
Experienced team
Meet The Team

Marijo English
Founder & Pack Leader
Marijo is the passionate owner of Chow Bella. With a deep love for animals and a commitment to providing top-quality services, Marijo has transformed Chow Bella into a community hub where dogs and their owners can enjoy a safe and welcoming environment. Under her leadership, Chow Bella offers everything from grooming and training to a wide selection of premium dog foods, treats, toys, and supplies. Marijo’s dedication to the well-being of pets and their families shines through in every aspect of Chow Bella, making it the go-to spot for dog lovers in the area.

Jennifer Spano
Cat Groomer & Nail Care Specialist
With nearly 20 years of grooming experience, Jenn brings a wealth of knowledge, patience, and a genuine love for animals to Chow Bella. She specializes in **cat grooming** and is also one of the friendly faces behind our **Paws & Relax Nail Bar**, providing nail care for dogs, cats, and small animals. When she’s not pampering our feline friends or perfecting paws, you’ll often find her lending a hand in the grooming salon with baths and plenty of TLC!

Emily Slaton
Groomer
Emily found her inspiration for grooming through her heart dog, Lacie, and has been in the profession for almost 10 years. For the past 4 years, she’s been an integral part of the Chow Bella team, known for her gentle touch, compassion, and keen eye for detail. Her specialties include breed-specific cuts and “anything fluffy,” with a particular love for round, teddy-bear faces. She’s especially fond of grooming poodles, doodles, and bichons — breeds that allow her to showcase her creativity and skill. Emily is a proud dog mom to three: Lacie, who is nearly 10 years old; Scout, a lively Husky; and Preston, her intelligent and spunky Standard Poodle. She believes what makes Chow Bella truly special is its welcoming, loving environment — a place where both dogs and their people feel at home. For nervous pups, Emily focuses on building trust through positive reinforcement, patience, and lots of affection. Outside the salon, Emily enjoys coffee (lots of it!), dreams of dog-friendly beach vacations, and relates most to the Border Collie — active, ambitious, and always eager for the next challenge.

Lisa Rivas
Trainer
Lisa is an AKC-certified dog trainer with more than 20 years of hands-on experience rescuing, training, and working with dogs of all kinds. Recently retired from teaching, Lisa brings her educator’s patience and love of learning to every training session — for both dogs and their humans! A longtime member of the Chow Bella family, Lisa leads our Puppy Foundations, Intermediate and Canine Good Citizen (CGC) programs, using positive, practical training techniques designed to build confidence, strengthen communication, and create happier relationships between dogs and their people.
