Thankful Thursday: Gratitude in Action

November 21, 2024

Our team members' dedication and hard work add that extra flavor to our success, making everything smoother and more enjoyable. Without them, our achievements wouldn't be nearly as satisfying. 

Crystal Poirier, RVT from Aspen Springs Animal Hospital, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, wants to recognize Mandy Tinker, Hospital Manager: "We want to give a big shoutout to our amazing hospital manager, Mandy! Her compassion, dedication, and leadership are the heartbeat of our hospital. Mandy goes above and beyond to make sure our patients, clients, and team members are taken care of every day. Her warmth and kindness make our hospital a welcoming and supportive place for everyone who walks through the doors. Thank you, Mandy, for everything you do! We're so grateful to have you leading our team. Here's to celebrating you this week and every day!"

Brittany Klopp from Central Animal Hospital, Petaluma, California, wants to recognize Kristen VanAggelen, Patient Care Team Supervisor: "Kristen is the backbone of our team. She does not just supervise but she leads her team, willing to help with any task in any role. She is caring, hardworking and the most most zen person you will ever meet. Thank you for all you do Kristen!" 

Eric Detrick from Pleasant Hills Pet Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, wants to recognize Melanie Auten, LVT: "A big thank you to Melanie for covering shifts when co-workers call off. Also, Melanie brings over 20 years of veterinary experience to the team. She mentors our new technicians, shares ideas for efficiency, and helps with in-house electronic issues." 

Kaylee Crickmore from Bloomfield Animal Hospital, Bloomfield, Connecticut, wants to recognize Karina Martin, Veterinary Assistant: "Karina started at Bloomfield less than a year ago and has made tremendous growth in the veterinary field! She always has such a positive attitude and always lends a helping hand when we need her! We are so grateful to have Karina as part of our team! " 

Erin Heighton from Operations, South Carolina, South Carolina, wants to recognize Tiffany Ramos Rodriguez, Hospital Manager: "Top notch job taking over the leadership of Ark Animal Hospital in Boiling Springs SC when we lost both DVMs and the Hospital Manager. She has done a beautiful job getting relief vets, implementing new efficient operations, and preparing the team for the change from a walk-in clinic to an appointment-based clinic. Setting realistic but high expectations for the team and leading them to success." 

Cindy Wyma from Two Notch Road Animal Clinic, Columbia, South Carolina, wants to recognize Chasity Vitti, Receptionist: "I would like to recognize Chasity Vitti. Chasity is cross-trained and I am so thankful! We have been very short staffed with techs and she has helped out our team so much! I am very grateful for her and the whole team is thankful that she is part of our Two Notch family!" 

Margie Giles from All Animals Veterinary Hospital, Sanford, North Carolina, wants to recognize Stephanie Zorn, Receptionist: "We want to acknowledge one of our receptionists, Stephanie Zorn. She has been with us for a while, and we appreciate all her hard work and dedication to our team. Steph greets everyone with a friendly smile and a positive attitude. She cares deeply for all of our clients and their pets. Thank you, Steph, for all you do!" 

Jamie McVicker from Willard Veterinary Clinic, Quincy, Massachusetts, wants to recognize Pam Daly, Hospital Manager: "I want to thank my HM for all the hard work that she does and say what an awesome job she is doing!  Being in management is joyful and rewarding, but it also takes a lot out of your mental health.  I just want to thank her for taking care of all the daily tasks and always doing her best day in and day out.  I really appreciate all the work she does, and I want to thank her for putting up with her COS!  :-)  Love you, Pam!  Great job!" 

Cherie Guidry from Helping Hands Veterinary Clinic, Lynnwood, Washington, wants to recognize Dr. Rudolf and Carla from Pacific Heights Veterinary Clinic, DVM and Hospital Manager: "Thank you both so much for allowing me to do my acupuncture internship with you!  I learned so much!  I really enjoyed the time I got to spend with you." 

Cherie Guidry from Helping Hands Veterinary Clinic, Lynnwood, Washington, wants to recognize Jessica and Kellie, Veterinary Assistants: "You two are awesome rock star assistants and I could not do my job without you!  Thank you so much for all that you do for me and our team! " 

Melanie Worman from Downtown Toronto Cat Clinic, Toronto, Ontario, wants to recognize Jasmine Giuntoli, Reception, and Aurora Joot, Veterinary Assistant: "Thank you to Jasmine and Aurora!  This Wednesday we were down a team member, and then in the evening another person needed to go home early.  Jasmine and Aurora did a great job pitching in and covering the rest of the day despite being short-staffed." 

Ana Castillo from Caldwell Pet Hospital, Visalia, California, wants to recognize Haley Mull, Veterinary Assistant: "Haley is a team player when it comes to training new team members or learning a new procedure. She goes in open-minded and never fails to do it without a smile. You can always find her laughing no matter how hard the day has been. Thank you for all your work, Haley!" 

