Heart + Paw, a leader in high-quality veterinary care, grooming, and dog daycare, today announced that Chief Executive Officer David Lasus has been recognized with two of the region’s most prestigious business leadership honors: he has been named a 2025 Philadelphia Titan 100 Hall of Fame recipient and an Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2025 Greater Philadelphia award winner.
On June 4, the Titan 100 program, which recognizes Philadelphia’s Top 100 CEOs and C-level executives, announced this year’s recipients following an extensive evaluation of the area’s most accomplished business leaders based on individuals’ track record of demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. Collectively, the 2025 Philadelphia Titan 100 and their companies employ over 111,000 individuals and generate over $145 billion in annual revenues.
In addition to being named to the list, Lasus was also inducted into the Titan 100 Hall of Fame—a special distinction given to just ten honorees this year who made the Titan 100 list for three consecutive years. This honor is awarded to leaders who consistently demonstrate and are judged on the values and characteristics of a “Titan,” serving as pillars of their communities and industries.
Just days later, on June 12, Lasus was also named as an Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Greater Philadelphia Award winner. Lasus was selected by an independent panel of judges comprised of past winners, top CEOs, and business leaders, who evaluated candidates on criteria such as entrepreneurial spirit, impact, long-term value creation, and purpose-driven leadership. Now in its 40th year, this highly competitive program recognizes transformative business leaders who are creating long-term value through innovation, purpose, and growth.
Entrepreneur Of The Year recognizes many different types of business leaders for their ingenuity, courage and entrepreneurial spirit. The program celebrates original founders who bootstrapped their business from inception or who raised outside capital to grow their company; transformational CEOs who infused innovation into an existing organization to catapult its trajectory; and multigenerational family business leaders who reimagined a legacy business model to strengthen it for the future. In the case of Lasus, it’s his innovative mindset and relentless drive for continuous improvement that have guided Heart + Paw on a purposeful and successful path of growth.
In response to these prestigious honors, Heart + Paw CEO David Lasus stated:
“Being named as a Titan 100 Hall of Fame Recipient and an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year are unforgettable honors that reflect not just my journey, but the extraordinary work of the entire Heart + Paw team. This recognition is a testament to the innovation, passion, and purpose our 450+ team members bring to life every day as we reimagine pet care. I'm deeply grateful to Titan 100 and EY and their program sponsors for shining a light on leaders and organizations making an impact. I am grateful for our Founder Dr. George Melillo, and his vision and heart that laid the foundation for everything we do. I am equally thankful for our leadership team and partners at Whistler Capital for their support and belief in our mission that continues to propel us forward. And I greatly appreciate my family’s love, support, and encouragement, which are the reasons I get to do what I love every day. The best is yet to come.”
Heart + Paw’s leadership approach blends operational excellence with a values-driven culture, rooted in trust, empathy, collaboration, and innovation. The company’s success is a testament to the principles CEO Dave Lasus embodies daily, as reflected in his recent accolades. Under the leadership of Lasus, Heart + Paw has focused on reimagining veterinary care through modern, compassionate, and connected experiences. Lasus has led Heart + Paw through a period of record-setting growth and cultural momentum including expansion of its 29 locations in 10 states (soon to be 11). In 2024 alone, Heart + Paw:
- Grew veterinary care appointment volumes faster than the industry
- Increased client retention rates
- Completed renovations at five locations, including the rebranding of three veterinary centers, the relocation of one center, and the addition of grooming services at four centers
- Launched its online pharmacy, enhancing care continuity and convenience and driving significant incremental revenue growth
- Was named a Great Place to Work® for the fourth consecutive year
- Grew to a team of more than 450 dedicated professionals
Lasus credits Heart + Paw’s success to the passionate and mission-driven team behind the brand. “This recognition is truly a reflection of our people,” Lasus shared. “Our team members are the heart of everything we do. They bring our mission to life every single day — caring deeply for pets, their parents, and one another.”
As Heart + Paw looks ahead, Lasus remains focused on thoughtful, sustainable growth, continued investment in team development, and delivering best-in-class care that supports pets and their families through every stage of life.
About Heart + Paw
Founded in 2018, Heart + Paw is reimagining petcare with a full range of services designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s pet parents. From wellness, urgent, and dental care to advanced diagnostics, surgery, grooming, and daycare, Heart + Paw prioritizes a minimal-stress, compassionate approach for every pet. With 29 locations across 10 states, the company integrates cutting-edge technology, high-quality amenities, and carefully selected equipment based on years of research and practice. Guided by the vision of Co-founder Dr. George Melillo, CEO Dave Lasus, and Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Mary Peacock, Heart + Paw has built a culture that treats pets and their families like our own. Recognized as a top employer for four consecutive years, Heart + Paw is Certified by Great Place to Work® in 2025. To learn more, visit heartandpaw.com or follow Heart + Paw on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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Contacts
Heart + Paw
Charlene Wandzilak
cwandzilak@heartandpaw.com
