Camp Bow Wow Made "Pawfect" Sense to These Hood Alums

Erin: My career has taken turns I could never had anticipated. Looking back, everything was preparing me to do exactly what I'm doing!

Erin: Will and I are both involved in the Frederick Community and we starting talking about what he was interested in doing once the sale of the Frederick News-Post went through [Will was CEO]. Brad and Will are childhood friends and had always wanted to do business together. This provided the perfect opportunity as it's a strong franchise within a strong industry. 

Erin: I was sold from the very first meeting with the gentleman who visited my high school. I had never actually been to Frederick and driving up over the hills on 70 West and seeing the mountains unfold? Double sold. Campus is stunning and just the right size for a gal like me who values relationships with her professors. I remember getting a D on my first Bio 101 exam and having a harsh reality check that I needed to work much harder than I did in high school. I remember how beautiful it was watching the seasons change, making friendships I maintain today, and especially the Pergola parties and late-night fire alarms!

I also vividly remember the collective disillusionment of safety on September 11th, 2001. We processed and grieved as a community. 

Erin: I very fondly remember those who invested in me. Dr. Ellen Koitz the absolute most. Dr. Karen Klisch, who I saw has recently passed, Drs. Dana Cable and Terry Martin who have both now passed but who inspired me beyond measure. I could go on for a while.

Erin: Both my degree in education and in Thanatology have informed my career. In some ways dogs are very similar to students and so are their parents! Very unfortunately, outside of the medical professions, this type of animal care has us in the position of grieving their loss along with their parents. We love them, feel their absence, and work together with their families to create meaning in loss. 

Brad: My undergrad was in computer science, and getting my MBA at Hood gave me the foundation and confidence to move into entrepreneurship. Being there at the same time as Will, also strengthened our desire to go into business together. That combination really shaped both my career and my life.

Will: Getting my MBA from Hood helped prepare me to become the CEO of the Frederick New-Post, and after that career ended it gave me the confidence and knowledge to go all in as an entrepreneur, opening Camp Bow Wow Frederick and launching and acquiring other businesses as well.

Erin: After a nine year hiatus, I was ready to head back to the classroom. Dr. Cable taught my undergrad Death and Dying class which fascinated me. I earned my Masters in Thanatology in 2014 and finished with a perfect 4.0 GPA, something I'd not achieved until then. My advice to young people with whom I have the opportunity  to speak is to find something you are INTERESTED in studying, not simply something that might end in a clear career path. Allow yourself to change your mind and change course, and understand that allowing life to take is course is the best journey. 

Brad: I was working full-time in Frederick and needed something that fit my schedule. I thought about online programs, but I really wanted personal connections too.  Hood gave me both.

Will: Oh, so many reasons!  My family has attended and supported Hood for generations, so when I was working my way up in the family business and wanted to gain new skills and knowledge about business Hood was a natural choice for my MBA.  I also loved the convenience and the quality of the education.

Erin: We have that local community connection together, which gives us the feeling of pride in job creation, charitable giving, and success.

Brad: Well for one, we know that we are all hard-working and smart!

Will: It is valuable to have a shared educational background.  For example, Brad and I got our advanced business degrees at Hood at the same time, so we shared several classes.  Learning alongside each other helped prepare us to work alongside each other.  Having a shared vision, educational foundation, and values is key to our ongoing success.  There is also a camaraderie that we all share because we have advanced degrees from Hood.
 

Erin: There is no substitute for the level of love and celebrity felt when visiting the play yards. Imagine over 80 dogs being THRILLED that you exist. The hardest part is losing them to sudden illnesses. We just recently had one of our beloved 2-year-old Rough Collies (Lassie dog) die from fast acting and vicious B cell lymphoma. There's no sense in that loss and it hurts. 

Brad: Any business is hard. There are always challenges and sacrifices, and sometimes the work has to take priority over time with the people you love. What makes working with dogs special is how they soften those tough moments. My dog Robbie is a perfect example. No matter what kind of day I’ve had, his wagging tail when I walk in the door instantly lifts my mood. Now imagine walking into a yard with twenty dogs all wagging their tails. It’s hard not to feel better.

Will: The best part about working in a business with dogs are the dogs of course!  I have met and gotten to know thousands of dogs since we opened.  I have gotten to know and love breeds I never would have been able to meet without this business. The most difficult?  Dismissing dogs from Camp.  Sometimes we have to dismiss a dog due to personality fit or for safety. This is hard for us because we develop deep relationships with our dogs and their pet parents.  Usually, the pet parents graciously understand and appreciate our focus on the safety and comfort of their dogs and the other dogs in camp, but sometimes not so much.  Take a look at our (very few) one star Google reviews and you can see what I mean!
 

Erin: Yes, we've always had dogs and cats until a family member developed an allergy to the cats. At any given time there are 3-4 dogs in our home of various sizes and breeds. Pet ownership has certainly informed my business. As someone with very high expectations regarding the care of my own dogs, Camp Bow Wow also holds those high expectations. Our clientele know and value that their dogs are treated as our own. 

Brad: I would be a Rottweiler. They are strong and protective but once they trust you, they’re incredibly loyal, gentle, and affectionate.

Will: While my favorite breed is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, personally I would have to say that I am a Labrador Retriever. Labs are loyal and are known for their friendly and outgoing personalities. They are the ultimate people-pleasers. They are intelligent and hard working, energetic, fun, and love exercising.

Erin: That is a hard one. One who loves water and one who gets to be a Camper at Camp Bow Wow!