Meet our Team
Our members work shifts are listed under each person's bio. Days may change depending on each person's personal schedule. If you need to be in contact with groomers that are no longer available, please see Brett for their contact information. Businesses staff does change when starting out. Brett is very particular and has cycled through some groomer's to get the personality and talent that Fionna's name deserves.
Fionna
I was born on February 13, 2006 in Corbin Kentucky and passed away March 23, 2018. I loved my daddy because he spoiled me like the princess I was. In fact, he started a business in my name! Although, I didn't need a haircut myself, my friends do. I was always here to greet all of the new dogs, cats & birds that come in to "my store". If you didn't see me beating down the door to get to you, I may have been asleep in my bed. It wasn't long before you saw me at the Cumberland & Benham, KY. location with the BEST Daddy in the world. Dan Robinson Photography was kind enough to let me use this picture as a profile photo.
Herwin Carbungco
Herwin is Fionna's weekend bather. He is very fast and very talented. Don't let his shyness fool you, he is one of the nicest people you will ever meet, IF he ever takes a break from the back. He moved to the United States from the Philippines in the summer of 2016. He is a professional cyclist and enjoys biking everywhere he can. If you need a bicycle rider, he's your man! Stop in and say hello to our youngest member of Fionna's.
Bryan LeFrancois
Bryan is Fionna's FIRST and only Professional Pet Trainer as of now. I am originally from Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He moved to Aberdeen, Ohio when he was very young and spent his life growing up there. Brett got Bryan a job and convinced Bryan moved to Lexington, Kentucky in 2006 where he met most of Fionna's team and they began a very great friendship. Bryan has a patience of teaching pet parents, better than most anyone we have ever met. He loves doing his job and feels very gratified when he see's his students earning high levels of achievement after they leave his class. His training classes will be held at the Cumberland location on Sunday's. Times may vary due to the best group session as a whole. He believes in doing small groups of 4-5 students at a time, so everyone can get the one on one attention that they deserve as well as learning to work with distractions. Bryan has received several accomplished recognition from past students as well as previous employers at doing an outstanding job relating to customers and their individual needs. Bryan completed his Pet Training Certification in Florence, Kentucky with the PMLI. He is more than very proud to claim Fionna's as his place of student studies. Bryan can be found working at the Cumberland location also learning how to groom professionally under Brett. Please stop in for questions. He is all about helping the public. Bryan is now a license Cosmetologist and is working at Julia's Hair Boutique, across the road from Fionna's. He is great with ethnic hair, extensions, color and cuts. If you can't catch him at Fionna's you can call Julia's at 606-589-2650. He is there on Thursdays and Fridays currently but will adding more days as more clients pick up.
Esmerelda Ezmarelda came from a barn in Hiram, KY., where she was use to running and catching mice and rats. She wasn't friendly when she first arrived and would run away. She was quickly tamed by our Pet Trainer/Groomer Bryan, by his persistent and loving hands. If you notice her left ear was snipped (altered feral cat visual identification) at the tip to show that she has been spayed. Fionna's did this at one of the low-cost spay/neuter/vaccine clinics before they knew how her life would turn around; from barn-cat to Fionna's team member!
Haymitch From Wallins, KY. Haymitch has a very special place in EVERYONE's hearts! He is usually lounged out on the counter, waiting to BOP your nose/face with his head. This is a "high-five" in cat language. He was the reason that all of our cats are here. He loves dogs, cats, birds... well, maybe just big birds. We are so thankful that he became our very first "Shop Cat" and love him more than anyone will ever know. Thank you Natasha for bringing us such a wonderful addition to our salon.
Gaston
Gaston came from Paris, KY. from the PAWS location. He was our second feline addition. Haymitch was a lonely guy after the crew left work each day, so... Fionna's thought, "let's adopt another one since Haymitch was such a wonderful addition". Gaston is full of spunk! He is standoffish of most bigger dogs and will gladly move out of their way. He loves his people, though. We are so thankful that Dr. Walker Logan picked him out for us... we will never forget her for this, among a thousand other things!
