Meet Our Team
Sydney Schaefer - Assistant Dog Grooming Instructor
Sydney is a passionate and dedicated pet groomer who graduated from The Academy of Pet Careers in 2023, where she completed the Professional Grooming program. Certified in Pet CPR & First Aid and Fear Free Grooming, she quickly became a full-time Groomer at Petropolis, where her skills flourished.
Sydney’s love for grooming goes beyond the basics; she thrives on educating her clients and discovered her talent for teaching in her role. Her enthusiasm for the art of grooming shines through as she transforms pets, ensuring they look and feel their best.
With a positive attitude and a commitment to creating a warm, welcoming environment, Sydney is excited to share her expertise with new students. She views her career in grooming as incredibly rewarding and is dedicated to fostering a pet empowerment culture in her teaching.
Hannah DeRienzo - Assistant Dog Training Instructor
Since the age of five, Hannah has demonstrated a deep passion for working with animals. She attended South County Technical School during her junior and senior years of high school, where she successfully completed the Veterinary Assistant program. Upon graduation, Hannah immersed herself in the workforce, gaining valuable experience at various clinics and emergency animal hospitals, with the goal of saving as many animals as possible.
After seven years of dedicated service in the vet med field, she decided to further her education and discovered The Academy of Pet Careers. There, she completed a professional and specialized dog training program, igniting her passion for supporting dogs in a new and impactful way. Hannah now focuses on helping handlers foster stronger bonds and improve communication with their dogs, while also creating a fun and healthy environment for both handlers and their canine companions.
Thor Villhauer - Pet Grooming Instructor
Thor began his grooming career here on Midgard, in New Jersey where he attended the Dogs N’ Cats Grooming School in 2012, while working for a small mom and pop shop. After a few years there, he then went on to groom dogs in Maine, Colorado, Kansas City, and Illinois before settling down here in St. Louis. The realization that a person can go anywhere in the world and still be needed as a groomer fueled his Wanderlust, giving him an opportunity to travel cross country and groom pets at people's homes while camping in some of the most scenic areas of North America.
Before becoming a groomer, it was Thor’s dream to be a teacher spreading knowledge and sharing experiences to a younger generation. Now with years of the Grooming trade under his belt, and his trusty Hammer, Thor is looking forward to melding these two visions together.
Abby Hemsath - Veterinary Assistant Instructor
- Specialized Associates of Veterinary Technology
- Fear Free Certified
Abby Attended The Vet Tech Institue at Hickey College from 2014-2016. She then worked as a Veterinary Technician for 7 years. Abby was able to work in all aspects of the field from exotics, pocket pets, general practice, critical and emergency care, and even some large animal. I look forward to using my knowledge and experiences with students for their career in veterinary assisting.
Abby grew up always having a pet in the home and also grew up riding horses. Abby has 3 younger brothers. Abby currently lives in Washington on a pig farm, with her boyfriend and their dogs. A Golden Retriever (Reya), and a Lab Mix (Roxy).
Lynnette Stewart - Pet Grooming Instructor
- Fear Free™ Certified Groomer
Lynnette Stewart, a dog grooming veteran since 2004, embarked on her path at PetSmart. Her passion for furry friends swiftly elevated her from groomer to salon leader, showcasing not just grooming prowess but remarkable leadership. Her fascination with grooming sparked in childhood, flipping through encyclopedias and discovering the artistic world of dog grooming, notably captivated by the Bedlington terrier's style.
Her upbringing in a household filled with cats and dogs fueled her love for these animals, becoming the foundation of her grooming interest and insights into pet care. Her influence transcends her grooming table, inspiring her own family—her grooming legacy carried on by one of her four children. Beyond grooming, Lynnette finds fulfillment as a mentor and educator, shaping a new generation of groomers. Watching her trainees flourish brings her immense pride, passing on her expertise and love for pet care.
