Our Team

We're pet people who love tech
• Meet our dog-loving team •

Our Team

We're pet people who love tech
• Meet our dog-loving team •

Our Mission

Were on a mission to make it easier for pets, and their people, to live their best life.

What makes us different

We’re on a mission to make it easier, and more fun, for pets and their people to live their best lives. We only bring the best of the best on board. We hire dog-loving people with professional pet care experience who demonstrate trustworthiness, reliability, strong judgement, and – you guessed it – LOVE. PETS. Through our four-step hiring process, each candidate must successfully pass 2 interviews, 1 background check, and 20 hours of classroom and field training. Every Skipper must embody each of our 6 core values:

PURSUE RESULTS

(Accountability | Progress | Business Success)

We take ownership in our work, act with accountability, and focus on results.

We set clear goals, track progress, and consistently follow through to achieve success.

When challenges arise, we problem-solve, adapt, and drive solutions forward.

Act With Integrity

(Trust | Respect | Doing the Right Thing)

We lead with honesty and transparency, always doing what’s best for our clients (pups and people), team, and business.

We respect each other’s time, perspectives, and contributions.

We follow through on commitments, own our mistakes, and address challenges with honesty.

Wow Every Time

(Client Experience | Quality | Innovation)

We go beyond expectations to create extraordinary experiences for our clients (pups and people), team, and community.

Every detail matters – we take pride in delivering quality at every touchpoint.

Innovation isn’t a one-time event; we constantly improve and elevate what we do.

Stronger Together

(Collaboration | Adaptability | Growth-Mindedness)

We push boundaries, embrace change, and grow together.

Great ideas come from everywhere – we listen, learn, and support each other.

Our success is built on
teamwork, trust, and a shared commitment to improve.

Quality care & lots of love

Not only are our team members awesome at their jobs, they’re also experts in giving top-tier belly rubs and wrote the handbook for Dogs 101. No matter which Skiptown dog-loving team member is caring for your pet pals, you can rest assured they will be given quality care and lots of love.

Meet the SKIPTOWN HQ TEAM

Mike Rotondo
CEO

Mike is a results-driven leader known for boosting business performance and profitability through strategic vision and team empowerment. Under his guidance as CEO at Altitude he launched profitable programs like the “Endless Jumps” membership, which has driven sustained, double-digit sales growth at numerous locations. With a focus on operational excellence Mike is Honored as a Hall of Fame Georgia Titan 100 for his contributions to business and community, Mike is celebrated for his ability to inspire his team, deliver strong financial results, and build a brand that delights families nationwide.

Molly Fisher
Head of Finance

Molly was born in Massachusetts but spent the past 15 years in NYC. She just moved to Charlotte to join the Skiptown team. She received her BS and MS from Syracuse University and her MBA from Wharton. She started her career on Wall Street, but more recently has held a handful of finance and operational leadership roles at hospitality startups. She enjoys rooting for her New England Patriots, spending time with her rescue dachshund Tillie, and exploring her new home in Charlotte.

Luke Griffith
Head of Engineering

Neighborhood: Atlanta

Luke started his career in the restaurant world managing a pair of Chick-fil-A restaurants. He broke sales and customer satisfaction records there before changing career paths to pursue programming full-time for a leading marketing company. He has always been a dog lover and is passionate about helping bring Skipper to the rest of the Southeast and beyond. In their free time, Luke and his wife love exploring Charlotte with their dog, Darby.

Heather Stennis
Head of Marketing

Heather was born in Pensacola, FL and raised across the southeast in a military family. She has worked in restaurant marketing for almost twenty years growing local and national brands. As a huge dog lover she decided to move to the pet services industry recently and is excited to grow the Skiptown brand. Heather enjoys traveling, camping, hiking and cooking with her husband and two children.

