Curtis and holly henry—owners
Curtis and Holly Henry met in 2019 after Curtis, a California native, bought his dog, Lilo, a house in Winston! They quickly adopted Cowfred when the pandemic hit and they settled in to a dog-filled life in the 336. Unhappy after seven years in a corporate job, Curtis decided to pursue a role that would provide more joy and purpose in his days. Holly had gone to school with Michelle Kline (the original Founder of Venture!) and encouraged her dog-loving partner get in touch. As they say, the rest was history!
Michelle and Curtis worked together for a year as he expanded his entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen. Over time, their friendship grew and Michelle decided to trust Curtis and Holly with the next chapter of Venture Dog Walking!
Both Holly and Curtis grew up with parents who own businesses so they’ve seen the impact that small businesses can have in their communities and in their families. Holly brings her experience in talent acquisition and business development to the table while Curtis steers day-to-day operations. Cowfred and Lilo bring with them extensive experience with belly rubs and a shared love of long walks!
Adam Plant—Hiring Coordinator & Team Lead
Adam has his M.Div. from Wake Forest School of Divinity and (when he’s not walking dogs or snuggling puppies) works with faith communities to explore the intersections of religion and gender identity. We couldn’t be happier to have Adam on our team and appreciate his genuine care and connection with every pet he meets. Adam is a Team Lead for Venture, meaning he helps equip new team members in their roles and manages daily operations to keep things running smoothly! He also is our Hiring Coordinator, which is a vital role in helping us be equipped to meet our client’s needs! In his free time, you’ll find Adam enjoying traveling with his partner and hiking with his dog, Obiwan Kenobi.
Jessica Wilson —Training Manager
Jessica moved here from Maryland 3 years ago. She and her husband loved the spot they were living at (right on the C&O canal) but wanted more property to start a little homestead. Jessica has 3 large dogs named Glock, Remi, and Mooshoo! She loves hiking, camping, backpacking, kayaking, and any other outdoor activity you can think of! She loves mountains and beaches equally. She and her husband eloped in 2023 in Pisgah National Forest and it was a dream! She also enjoys plants, tattoos, reading, music, true crime, and of course all animals! Jessica helps train new hires and also facilitates our Training Program, which makes sure our new hires know exactly what to do.
Lindy Paul—Team lead
Lindy, a proud Winston-Salem native, is passionate about her city and its outdoor adventures. She and her husband, Adam, enjoy exploring local hiking trails, with morning walks alongside their dog, Zara. At home, their cat Dixie reigns supreme. Lindy is currently a student at UNCG, working towards a degree in Interior Architecture (go Spartans!). Her creativity and attention to detail are evident in everything she does, from her studies to her role as a dog walker. As a Team Lead for Venture, she equips new team members for their roles and manages daily operations to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Emma Spino—team Lead
Emma is a graduate of High Point University (Go Panthers!), and decided to stay in North Carolina with her husband, whom she recently married in September! They have a dog named Precious (who, Emma says, “is just that”). Growing up in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, she loves to hike, and would like to visit all of the National Parks. If she’s not getting active outside, you can find Emma reading on her porch swing or watching Disney movies. She is a Team Lead for Venture, meaning she helps equip new team members in their roles and manages daily operations to keep things running smoothly!
Sarah Blanchette—Team lead
Sarah moved from Indiana in 2017 and has loved exploring more of Winston-Salem while walking dogs with Venture! She's a self proclaimed dog and cat person (you don't have to choose!) with a dog and cat of her own. In her free time, she loves drawing and painting (especially pet portraits), adventuring with her Great Pyrenees mix named Bebe! She has recently adopted a puppy named Banjo! She has loved watching Bebe and Banjo’s relationship grow and become siblings!
Mary Allison Gray—team trainer
Mary Allison was born and raised right here in Winston-Salem! She has a BA in Nonprofit Management & Community Leadership with a concentration in public policy & advocacy from Salem College! She has deep roots to places like Tanglewood and enjoys taking her two beagles, Rambo, and Cami out to get all the hound sniffs in! Mary Allison, is a immensely caring and supportive person who helped her partner, Chris, beat stage 4 melanoma and they are very excited to get back to a new normal! She is a true-crime podcast fan and has a espicaially soft spot for senior dogs!
jessica wilson—team trainer
Jessica moved here from Maryland 3 years ago. She and her husband loved the spot they were living at (right on the C&O canal) but wanted more property to start a little homestead. Jessica has 3 large dogs named Glock, Remi, and Mooshoo! She loves hiking, camping, backpacking, kayaking, and any other outdoor activity you can think of! She loves mountains and beaches equally. She and her husband eloped in 2023 in Pisgah National Forest and it was a dream! She also enjoys plants, tattoos, reading, music, true crime, and of course all animals!
