Meet the Authors

Here you’ll find bios for our talented team of blog contributors. We’d like to thank each of them for taking the time to give us their thoughts and advice on veterinary practice management.

About Us: Martin Traub-Werner, CEO

Martin Traub-Werner

Founder (VetSuccess)
VP & GM, Data & Platform Technologies (Vetsource)

Martin Traub-Werner

Martin dressed up as a businessman for Halloween when he was seven. Since then, he’s spent almost 40 years refining his skills and honing his craft. Today he’s a dedicated owner/operator focused on providing the most value he can to his clients and colleagues.

Martin graduated from Cornell with a Masters degree in Strategic HR Management and he’s worked in a number of different industries for many large Fortune 500 companies and small businesses. Since 2010 Martin has been dedicated to the veterinary industry and in 2013 founded VetSuccess. VetSuccess is dedicated to unlocking the value of veterinary practice data for the industry. He has presented at national veterinary conferences and regularly speaks to veterinarians and practice managers about practice data and practice management and is a member of the VHMA and VetPartners.

When not on duty, you’ll find Martin on a spin bike or in his kitchen cooking up a storm for his family and friends.

Our Team: Amber Barrett

Amber Barrett

Customer Support Specialist, VetSuccess

Amber Barrett

Amber has 16 years of experience as a Veterinary Technician, working with large animals, small animals, pocket pets, and exotics. Beyond her love for animals, Amber also has a passion for numbers and a background in forensic accounting. She went to Arkansas State University to get her Associates in Business and she interned at a CPA office before making her way to VetSuccess as a Customer Support Specialist.

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Asa Pogrelis

Vice President of Marketing, Vetsource

Asa Pogrelis

Vice President of Marketing Asa Pogrelis has been with Vetsource since 2010. Drawing on his early experience working as a vet tech in suburban practice and emergency clinics, as well as his seven years in sales and marketing with Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Asa brings unique insight into effective sales and marketing strategies in the veterinary pharmacy, nutrition, and eCommerce fields.

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Ben Spinks, MBA, CVPM, SPHR

Hospital Administrator, Tipp City Veterinary Hospital

Ben Spinks

Ben has been the Hospital Administrator at Tipp City Veterinary Hospital since 2004. In addition to his role at TCVH, Ben helps other veterinary hospitals and small businesses run more efficiently through Branchworth Consulting. He is a 2004 graduate of Miami University (B.Phil.) and 2014 graduate of Wright State University (MBA).

Learn more at https://vetsupport.com/

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Brandon Hess, CVPM, CCFP

Associate Consultant, VetSupport

Brandon Hess

Brandon has joined Tassava Consulting as Associate Consultant. He is an active member of VHMA and AAHA and is a founding member of the Southwestern Ohio Veterinary Management Association. He was most recently Practice Manager of the AAHA Specialty Practice of the Year. In his not so spare time, he enjoys travelling and scuba diving when he’s not in hot pursuit of a sports car to drive!

Learn more at https://vetsupport.com/

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Brenda Tassava, CVPM, CVJ, VLCE

CEO and Business Consultant, VetSupport

Brenda Tassava

For more than 17 years now, Brenda Tassava has been showcasing her talents at managing veterinary practices and helping them grow. Her hands-on experience includes large animal, exotic, small animal and even diverse, multi-site practices—and each business she managed improved and developed under her watchful eye.

Today, Ms. Tassava shares her talents with a wider array of practices. As owner of Tassava Consulting, she travels throughout North America to help guide practices to greater success. In addition to on-site evaluations, she writes, lectures and conducts training seminars; many now focus on her newest passion, social media and technology.

She serves as immediate past Chair of the CVPM Board of Directors and is a long-standing member of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA). She is one of the co-founders of the Veterinary Management Association of Indiana (VMAI) where she now serves as an officer and board member. She is an active member of VetPartners and the American Society of Veterinary Journalists. If you haven’t yet seen it, pick up a copy of her book Social Media for Veterinary Professionals and learn how to spark new client connections and grow your business via social media.

With her tried-and-true guidance on how to grow a practice and her appealing approach to managing clients, staff and data, Ms. Tassava brings a unique and practical focus to VetSuccess’ future. We are delighted to have her on our team.

