiar

Kim Aguiar

Team Leader

Kim was a client of Emma Marie’s before joining the staff in October 2019. She resides in Rochester with her Husband Carlos and her two son’s C.J. & Dylan. Kim and her family are the proud owners of two Portuguese Water dogs Leo & Adele. When Kim isn’t spending time with her family you will find her enjoying her other passion fitness. Besides working here Kim is a personal trainer and fitness instructor.

Samantha Croke

Samantha Croke

Certified in Pet CPR and Pet First Aid

Samantha also known as “Sam”, currently resides in Wareham with her husband and two daughters. Sam has  pups of her own: a German Shepherd, as well as Noodle, her standard poodle. Sam graduated from Brockton High in 2005 and attended UMASS Dartmouth. She began her grooming career 10 years ago, along with her love for grooming and animals she enjoys camping, and beach days with her family.

Shi Major

Shi Major

Certified in Pet CPR and Pet First Aid

Shi Major grew up in the central part of Massachusetts. She joined the staff in November 2020. Resides in Mattapoisett along with her husband, son, horse, two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Breeze and Piper and six chickens. Shi enjoys including her dogs in all her outdoor adventures and training them for obedience, duck hunting, dock diving and being model canine citizens.
Ashley Smith

Ashley Smith

Manager

Ashley grew up in Providence, RI and is now living in New Bedford with her fiancé, Daniel. Growing up, she always had a passion for all animals, big and small. She graduated with her degree in Veterinary Technology and became a Certified Veterinary Technician in 2014. After spending 6 years as a CVT at the Mattapoisett Animal Hospital, she joined the Emma Marie’s team in March of 2021. Ashley has 2 dogs, Chevelle and Hennessey, a cat named Shenzi, and a bearded dragon named Mushu. In her free time, she enjoys going on hikes, playing video games, and traveling, especially to Disney!

Lea Seablom

Lea Seablom

Certified in Pet CPR and Pet First Aid

Lea joined the staff in June 2021. She grew up in Lakeville and graduated from Apponequet Regional High School. Lea has been around animals her whle life, knowing she’s wanted her career to involve dogs. In her spare time she enjoys going camping with her family, going to the beach with friends and hanging with her dog, Remi!

David Salonis

David Salonis

Certified in Pet CPR and Pet First Aid

David joined the staff in the summer of 2021. He lives in Fall River & graduated from Durfee high school in 2013. He has an American terrier lab mix; and takes value in spending time with his friends & family. If David isn’t at work, you’ll find him hiking & watching sports!

Sandra Vardo

Sandra Vardo

She grew up in Halifax, Ma on a small farm raising sheep and chickens. Not long after graduating high school Sandra found her passion in grooming dogs and has been doing it for the past 8 and 1/2 years. Currently she resides in Fairhaven with her husband Jon, twin sons Jameson and Joseph and their two dogs! She enjoys the outdoors, gardening, hiking, camping, and doing many house projects renovating their 1880s home.

Meg Ferrari

Meg Ferrari

Certified in Pet CPR and Pet First Aid

Meg grew up with all types of animals in Westport, MA and has been passionate about caring for them since a young age. She graduated from Bishop Stang High School in 2012, and since then has studied bioengineering and completed her PhD in the subject while working at Emma Marie’s. She joined the daycare department in September of 2021, and since then has spent time working in the Reception, Grooming, and Onboaring departments, though her heart lies with the pack. Meg currently resides in Westport, MA with her cat, Rue and her Pitbull/German Shepherd mix, Aurora. In her spare time, Meg can be found learning about dog behavior and volunteering at Lighthouse Animal Shelter in New Bedford. She is passionate about supporting the local community of dedicated dog owners, in addition to rescue and rehabilitation of adoptable dogs. She also enjoys hiking, gardening, and spending time at the beach.

Brittany Faria

Brittany Faria

Head of Purchasing

Brittany, aka “B”, joined the Dartmouth staff in October 2021. She grew up in Fall River and Dartmouth, having graduated from Dartmouth High School in 2004. She is “Joey’s mom”, “Aunty B”, PTO Secretary, and self-proclaimed ‘Chaos Coordinator’ of her family. When she isn’t working or planning family adventures, she is usually with friends and extended family, making memories and soaking up quality time.

Megan Loforte

Megan Loforte

Megan is a crazy cat lady who has dedicated her life to strengthening the bond between people and their pets. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science in 2011 and has been working with animals ever since. Her experience includes professional dog training, exotic animal care, and companion animal medicine. Megan joined the Emma Marie’s family in March 2022 after 8 years in the veterinary field (both emergency and general practice). Originally from upstate New York, Megan now resides by the New Bedford shore with her 2 kitties, Fiona & Josie. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing yoga, kayaking and spoiling friends and family with her baked goods.
Wendy Nunes

Wendy Nunes

Wendy joined the staff in June of 2022. She grew up in Westport, MA and currently resides in New Bedford with her husband, two sons, and their sweet poodle pup Myrtle. Wendy graduated from Fisher College with a degree in Early Childhood Education and worked as a teacher before changing her path to work with animals; as she’s always enjoyed the company of dogs!  When Wendy isn’t working, you’ll find her doing fun things with her kids!

Joanna Giamette

Joanna Giamette

Joanna, aka “Jo”, joined the staff in the summer of 2022. She currently resides in Fall River with her wife and two pups; Lyuba, a golden doodle and Cooper, a three-legged beaglier. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time at the beach, camping, photography, and arts and crafts.

