Our Springfield West Team

Growing Camp!

As dog lovers, the Caruso family love what they do. They were excited to grow their pack even more when the opportunity arose to take on a second location in Springfield, Missouri in March of 2015 . With a great team of Camp Counselors at both locations, they were able to make this expansion and bring their passion for dogs to Springfield! In January 2016, the Carusos decided to try something new when taking on their third location - Camp Bow Wow Lil' Campers of St. Clair Shores, Michigan, one of only two concept locations especially designed to care for our littlest Campers.

They feel right at home in the Camp Bow Wow Franchise as they are both pet owners themselves. Being able to fetch peace of mind for pet parents is something they understand from both sides of the fence. The opportunity that Camp Bow Wow brings to foster and further the relationship between man and his best friend, is an opportunity that’s just too good to pass up.

Community Outreach

The family cares and loves being involved in their camp local communities. Tony and Jamie’s passion for animals allows them to help with charity fundraising and participation with multiple rescue groups in Saint Clair Shores and Springfield. They host bite prevention readings with the “Scout Says, Dogs Get Nervous Too” book at Ella’s school and other local elementary schools and libraries. Tony also uses his dog training knowledge and experience to train volunteers at our local rescues and work with the dogs on a one-on-one basis. You may even catch Tony dressed up in the Scout mascot suit at our events.

We are also excited to announce Tony has received his professional certification by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT)!

Outside of Camp

When Tony and Jamie aren’t busy scratching butts in the play yards at Camp you can usually find them in Downtown Detroit at a Lions or Tiger’s game, in Kansas City watching a Royals baseball game, or hitting the links for a game of golf (Jamie supervises the cart).

Next time you are at Camp, make sure to say hi to Tony and Jamie!

We are excited to introduce Ashton Sims to our Camp Bow Wow family. Ashton will be taking on the role of Chief Operating Officer for our Brighton Township, Grand Rapids Airport, St. Clair Shores, MI, and Springfield, MO locations. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Ashton worked his way up from a Camp Counselor to a General Manager. For the last 3 years he has worked for the Camp Bow Wow corporate team as a Franchise Business Coach supporting new and existing franchise owners with a high focus on customer service, daily operations, and dog safety.

Ashton is committed to building positive relationships with people and serving dogs within their communities. Ashton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Business Administration, providing him with a strong foundation to excel in his role.

In addition to his work, Ashton enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and rock climbing. He also enjoys attending professional sporting events and catching comedy shows or concerts. He is a self-proclaimed foodie, always searching for the best chicken parmesan, and he loves indulging in anime and video games in his free time.

Ashton’s dedication to Camp Bow Wow along with his motivation to inspire others makes him an invaluable Leader. His commitment to providing the best experience is fueled by his love for dogs and people.

Skills and Experience

Background: Previously, Chelsey was the Program Director at the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri for nearly five years.

Additional Skills/Qualifications: Chelsey received her Canine Behavior Assessor Certification through the Humane Society's partnership with PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin' Program which has served her well in both her rescue work as well as in the open play environment at Camp Bow Wow.

Fun Facts

What I love most about my job: Chelsey is thankful for the opportunity at Camp Bow Wow to see, on a daily basis, the positive impact she can have on a dog's life. Being able to meet the mental and physical stimulation needs of dogs with Camp gives Chelsey great joy. She knows that helping the Campers be the best dog they can be will keep them in their FUR-ever home. She also still enjoys helping our friends at the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri through Camp Bow Wow's Foster Dogs At Camp program and various fundraising events.

My pets: Chelsey shares her life with two pups! Her first fur-child is a Jack Russell Terrier Chihuahua mix named Ellie Bug. Ellie is a seven-year old rescue from the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri. She describes Ellie as a "big personality in a little package," which is how we'd describe Chelsey! Finn Diesel, a Border Collie/Australian Shepherd mix, joined Chelsey's family in February of 2017! He stole Chelsey's heart from a rescue in Pittsburgh, Kansas and she will be the first to tell you it was love at first sight. Finn loves to play in the water, go hiking, and playing with his big sister, Ellie!