Learn more at https://vetsupport.com/

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Dr. Caren Carney

Founder & CEO, Holiday Vet

Dr. Caren Carney

Dr. Caren Carney has dedicated her life to the pursuit of improving the lives of animals—first as a technician, then as a researcher, and finally as a veterinarian. Now she helps other vets find their work-life balance through her veterinary staffing service, Holiday Vet. She graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Louisiana State University in 2007 and spent 10 years practicing in Nevada before relocating to Georgia with her husband, son, German Shepherd, and 3 cats. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, exploring new places, and spending time with friends and family.

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Chrissy McGregor

Veterinarian Recruiter, THRIVE Affordable Vet Care

Chrissy McGregor

Chrissy McGregor is a Veterinarian Recruiter for THRIVE Affordable Vet Care. She is passionate about veterinary medicine and has contributed her knowledge and expertise through numerous roles in the industry over the past 17 years. In addition to working at the hospital level as a technician, Chrissy has also held positions in Veterinary Sales, Sales Management, Training and Development, and Veterinary Recruiting. In her free time, Chrissy can be found on the volleyball courts and softball fields or planning her next vacation. Her other full-time job consists of caring for and doting on her 5 treasured, but extra needy pets; Bella, Aslan, Franklin, Ben, and Theodore.

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Debbie Hill, CVPM, SPHR, SHRM-CPE

Hospital Administrator, Pet Care Hospital

Debbie Hill

Debbie enjoys all things management and has spoken nationally at Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, Florida Veterinary Medical Association, Wild West Veterinary Conference and Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conferences. In addition, she speaks to several manager groups around the country each year and has been an instructor for Patterson Management University since 2008.

She is an active hospital administrator for a veterinarian with 4 practices in Florida. She entered the profession at the front desk of a one doctor practice in Denver in 1989 and has worked with 10 hospitals with 4-45 employees in 3 states, often as multiple practice settings.

In addition to this experience, her training includes AAHA’s VMDS, VMI and continues to attend multiple veterinary conferences each year to stay current in veterinary management. While her hospitals grew, she received her Certified Veterinary Hospital Manager designation in 2005. She is also certified in Human Resources as a Senior Professional in Human Resource (SPHR) and uses these certifications to help manage her own teams. Debbie served 6 years on the Veterinary Hospital Manager Association’s Board of Directors and is the Co-Chair for the CVPM Board of Directors.

Realizing she has been privileged with a wealth of exposure to management experience and education, Debbie has a strong desire to share with others.

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Denise Tumblin, CPA

President, WTA Veterinary Consultants

Denise Tumblin

Denise Tumblin, owner of WTA Veterinary Consultants, provides management, valuation, and transition services to independently-owned veterinary practices across the U.S. Her company authors the Well-Managed Practice® Benchmarks Study, and Denise is the co-founder and facilitator of the WellMP® Management Groups.

Denise speaks regularly at national and regional meetings on valuation and management issues and has authored numerous veterinary management articles.

Denise is a graduate of The Ohio State University and is a member of:

  • The AICPA, the OSCPA, and NACVA
  • VetPartners – serves on the Valuation Council and is a past Board Member
  • Veterinary Team Brief Advisory Board
  • AAHA
  • The Capital Area Humane Society
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Elissa Fesyk

Owner, Fesyk Marketing

Elissa Fesyk

Elissa Fesyk is the owner of Fesyk Marketing and specializes in building impactful brand identities and designing and managing custom marketing plans. With a background in event planning, social media management, and community relations, Elissa has traveled the world and put her skills to work for some notable companies including the US Olympic Committee and the San Jose Sharks. Outside of work you can find her spending time with her family in Edmonton, Alberta.

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Emily Ridgewell

Technical Support Specialist, VetSuccess

Emily Ridgewell

Emily uses her B.S. in Information Technology and a decade of experience to translate technical jargon into simple terms that people can actually understand. In addition to providing support at VetSuccess, she’s also currently studying to get her master’s degree in cybersecurity management and policy. Emily shares her home in Florida with her husband and two Shih Tzus, Peanut and Mr. Spock.

Our Team: Esther Fraser

Esther Fraser

Data Analyst, VetSuccess

Esther Fraser

Esther Fraser is a Data Analyst for VetSuccess. She uses her degree in (you guessed it) math to uncover actionable trends in veterinary data. When she’s not doing that, you can find her experimenting with crochet patterns and baking gluten-free treats. To swap recipes (or learn more about what data can do for you), send her an email!

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Glenn Hanner, CPA

Tax & Consulting Partner, Whitley Penn, LLC

Glenn Hanner

Glenn is the tax and consulting partner in charge of the veterinary medicine practice at Whitley Penn, LLP. He has over 30 years experience helping veterinarians navigate the complex world of accounting. In addition to being a CPA, Glenn is a Certified Information Technology Professional and a Certified Valuation Analyst. He is committed to helping veterinarians create long term value for their practices and to achieve their professional goals.