Jessica Willis
Head of Operations

Jessica was born and raised in west Tennessee and relocated to Knoxville for college. She has a B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee. She has spent the majority of her career in the veterinary industry and has always been an animal lover. She has moved around throughout her career but relocated to Charlotte to work at Skiptown. She enjoys traveling, hiking, exploring Charlotte and spending time with her two adult children.

Nicole Merchant Oliveira
Operations Strategy Manager

Neighborhood: South End

Nicole grew up in Seattle and moved to Charlotte in 2010. Nicole, her husband, and their pug, Myla, spend their free time exploring the walking trails and dog-friendly restaurant patios of Charlotte.

Liz Sims
Product Manager

Liz grew up in North Carolina and graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a business degree, specializing in marketing. She has lived in Charlotte for the last 7 years and worked at a variety of digitally focused organizations. Outside of work, she enjoys hanging out with friends, going to the gym, trying out a new recipe, or taking a trip to the North Carolina mountains to enjoy the outdoors.

Jayson Ward
Senior Software Engineer

Jayson grew up in North Carolina. After college he moved to Southern California, and later in Australia where he spent 8 years. Jayson started his professional career as an urban planner, but later on, happily transitioned into software engineering. He has a Master of Fine Arts degree and spends a lot of his non-tech time in the studio making stuff, as well as just sitting in the backyard looking at the trees. He lives up I-85 in Greensboro with his dog Jefe and enjoys coming down to Charlotte often to experience the city’s amazing growth and food scene.

Synthia Wright
Manager of People Strategy and Development

Synthia graduated with her Masters in Health and Human Performance but found her passion in Pet Care and has been building businesses within the industry since 2014. Outside of work, you can find Synthia curled up with her kindle, traveling with her wife, or doting on their two perfect small terrier mixes Noodle and Nugget, and spending time with their families in SC and TN.

Mia Blanton
Client Experience Lead

Mia graduated with a bachelor's degree in Social Work from the University of South Carolina. After taking a break from school to become a barista, she fell in love with the service industry and discovered her passion for client experience—making sure every customer feels seen and heard. The only thing better than coffee and people? Pups and people! That passion led her to Skiptown, where she’s dedicated to creating the best possible experience for dogs and their humans. Outside of work, you can find Mia obsessing over her dog, George, and her cat, Remy, serving at her church, crafting, and getting lost in a good book.

Frog Parton
General Manager
Charlotte

Born and raised in Candler, NC, Frog has proudly called North Carolina home for all 43 years of his life, with the last 24 spent in Charlotte. As the GM of Skiptown, Frog brings a passion for community, leadership, and a deep love for pets and people alike. A graduate of UNC Charlotte with a degree in Management Information Systems, he combines strong operational know-how with a commitment to creating a welcoming experience for every guest and their furry companions. When he's not at Skiptown, you’ll likely find Frog spending quality time with his two kids and beautiful wife exploring local hiking trails with their pup Pappy, or cheering on his favorite teams—the Carolina TarHeels and anything NASCAR.

Aleq Quintanilla
General Manager
Denver

With a lifelong background in hospitality, Aleq began his career with Topgolf, gaining multi-market experience across several states. This foundation led to a transition into hotel operations, where he was drawn to the scale and complexity of large properties and focused on developing as a strong, service-driven leader. After a brief personal pause to marry his wife and spend time as a stay-at-home dad, he re-entered the workforce and found a perfect fit at Skiptown. A lifelong animal lover, he brings the same care and energy to his work as he does to life with his two dogs, Stella and Luna. He remains committed to delivering exceptional experiences and making a positive impact across guests, employees, and the pets they serve.

Experienced restaurant and entertainment venue operator with extensive experience and a successful track record. I have 30 years in the hospitality industry, with most of that time spent at the GM level or above. I am a leader with expert team leadership, planning, and organizational skills developed throughout my successful career. I effectively equip employees to independently handle daily functions and meet customer needs. I am a diligent trainer and mentor with exceptional management abilities and a results-driven approach.

Our Team

We're pet people who love tech
• Meet our dog-loving team •