Rio Grooming Staff

Rio Grooming Staff Portrait

Karen

President/CEO/Dean of Students

Karen Beskau took over the helm of Rio Grooming Enterprises in October 1999. Karen’s extensive experience in the Pet care industry, nonprofit organizations and advocating for Purebred dogs has positioned her well to lead the staff at Rio Grooming Enterprises. She is passionate about Rio Grooming’s mission of providing the best services to animals in our care, customer service and the community. Since 1999, Rio Grooming has grown to include boarding, training, show dogs, and grooming. Karen has nationally recognized dogs she shows and breeds. She has been active in Pet Care Services Association, Minnesota Purebred Dog Breeders Association, Doberman Pinscher Club of America, Boston Terrier Club of America, as well as many local clubs and affiliations. Rio Grooming Enterprises is one of the nation’s accredited facilities, awarded through the Pet Care Services Association October 23, 2006.

Rio Grooming Staff Portrait

Amy

Vice President / Program Director / Instructor

Amy is the Daughter of Karen Beskau and has been a part of the family business since she was just five years old. In 2009, she graduated Rio Grooming schools program and became a professional pet stylist. In 2011 she moved to Kentucky to attend Nash Academy to become a grooming school instructor and since has been Rio Grooming Schools Program Director. Amy enjoys continuing her education by attending expos and tradeshows in many different parts of the country. When not at work you can find her traveling and competing at dog shows with her French bulldogs, as well as spending time with her husband & son as well as family and friends.

Rio Grooming staff portrait

Jen

Executive Director

Jen has always had a love for animals and began working at Rio Grooming in February 2010 while attending school for vet tech. She loved working at Rio so much that she decided to stay at Rio full time. She changed her major to business and graduated from school in 2013. When not busy with work, Jen loves being able to spend time with her husband Chad, their two kids & Australian Shepherd, Bear. She enjoys taking trips up north with her family, bow hunting, fishing, and enjoying the outdoors.

Rio Grooming Staff Portrait

Jenna

Executive Assistant / Pet Stylist / Instructor

Jenna started school in 2016 and graduated in 2017. Some of her favorite grooming styles includes poodle cuts. Outside of work Jenna enjoys attending concerts, baseball/football games and spending time with her family & pets including donkeys, cows, horses, chickens, rabbits, cats & dogs!

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Jaime

Pet Stylist

Jaime started her grooming career in 2016, after three years in the industry she joined the Rio Grooming team in the summer of 2019 to pursue her love of grooming and to fine tune her skills. Jaime’s favorite breed of dog to groom is the golden retriever due to their outgoing personality and their trim style where she can showcase her scissoring skills. In her free time she enjoys watching Disney movies with her German Shepherd Samantha and her newest addition Ringo the Doberman.

Rio Grooming Staff Portrait

Shauna

Pet Stylist / Instructor

Shauna started grooming school at Rio Grooming in April, 2016 and became an employee in June. Shauna loves grooming because she has an enormous love for dogs and she loves to keep active and busy. Since a job is such a big part of our lives, she wanted to make sure that hers would be doing something she enjoys and looks forward to each day of the week. Outside of grooming Shauna enjoys spending time with her own dogs, Norah, Nellie, Bell and Suri. She also loves camping, going for walks, relaxing at home and she loves her two horses which she mostly trail rides and takes on camping trips.

Rio Grooming Staff Portrait

Sarah

Assistant Manager / Bather 

Sarah started grooming in 2022, shortly after she started as an office staff at Rio. Her favorite breeds to work with are pitties, and any of the giant breeds. Sarah’s an avid reader and has 3 of her own fur babies. Two dogs (Bailey and Bucky) and a cat(Kira).

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Gabby

Pet Stylist / Assistant Manager

Gabby has been in the pet care industry since 2016, and customer service since 2010. She has a passion for all clients, as well as animals. She attended Rio Grooming school in 2021, and has enjoyed every single moment since! From pet stylist alone, she helps out around Rio with being and office assistant and assistant teaching in the grooming school. “I love every dog I have had the pleasure of being around, and give them all the love and attention as I do with my own” -Gabby.  When she is not at work, she loves to spend time outside, watching movies, and being with her family and friends, “soon-to-be husband” Owen, and her two pups Harlow and Beckett.

Rio Grooming Staff Portrait

Haley

Pet Stylist / Office Assistant 

Haley started at Rio Grooming as a bather in 2018, she fell in love with the industry and shortly after started school at Rio Grooming School. Since graduation, Haley has become an important part of the Rio team who spends her shifts as an office assistant, cat grooming and dog grooming. Haley’s favorite breed of dogs to groom are Pomeranians. When she’s not at work you can find her playing volleyball and coaching high school volleyball.

Rio Grooming Staff Portrait

Alexa H.

Pet Stylist / Instructor

Alexa joined Rio Grooming in 2018 as a bather and shortly after, went through the grooming school program. She has always had a passion for dogs and this job has become a dream come true for her. Alexa enjoys seeing all the happy dogs come through the salon and to be able to help them look and feel their best! Alexa is also able to continue her teaching passion here at Rio with assistant teaching in the school when she is not grooming. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, whether it’s going on adventures or relaxing. You will also find her with her little sidekick Langston! (French Bulldog).
Rio Grooming Staff Portrait

Izzy

Pet Stylist

Izzy started her career in January of 2022 where she attended Rio Grooming School, since graduation she has focused on perfecting her skills. Izzy enjoys doing de-shed treatments on shedding dogs as well as smooth shave downs. When not at work you can find Izzy spending time with friends and family as well as hiking with her Goldendoodle “Koda.”