My hobbies: When Chelsey isn't at work, you can usually find her at her yoga studio, enjoying herself outside or curled up with a book.

Erin is the Manger here at our Springfield West location and has been working with us since July 2021. She wanted to work with us because of her love for animals, especially dogs. As a child, she was always scolded for bringing home strays in an attempt to keep them as her own. It only made sense that when she grew up, she would have a job that involved getting to spend the majority of her time with dogs. She is trained in Pet First Aid and CPR. Her favorite part of the job is being able to bond with the dogs and their owners. Erin has two dogs, Hiccup and Poptart. Hiccup is an overly loveable Pitbull Mix who loves to cuddle and play with his little sister and mom. Poptart is a wild, Catahoula Leopard Mix who will play with any dogs she meets. In Erin’s free time, she enjoys going to the movies, spending time outdoors, and hanging out with friends at local breweries.

Victoria is a Camp Counselor. She wanted to work with us because of her love for animals and her desire to work with dogs. Her favorite part of the job is working with the dogs and going to work not knowing what it will be like every day. Victoria has a Shih Tzu named Jessie. Jessie seems to think she is a human. In Victoria’s free time, she enjoys doing art.

McKenna is a Senior Counselor and has been working with us since January 2023. She wanted to work with us because dogs bring her joy and wanted a job that she would like and be excited to come to every day. McKenna’s experience has come from growing up on a farm and spending a lot of time with her uncle, who is a vet. Aside from the dogs, her favorite part of the job is interacting with the pet parents every day. McKenna has two golden siblings who are full of energy and personality. Tux is a year and a half old and takes on the “big brother” role at the house. He loves all toys, going on walks, and coming to Camp. Lemon is 4 months old and loves cuddles, snacks, and following Tux around mimicking his every move. In McKenna’s free time, she enjoys being outdoors. She loves to hike and takes the dogs out for walks. She also enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Skills and Experience

Background: Beverly has known and worked with Camp Rangerette Jamie since 2001. You read that right, that’s 17 years! Beverly loved working with her and thought it would be fun to combine her love of marketing with her love for dogs.

Additional Skills/Qualifications: Beverly works hard behind the scenes for Camp but she also has personal experience in training. She trained one of her dogs in level one, level two, agility, freestyle, and fly ball in 2000. Beverly loves working with dogs and truly sees the value in socialization and training. Beverly isn’t the average marketing consultant – she’s the paw-fect person for us, right?!

Fun Facts

What I love most about my job: Beverly’s favorite part of her job is working with people who love dogs as much as she does. She loves sharing the Camp Bow Wow brand with other dog lovers! Beverly gets to spend a lot of time on social media, looking at cute dog photos, dog videos, and planning fun events for you and your pup. She can’t get enough of it!

My pets: At home, Beverly has two dogs. Midnight is a Labrador Retriever/Corgi mix who she rescued in 2013. Midnight was six years old at the time and Beverly happily gave him a better life! Minna is a Miniature Schnauzer who thinks she is human. She was more than happy when Beverly brought home Midnight and quickly taught him how to play and chase squirrels!

My hobbies: Outside of her marketing world, Beverly is a proud Army Wife! She loves spending time with her husband, Bobbie, her adopted son, Zeke, and her step-son, Eliott. Beverly is a coffee addict who enjoys traveling, playing board games, going to the beach, cuddling with her dogs, and spending time outdoors!

Alejandra has been a Camp Counselor with us since March 2023. She wanted to work with us because of her love for dogs. Working with us, she feels confident that she would be excited to work every day. She is Pet First Aid and CPR certified. Her favorite part of the job is watching the new, shy Campers come out of their shells after a couple of visits. Alejandra has a 4-year-old Golden retriever named Denver. He is a giant baby that always wants attention. He is very goofy and loves going to Camp to be with his best friends. In her free time, she focuses on her school work and hangs out with friends and Denver.

