Thankful Thursday: Thank You, Team Vetcor!

December 19, 2024

As we close out the year, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the incredible team members at our hospitals and those who support them. Thankful Thursday is dedicated to celebrating the hard work, compassion, and dedication that each of you brings every day. Enjoy the last Thankful Thursday of 2024, and take a moment to reflect on the impact of these heartfelt messages of appreciation for all of the amazing individuals who make our hospitals great places to work. Thank you, Team Vetcor!

Jessica Spellacy from The Pet Doctors of Sherman Oaks, Sherman Oaks, California, wants to recognize Dr. Kolleen Nellett, COS: "We couldn’t let this year pass without recognizing the amazing job Dr. Kolleen Nellett has been doing as our new Chief of Staff! Her leadership, kindness, and dedication have been making a big difference for our team, our clients, and of course, our furry four-legged patients. Dr. Nellett, your ability to lead with heart and inspire everyone around you is truly something special. Thank you for all that you do!!"

Jessica also wants to recognize Nick Madarasz, DVM: "Dr. Cates, Dr. Tickle, and the entire staff of Westbrook Animal Hospital wants to wish Dr. Nick Madarasz congratulations on his upcoming retirement. It has been a blessing to work for such a great veterinarian who goes above and beyond for our clients and their pets, but even more so for his staff. His kindness and compassion as an employer and a friend are beyond measure. You will be greatly missed. (No, I’m not crying writing this.) We look forward to staying in touch with you and your family and wish you all good health and happiness in the years to come."

Finally, Jessica wants to recognize the entire staff at WVC: "One of our staff members experienced a pet's death recently, which was very devastating. Our whole clinic family came together to support her, cover for her time off and put together a basket of items to help her cope with this loss. It was beyond amazing to see the outpouring of support within our clinic family!"

Patricia Gonzalez-Alcaraz from Loyalhanna Veterinary Clinic, Stahlstown, Pennsylvania, wants to recognize the entire staff at Loyalhanna Veterinary Clinic: "I want to thank my entire team for their hard work and dedication to LVC this year.  Dr. Croft:  Calmness and sense of humor when I am in crisis.  Dr. Springer:  Passion for enhancing the human-animal bond. Jill:  Being the “go-to mom” when we need advice. Halie:  Passion for tick-borne illness education and prevention. Molly:  Flexibility and go-with-the-flow attitude. Kate:  Eagerness to learn and master new skills. Hunter:  Willingness to pitch in wherever needed. Lindsey:  Being the captain of the front desk ship. Courtney:  Willingness to work extra shifts when we are shorthanded. Justine:  Flexibility to work in all areas of the clinic.  Amy:  For encouraging me and always being a text message away.  AND SO MUCH MORE!  Thank you all for your patience with me when I'm not always present.  I appreciate each and every one of you.  Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."

Jodi McDowell from Companion Animal Hospital of Waller, Waller, Texas, wants to recognize Katie Green, Veterinary Technician: "Congratulations on passing the VTNE and moving one step forward to LVT!"

Brett Hensley from Companion Animal Hospital of Waller, Waller, Texas, wants to recognize Bailey Wampler, LVT: "She recently passed her state test for LVT. She is now my second LVT here at the hospital and we are super proud of her!"

Angela Duke from Advantage Veterinary Center, High Ridge, Missouri, wants to recognize Dr. Jennifer Haug, DVM: "Dr. Haug goes above and beyond for the team! Dr. Haug is a great leader. She is always staying past her shift to help others or making sure the team is always learning something new.  This year she opened up her house for us to have a Christmas party.  It was beautiful, and you can tell she put a lot of time into the party so we all had a blast! Thank you, Dr Haug!"

Dawn Trimble from Epping Road Veterinary Hospital, Exeter, New Hampshire, wants to recognize Kelsey Ehlert, Veterinary Technician: "Kelsey's reliability and kindness make such a positive impact on our team and the animals we care for. She is an integral part of our hospital, always quick to jump into action when needed. Her problem-solving skills and thoughtful approach to challenges are incredibly valuable and the ability to think outside of the box. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to ERVH, your teammates, our clients and patients, and being someone we can always count on."

Ashley Cogovan from Winsted Hospital for Animals, Barkhamsted, Connecticut, wants to recognize Jen Burgie, CVT: "Jen deserves to be recognized for her hard work and unwavering diligence. She graduated from her technician program in 2013 but never took the licensing exam. Recently after deciding she deserved to have the official title of CVT she studied tirelessly for months before taking the exam in just a few weeks ago. To no surprise of mine or her peers she passed the licensing exam with flying colors. We are so proud of Jen and lucky to have her and her diligent spirit at WHFA! Way to go Jen!"

Michael Dobbert from The Pet Doctors of Sherman Oaks, Sherman Oaks, California, wants to recognize Fredy Bardales, Tech Team Department Supervisor: "I would like to recognize Fredy for his incredible leadership and unwavering can-do attitude. As our Tech Department Supervisor, Fredy is always there to lend a hand, support the team, and tackle challenges with positivity and determination.  Fredy, your dedication, reliability, and support truly make our jobs easier, and we are so grateful for everything you do. You’re doing an amazing job, and we can’t thank you enough for all that you bring to the table! Fredy, you deserve a big round of applause for being such a rockstar!"

