In 2021, Elaine O’Connor established Prescott Bark, a dog boarding, daycare, and grooming facility, inspired by her love of dogs and a need for high-quality pet care services in the Quad Cities region of north-central Arizona. Ms. O’Connor is a certified canine pet care provider and a certified canine pet care specialist. Driven by their mission to enrich the lives of dogs so that they may bring happiness to their humans, Prescott Bark provides premium services to discerning pet parents who demand a high standard of care for their dogs.
Currently serving as general manager, Ms. O’Connor’s plans for the future include mentoring and coaching another professional to assume these responsibilities while she moves to expand the brand and establish additional locations across the region. Ms. O’Connor is active with several industry-related organizations, including the International Boarding & Pet Services Association and the Prescott Chamber of Commerce.
Dedicated to community service, Ms. O’Connor volunteers with the Yavapai Humane Society and United Animal Friends. Previously, she contributed to the Houston SPCA and was a young leader with The American Ireland Fund. She began her professional journey by earning a Bachelor of Science in information technology from the University of Galway in 2004 and a postgraduate diploma in science and computing in web application development, a joint program offered by Fidelity Investments and the University of Galway, in 2005. During 10 years as a software engineer and project manager, she achieved additional licensure as a certified project management professional from the Project Management Institute. In 2015, Ms. O’Connor pivoted to become a senior leader providing technology and management consulting in various industries, advising leaders and C-suite executives on transforming architectures, improving processes, and realizing operational efficiencies.
Attributing much of her success to her love of learning, Ms. O’Connor greatly enjoyed the process of expanding her knowledge base to design and construct a state-of-the-art pet care services facility. For her commitment to providing not just employment but long-term pet care careers to members of the local community, Ms. O’Connor won the statewide Moonshot Pioneer Pitch Competition in 2022 and was also a finalist in the Empower by GoDaddy Main Street Accelerator in partnership with the Better Business Bureau.