Petland Inc. (Chillicothe, Ohio) honored dozens of its best retail store operators during its annual trade show, held July 25 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Winners included:

• Stores of the year: Bob and Carol Thorne of Novi, Mich., stores under 5,000 square feet, taking their third consecutive title; and John and Aggie Rhoades of Fort Myers, Fla., stores over 5,000 square feet.
• International store of the year: Garth Burman of Hamilton, Ontario.
• Vanguard Awards for outstanding first-year operations: Mike and Cindy Birtcher (Heath, Ohio); Cesar and Ingrid Cepeda (Brownsville, Texas); Jessica Hunte (Independence, Mo.); Jake and Arti Patel (Frisco, Texas); and Thomas and Janice Roffman (Iowa City, Iowa).
• Nicholas Alexander Progress Awards: Dwight and Kathy Burk (South Point, Ohio); Eric and Trevor Davies (Orlando, Fla.); Allan Draper (Lethbridge, Alberta); Michael and Gerry Magotiaux (Medicine Hat, Alberta); Keith and Suzanne Nieberding (Fort Wayne, Ind.); Tommy and Kathy Perdue (Roanoke, Va.); Frank and Monica Radcliff (Strongsville, Ohio); and Rich Williams (Terrace, British Columbia).
• Quest Awards for community service programs: Keith and Suzanne Nieberding (Fort Wayne, Ind.); Cesar and Ingrid Cepeda (Brownsville and McAllen, Texas); Jeff Reisman and Gary and Sharon Winslow (Akron and Youngstown, Ohio); Bob and Patricia Williams (Terre Haute, Ind.); Denise “D.J.” and Jerry Joyce (Bluefield and South Charleston, W.Va.); Bob and Carol Thorne (Novi, Mich.); Tracy and Jamie Howlett (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan); Kevin and Judy Chaben (Kamloops, British Columbia).
• Manager of the year: Jill Grondin of Fort Wayne, Ind.
• Pet counselor of the year: Anthony Santoro of Pembroke Pines, Fla.
• Animal care technician of the year: Tressa Williams of South Point, Ohio.
• Best fish department: Chuck and Lisa Corley of Duluth, Ga. [October 2004 PET AGE]