Rio Grooming Staff Portrait

Amanda

Pet Stylist

Amanda started her career in 2018 where she fell in love with the art of grooming and attended Rio Grooming School. She chose this career to be able to build meaningful relationships with the pets she grooms and their owners. She enjoys making a connection with each pet that is on her grooming table. When not grooming you can find Amanda hanging out with her friends or at the roller-skating rink. She also enjoys spending time with her dog “Creature” and cat “Beans”.

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Anna

Pet Stylist

Anna started Rio Grooming School in June 2022, graduating in November. While in school she learned what she was most passionate about, which is to make dogs feel and look amazing! Her favorite breed is a Borzoi because they are tall and elegant. Outside of grooming Anna loves to spend time at home with her two cats named Grover and mama kitty and dog Ozzy who is a pit bull mix. She also loves to spend time in nature, practice yoga and spend time with family and friends!

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Ariel

Pet Stylist

Ariel started in the pet grooming industry in 2020 and has since focused on developing her skills. Her favorite breeds to groom are Schnauzers and Yorkies. Ariel has found a new interest in cat grooming as well! When not at work you can find her watching horror movies with her cat.

Rio Grooming Staff Portrait

Zoe

Assistant Instructor

Zoe started in the industry as a bather in 2020. She then decided to pursue a career in grooming, attending grooming school, and has been grooming since the winter of 2022. Her passion for dog grooming continues to grow more and more each day. Zoe’s favorite breed to groom is a Chow Chow or any large fluffy breed. She has a love for seeing what awesome things students can do throughout school and beyond. Outside of work Zoe enjoys nature, coloring, shopping and spending time with her black lab Sadie.

Rio Grooming Staff Portrait

Abbie

Pet Stylist

Abbie started at Rio Grooming as a bather in 2022 and completed training in 2023 to become a pet stylist. Her favorite breed is an alaskan malamute. While grooming she really enjoys doing stylized haircuts with scissored legs. When not grooming, Abbie likes to watch movies, paint nails, and make earrings.

Rio Grooming Staff Portrait

Alexa S.

Pet Stylist / Office Assistant

Alexa has worked at various pet care facilities in the US starting in 2020 where she developed a strong passion for helping animals of all shapes and sizes. She started in career in pet styling in 2022, Alexa enjoys being able to help both clients and their pets achieve a stylish look and the dog leaving the salon with a wagging tail! Alexa has a golden retriever great pyrenees mix named Brutus and two cats named Tuna and Calvin. When not at work you can find Alexa roller blading, at a concert or rock picking! She also enjoys spending time with her loved ones.

Rio Grooming Staff Portrait

Emily

Pet Stylist

Emily has been involved in the pet grooming industry since 2021, her favorite aspect of grooming is seeing their transformation and the starting look to the finished product! Her favorite breed to groom is the Golden Retriever and the Schnauzer. During her free time, you will find Emily spending time with family and friends, mostly outdoors fishing, hiking or rock hunting!

Headshot coming soon

Jennifer

Office Assistant / Pet Stylist

Jennifer has been in the grooming industry since 2013, starting as a bather, then grooming apprentice, and graduating in April 2014 to become a pet stylist through Petco. Her favorite breeds to work with are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Bichon Frise, but enjoys working with all types of dogs. In her free time she enjoys baking, reading, and spending time with her husband Ben. She shares her home with her two cats (Link and Taz) and French angora rabbit (Jewel).

Headshot coming soon

Allison

Pet Stylist

Bio Coming Soon.

Rio Grooming Staff Portrait

Mara

Bather

Mara began volunteering in 2017 at Rio Grooming, she helped around the salon and assisted in training the doberman show dogs at Rio. After a few years Mara was trained in as a bather/brusher at Rio Grooming and has been focusing on making her fur clients smell and look wonderful! Mara loves to play soccer and basketball and to spend time with her friends and family including her dog Mollie. Mara enjoys working at Rio Grooming because she loves all dogs there are!

Headshot coming soon

Clara

Bather

Clara came to Rio with previous experience taking care of dogs and started as a bather in 2022. She has a dog at home that she loves taking on walks and spending time with. Her favorite dog breed would have to be either an Australian Shepard or a Golden Retriever. A few of her favorite things to do outside of work are shopping, traveling, and hiking/adventuring with friends and family!

Rio Grooming Staff Portrait

Toby

Facility Maintenance Manager

Toby came to work for Rio on 1/8/2003. Prior to Rio, Toby worked at 3m Chemolite in Cottage Grove as a machine operator where he worked until he earned his early retirement . Toby is well known as the “Handy Man” at Rio, he can relate his concepts and ideas to the company’s many projects. He has also garnered the reputation of the DIY “Duct Tape Extraordinaire”! He has shown us there are many creative uses for duct tape, from medical to survival! Duct tape is magical and should be worshipped. Toby also enjoys hunting, fishing, Harleys and his best friend, Champion Pinecrest’s Standing Ovation, a.k.a “Memphis” (Doberman Pinscher)