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Heather Prendergast, RVT, CVPM, SPHR

Director of Education, Encore Veterinary Group

Heather Prendergast

Heather Prendergast has spent over 25 years in the veterinary industry, with 20 years in small animal practice. She has taught several years for both veterinary technology and assistance programs and has authored the book “Front Office Management for the Veterinary Team”, now in its 3rd edition.

Heather is well known and lectures nationally and internationally and has authored several articles with the goal of developing leadership and management structure in the veterinary practice.

Currently, Heather is the Director of Education for Encore Veterinary Group. Heather serves on several advisory boards, including the WVC Board of Directors, Pet Nutrition Alliance, and the Fear Free Advisory Board. Heather also serves as Co-Chair for the NAVTA Veterinary Nurse Initiative. She has received Speaker of the Year awards for both 2016 and 2017 from the Western Veterinary Conference.

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Holly Jones

Practice Manager, Cherokee Trail Veterinary Hospital

Holly Jones

Holly Jones has been the Practice Manager at Cherokee Trail Veterinary Hospital in Lexington, SC since 2018. She has worked in the veterinary field since high school, with experience varying from general practice, emergency, specialty surgery, and zoological. She now has a special interest in cultivating employee wellness and improving hospital culture. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the wilderness with her husband and daughter, reading, and playing with her three cats (Ash, Olive, and Kitlins) and her Shih-Tzu Frank.

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Jen Kowalski

Business Analyst, VetSuccess

Jen Kowalski

Every business needs a vision and every vision needs an exhaustive list of technical specs if it’s ever to become a reality. We’re talking copious nitty-gritty details that visionaries would rather not think about. Enter Jen.

With a background in engineering and a self-proclaimed obsession with minutia, Jen helps the VetSuccess team turn their ideas into robust, fluid and user-friendly products. And then there’s her “why not give it a shot?” attitude.

Outside of work, Jen’s willingness to try just about anything once has resulted in a diverse suite of hobbies that includes swing dancing, photography, axe-throwing, sewing, hiking, languages, baking, and yelling out the answers to Jeopardy questions. This talented individual is an asset to the VetSuccess team!

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Jesi Tassava

Executive Assistant, VetSupport

Jesi Tassava

Jesi Tassava began working as an Executive Assistant for Tassava Consulting after graduating from Butler University in May 2016. She is also currently a graduate student at Michigan State University. Not only is she a real life “Millenial-in-the-workplace,” but she is also the pet parent to 2 cats, named Sierra and Opal, and a betta fish named Paul.

Learn more at https://vetsupport.com/

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Jessica Petty

Executive Director, Retrieving Independence

Jessica Petty

In 2017, Jessica Petty left her corporate life in pharmaceutical leadership, including Novartis and Elanco Animal Health, to rest for one year. She’s now the Executive Director of Retrieving Independence, a nonprofit service dog organization in Nashville, TN, where her days are focused on helping individuals living with mental and physical disabilities regain independence through the unconditional love and service of an exceptionally trained dog. You can reach her anytime at jessica@jessicapetty.com.

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Jo Birmingham, BS, MA

Writer, Veterinary Practice Management Consultant

Jo Birmingham

Jo Birmingham is a writer and veterinary practice management consultant. She lives in Florida and Maine with her retired veterinarian husband and her Goldendoodle puppy named Bailey.

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Johana Beresky, MBA, CVPM

Regional Operations Manager, Pathway

Johana Beresky

Johana Beresky is a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager with over 15 years of experience in the veterinary industry. She has presented nationally at practice management meetings and speaks regularly to veterinary owners and practice managers about strategic planning, marketing tactics, and data management. Johana has ventured into the entrepreneurial space by creating Bear Sky Technologies, a Seattle based management firm that helps micro businesses overcome day to day challenges by leveraging their use of technology.

In 2013 she received the prestigious Emerging Leaders Scholarship from the Veterinary Hospital Manager’s Association and is the Chair of the Marketing Committee for VHMA. Johana is also an active member of the Puget Sound’s American Marketing Association. She completed her undergraduate degree in Animal Science at Cornell University and completed her graduate studies at Pepperdine University with a focus on Marketing Management.

