As former US Air Force officers, Linda and Russ Smariga have had unique experiences that have helped shape their leadership styles and have ultimately led them to be successful business owners. Their time in the military shaped the people they are today, impacting their lives and their petbar location in Flower Mound, Texas.
Linda served for 13 years as an aircraft maintenance officer, managing a fleet of aircraft from the modified KC-135 to the Stealth Fighter F-117 and the Warthog A10’s, and all of the mechanics and specialists who maintained them. She worked to meet an aggressive daily flight schedule while executing numerous military exercises. Russ served for 10 years managing reconnaissance and electronic warfare engineering projects. His first assignment was to Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio, and his projects included classified payloads for the U-2, TR-1, and SR71 spy planes. The Air Force selected both Linda and Russ to attend a full-time 15-month master’s degree program at the Air Force Institute of Technology and were later stationed in Las Vegas, NV. In Las Vegas, Linda was assigned to the then top-secret F-117 unit while Russ managed flight test programs for the Air Force.
Throughout their military careers, Linda and Russ held various leadership roles that required them to manage and lead teams varying from 20 members to over 500. Linda’s roles involved directly and indirectly supervising dozens to hundreds of personnel, while Russ led technical management of engineering development and flight test teams. They both learned the importance of empowering their teams with proper training, tools, encouragement, and discipline. Russ, in particular, emphasized the importance of getting the team to perform together as quickly as possible by listening to each team member, pitching in, and removing obstacles as soon as possible.
After their military service, Linda and Russ worked in corporate America, providing services that were more “virtual” than tangible, and they always dreamed of one day owning their own business. When they discovered the petbar franchise, they knew it was the perfect opportunity for them. The brand brings a unique and innovative concept to the pet grooming industry, offering a high-end spa experience for pets, in an equally appealing environment to both pets and their owners.
“We were immediately attracted to the petbar brand and its potential,” says Russ. “We knew there was a demand for high-quality pet grooming services, and we saw the potential for growth and success with the petbar franchise.”
With their extensive experience in leadership and management, Linda and Russ have successfully run their petbar franchise, providing top-notch grooming services to their customers and building a loyal following in their community.
One of the key leadership skills that Linda and Russ have brought from their military experience is the importance of empowering their team with proper training. They believe that providing clear guidance and giving people confidence is crucial to their success and the ultimate satisfaction of the customer. This skill has helped them ensure that their team is equipped to provide high-quality pet grooming services to their customers.
In addition to empowering their team through training, the pair has seen that the discipline and consistent methodology acquired from their military experience has significantly benefited their business. By applying these skills to their business, things like cleaning the store throughout the day have become second nature to the team and produce excellent results and an appealing space for groomers and customers.
“Our experiences in the military taught us so many things that we use in our business practices and daily lives,” said Russ. “Empowering our team and ensuring that each member knows their role is essential to the business’s success is really important to us. We work hard with the team to honor special scheduling considerations from medical appointments to family obligations. It’s essential to our business that our team works well together to succeed.”
Though the pair’s skills from the military play a massive role in their business leadership, Linda has noticed that a key difference in their leadership style is the added layer of extending grace to their team. “We’re all human, and we are all going to make mistakes,” Linda said. “Extending grace to our team is one way we ensure that they are satisfied in their role, work well together, and feel comfortable bringing questions and concerns to leadership.” Linda and Russ want their team to be proud of their work and feel like they are part of a team that works together to succeed.
Running their petbar location has presented new challenges and required them to learn new skills they did not previously acquire in the military. They have had to focus on the P&L, marketing/advertising, running payroll, customer service, and dealing with commercial real estate, leases, and landlords. However, their military experience has provided them with a foundation that has helped them manage their team effectively and efficiently, and overcome any obstacles that come their way.
The petbar franchise has grown rapidly in recent years, with locations nationwide. The franchise offers a turnkey business model, providing franchisees with all the tools and resources they need to start and grow their own successful pet grooming business.
As they continue to grow their business and serve their customers, Linda and Russ remain committed to their military values of integrity, teamwork, and service. They take pride in their work and are grateful for the opportunity to own and operate a successful petbar franchise.
Linda and Russ’s journey from serving in the US Air Force to owning a petbar is a testament to the adaptability and versatility of the military experience. “We’re honored to be able to serve our customers and our community through our petbar franchise,” says Linda. “It’s been an incredible journey, and we look forward to continuing to grow and succeed in the years ahead.”