Meet Our Family

Alex joined Pet Paradise in 2024, bringing more than 30 years of leadership experience in retail, consumer goods, and services. Recognized for intense client and operational focus, Alex has driven accelerated growth and value creation across more than a dozen companies, brands and leadership teams. His hands-on approach to learning the business from every level allows him to appreciate and accelerate performance at all levels – from Pet Paradise’s play yards to our board room. He earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and his undergraduate degree in Medieval Studies and Accounting from the University of Notre Dame. In addition to being a pet person, Alex spends time working in the yard, outdoors, admiring contemporary art, and enthusiastically supporting the University of Notre Dame. Alex lives in Jacksonville with his family and Bear, a loveable Australian Shepherd who’s the best dog ever.

Dina's previous background has been in Business and Inventory Management. She has been with the Pet Paradise team since 2009 and is currently based in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys building teamwork among associates. She appreciates all her associates and consistently thanks them for their hard work and dedication. She jumps in to assist with any duty in order to accomplish necessary tasks. Dina's family includes her husband, Scott, and her Labradoodles, Cayman and Hailey.

Dr. Clay Hellner brings more than 25 years of experience in veterinary medicine to Pet Paradise and NewDay Veterinary Care, including expertise in surgical, nutritional, therapeutic, and clinical care for small and exotic animals. Dr. Hellner was a long-time practice owner, caring for thousands of pets. He built successful veterinary teams, coaching practitioners to advance their skills in clinical medicine, surgery, and client communication. His hospital was recognized as the Hospital of the Year among over 700 peer hospitals. He joined the NewDay Veterinary Care team in 2020 as the Sr. Regional Veterinary Medical Director, before moving into the role of Chief Veterinary Officer in 2023. His philosophy of doing what’s right for pets has been at the heart of his medical approach since his early days as a veterinarian. His business approach further optimizes pet care by prioritizing what is right for the veterinary teams caring for pets. He sees veterinary medicine as one of the most noble professions because the daily efforts veterinary teams will make for both pets and people are awe-inspiring. He is a graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and of Loyola University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. He currently lives with his family in the Charlotte area.

Tara brings extensive experience leading marketing and growth strategies across multi-location, private equity-backed organizations. She is passionate about building scalable systems that connect people with high-quality services and meaningful experiences, with a focus on driving customer growth and long-term value. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy from University of Saint Joseph. Based in Jacksonville, Tara lives with her husband, their two daughters, and Lily, their super sweet mini schnauzer.

Ben Cunningham joined Pet Paradise in 2020 as VP of Veterinary Operations to help lead our growing veterinary team in its’ commitment to delivering the highest quality of care and wellness. Ben is passionate about developing great teams and striving for continuous improvement. Before joining Pet Paradise, Ben spent 6+ years in the healthcare environment, working in management roles in the kidney care/dialysis industry. Prior to this, Ben spent over 9 years as a Marine Corps officer, where he held numerous different positions in duty stations across the country and during several overseas deployments. Ben completed his undergraduate studies at Florida State University and received his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Florida. Ben lives in Jacksonville, FL with his wife, Jeanne, and son, Will, along with their Boston Terrier and two rescue Chihuahuas - Squiggy, Sasha, and Diablo. Outside of work, Ben enjoys running/fitness and spending time with his family outdoors.

With over 14 years of dedicated service, Caitlin has grown internally within the company to become a cornerstone of operational excellence. A proud mother to a son and a set of twins, and a devoted pet parent to a Golden Retriever, a Doodle, and a Labrador, she brings both personal and professional passion to her work. Her deep expertise in building and refining operational systems is matched by her commitment to developing high-performing teams and delivering the highest level of care for every pet. She is driven by a clear mission: to help her organization be the number one pet care provider through compassionate service and exceptional standards.

Alex brings more than 25 years of experience in Human Resources and people strategy, partnering with executives to develop talent, strengthen culture, and support organizations through growth and change. Originally from Dorado, Puerto Rico, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Psychology from Universidad del Sagrado Corazon (Puerto Rico) and began her career in consulting before moving into HR leadership roles in global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. She relocated to the United States in 2015, where she later expanded her leadership experience in heavy equipment manufacturing and other operational environments. She lives in the Jacksonville area with her husband Marco, their daughters Natalia and Gabriela, and Ellie, their French bulldog—unquestionably the sweetest and cutest member of the family.

Lisa Voytko brings over 20 years of strategic and operational Human Resources experience to Pet Paradise and NewDay, where she oversees the People Team. Prior to joining the company in May 2022, she worked in HR leadership in the renewable energy sector, which took her from a PE-backed wind and solar startup in Pittsburgh, PA, to an industrial wood pellet production plant in Southeast Georgia. A proud graduate of Penn State University with a BS in Kinesiology and the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in Humanities, Lisa is a member of the Penn State College of Health and Human Development Alumni Society Board. Originally from Pittsburgh, Lisa resides in the Jacksonville area with her rescue dog Louie. The two can usually be found enjoying the beach when not working (or playing) in Paradise.

Lenny joins the executive team as the Vice President of Facilities Management. While he began working with Pet Paradise as a general contractor in 2004, it wasn’t until May of 2013 that he became an official member of the team. Along with his experience in facility management, Lenny graduated from Southern College of Technology with a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering. When Lenny is not leading his team in Paradise, he can be best found outside golfing, fishing, or tending to his lawn. He also enjoys spending time with his loving wife, Christin, their children, Maggie and Ethan, and their two pups, Henry and Maui.

Adam serves as Chief Financial Officer of Pet Paradise, bringing extensive experience in financial leadership, accounting, and strategic business management. He oversees the company’s financial operations, helping guide long-term growth and support the continued success of Pet Paradise and NewDay Veterinary Care.

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Adam earned his master’s degree from the University of West Florida, graduating with honors.

Adam lives in the Jacksonville area with his wife, Melissa, their three children, Ali, Luke and Leighton, and their Golden Retriever, Jonah, who loves retrieving stuffed animals and anything else the kids leave within reach. Outside of work, Adam enjoys spending time with his family and exploring all that the Florida outdoors have to offer.