Melissa Verplank, Certified Master Stylist, President and Director of The Paragon School, developed the training programs and has gone to great lengths to ensure the thoroughness of the curriculum.

Melissa Verplank began her career with pets in 1977 as a kennel assistant. By 1979, she was bathing and grooming pets in a large boarding kennel environment. In 1983, Melissa moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan and established Four Paws Mobile Grooming with one mobile grooming unit. Within four years that business has swelled to a fleet of six mobile units plus a salon based operation in Grandville, which later went on to be The Paragon School in 1992. In 1985, Melissa stepped into the professional pet styling arena and also became a Certified Master Stylist under IPG and the ISCC voluntary testing organizations. By 1990, she ranked as one of the six top stylists in the United States and was a member of Groom Team USA, representing the United States in world team competition in France.

After her success in the contest arena, Melissa went on to become a highly respected judge and speaker at industry functions. From 1997 – 1998, she was the Coordinator for Groom Team USA.  She was also on the Board of Directors for Groom Team USA from 2003 to 2006.   In 1999, she assisted with the formation of the International Judges Association. She accepts judging and speaking assignments across the globe and assists other top stylists with highly specialized weekend clinics at the Paragon School.  Melissa  is the  award winning author of “Notes from the Grooming Table”.  She continues to develop educational material for groomers.  Melissa has partnered with Wag n' Tails Mobile Grooming Conversions to train new mobile grooming business owners in the art of professional pet styling.  Currently, Melissa is focusing on curriculum development, long term planning for the school and developing a high end pet resort and spa.  She will be speaking on a 10 city tour for White Dog Enterprises as well as lecturing at major grooming trade shows in 2007.  Melissa will also be traveling to Australia for AusGroom in July 2007 to speak for the Pet Industry Association of Australia.

Melissa's driving force lies in the roots passed down through generations of highly successful local business leaders within her family and an inherent love of animals. These factors along with a two year stint at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, was where she learned to apply the principles of Outward Bound, of which the entire curriculum was based upon. Today, Melissa relies on these key factors as she helps motivate others on their road of personal success.

When Melissa is not working within the realms of Paragon, she and her husband, Marc LaFleur own Black Falcon Farms, where they raise Friesian horses, commonly known as the black feathered horse. Together, she and Marc enjoy all types of outdoor adventures including trail riding, fly fishing, hiking and scuba diving.   Melissa also loves gourmet cooking.  Their four legged family includes two Maremma Sheepdogs, a Doberman, a Bernese Mountain Dog, six cats and eight horses.