Meet Joseph Guerrisi | Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joseph Guerrisi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joseph, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The idea for Perk-N-Pooch was born out of three things: our love for dogs … our passion for coffee … a walk along the beach.

A simple walk on a Southern California beach sparked an idea that became Perk-N-Pooch. Avid dog owners, the Guerrisi’s thought combining a coffee shop with a dog wash facility in the Atlanta area would be a “cool” idea since nothing like it had existed in Georgia.

We believe that pets are part of American families as they bring many positive health benefits to their owners. Pet owners increasingly need a high-quality platform, other than dog parks, to spend quality time with their dogs.

The Guerrisi family wanted to create a space where we could provide such convenience and facilities for dog and coffee lovers alike.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My career started at UPS in 1986, where I held various leadership positions in industrial engineering, marketing, and corporate strategy. I was actively involved in the company’s global marketing efforts, pivotal in expanding its presence in strategic markets worldwide. My tenure in UPS’ Asia Pacific region marketing group in Singapore was particularly notable. I spearheaded the company’s small package and freight forwarding marketing endeavors, making significant contributions to the operational and marketing activities for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. I retired in 2018 after 32 years of service. I quickly joined Worldwide Express as their SVP of Marketing, where I built a dynamic team focused on brand development and execution and fostered collaboration. I was a key player in establishing the WWEX Group Racing team, which focused on B2B activities within the NASCAR community.

What sets me apart, I believe, is that I am constantly learning, whether it is getting certified in AI, continuing to master new marketing techniques, or developing new approaches to how Perk-N-Pooch service our customers. Continuously learning is something that was ingrained in me while at UPS. To be an effective leader, you must learn the basics, whether driving one of the trucks or spending time in other departments outside your core discipline. The more one person can do this, the better you will understand how the business operates. This was the same approach that I took when building Perk-N-Pooch. I had to know how to properly handle different types of dogs, bathe and dry them, trim their nails, and how dogs’ coats vary across breeds.

Believe it or not, the biggest challenge was re-entering the United States after 5+ years of being based in Singapore. A lot changes in 5 years! Once you establish roots in another country, you adapt to the culture and the environment, making it difficult to repatriate yourself.

What is also important to me is the ability to give back. It is so important, we all have something to give back or help someone in need. At Perk-N-Pooch, we have been involved with several nonprofit organizations, such as Canine Cellmates and Angles Amoung Us. I have also been very active in the nonprofit Georgia Eye Bank and Carine for Cambodia, and I really enjoy mentoring.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love visiting the different wineries in North GA, especially during the fall. Montaluce Winery is a favorite of mine. Next on the list would be the aquarium and Coke museum, followed by the Porsche driving experience.

For food, the Beltline is a must. There are so many excellent restaurants to explore.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
That’s a wonderful question to consider! There are many people who deserve credit in my journey, and it is almost impossible to list them. Of course, my family supported me over the years, whether it was moving overseas for work or the multiple moves we made within the US throughout my career.

My biggest mentor was Tim Jones, an individual at UPS who took a shot at me after I graduated from college. Tim taught me many life lessons, such as putting in the hard work, dressing for success, and surrounding yourself with people who were smarter than you. Certainly, some sound advice that still resonates today. Having a team that surrounds you, whether in your personal life or professional life, is so important.

One of my favorite books is The Living Company by Arie de Geus. Arie argues that successful companies function more like living organisms than machines. One of the book’s key points that I find fascinating is that companies are living beings. De Geus challenges the traditional view of companies as economic machines focused on just profit. Instead, he proposes seeing them as evolving entities that learn and adapt through their people. A second key point is the importance of learning: The ability to learn from the environment and adapt is crucial for a company’s long-term survival. This requires a culture of experimentation and openness to new ideas. Lastly, investing in people: De Geus emphasizes developing employees and treating them not just as resources but as integral parts of the company. I tried to apply these principles at Perk-N-Pooch, it was important to build a business that not only could sustain itself but to build a business that supported its employees and the community we live within.

Website: https://perk-n-pooch.com

Instagram: perknpooch

Facebook: Perk-N-Pooch

Image Credits
Nick Guerrisi