Destiny Rodriguez from Medina Veterinary Clinic, Medina, Ohio, wants to recognize Paige Kotora and Julia Franquesa-Guivernau, Vet Assistants: "Both Paige and Julia have been wonderful additions to our team and have gone above and beyond helping train new hires as we transition into our new season here." 

Brittany Poulin from Main West Animal Hospital, Welland, Ontario, Canada, wants to recognize Ashley Nystrom, CSR: "Ashley has been a fantastic addition to our team. She always has a smiling face. Ashley is a hard worker and has a true passion for animals. Thank you, Ashley, for all you do! Keep being you!" 

Kelly Buckley from Recruiting wants to recognize Ryan Fox, Support Staff Recruiter, and Woody Veritisse, Tech: "A huge shoutout to Ryan and Woody, whose dedication to our program and unwavering support make all the difference. They continually go above and beyond, tackling every challenge with determination and a positive spirit. Without their hard work and commitment, our program simply wouldn’t be the same. I feel incredibly lucky to work alongside them every day—thank you both for all that you do!" 

Mariel McCann-Landolfi from Parkway Vet Hospital, West Roxbury, Massachusetts, wants to recognize Mady Delosh, Lead Tech: "Mady goes above and beyond for her team. She creates opportunities while uplifting the staff. Mady is detail-oriented and keeps tabs on the big picture. I don't know what we would do without her. Thank you, Mady!" 

Margie Giles from Sanford Animal Hospital, Sanford, North Carolina, wants to recognize Amy Douglas, Lead Receptionist: "Amy is such a valuable asset to our team.  She can do almost anything in the hospital that we need her for.  Personally, she helps me a lot as I manage 2 clinics and can't always be there when there is something that has to be handled right away.  Her title is lead receptionist, but she does so much more than that.  Thank you, Amy, for everything you do for all of us!" 

Kadri Uukkivi from Dunnville Veterinary Clinic, Dunnville, Ontario, wants to recognize Colleen Zylstra, Hospital Manager Extraordinaire: "Colleen is the glue that holds our practice together.  Not only is she a shining star here who performs her daily tasks with great skill and knowledge, she also has helped other Vetcor clinics out in many ways.  She is personable & always has things under control.  We'd be lost without her!" 

Michele Hickman from All Creature Features, LaPorte, Indiana, wants to recognize the entire staff: "I was in a car accident in October and the entire team really came together to help me through it! They checked in on me and took care of things for me as needed. They are really a fantastic team, and I appreciate them more than I can explain!!" 

Monica Sastoque from Pine Lakes Animal Hospital, Palm Coast, Florida, wants to recognize Kelly Vail, Regional Manager: "Her tremendous support, availability, how resourceful she is, zero drama, extremely accountable, knowledgeable, and kind!" 

Mandy Tinker from Aspen Springs Animal Hospital, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, wants to recognize Tina Denis, RVT: "Tina is a very skilled and competent technician. We are so grateful she decided to leave the rep world and come back to clinical practice. Not only does Tina work very hard, but she also provides many laughs and loves to surprise staff with personal gifts to brighten our days! Thanks for all you do Tina, we appreciate you!" 

Danielle Mercado from the OPS team and Leland Vet Clinic, Mableton, Georgia, wants to recognize Jillian Craig, HR, Spence King, Mark Allen, and Liz Brooks from the OPS team: "I am immensely grateful for the patience, understanding, and support I’ve received from Jillian, Spence, Mark, and Liz as I learn and grow within this wonderful company. Their guidance and encouragement have been invaluable, as they’ve chosen to teach rather than criticize, leading me through challenges with grace and kindness. With this team, I feel confident in my growth and development as a leader, and I know I’m in the best place to thrive. Life truly is better here!" 

Lara Davis from Preston Center Animal Clinic, Dallas, Texas, wants to recognize Alyssa Dawes, Receptionist: "Thank you for being an awesome coworker and friend!" 

Kelli Connors from Norwell Service Center, Norwell, Massachusetts, wants to recognize Hailee Hubley, CCS/Reception: "I have been a client at Willard for about a year, and Hailee has been a bright spot for me every time I visit or call.  She is attentive and informative and always makes sure to follow up via text about my pets.  I appreciate her willingness to go above and beyond to make the experience as seamless as it can be!  She is a true rock star!" 

Krystle Bernier from the OPS team to recognize Heidi Dunning, Area Manager: "Heidi has just stepped into the brand new Area Manager role in Ontario! She is absolutely killing it and has been such a pleasure to teach and work with! I am so excited about her growth, and I am looking forward to watching her achievements!" 

Jennifer Crepeau from Zippivet, Kyle, Texas, wants to recognize Mae Woods, Hospital Manager: "I reached out to Mae and her doctors when my dog needed emergency surgery, and she put together a team to come down and assist me and helped save my precious pup. I appreciate the support I get from all of the Zippivet managers; we are so lucky to have each other." 