Haley Dumoulin

Haley Dumoulin

Haley grew up in Fairhaven, always going to her family’s dairy farm, where she got her first dog, Pawzy, a shepherd/heeler mix. She graduated from Bristol County Agricultural High School in 2022 & joined the Emma Marie’s staff in July of 2022. Haley has worked at Hoof-N-Paw Labradors since 2020 and absolutely loves working with dogs! She still resides in Fairhaven, with her siblings, Grandparents, her red lab Nellie and cat Winston. If Haley’s not working, you’ll find her at the beach looking for sea glass, going for hikes or long walks, doing photography, riding quads, and hanging out with her friends and family. 

Melanie Boucher

Melanie Boucher

Melanie (Mel) lives in East Freetown with her two parents as well as two of her three siblings. She graduated from Apponequet Regional High School in 2015 and attended BCC Fall River right after for Health-related General Studies. Mel is very excited to start another new chapter of her life in Summer of 2022 working for Emma Marie’s. Until now, she has mostly had experience in customer service-related jobs as well as her most recent one where she worked as kitchen staff for an assisted living facility for the last four wonderful years. Only in recent years has she had more free time to explore some of the places she’s wanted to visit as well as partake in some of her favorite activities. Some of which include hiking, sightseeing, and cuddling with her four family dogs (Maisie, Seamus, Loki, & Laila). This experience working with animals and a friendly crew is sure to be her newest favorite adventure yet.

Mckayla Almeida

Mckayla Almeida

Mckayla joined the staff in July of 2022; she grew up in New Bedford & still resides there, today. She graduated from Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School in 2020; took cosmetology as her vocational trade & got her cosmetology license. Mckayla has two dogs she calls her own, a Shih tzu named Nalah and a Schnoodle named phantom. She has always had a love for animals and knew that working with them is where she was meant to be. 

Paige Pimental

Paige Pimental

Paige, a lifelong resident of New Bedford, started at Emma Marie’s in the fall of 2022. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 2016 focused on captive wildlife care and education. She comes with experience working in veterinary medicine: particularly enjoying the scientific/research aspects and has a soft spot for senior pups. Her free time is spent with two of her dogs- Russet the Portuguese Podengo & Harlot the Australian Cattle dog. Together they enjoy practicing agility, going hiking, beachcombing, and making crafts.

Owen Marshalek

Owen Marshalek

Owen grew up in Dartmouth and graduated from Dartmouth High School in 2020.  He is enrolled in the Veterinary Health Care program at Bristol Community College and joined Emma Marie’s team in March of 2023.  Owen’s interests include small engine repair and auto detailing.  In his free time, he enjoys being with his Lab rescue Hailey and his sister’s Newfie, Odin.

Lyndsey Bizarro

Lyndsey Bizarro

Lyndsey joined the Emma Marie’s staff in April of 2023! She graduated from Emerson College in Boston in 2021 in Communications and came back to her hometown of New Bedford to look for a career with animals! She’s loved all kinds and worked at Mellisa’s Pet Depot for a year as keyholder before deciding to branch out and help more clients and their furry friends! Alongside her baby Yogi, she also has a bearded dragon named Chuck. When she’s not hand feeding Chuck some fruit, she’s reading a book or watching cute cat videos on Facebook.
Devyn Hajduga

Devyn Hajduga

Devyn joined the staff in April of 2023; she lives in Fall River with her boyfriend Devin! She grew up in the beautiful scenic farm lands of Pennsylvania on her family’s horse farm raising champion bloodline rottweilers, malamute timberwolf hybrids, cane corso mastiffs and animals of all shapes and sizes. Her lifetime of experience comes from a family line of pet groomers who have passed down the passion. Devyn has quite the zoo at home consisting of her rottweiler Havok, husky Balto, 4 cats, 2 rabbits, 3 crested geckos, 1 gargoyle gecko, 3 leopard geckos, 3 aquatic turtles and several fish tanks, including a koi pond! When she’s not working hard doing what she loves, you can find her amongst nature taking part in hiking, kayaking, 4 wheeling, archery, photography, traveling to truck shows/meets and working on building her Dodge Ram, and more!

Lori Wheaton

Lori Wheaton

Lori resides in North Dartmouth with her husband & daughters. She has a heart for each & every pup…  owning BG (baby girl) the Boston Terrier and Lois, a rescue from Puerto Rico. Lori joined the Emma Marie’s staff in the October of 2023, in our Daycare & Boarding departments, working hands on with the dogs. When Lori isn’t at work, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors, reading, boating, camping, fishing, four wheeling and spending time in Maine her my family. 

Courtney L. Rego

Courtney L. Rego

Courtney was born and raised in the New Bedford/Acushnet area and is a 2012 graduate from New Bedford Highschool. She has traveled all along the east coast by car and has even traveled all the way to Texas! Back in her hometown, she wanted to get into her truest passion- animals. Ever since she was young, she grew around all types, making her very comfortable around any and every kind. Joining our Emma Maries team in 2023, she looks forward to learning about and growing close with all the pups she will meet here. If she is not spending time caring for, and loving the dogs here, she’s at home with her fiancée and their four cats. Her favorite hobbies include curling up with a nice book, playing some fun video games, and exploring the outdoors of the local towns and cities nearby.