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Our Story

~The idea of Chippie’s Place began several years ago when Connie Wood, a professional pet groomer, wanted to expand Chippie On-The-Go, the mobile pet grooming business she co-owned with Cyndy Tolbert. Both Connie and Cyndy witnessed first-hand the ever-increasing growth of the pet industry and the continuing demand for pet care services. After Connie created the design for the dream facility, she began searching for the right location while Cyndy did the research on how to make the plan work. Dianne Fortner, a grooming client, saw the potential in Connie’s idea and wanted to be a part of the new business venture. With her experience in property management and land acquisition, Dianne helped secure a local building site for a pet boarding, grooming, and daycare facility. Long-time friends, Elysia Greenlee and Karen Cole, soon joined the team, and Chippie's Place was born. Connie, Cyndy, Dianne, Elysia, and Karen are dedicated pet owners with a sincere desire to make Chippie's Place a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable place for pets, and a place about which owners can feel secure and have peace of mind about the care of their pets.

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Meet the Team

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Professional Pet Groomer, Founder, & Facility Manager

Connie Wood

Connie began working in the pet industry in 2007 when she completed training to become a professional pet groomer and opened her own business in the West Georgia area, Chippie On-The-Go Mobile Pet Grooming. Connie is a successful entrepreneur who adores animals and has dedicated herself and her career to caring for them. She has rescued numerous pets over the years and continues to support various animal rescue efforts and organizations. Connie is a native of Aragon, Georgia and has made Villa Rica her home since 2002. Connie is a wife, mother, and grandmother who enjoys spending time with her family and especially with her four grandchildren.

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Founder & Facility Manager

Karen "Missy Kitty" Cole

Karen is the resident "Cat Woman." Not only is she talented as a lead tool inspector at North American Products, Karen is an expert in feline rescue. The full-sized garage that sits alongside her beautiful timber-framed home in Polk County, Georgia, has been transformed into a fully functional, climate controlled "cat house." Through her passion for animal rescue and her past experience as a veterinary technician, Karen has been able to provide a home and safe haven for a multitude of cats throughout the past three decades. Karen enjoys kayaking, spending time with family and friends, and taking care of her cats and dogs. Karen is a native of Dallas, Georgia.

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Founder & Accounting and Finances Manager

Dianne Fortner

Dianne has lived her entire life in the West Georgia area. She is a native of Douglas County and now makes her home in Temple. Dianne enjoys spending time with her pets including her Lucky bird, three dogs, two goats, a small flock of geese, and several chickens. Dianne is a devoted parent and grandparent, and while she is small in stature, she is affectionately known to her family as "Big Mama." Attention to detail is one of Dianne's strengths and something that makes her so successful at managing properties and balancing accounts in her position at Georgia-Alabama Woodlands timber harvesting company in Villa Rica. Dianne is a "numbers expert" who enjoys being active and getting things done.

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Office Manager 

Tanya Furr

Chippie's Place is proud to have Tanya as a facilities manager and one of the first faces patrons and pets will see at the front desk. Tanya is a Villa Rica native and has spent most of her employment career in local area dental offices. She brings to Chippie's Place her extensive managerial experience, customer service skills, and love of animals. Tanya and her husband, Ted, have two dogs, Daisy and Trixie.

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Founder & Media and Marketing Manager

Cyndy Tolbert

Cyndy is a native of Villa Rica, Georgia, a 1979 VRHS graduate, and a lifelong wildcat. Her love for animals began with her earliest recollections of riding and taking care of horses at her grandfather's barn. Cyndy was able to turn her adoration for animals into a business in 2007 when she co-founded Chippie On-The-Go Mobile Pet Grooming. Throughout her life, Cyndy has been an animal rights advocate and rescuer. Her menagerie of pets, both past and present, includes dogs, cats, horses, pigs, goats, rabbits, and chickens.  Cyndy is a middle school teacher in Paulding County, a Dawgs fan, and an avid supporter of her grandchildren's athletic pursuits, general interests, and academic endeavors. 

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Founder & Facility Manager

Elysia "Link" Greenlee

Elysia was born in Texas and grew up in Marietta, Georgia. She holds the honored distinction of being the first female conservation ranger in the state of Georgia. Throughout her career as a law enforcement officer in the Department of Natural Resources, Elysia was able to fulfill her lifelong passion for wildlife protection and environmental conservation. She is philanthropic in her support of animal rescue and spay and neuter efforts in Georgia. Elysia lives in Rockmart, Georgia and can often be seen walking her dogs alongside Vinson Mountain Road or taking care of her large feline family. Elysia loves all things football.

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Jack Russell Terrier

Chippie Girl  2001-2007

Chippie was an amazing, little Jack Russell Terrier who loved to "go bye bye." If she was in a vehicle, she thought she was supposed to be the driver. One of her favorite things to do on weekends was to drive around with the top down in her VW convertible and listen to classic country music. She also enjoyed watching television and jumping up and down in front of the screen anytime an animal would appear. While Chippie was not blessed with a long life, she was certainly a blessing beyond measure in her short time here and a precious companion who will never be forgotten.

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Office Manager

Lisa Jennings

Lisa is a familiar face in the Villa Rica area having lived here her entire life and worked a number of years in offices at Golden City Hosiery Mill and Don-Rich Ford. Chippie's Place is excited to have Lisa as a facilities manager where she can use her office skills and hometown customer service expertise to take care of pets and make clients happy. Lisa and her husband, Kenny, are pet parents to Archie, their Jack Russell Terrier.

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