Style is often measured in the details, and few people understand that better than Lis Johnston.
As the owner of Serenity Pet Spa, Lis has shaped her career around helping dogs look and feel their absolute best. Beyond her salon, she's earned a reputation on a much larger stage. This September, Lis will once again represent Team USA at the World Grooming Championships in Belgium, where the world's top groomers from more than 25 countries compete in what she affectionately calls the "dog groomer Olympics."
Earning a spot on Team USA is an achievement in itself. Throughout the year, Lis travels to qualifying events nationwide, accumulating points through rigorous competition alongside the nation’s best, and only five competitors represent the United States on the world stage.
Competitive grooming blends art and science. Groomers spend six to nine months preparing for a high-stakes showcase where judges inspect every millimeter of a dog's coat and one rogue strand out of place can instantly shatter a score and undo months of painstaking effort. Mastering that level of pressure is precisely what sets Lis apart. She has consistently maintained her rank among the country's top competitors, and in 2021 was named the nation's #1 Groomer of the Year.
By her side is Chubby, a Scottish Terrier who has become her teammate and travel companion. Together, they've earned Best in Show honors, explored Paris between competitions, and are now preparing for another trip across the Atlantic.
While Lis’s talents are recognized around the globe, her work remains centered right here in the Madison area. Every dog that enters her spa benefits from the same skill that earned Lis national recognition. Through hands-on mentorship and meticulous staff training, Lis ensures that every groomer across Serenity Pet Spa’s three locations delivers that same world-class standard of care.