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Josephine Wynn

Marketing Manager, VetSuccess

Josephine Wynn

Josephine is passionate about partnering with practices to help improve efficiency and profitability which is what brought her to VetSuccess and exactly why she thrives here. When she's not working, she is kept on her toes by her husband, three kiddos, and 7 fur-kids.

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Dr. Jules Benson, BVSc, MRCVS

Chief Veterinary Officer, Nationwide

Dr. Jules Benson

Jules Benson, BVSc, MRCVS, Nationwide’s Chief Veterinary Officer, is an experienced animal-health strategist with expertise in innovation, start-ups, and marketing. A licensed veterinarian, Dr. Benson is a graduate of the University of Liverpool’s school of veterinary medicine and a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He has been active in conservation efforts in Africa, and he worked in clinical practice before moving into the animal health industry.

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Karyn Ekola, CVPM

Director of Operations, Vet2Pet App Builders

Karyn Ekola

Karyn started her veterinary industry career in 2002 at Riverview Animal Hospital in Durango, CO, and by 2011 worked her way up from kennel tech to hospital manager. Over the years, she played an integral role in leading the hospital towards greater efficiency and technological advancements, by creating and launching new systems to improve the overall functioning of the hospital. She led the initiative to go paperless and succeeded in incorporating technology into daily business success.

Karyn began working with Vet2Pet in 2010, assisting with the development and launch of their mobile app. Karyn joined Vet2Pet full time in 2017, after sharing her time with VetSuccess as Practice Success Coach.

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Kate Zirkle

Marketing Manager, VetSuccess

Kate Zirkle

Kate received a bachelor’s degree in advertising, with minors in marketing and psychology, from Kent State University. Her career has focused on marketing for companies like Cleveland.com and Embrace Pet Insurance, with the bulk of her experience residing in the animal health and veterinary industry.

Kate considers herself a lifelong learner and makes personal development a priority in her life while also remembering to laugh and have fun along the way. She shares her home in Cleveland, Ohio with her wonderful fiancé and a menagerie of animals. Beyond their own fur babies, they also foster cats and kittens and are passionate about animal rescue.

When not working, you can usually find Kate kayaking, traveling, writing, or curled up with a good book. She is firmly planted on Team Audiobooks = Reading and welcomes you to fight her on that.

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Katie McClean

Managing Director, VetSuccess

Katie McClean

Katie McClean is the COO for VetSuccess. She manages general processes for VetSuccess and oversees the client services team. She also works closely with veterinary practice groups, implementing the VetSuccess Dashboard as a dynamic and customized data offering for owners and executives.

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Katie Sorrell

Manager, Operations and Client Success

Katie Sorrell

Originally from Nova Scotia, Katie moved to Toronto to complete her undergraduate degree in art and art history. During that time, she took a part-time job as a kennel attendant and never looked back. Over the next decade, Katie worked tirelessly in almost every role a veterinary clinic has to offer. From client communication to inventory management, from cat wrangling to hamster anesthesia, Katie's varied experience in the veterinary world is certainly an asset.

In addition to finding her true calling in the veterinary world, Katie has stayed true to her artistic roots: she ran a small business selling her handmade designs and has widely exhibited her work across Ontario.

Katie one day dreams of owning a small hobby farm, with a wide assortment of animals. She told her partner on their first date "I love waterfowl!" ... and he stuck around! For now, they live together with their retired racing greyhound Wellington, and Chyna, the best cat in the world.

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Kelley Lay, DVM

Director of Student & Early Career Programs / Operational Coach

Kelley Lay

Dr. Kelley Lay has worked in numerous small animal and emergency settings, and while still practicing, joins Blue Heron Consulting’s team of coaching experts. In addition to coaching, Dr. Lay is also Blue Heron’s Director of Student and Early Career Programs. In this role, she lectures to students and young veterinarians at schools and conferences across the U.S. to inspire them to find well-being and fulfillment through leadership development and business acumen.

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Kelly Vega

Marketing Manager, Vetsource

Kelly Vega

Kelly Vega has worked with Vetsource as a marketing manager for 3 years. She completed her BA in Business with a focus in Marketing at Portland State University and earned her MBA from the University of Portland. She loves spending time with her 2 dogs, Jerry Rice (a Beagle/Terrier mix) and Joey Montana (a Pitbull/Whippet mix).

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Kevin Keystone

Former Head of Product, VetSuccess

Kevin Keystone

Great software is a form of magic, in that it transforms ideas into engaging, delightful, and interactive experiences. Kevin first discovered this magic while geeking out on a Tandy home computer and Commodore 64. Today, he helps create it as the Head of Product for VetSuccess.

