27th Annual ATHENA Leadership Award Luncheon

Jeni Mather is a bold and compassionate entrepreneur who has spent over 26 years redefining the pet care industry with heart, vision, and purpose. As the Founder and President of JM Pet Resort & Veterinary Clinic in Brockton, MA, she leads a 34,000-square-foot destination for 360° of Happy Health®—offering veterinary care, PLAYtrain® daycare, motivational training, luxury boarding, spa grooming, and a premium retail store.

Her path began with a childhood dream of working with animals. While studying biology at Stonehill College, she discovered a deep passion for veterinary science and started training dogs for extra income. In 1998, Jeni took a leap of faith, launching JM K-9 Training—the South Shore’s first motivational training and doggie daycare program—rooted in positive reinforcement and deep respect for the human-animal bond.

Today, Jeni is the visionary behind a mission-driven, majority women-led organization that employs nearly 120 professionals. She also founded the nonprofit Blue Dog Shelter, which placed over 1,800 dogs in forever homes and raised more than $500,000 while in operation from 1999-2016. Her PLAYtrain® model, created and trademarked in-house, is a behavioral training system used daily to create consistency, confidence, and joy for dogs and their people.

Her business was built with community, care, and collaboration in mind. JM Pet Resort & Veterinary Clinic features indoor/outdoor PLAYtrain® Parks, 20,000 sq. ft. of K9Grass® play yards, and a state-of-the-art clinic and retail space, all built for comfort, efficiency, and safety.

Jeni was a Founding Member of the Ollie’s Law Coalition, and now proudly serves as Chair of the Ollie’s Law Advisory Committee to Massachusetts Department of Agriculture Resources (MDAR), working to implement fair, safety-focused regulation for dog daycare and boarding businesses across Massachusetts. She is a PACCC-certified pet care professional and one of 75 Certified Professional Animal Care Operators (CPACO) in the United States. Jeni is a Level 2 Certified Dog Trainer, and consults regularly on animal behavior and legal matters as an Industry Expert for Boston Dog Lawyers, and as an Animal Control Consultant to Local Police Departments. Jeni also previously served as Executive Board Member of the Metro South Chamber of Commerce from December 2016 to November 2024.

But at her core, Jeni is a mentor and champion for others. Her proudest accomplishment is building a company where all people —especially mothers, caretakers, young people and aspiring entrepreneurs—can develop careers, grow into leadership roles, and thrive in a culture rooted in recognition, learning, and balance.

“I thrive on bringing out the best in others,” she says. “This company was built by the individuals who walked through our doors, trained hard, and perfected their skills. Thanks to them, I get to bring all the dogs to work every day—and keep growing the dream we started together.”

Jeni lives in Easton, MA with her husband, three children, and a household of beloved animals. She continues to lead with empathy and energy, guided by the belief that when women rise, entire communities thrive. Visit jmpetresort.com to learn more.