Nash Academy announces William Duran as Director of Practical Skills Instruction at the Nash Pet Salon in Lexington, Kentucky, the onsite training location for the academy.

 

William is a graduate of the Nash Academy Dog Grooming School and is considered one of the best handlers in the dog conformation world, achieving National and Summer National Specialty wins, Best in Puppy Shows, Best in Specialty Shows, and Owner-Handled Best in Shows and Reserve Best In Shows. 

He has been a pet lover all of his life, joining the 4H at 13 showing everything from rabbits to cattle but always wanted to become a professional groomer. Finally, he made that dream come true. He enrolled in the Nash Academy, and two days after high school graduation, he was on his way to Nash. 

 

After graduating from the Nash Academy with his Professional Dog Grooming & Styling Diploma, William stayed on at Nash Academy in the Nash Internship Program, helping to teach what he had learned in school. After completing the internship, he went back home to Texas. He opened his first salon, later moved to New York City to work with a Nash graduate, and eventually open his own business in New York.

His competitive nature led William to the grooming competition arena and the conformation show world. 

 

He is a natural in the grooming competition ring taking Best in Show at the 2014 IJA Show at the Pittsburgh Pet Expo and Best in Show at the 2018 IJA Groom Bowl, a national dog grooming competition.

 

William is dedicated to the Pomeranian breed and has worked with longtime influential breeders Charlotte Creed, Annette Rister, and Roxie Campbell. He shows Pomeranians exclusively for the kennel "Majestic Pomeranians," who have produced numerous #1 dogs over the last 30 years. 

 

He has achieved Owner-handled Best in Show and  Reserve and Best in Show with guidance and support. In addition, at the 2021 American Pomeranian National Specialty Show with his personal dog Electra, he was awarded Owner-Handled Best of Breed, Select Bitch, Winner's Bitch, and Reserve Winner's Dog. Electra also won Winners Bitch at the 2020 AKC National Championship, the biggest dog event of the year.

William will work directly with Vivian Nash and Tanya Slater to present the Nash System of Pet Care Education at the Nash Academy in Lexington and the Nash Events at the International Judges Association for Dog Grooming Competitions. 

 

He will oversee the students at the Nash Pet Salon, the training site for the Nash Academy Dog Grooming School and powered by the Nash System of Pet Care Education with over 50 years of teaching pet lovers to be pet care professionals.