Ever curious about people and culture, he graduated from the University of British Columbia with a combined Honors degree in Anthropology, Public Health, and Business Administration. Before joining VetSuccess, Kevin honed his product management skills in various positions he held across a wide range of industries, including community services, public health, finance, education, accounting, food, construction, communications, and more.

Now, he’s honored to be helping practices take better care of their pets and the people who love them. Although he hasn’t yet persuaded his partner to get a dog, he dedicates his work to the loving memory of Dudley, his childhood Lab.

Our Team: Kristen Clark

Kristen Clark

Former Product Manager, VetSuccess

Kristen Clark

Self-professed data and UX nerd, Kristen uses her love of storytelling and her inquisitive nature to go beyond the numbers and show the full picture behind the data. She’s been known to nerd out over things like color-coded spreadsheets, trend lines, and solving data conundrums. Outside of work, Kristen can be found at one of the many film festivals or independent cinemas in Toronto.

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Kristie Buys, CVPM

Hospital Administrator / Partial Owner, Balance Veterinary Center

Kristie Buys

Kristie Buys, CVPM, is the hospital administrator and partial owner of Balance Veterinary Center, an integrative veterinary clinic. She has worked in the veterinary field for over 15 years and spent years working as a technician in both small animal and exotic medicine prior to moving into management. Kristie has a particular interest in practice culture and the importance of investing in human capital, holistic/integrative medicine, and the human-animal bond.

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Linda Whitehead

Marketing Consultant, Zuz Marketing

Linda Whitehead

Linda knows marketing. She really does. And she’s a pro. There is no such thing as a half-baked job. Her history is peppered with success after success in various industries. After consulting to VetSuccess for a year she agreed to spend even more time with us and we couldn’t be luckier.

Linda is responsible for all our client-facing communication. She makes sure that our website works, our emails are well conceived and optimized, our Twitter feed tweets, our blog is bloggy, that we’re thinking about PR, that we’ve got good sales support material… Her marketing talents truly know no bounds!

When not working with VetSuccess Linda chairs not-for-profit ventures, works with a few other companies to keep their marketing machines humming, cooks and entertains for family and friends, and is an avid traveler. Want to know her secret? Send her an email.

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Lisa Tynan

Marketing & Account Manager, Roo

Lisa Tynan

Lisa Tynan is the Marketing & Account Manager for Roo. Before joining the veterinary relief industry in 2019, she worked in animal welfare for 9 years, first with the ASPCA and then the Houston SPCA. She has her Master’s Degree in Animal Behavior and Conservation, which has proven utterly useless in trying to understand her two perfectly weird black cats, Kitten and Archer.

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Lisa Yackel, CVPM, PHR, SPHR-CP

Associate Consultant, VetSupport

Lisa Yackel

Lisa Yackel is a CVPM, PHR, SPHR-CP whose life after work centers around her husband, children, and grandson. She loves the water,  home decorating, and being with her Cairn Terrier/Jack Russell rescue dog, Jake. She has been in the veterinary industry for over 40 years and still learns something new each day.

Learn more at https://vetsupport.com/

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Mary Ann Vande Linde, DVM

Founder, Vande Linde and Associates

Mary Ann Vande Linde

Helping people, practices and pet-related companies be more successful has been Dr. Vande Linde’s focus for more than 30 years. From her humble beginning as a mixed animal practitioner in Georgia to the world-traveled speaker, trainer and lecturer of today, she consistently brings her engaging and entertaining style and a passion for excellence to her work.

Her firm, Vande Linde & Associates, specializes in client communications, exam room training, conflict management and practice development. Prior to setting it up, Dr. Vande Linde directed training and educational functions for such companies as Hills Pet Nutrition and IDEXX Laboratories. She also served as director of organization development for a multi-hospital practice outside of Washington, D.C. Dr. Vande Linde was a popular speaker at veterinary colleges and technician schools, speaking on exam room skills and practice development.

Today, you are more likely to find Dr. Vande Linde speaking at veterinary conferences, conducting in-practice training or hosting her own executive retreats to help women leaders in veterinary medicine find ways to be more successful. She has recently been named to the Advisory Board of the Companion Animal Parasite Council. Adding her warmth, Southern charm and passion for excellence to our Advisory Board will surely help us forge innovative new approaches to helping practices grow.