Jennifer also wants to recognize Brad Brockman, IT: "Brad has been amazing and super understanding about awkward phone calls lol. Thanks, Brad! We appreciate the heck out of you here at Zippivet Kyle." 

Anita Taylor from Countryside Animal Clinic, Madison, Wisconsin, wants to recognize Brian Jones, Hospital Manager: "I would like to thank Brian Jones and the rest of the Countryside Animal Clinic team for taking care of me and each other while we searched for a new associate veterinarian. Your teamwork and dedication paid off, and we were able to attract an amazing veterinarian to join us. Thank you, Dr. Trisha Metzger, for being wonderful, and welcome to the team!" 

Lisa Tharp from Pittsburgh Spay & Vaccination Clinic, Verona, Pennsylvania, wants to recognize Alannah Labesky, Regional Manager: "Alannah is always ready and willing to help us, no matter what the problem is!  She happily resolves any issues that we request her help with and is a wonderful mentor!  She rocks!!" 

Alannah Labesky from the OPS team wants to recognize Dr. Vanessa Wolf, COS, Jennifer Flowers, HM, and the entire team at Greenville Veterinary Clinic: "I want to send a special shoutout to Dr. Wolf, Jennifer and the entire team at GVC for working so well together during some recent big changes.  The entire team has pride in their hospital and is working so great together.  Dr. Wolf and Jennifer have been very recently promoted to their leadership roles, and have had their hands quite full since August, but they are doing a great job! I am proud of this team!" 

Kimberly Keil from Countryside Pet Hospital, Conover, North Carolina, wants to recognize the entire team, Amber Phillips, Reena Willard, Carrie Putnam, Alice Lawson, Hannah Long, Robin Davis, Charlie Fields, Addie Norton, Makenzie Hamby, Gabby Montano, Allie Gantt, Karen Tysinger: "This team of people at Countryside Pet Hospital amaze me every day! They are so dedicated to the job they do, with caring, compassion, and empathy for the pets and their owners! They give 100% even when they don’t feel 100% themselves. They are genuinely good people doing good work! As hospital manager, I don’t know how to ever express how much appreciation and gratitude I have for each and every one of them!" 

Colleen Zylstra from Dunnville Veterinary Clinic, Dunnville, Ontario, wants to recognize Sam Croft, RVT: "We would like to recognize Sam a technician who goes above and beyond.  She wears many hats on a daily basis and is always helping others throughout her day.  She is eager and has a friendly face to our clients.  I want to thank Sam for everything she does, she is an important member of our team." 

Christina Maples from the OPS team wants to recognize Kasia Keyser, and Jen Orner, Hospital Managers: "I would like to thank Kasia Keyser and Jen Orner! These two amazing Hospital Managers are transitioning to different practices in our region and currently managing four practices between the two of them. They have been proactive in meeting with their new teams, collaborating with their RM, onboarding new platforms, and even planning a healthy onboarding plan to properly welcome their newest Doctor additions! Whew- I just a broke a sweat thinking about all the lanes they are running in! Both of these Hospital Managers always model one of my favorite Vetcor Values "Building Community" and due to their consistent thoughtfulness of others, I have had the pleasure of watching the rest of the region's managers rally behind them to pitch in with any help they need! Kudos to these two amazing leaders! We are beyond thankful to have both of you as part of the Vetcor Family" 

Christina  also wants to recognize Nikki Keating, Hospital Manager, and Dr. John Broshkevitch, COS from Mountain Shadow Veterinary Hospital, Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania: "I would like to recognize COS Dr. John Broshkevitch (Dr. B) and HM Nikki Keating! Since the first day I met this team, I have been in awe of their dedication to their community, clients, and pets. This team will always try to accommodate a client/patient in need - no matter how full their schedule is! They genuinely care about their patients, practice high standards of medicine and Dr. B is a life learner and mentor. I love to listen to Dr. B as his face lights about the newest medications and/or protocols he is bringing to the practice to elevate care. Icing on the cake, anytime I ask if they would be open to hosting another practice, whether a Doctor and/or Hospital Manager, the answer is always YES! They love to collaborate with their sister teams. Most recently Nikki (even though managing a booming practice) served as the interim practice manager at a Hospital TWO hours away- to support a neighboring team. This thankful Thursday submission does not even touch the countless acts of kindness and support I have witnessed this year- from them and their phenomenal team of techs, CCR's and Associate Doctors.  I thank you both for your dedication, flexibility, and love for the patients, clients, and teams you serve!" 

Jolene O'Brien from Berrien Vet, Baroda, Michigan, wants to recognize Shannon Utt, Vet Assistant: "I want to recognize Shannon for the last 20+ years of service at our clinic.  She has amazing skills with calming animals, restraining the large animals, and vaccine protocols.  We are lucky to have her at our clinic.  Here's to another 20 years!"