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

Hi Justin, what do you attribute your success to?
I believe that our mission at The Ruff Ranch in providing unparalleled care for our clients and their dogs is key. This multi-faceted process is facilitated by daily practices designed to earn our clients’ trust. Basically we set out to prove that we mean what we say, that our words and actions are in alignment. This must be a company-wide practice that is not only client facing but, even more importantly, within the team and all those who spend their discretionary energy supporting us to achieve our goals and mission. In creating our Core Values and living by them daily it allows the team to take action and make decisions that always ring true. Ultimately this translates into an emotional experience for the clients and the team. By leading with the heart as well as a passionate commitment to providing the best service to our clients in every exchange, we’re able to offer a level of care, attention to detail, integrity, family and inspiration they can count on. All the work we do to create relationships based on trust and integrity is intended as a reflection of our belief that we are human beings sharing a collective experience that is about more than a business transaction.

What should our readers know about your business?
I founded The Ruff Ranch after five years of owning another dog training business, which I left because I wanted to grow and be able to do more for dogs and their owners. The Ruff Ranch came bursting forth out of an excitement to create something different in the Central Coast. For me, that involved fun for the dogs, education for the owners, and a place where everyone could come to feel safe, loved and cared for. This was a herculean effort, one that involved creating a new business model that included building and developing a facility for training, daycare, boarding, grooming and a much larger staff to realize my vision. We also managed to time our new business with the onset of the pandemic. We opened our doors on January 1, 2020 and by the third week of March we had to let 90% of our staff go. I was crushed and scared and thought I had made a huge mistake, but it turned out to be the best thing for us. We were able to slow down, think through all the details more carefully, and understand what we really wanted to do and how we should do it. The pandemic gave us space and time. We were fortunate to maintain enough cash flow that, along with the help of PPP loans, The Ruff Ranch survived the first six months and came back better than ever. After that we slowly gained traction with new employees who came on board to help us grow. This was still the very early stages and there were plenty of mistakes, struggles and concerns along the way, but the community needed us and supported us in ways that were amazing and unexpected. One such example was an incredible angel donor who believed in us and gave us $10,000.00 to keep going. The loyalty we gained by staying open and providing care and service during the pandemic has come back to us tenfold. The biggest lesson is to keep showing up with integrity and the belief that you are doing something great and special. Trust that your supporters, clients and team are there to embrace you. We have learned so much and continue to learn lessons about hiring, firing, team building, and client care, but, most of all, how to continue to operate at the highest level of care and passion.

We love dogs. We love the people who own the dogs. I want every dog and person who comes to The Ruff Ranch to feel like they are special and loved. The motto of Romp, Rest, Repeat is truly our way of sharing our joy and love for what we do. The best thing is to see the joy the owners have after their dog comes home happy and healthy after being away for many days, either from training or boarding. The Ruff Ranch is working towards building the best and most authentic experience a human and dog could have. We inspire life. 

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We are fortunate to be located in an incredible part of the world. The Ruff Ranch is located in the Santa Ynez Valley, which is home to some of the best wines in the world, amazing food and incredible scenery. We are also a mere thirty miles from Santa Barbara, which is known as the American Riviera. Between the two,a week of time spent here is one full of beauty, gourmet food and wine, fun and adventure. Visiting the Funk Zone in Santa Barbara is a must. Walking through the streets and experiencing the breweries, wineries, funky stores, and then renting a kayak to paddle in the harbor close by is a full day. Visit Oku for some incredible sushi and a front row to the scenery of the Santa Barbara Pier. A walk up State Street will be fun as well. After that, get in your car and take the drive over the 154 towards Santa Ynez where the thirty-mile drive will astound you with mountain vistas and a view of Lake Cachuma. At the end of the drive there is a plethora of experiences from the quaint Danish town of Solvang to the cozy towns of Santa Ynez and Los Olivos. Be sure to visit Bob’s Wellbread for amazing morning treats and lunch. Then stop by Gainey Vineyards, Stolpman, Holus Bolus, Andrew Murray, Section Wines or any others that are all over the valley. If you love good cowboy saloon don’t miss The Maverick in Santa Ynez. You can’t go wrong.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This is constantly on my mind and I wouldn’t be here without so many in my life. The first person is my father Larry. His experience as a business leader, entrepreneur, risk taker, and mentor in life has inspired me always. He has watched me and helped me start my business from day one and throughout has never wavered in his advice, support and excitement during the journey. From teaching me how to run my business through the use of all the numbers, data and planning to how to be a better leader through emotional maturity, strength and acceptance of wins and failure, I have had the incredible support of a wise sage. During really hard times through the pandemic and the lows that came with that, he always helped me stay centered and focused and that helped my perspective and long-term thinking. He always celebrates my wins, which is important as an entrepreneur as I am constantly struggling with what it means to be successful. My dad is my support each day through thick and thin, something that every business owner needs but not all of them have. We often think we can or have to do it alone and that is simply not true! In addition, there are so many talented, passionate and smart people that have been there throughout. I couldn’t have created The Ruff Ranch without Judy Taggart, who believed in me and The Ruff Ranch and poured her heart and soul into every moment in the first three years. Her strength and passion pushed us to new levels. Her commitment to every detail shows to this day. And I wouldn’t be anywhere without my entire family and the friends who never doubted me and always celebrated the journey. At this point, I am surrounded by a team that is smarter, more passionate and harder working than I am. In the end, I want to be in that room, striving to be better for everyone.

Website: www.theruffranch.com

Instagram: @theruffranch

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com>theruffranch

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-ruff-ranch-santa-ynez

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