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Dr. Matthew Salois, PhD

Director of Veterinary Economics, AVMA

Dr. Matthew Salois

Dr. Salois currently serves as the director of veterinary economics at the AVMA and is passionate about applying economics, statistics, and communications to enhance the daily lives of veterinarians. Previously at Elanco Animal Health, he was the director of global scientific affairs and policy from 2016 to 2018 and an economic research and policy advisor from 2014 to 2016. Dr. Salois also held the position of chief economist and director of economic and market research with the Florida Department of Citrus. He was also an assistant professor at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom and held positions with the University of Florida and the University of Central Florida. Dr. Salois earned his Ph.D. in Food and Resource Economics from the University of Florida and holds an M.A. in Applied Economics and a B.S. in Health Services Administration from the University of Central Florida.

Meg Oliver, the author

Meg Oliver, CVPM

Practice Manager, Cicero Animal Clinic

Meg Oliver

Meg Oliver is a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager at Cicero Animal Clinic, P.C. in Syracuse, NY. She is also a finalist in the Practice Manager of the Year Contest. Over the past 20 years, Meg has worked in many aspects of the veterinary industry, in both Syracuse and Buffalo. Working her way up from receptionist to Practice Manager in various clinics has given her the experience and insight to understand the internal workings of a successful practice. Meg is passionate about preventive care, customer service, and financial management and focuses her energies on these areas. Meg and her husband Rob share their life with their daughter Faye and are currently in the process of expanding their family through adoption.

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Meghan Bingham, CVPM

Practice Manager, West Alabama Animal Clinic

Meghan Bingham

Meghan S. Bingham, CVPM, is the practice manager at West Alabama Animal Clinic, a 10-doctor, small-animal practice in the heart of Houston, Texas. She has worked at the practice for more than 20 years and jokes that she has held every position but veterinarian. Meghan earned her CVPM certification in 2017, was elected one of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Associations Emerging Leaders and is currently a finalist for DVM360s Practice Manager of the Year! Meghan enjoys most everything related to practice management, but is especially excited about increasing heartworm and flea compliance. Meghan is passionate about spending time with her 5-year-old son, taking naps and eating French fries–in that order!

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Michael Raphael,

CEO, IndeVets

Michael Raphael

Michael Raphael is CEO of IndeVets, a veterinarian-led staffing company. IndeVets is on a mission to make veterinary medicine better by uniting the country’s best veterinarians and animal hospitals. Before founding IndeVets in 2017, Michael co-founded Community Veterinary Partners, an operator of 150+ animal hospitals. Michael has an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and an MBA from the Fox School of Business. He lives in Philadelphia.

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Michelle Guercio-Winter, CVT, CVPM

Former Education Development Specialist, Patterson Veterinary

Michelle Guercio-Winter

Michelle is the former Education Development Specialist at Patterson Veterinary. She brings to her speaking and writing an unmatched passion for the business side of veterinary medicine and more than 30 years of practical experience including technician, management and a consulting background. She developed the original Patterson Veterinary University (PVU) Management courses in 2006. After joining the Patterson team in 2008, she led the continual expansion of the PVU course offerings which include specialized classes for practice owners, managers, the veterinary team and senior veterinary students. Michelle remains committed to developing relevant education materials to meet the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s veterinary professionals.

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Nicole Clausen, CSSGB

Owner/CEO, Veterinary Care Logistics

Nicole Clausen

Nicole Clausen, CSSGB has over 13 years of experience in the veterinary industry with over 10 years in small animal practice. She worked her way up from receptionist to Operations Manager in various clinics and understands the intricacies and internal workings of a successful practice. Her firm, Veterinary Care Logistics, specializes in helping veterinary teams create a streamlined and efficient inventory management system.

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Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA

Executive Director, SCVMA

Peter Weinstein

After earning his undergrad at Cornell University and DVM at the University of Illinois, Dr. Peter Weinstein worked as an associate for three years before opening his own practice. That’s when he identified the need for increased business acumen and embarked on an MBA at the University of Redlands while working full-time. After graduating, he was able to relocate, expand and sell his practice.

Dr. Weinstein has served as President of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, the California Veterinary Medical Association and VetPartners. He has also acted as Medical Director for Veterinary Pet Insurance and provided small business and corporate consulting via his company, PAW Consulting. Presently, he is the Executive Director for the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Weinstein has spoken and written extensively on practice management, team building, leadership, and other topics relevant to the veterinary profession. Most recently, he co-authored The EMyth Veterinarian – Why Most Veterinary Practices Don’t Work and What to Do About It, with Michael E Gerber.