Ayden has been a Camp Counselor with us since July 2022. He wanted to work with us because of his love for dogs. His goal is to become a Veterinarian Technician, so he believes working with dogs would be beneficial. Before working at Camp, he was shadowing a local veterinarian office. He learned a lot about dogs from that experience. His favorite part about Camp is being able to interact with the dogs every day. He loves seeing all of the different personalities. Ayden has two dogs. Jax is a 10-year-old Boxer that is a flashy brindle. He's very outgoing and is very sweet. He also has an 11-year-old Yorkie named Gracie. She loves to sleep, especially under a blanket on the couch. In Aydens free time, he enjoys fishing, listening to music, and spending time with friends. He currently plays college baseball, and also enjoys working out and practicing in his free time.

Morgan has been a Camp Counselor with us since June 2023. She wanted to work with us because of her passion for animals, especially dogs. Though Morgan has a pup at home, she couldn't get enough and thought this job would be perfect. The dogs are her favorite part of the job; she believes the staff are a nice bonus. Morgan has a 15-week-old Cockapoo named Bailey. She is a light cream color, very playful and energetic. She can't wait to bring her to Camp to enjoy it with her. In Morgan's free time, she enjoys hanging out with Bailey. They love playing and going on walks together.

Cassidy's been a "paw-some" Camp Counselor since 2023, thanks to her love for dogs and experience training animals at Dickerson Park Zoo! She loves learning the personalities of all the furry friends. When not hanging with the dogs, Cassidy enjoys reading and working with other animals at the zoo.

Meet Kannon, our spirited Camp Counselor who joined our team in September 2023. Drawn by his love for dogs, Kannon finds joy in the ever-changing nature of his role, making each day a new adventure. Outside the canine world, you'll find him perfecting his swing in baseball and golf or engaging in DECA pursuits. At home, Kannon shares his days with Bretie, his shy yet lovable 3-year-old Golden Doodle companion.

Hailey Wilson is the energetic Camp Counselor at Camp Bow Wow, known for her love of animals. She excels at making customers and their pets feel valued. Apart from her work, Hailey is involved in school activities like FCA, Varsity Softball, and Chamber Choir. She is a talented pianist who performs at weddings and competes in softball tournaments. Hailey's home is filled with joy from her pets Harley, Bruce, and Ollie.

Lauren has been with us since December 2020, bringing her love for dogs to work. She enjoys spending time with her own dogs, Thor and Bleu, and unwinds with music and scenic drives. Lauren's playful spirit and passion for dogs make her a valuable addition to the Camp Bow Wow team.

Meet Lauren, a Senior Counselor at Camp Bow Wow Springfield West since December 2020. With a strong passion for dogs and years of experience as a dog mom, including managing CBW Springfield East for a year, Lauren is dedicated to caring for all the furry companions in our Pack. Trained in Pet First Aid and CPR, she ensures the safety and well-being of every pup while spreading love and joy, especially to our adorable powdered face pups. At home, Lauren's furry family includes RJ, a 9-year-old Aussie/Pom mix who loves treats, outdoor adventures, and play dates with his fur cousin Finn from the CBW Pack. When not at Camp, you can find Lauren cheering on the KC Chiefs at Arrowhead stadium, enjoying the outdoors, or spending quality time with friends and family, occasionally indulging in a relaxing night in.

Meet Rilyn, our dedicated Camp Counselor at Camp Bow Wow Springfield West! Joining the team in May, Rilyn embarked on this journey to gain valuable experience before college. With a high school education and previous job experience, Rilyn brings enthusiasm and a love for dogs to the Camp. Their favorite part of the job? Working with dogs alongside a fantastic staff. At home, Rilyn shares their life with two beloved pups, Bear, a playful blue heeler lab mix, and Molly, a sweet but skittish lab mix. In their free time, Rilyn enjoys staying active with sports, spending time outdoors, and indulging in creative hobbies like painting and drawing.