Meet the Team
Carmen Akella (Founder)
I ’m a native New Yorker, born and raised in Queens. I’ve loved animals my entire life and got my first dog when I was a kid. She was a Doberman/Shepard mix, her name was Chloe. We adopted Chloe when she was 8 weeks old from North Shore Animal League. Later we adopted a kitten that we found abandoned wandering the streets. In 2006 we got JoJo, a Havanese who today is 15 years old. And we recently adopted two kittens, Maya & Ozzie, again from North Shore Animal League, they’re 6-month old siblings. I am also mom to Cara & Marc,13 year-old-twins, who are equally in love with every animal they see.
I spent 20+ years in consumer marketing working for various multinational ad agencies. However, I always knew I wanted to do this and wrote the business plan for JoJo & Co while in B-School, at Cornell University, in 2005. Wanting to have a family and continue to purse my career prompted me to put the business plan on the hold, but I decided to dust it off last year and here we are. Excited to be in Greenpoint. Love this neighborhood, its people, its energy. And thrilled to be a part of Brookfield Properties’ One & Two Blue Slip, and Bell Slip, along with the rest of the Greenpoint community. I look forward to meeting many more wonderful dogs (cats and bunnies and whatever else may come our way!) and all the amazing pet parents out there!
Jackie Gianetto
My name is Jackie and I have been professionally grooming pets for over 5 years. It’s a passion and a job that I love! However, I spent the first half of my career in the fashion industry, working for designers such as Oscar de la Renta. I decided to make the switch to pet grooming and pursue a career that I feel excited about and that allows me to express my creativity, while spending time with animals, all of whom I adore. I believe that if you do what you love you will never work a day in your life again!
I am a native New Yorker, born and raised in Bushwick. Eventually moved to Glendale, Queens where I still live today. I grew up with all sorts of animals. Including, Dobermans, a Siamese cat named Blue (actually my first tattoo is of my cat Blue), a Persian cat named Precious, a parrot named Babe and a Pygmy Marmoset named Junior. As you can tell, I love ALL animals!! I am an only child hence animals became my siblings. Every single fur baby I meet, becomes a part of my family.
During my free time I love spending time with my two fur-babies Rusty, a 10 year-old Pitbull and Storm, a 2 year-old Cane Corso.
Maddie Colon
My name s Madeline (Maddie) and I’m 22 years old. I’m currently a student at LaGuardia Community College, majoring in Criminal Justice. I was born and raised in Queens. My love for dogs began when I was very young. I was about 5 years old when I got my first dog, he is a poodle named Snoopy. Snoopy recently turned 16 years old, and I also have a second dog, Lucas a terrier who is 5. I am dog obsessed and love all dogs I come across! While I was growing up I constantly asked my parents to let me bring home every homeless dog I encountered. I still feel that way today.
During my free time I usually spend time at home with my dogs. For me, having the opportunity to work with dogs is a dream come true. Having them in my life, at work and at home, is something I am grateful for.