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Rachel Ray, CVPM

Director of Marketing, Caring Hands Animal Hospital

Rachel Ray

Rachel began her veterinary career at Caring Hands Animal Hospital in 2007. She learned the ropes through nearly every position in the hospital as a CCS, assistant, inventory manager, office manager, and practice manager. In 2014, she moved into overseeing marketing efforts for all 8 locations. Rachel is passionate about the client experience, hospital culture, branding, technology, and time management. She earned her CVPM in 2018. She shares her home with her husband and two dogs. In her free time, she enjoys all the tv shows, reading, and traveling (10 countries and counting!).

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Ria Botzler, CVPM

Hospital Administrator

Ria Botzler

Ria Botzler has 25 years experience in management with 20 years being dedicated to veterinary practice management. She has a passion for customer service, marketing, and sales, and brings creativity and efficiency to everything she does. She speaks both locally and nationally on management related topics. Ria is a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager, an active member of the Veterinary Hospital Management Association, Colorado Veterinary Medical Association and founder of the Southern Colorado Veterinary Management Group.

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Sally Jackson

Director of National Accounts, VetSuccess

Sally Jackson

Sally has been in the veterinary industry for over 30 years (she started when she was 10) and has been surrounded her whole life by creatures great and small. She grew up showing dogs, horses and rehabilitating wildlife. After college she worked as a large animal surgery technician at the Univ. of GA School of Veterinary Medicine and then jumped into the corporate world of veterinary pharmaceutical sales, consulting and practice data companies. Sally is determined to make data a GOOD 4 letter word!

Sally lives life full throttle and can be found dodging alligators (not very successfully) and wild pigs on her mountain bike or throwing a cast net to catch a delicious mess of GA shrimp for supper!

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Dr. Samantha Vitale, DVM, MS, DACVIM

Co-Founder, Stratocyte

Dr. Samantha Vitale

Samantha Vitale, DVM, MS, DACVIM is a board certified veterinary neurologist and co-founder of Stratocyte by Cloud Animal Health, an online marketplace where primary care veterinarians can connect with specialists that offer virtual consults and other custom services.

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Sarah Susut

Product Manager, VetSuccess

Sarah Susut

Sarah grew up in beautiful Hawaii and Victoria surrounded by the ocean. And then she moved to Toronto. Yep, smack in the middle of a continent. Having managed veterinary practices, Sarah fluently speaks practice manager and has a knack for fishing out the stories behind a practice’s data. What a delightful way to merge her lifelong love of animals and her childhood desire to be the next Sherlock Holmes. Sarah works on the VetSuccess Product team and enjoys creating solutions that help make day-to-day life easier and more fulfilling for veterinary professionals. Bonus fact: Sarah is also a singer and a vocal coach! She can actually teach you to sing. If you want to ask her about that or maybe how to use data to measure your veterinary practice’s performance, send her an email.

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Sheri Gilmartin

VP Sales & Marketing, VetSuccess

Sheri Gilmartin

Sheri may be a relative newcomer to VetSuccess but make no mistake; this veterinary veteran knows this business like the back of her hand.

With two and a half decades of experience behind her, she’s both a credentialed vet tech and a sales and marketing guru. Sheri also happens to boast an incredible track record when it comes to building long-term relationships and industry-wide credibility. In short, she’s the best of all worlds and we feel pretty darned lucky to have her on board!

During business hours, you’ll find Sheri immersed in our marketing and business strategy while excelling in her role as VP of Sales. Beyond VetSuccess, you’ll find her breaking a sweat with some physical activity, chilling to her favorite tunes, geeking out on Sci-Fi, or spending time with the six she holds dearest – namely her husband, two kids, and three fur babies.

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Dr. Shachar Malka

Owner/Founder, Long Island Bird & Exotics Veterinary Clinic

Dr. Shachar Malka

Dr. Shachar Malka has more than 15 years of experience working with birds, exotic species, and wildlife. Dr. Malka completed four additional years of advanced training in this field after graduating from veterinary school. He completed an internship at the University of Guelph, Canada, and a three-year residency program at the University of California, Davis. He treats exotic animals from the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, New Jersey, Queens, and Long Island.

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Dr. Stacee Santi, DVM

Founder and CEO, Vet2Pet App Builders

Dr. Stacee Santi

Stacee Santi, DVM, is the founder and CEO of Vet2Pet, the only customizable, all-in-one client engagement and communication platform for veterinary practices. Since earning her DVM from Colorado State University in 1996, Dr. Santi has accumulated more than 20 years of clinical experience in small animal and emergency practice, and has spent significant time serving on advisory boards, such as NVA, Zoetis, and the Veterinary Entrepreneurship Academy. She is also currently serving as President of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association.