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Brett Sparkmon
Brett opened the first Fionna's Grooming Boutique, LLC. in Lexington, KY., with inspiration of his life-long love of animals, especially his Boston Terrier, Fionna. Brett has been involved in animal welfare since he was 5 years old. He has been a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, part of Animal medicine & many leadership & management fields in the pet industry. He just wanted to show his love in a different way than the regular "mom & pop shops" and the big time pet industries as well. He also wanted to bring job opportunities in a "new" light. He opened the original Fionna's in Lexington, Kentucky on August 3rd, 2010. He opened the second shop October 8th, in Cumberland, Kentucky 2012. Brett did not want to sell the Lexington location, but without other groomers in Cumberland, time crunching made this very difficult. Equines, Guinea Fowl, Peafowl and Waterfowl are his favorite animals, especially mules, horses and geese; he is always on the look-out for a guinea, peafowl, duck, goose or swan that needs a home. He is a big admirer of the Carolina Waterfowl Rescue CWR and wishes that more people would research them and their tender hearts. But don't let his waterfowl love deter you from bringing in your four-legged friends. He really has a way with all the little critters. Though young, he definitely knows his customer service & his grooming skills are tipping the scales of perfection. Brett loves mentoring students how to groom. Certified through the PSLI, he has trained and studied under many different aspects of grooming. As of 2015, Brett returned to college to fulfill his dream of becoming a Veterinarian. He still has a way to go, but is on the track. His days at Fionna's may be staggered over the next few years as he finishes college, but still plans to groom as much as he can during the course of it. He hopes to be an ALL Species Veterinarian with his focus on large animals, as well as small. Please wish him luck, because we truly believe that he has been luckily blessed this far along. Brett also recently graduated from The American School of Equine Dentistry School and is available for Equine Dental Floatings. Please call 606-589-0092 or email him at [email protected] to schedule your next equine floating.
Brett is also helping out at Powell Valley Animal Hospital in Big Stone Gap, VA. as a Veterinary Technician a few days a week. You can reach him at 276-524-1214 in cases of emergencies. Brett would love to thank all of the clients and friends he made in Lexington over the past 10 years of serving and getting to know. Please feel free to contact him for his best recommendations at 606-589-0092. Please be assured that he will do his best to help everyone with your pets new groomer. Earnest
Earnest was our young, neutered, Hemingway, cat that we rescued from Cumberland, KY. and made a permanent resident at Fionna's. He loved to grab pet's leashes as they walk in the salon...but WATCH OUT... he loves to bite peoples ankles and feet. He was transferred to Maryland and adopted from a PetsMart store
Anani
Anani is from Norton, VA. and is our very shy female cat. She loves to greet people, but don't bother reaching to pet her. She cowers away at hands. Fionna's is working to tame her, like they did Ezmarelda.
Sammy
Sammy is one of our salon favorites. He may be in his cage or he MAY be beside us on a perch. He sometimes talks A LOT and sometimes rarely speaks at all to people. He loves children. He loves people with handicaps. He loves fruits, pellets, peanut butter and most of all craisins! Sammy say's "I love you", "Hello", "Hey there", "Hi little baby", "yahoo", laughs, sings, barks, whines, meows and screams and yells for "HELP!" He is always the topic of discussion. We can't thank the people enough for allowing us to adopt Sammy. He is one of our most prized possessions here at Fionna's!
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Oliver
Oliver was a sad creature that became a great addition, that we didn't expect. He was living under Crestline Flowers here in Cumberland, KY. He was young, sick and full of worms "EWW"! We didn't even realize that he was mostly white. We also didn't think that he could hear. Shortly, after meds and a couple baths, we discovered a whole new cat! He is our wonderful "fat" boy now. He spends most his time, greeting people or dogs. You may catch him sleeping, a LOT, he is also our salon lush! He LOVES to lay by the pet fountain and drink his day away! Thank you, to whomever missed out on the chance of having the best kitty ever!