Molly Blaeser
Molly is joining our team from the snowy plains of Minnesota, and what better way to learn a new city than dog walking? Molly brings a ton of experience working with animals to our team - she and her partner basically run a zoo at home including a turtle, a Blue Heeler and a Pomeranian, two horses, two goats, six cats, & two chameleons - and they STILL say there is room for more!
Meredith boles
Proud to be a Winston-Salem local, Meredith has lived here for a majority of her life and enjoys exploring the area with her adorable pup, Ruby! She is a graduate of UNC Charlotte with her Bachelor’s degree of Elementary Education and Teaching. She loves filling her time with things that bring her joy and allows a creative outlet. In her free time, she loves baking, cooking, reading page-turning thrillers and all things crafts! She enjoys trying new restaurants with her dinner club girlies, and playing pickleball!
Sam Newland
Originally from Washington DC, Sam moved to Winston-Salem in 2016! He and his wife Ericka cherish their pup Olive and are deliberate about cherishing all the time they can get with her. Their first child is due in October! Sam joined the Venture team in August of 2023 and his smiling face has been a great addition to our team! In his free time, he enjoys fishing, gardening, and playing with Miss Olive!
joy chen
Joy is originally from San Diego and moved to Winston Salem in late 2023. She and her husband have been huge dog lovers all their lives and can’t wait to be dog parents sometime soon! In the meantime, Joy absolutely loves spending time with all the Venture pups and learning about Winston along the way. In her free time, she enjoys backcountry hiking & road-tripping, great hazy IPAs, and spending time at our amazing local coffee shops.
lisa garner
Lisa has called Winston-Salem home since 2011 and is the proud rescue mama of two dogs and four cats! She is a lover of all animals and devoted to animal rescue. A lifelong intuitive and healer, she is dedicated to the healing and well-being of animals through energy medicine and founded Sacred Wellness Animal Reiki in February of 2023 after serving friends and family's animal companions for over a decade. When she's not snuggling furbabies, you can find her at Renaissance Festivals or Music Bingo!
Corinne Jenkins
Corinne is originally from Eastern North Carolina, but is proud to call Winston her forever home! She is passionate about all things plants, pets, books and yoga! With a Master's Degree in Library Science, when she’s not loving on the dogs in Winston, she spends her days working at a local high school, where she’s surrounded by the vibrant energy of students and the endless possibilities of books. Corinne brings a warm, caring presence to everything she does.
Jacob Cairns
Jacob moved from Pennsylvania to Winston-Salem after graduating from Penn State University. He joined the Winston-Salem Fellows program and is also studying to get industry certifications in cybersecurity through Cyber Intelligence Transforming Youth (CITY). Jacob enjoys walking and caring for dogs, drawing from his love for his family’s Cairn Terrier, Tucker, who lives with his parents in Pennsylvania. Outside of his work with dogs, Jacob loves biking, hiking, playing games and sports, and listening to classical music.
Sarah May
Originally from Florida, Sarah has spent the last 10 years living all over the West Coast and in 2023 decided to call Winston-Salem home. Sarah lives with her partner and their 6 pets (4 senior dogs and 2 kittens) and if she could she’d have more. When Sarah isn’t walking dogs, she’s making functional art out of upcycled materials and always finding a new craft to dive into. She is passionate about animals, plants, the environment and loves being outside exploring!
Katie Wicklund
Originally from Minnesota, Katie has called Winston home since 2016. She joined the Venture team in the spring of 2024, and combines her BA in psychology and sociology with almost a decade of behavior analysis experience. A true animal lover, Katie shares her life with a dog and two cats. Beyond walking dogs, she enriches lives at a local dance studio, focusing on both young children and canines with her kindness and expertise.
Kennedy Weber
Kennedy has been a Lewisville and Winston-Salem local and joined Venture in September of 2024. She is currently in school at Forsyth Technical Community College majoring in business. After she obtains her degree, she plans on taking real estate classes and going to cosmetology school. She loves caring for dogs and other animals, including her family chihuahua, Moon. When she is not walking dogs, she is a volleyball coach at West Forsyth High School and Next Level Volleyball Academy. She also enjoys spending time with family, traveling, bicycling, and pickleball.