While working in private practice, Dr. Santi realized the value that a comprehensive mobile app could bring to veterinary practitioners and pet owners. After experiencing success with a custom app she had built for her practice, she decided to start Vet2Pet, so other veterinary practices could also reap the benefits of a client engagement platform.

Vet2Pet is based in Durango, Colorado, which is where Dr. Santi lives with her husband, five horses, two dogs, two cats, and three chickens (Rihanna, J-Lo, and Beyonce). In her spare time, she enjoys rewatching Game of Thrones while sitting in the recliner with her dogs, and creating playlists on Spotify. She also goes to the gym regularly, but she doesn’t really enjoy that.

If Dr. Santi could get away with it, this is how her bio would read:
Stacee Santi, DVM, House of Vet2Pet, Queen of Meowgydom, Khalessi of the Great Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, Breaker of Chewy, Builder of Apps, Healer of Animals, and Collector of Purses.

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Steve Zeidman

Senior Vice President, Software Solutions, Pethealth Inc.

Steve Zeidman

Steve Zeidman has more than 20 years of industry experience and is a leading expert in animal welfare technology and shelter operations. He is currently the Senior Vice President, Software Solutions for Pethealth Inc where he oversees data management solutions for shelters and rescues under the PetPoint brand while also supporting Chameleon, a recent addition to the Pethealth family. Steve has built a reputation as a leader and a key contributor to animal welfare. He is currently the Past Board Chair of the Catalyst Council, has served as head of research for PetSmart Charities, and a founding board member of Shelter Animals Count. Steve started his career in animal welfare with Animal Care Centers of NYC. Steve is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator and holds a Master of Science in Information Systems from City University of New York - Baruch College and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

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Stith Keiser

CEO, Blue Heron Consulting (BHC)

Stith Keiser

Stith Keiser is the CEO for Blue Heron Consulting (BHC). BHC collaborates with practice owners to improve their lives and the lives of their team members while enhancing client experience, building sustainable practice profitability and elevating the quality of care for pets. Stith is also managing partner for a handful of veterinary practices and helps new owners build a legacy by overseeing team development, operations and financial management.

Prior to his role at BHC, Stith was the founder and CEO of My Veterinary Career. Furthermore, he has facilitated workshops at veterinary conferences and written for Veterinary Team Brief, AAHA’s Trends Magazine and Veterinarian’s Money Digest. Stith also conducts career development-related workshops at veterinary schools across the country.

Stith recently collaborated on the development and delivery of professional development curricula at several veterinary schools. He is also working under a federal grant with the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences to explore and design strategies for successful rural veterinary practice ownership. On the volunteer front, Stith serves as Chair of the Practice Management Special Interest Group for VetPartners, participates in Washington State University’s CVM “Diagnostic Challenge” and serves on several task forces for the AVMA’s Economic Committee.

In his free time, Stith enjoys spending time with his family, friends, Red Heeler (with too much energy!) and Black Lab, while horseback riding, hiking and camping.

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Wendy Hauser, DVM

Assistant Vice President, Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group

Wendy Hauser

Wendy Hauser, DVM, established Peak Veterinary Consulting in January 2015 after working as an industry Technical Services Veterinarian. With a DVM from OK State in 1988, she practiced for 28 years as an associate and owner. She is highly engaged in AAHA leadership having served as a member of the Board of Directors, as the Board Vice-President and currently serves as the AAHA Delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates. She helped design and facilitate Colorado VMA’s Power of Ten. Dr. Hauser is a communications coach at CSU’s CVM.  The co-author of “The Veterinarian’s Guide to Healthy Pet Plans”, she enjoys consulting and presenting workshops on hospital culture, leadership, client relations and operations. She may be reached at drhauser@peakveterinaryconsulting.com

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Wendy Jureski, CCFC

Practice Manager

Wendy Jureski

Wendy, currently a business manager for a small animal practice in Jacksonville, has worked in veterinary medicine for the past 20 years. In 2016, her interest in reducing compassion fatigue within the industry prompted her to create Saving Fido’s Friends – an organization that promotes healthier practice environments by providing valuable information and resources to vet professionals. She is also one of several administrators for Veterinary Support Staff Unleashed, a Facebook group currently offering support to more than 5,900 members.

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