Franchising

Our Franchise Team

The Skiptown Difference

Skiptown is a dream come true for franchisees, owners and especially pets. This is all made possible by one simple thing: A Culture of Care. This is our driving motivation behind every person, place, and personality. It transforms a scary situation—leaving your loved one—into a moment of pride and purpose, knowing there’s no place better and no one who cares more. That’s the Skiptown difference.

Meet the Skiptown Team

We’ve assembled a tight-knit, top-notch team of cross-discipline experts to help you invest, grow, and succeed—every step of the way.

Mike Rotondo

CEO

Read bio

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

CFO

Read bio

Molly brings over 15 years of leadership experience from innovative, high-growth companies including HelloFresh, Dig Inn, and Wonder. Known for her ability to guide teams through growth and change, Molly has built a reputation for combining financial expertise with a deep commitment to people and community. She earned her MBA from The Wharton School, where she was nominated for the Forte Foundation’s Edie Hunt Inspiration Award, and began her career at Goldman Sachs, building a strong foundation in finance.

Patti Rother

CDO

Read bio

Patti serves as Chief Development Officer at Skiptown, bringing nearly two decades of leadership across operations, real estate, and franchise development. Before joining Skiptown, she held executive roles with national brands including Panera Bread, Noodles & Company, Blink Fitness, Scenthound, and Frios Gourmet Pops, where she helped guide rapid system growth and build scalable development infrastructures. A passionate advocate for ethical, people-first franchising, Patti is known for blending data-driven systems with human-centered leadership to drive sustainable brand expansion. Patti lives in Colorado with her three children and their pitbull-boxer mix, a ball of energy and an unapologetic cuddler.

Kristen Risby

Head of Marketing & Communications

Read bio

Kristen comes to Skiptown with over twenty years in the franchise and multi-unit space with brands like The Little Gym, Elements Massage, RE/MAX, and more. Her time in the pet space began in 2019 as the VP of Marketing for Wag N’ Wash Natural Pet Food & Grooming. In 2020, Kristen was promoted to President of the organization and spearheaded the sale of the business to Pet Supplies Plus in 2021. She received her Bachelors in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. She lives in Colorado with her two young children and their very naughty Labrador Retriever.

Liz Sims

Head of Digital Product

Read bio

Liz brings 12 years of product and digital leadership experience from growth-focused organizations including The Grit Group and Red Ventures.. She specializes in digital product strategy and user experience optimization, and is known for blending analytical insights with creative execution to deliver scalable solutions that drive business impact. Liz earned her Business Administration degree in Marketing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has spent the past seven years advancing her career in Charlotte.

Nicole Merchant Oliveira

Director of Operations Support

Read bio

Nicole Merchant designs and implements scalable systems that enhance compliance, service delivery, and operational excellence. With a background in quality assurance and a talent for cross-functional collaboration, she has been key to Skiptown’s expansion and success. Nicole grew up on the West Coast and has been a lifelong pug lover and rescuer. She lives with her husband and their four furry children, who keep life joyful and loud. Nicole blends heart and precision in every project—building thoughtful processes that uplift teams, delight clients, and deliver top-tier pet care experiences.

Leia Ricafrente

Director of Brand Growth

Read bio

Leia brings over a decade of experience building and growing brands across the wellness and retail industries, with a career spanning brand marketing, innovation, and storytelling. She has shaped national campaigns, launched new products, and led go-to-market strategies for brands including Elements Massage, Fitness Together, Drybar, and Wag N’ Wash. At Skiptown, Leia channels her love of branding and creativity into shaping how the world experiences Skiptown – from big-picture brand strategy to the small details that make pets and their parents feel connected. . Based in Denver, she lives with her two dogs, who happily remind her that the best ideas often come during a walk.

Synthia Wright

Director of People Services

Read bio

Synthia Wright has spent her career at the intersection of people, purpose, and pups, with a background in training, operations, and people development. As Director of People Services, Synthia leads the company’s people strategy with curiosity and compassion, building systems that empower teams, strengthen culture, and deliver exceptional experiences across every location. She’s driven by the belief that when people feel supported and inspired, they create extraordinary experiences, for pups and for each other.

Our Ethos

“We believe love is a four-legged word.

We believe dogs aren’t pets—they’re family. And family deserves better than “good enough.”

We believe one-size-fits-all never really fits anyone.

We believe care should match the personality, needs, and quirks of each and every pup.

We believe in passionate people and smart technology working hand in paw.

We believe staying connected to your dog shouldn’t stop at the drop-off.

We believe that clean isn’t optional—it’s a continuous commitment to excellence.

We believe peace of mind comes standard.

We believe in creating wag-worthy experiences, one after another, and another, and another.

We believe in leading with care, building with trust, and earning loyalty one tail wag at a time.”

What we stand for

Pursue Results

Life, and work, are endless opportunities to grow, learn, support and repeat. At Skiptown, all employees thrive professionally by taking ownership of their responsibilities and continually seeking improvement and positive solutions.

Act With Integrity

We respect time, perspectives, and all the little things that make us different. Every voice matters. Every role matters. And every belly rub definitely matters.

Wow Every Time

We go above and beyond to create tail-wagging, joy-sparking, brag-to-your-friends kind of experiences—for pups, people, our team, and the community we love.

Stronger Together

Everyone’s voice matters. Together, we chase bold ideas, welcome change, and evolve together—ears up, tails high, and always ready for what’s next.

* Your initial investment and results may differ. Investing in a franchise involves the risk of loss. See Franchise Disclosure Document for additional information regarding investment costs. This information is not intended as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. It is for information purposes only. The offering is by prospectus only. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota , New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. If you are a resident of or want to locate a franchise in one of these states, we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your state. New York State Disclaimer: This advertisement is not an offering. An offering can only be made by prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law.  CALIFORNIA DISCLAIMER: THIS FRANCHISE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.