Kaitlin Waite - Dog Training & Behavior Instructor
Kaitlin began working under a professional dog trainer at the young age of 14 when 4-H first introduced her to the world of dogs. Kaitlin went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness in Animal Science/Pre-Vet at the University of Central Missouri. Kaitlin then started her own business where she trained a variety of dogs in various activities. She has trained dogs in Obedience, Tricks, Freestyle, Service Dogs, Agility, Disc, Dock Diving, Bikejoring, and Manners. Her favorite things to teach are Tricks!
Kaitlin’s personal dog has competed in a variety of sports and serves as her Demo Dog for her classes. Her dog, Radical Ruger, has been in multiple commercials and ads for companies like Purina, Bayer, Tropiclean, and many others. In her spare time, Kaitlin enjoys competing with her dog, going to pet events to perform trick shows, and showing off Ruger’s 107 tricks to whoever will watch! She loves showing how positive reinforcement can be used to teach your dog to anything—and love doing it!
Eric Stull - Dog Training Instructor
- Canine Training & Behavior Specialist (Starmark Academy)
- CPDT-KA
- AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
- APC Certified Professional Pet Groomer (APC-PPG)
Eric is a nine-year veteran of the Marine Corps and Army, who after leaving the military, has dedicated himself to understanding canine behavior. Attending multiple training schools lead to opportunities within the fields of obedience, behavior modification and rehabilitation, patrol canines, protection disciplines, and mobility service dogs. Eric's two dogs, Louis (Belgian Malinois) and Vega (Australian Shepherd), combined skills include agility, dock diving, trick training, obedience, explosives detection, tracking, and protection sports. Through his experience and course work, Eric's training journey has helped him find his passion of coaching handlers to provide healthy lives for their canines by communicating with creativity, consistency, and mastering motivation.
Jennifer Schifano - Director of Admissions and Student Services
Jennifer started working in the Pet Care Industry at Petropolis Pet Center, Chesterfield, as Customer Service Manager in 2015. When the role of Director of Admissions was available for the APC, she jumped at the opportunity to work with two passions of hers: people and pets. She focuses on creating a professional relationship with students before, during and after their schooling to help them succeed.
Jennifer helps students with the exit process and finding a job. While managing the Alumni Program and Seminars at the APC, Jennifer is involved in every stage of the student lifecycle. She is on the Board of Advisors for South County Technical High School and holds a membership with the MOCAC.
Addi Harrison - Admissions Specialist
- APC Specialized Dog Trainer (APC-SDT)
- APC Animal Behavior Certified
- PetTech CPR and First Aid Certified
- Non-degree diploma in Companion Animal Nutrition (SIUC)
Addi grew up always having dogs, but in 2020, she got her first dog that she could call her own. Her pup, Kona, inspired her love for training dogs and her love for the pet industry. Kona can do a variety of skills such as basic obedience, service dog skills, scent work, etc.
Addi graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in May 2022 earning a Bachelor’s in English, while also having a minor in Psychology and participating in SIU’s Companion Animal Nutrition course. After graduating, she quicky relocated to St. Charles to attend the Academy of Pet Careers.
By October 2022, Addi graduated from the training program at APC, earning an APC-SDT and APC Animal Behavior Certification. Addi wanted to be a part of the admissions team to help others find their passion in the pet industry and set the industry up for a better future!
Joseph Schifano - Owner/President
Joseph Schifano is the President of The Academy of Pet Careers. His experience in the pet care industry spans 2 decades. As a third-generation owner/operator of Petropolis Pet Resort, Joseph has experienced every aspect of managing a pet business, from caring for the dogs to marketing and sales.
Above all, his goal is to educate pet professionals on how to provide a more empowering experience for their pets and how to succeed in this ever-changing industry.
Joseph graduated with a business degree from Elon University and joined the leadership team at Petropolis. His focus on business strategy, combined with his love for animals, has allowed him to successfully run a pet service business that earns seven figure revenues per year and has earned the following recognition:
- “Best Large Pet Hotel in The Nation” – Groom and Board Magazine
- “Future 50 Business Award” – St. Louis Small Business Monthly
- “Best of St. Louis” – River Front Times