Lisa Tharp from The Pet Doctors of Sherman Oaks, Sherman Oaks, California, wants to recognize Angie Quintanilla, Co-CCS Supervisor: "I would like to recognize Angie, who recently stepped into her role as Co-CCS Supervisor and has been doing an incredible job leading the way!  Angie has brought so much energy, organization, and heart to her new role, and it’s clear she’s making a positive impact on the team. Her ability to lead with confidence and care has not gone unnoticed, and we’re so proud to have her in this position.  Thank you, Angie, for your hard work and dedication—you’re doing an amazing job and we appreciate you!"

Julie Hogue from The Fix Machine Animal Health Clinic, Kennewick, Washington, wants to recognize Olivia Melton, Manager: "I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to Olivia for all her hard work and dedication during our software transition. This has been such a difficult task, but she has tackled it with patience, expertise, and a willingness to help all of us adjust. Her efforts have made a huge difference in ensuring a smooth transition, and her ability to answer questions, solve problems, and keep everything running efficiently has not gone unnoticed. I want to say thank you for everything you do to keep us moving forward! You're truly amazing, and we are so lucky to have you!"

Danielle Mercado from Animal & Bird Clinic of Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo, California, wants to recognize Susie Sweet, Hospital Manager: "Thank you for all of the wonderful work on the end of the year holiday event and valuable recognition of other staff members."

Rocky McGullion from Oakdale Veterinary Group, Oakdale, California, wants to recognize Shea May, Hospital Manager: "We recently were acquired by Vetcor one month ago. Shea just became Practice Manager. She is doing an amazing job with the transition. Just wanted to let her know her good deeds do not go unnoticed."

Rocky also wants to recognize Brianna Cline, Pet Care Assistant: "Thankful for our wonderful Pet Care Assistant, Bri for all she does to keep the hospital running! She recently spent most of her shift to change our hospitals decor from fall to christmas and our staff and clients absolutely love it! Thanks for going the extra mile, Bri!"

Shelia Tickle from Silver Spring Animal Wellness Center, Glendale, Wisconsin, wants to recognize Nicole Goelz, Senior Marketing Specialist: "Nicole is amazing at her job. She has such a wonderfully warm way about her. I always end the call with her feeling supported and knowing she is setting us up for success, professionally done, and advocating for the best for us. HUGE thank you!"

Jolene O'Brien from Hill-Dale Veterinary Care, Baraboo, Wisconsin, wants to recognize Karissa Kolar, Hospital Manager: "Thanks for everything Karissa did for us in 2024!  She kept the team running as smoothly as possible despite many changes and challenges."

Jessica Bibb from the Recruiting team wants to recognize Dr. Bernadette Santos, COS from Pittsburgh Spay & Vaccination Clinic: "Dr. Santos recently became our new Chief of Staff.  In that short period of time, she has strived to make our work environment much more pleasant and efficient!  She comes into the clinic on her days off to increase the hospital organization along with catching up on client communications.  She is putting her heart and soul into bettering our hospital!  I want her to know that her time and effort is noticed and appreciated greatly!"

Michele Hickman from Sherlock Bones Animal Hospital, Carmel, Indiana, wants to recognize the staff at Sherlock Bones: "We recently had a change in our employees and everyone has stepped up and made everything run smoothly!  We are so lucky to have this team!"

Alannah Labesky from the OPS team wants to recognize Dr. Nicole Aponte, COS, Dr. Martin, COS, Tannslee, Lead Technician and staff from Stone Mountain Animal Hospital and St. Claire Animal Care: "I am deeply grateful for the incredible hard work and dedication that Dr. Aponte, Dr. Martin, Tannslee, and their teams have shown in serving their clients and patients during this time without a hospital manager. Both clinics have gone above and beyond to ensure their communities receive the highest quality veterinary care. Their resilience and commitment have not gone unnoticed, and I know their patients, clients, and everyone at VetCor recognize and deeply appreciate their remarkable efforts. Thank you for embodying the true spirit of veterinary excellence!"

Alannah also wants to recognize Savanna Paxton, Hospital Manager, Berrien Veterinary Services: "Savanna joined our team 2 months ago as our new Hospital Manager and has done such a great job in such a short amount of time.  She has a good attitude and is such a hard worker.  We are grateful that she has chosen our team!  Great job!"

Lastly, Alannah would like to recognize Laura Bartow, Keanna Sandoval, Kelly Chapman, University Recruiting Team Members: "I had to be away from the office unexpectedly and was unable to moderate a presentation. Laura, Keanna, and Kelly all jumped in and offered to help. Thank you so much, ladies! I am grateful for you all!"

Jennifer Harney from All Creature Features Animal Hospital, LaPorte, Indiana, wants to recognize Tiffani Lambert, Veterinary Assistant: "I just want to give a shout-out to Tiffani Lambert for always being willing to help out. She always has a take charge attitude and is a natural leader. She is a natural in vet med and is a true blessing to us!"

Joanne Ziemba from the OPS team wants to recognize Dr. Noble and the entire team at South Mill Veterinary Clinic: "South Mill has recently had some changes in their hospital but I am so proud of how well the whole team has stepped up and worked together!"

Elise Skirzynski from the OPS team wants to recognize Erica Pangio, Hospital Manager: "A special Thank You to Erica for all of her support and mentorship to a recently promoted HM at a nearby location! I appreciate your willingness to help!"

Liz Hall from the OPS team wants to recognize Eric Detrick, Hospital Manager, Pleasant Hills Pet Hospital: "I wanted to send a special shout-out and congratulations to Eric Detrick for being up for the challenge of managing and supporting a second hospital! Eric is really goal driven and is going to do great as he partners with Always Compassionate Veterinary Care and Dr. Ritchey, while maintaining his great support at PHPH!"

Brittany Poulin from Greylock Animal Hospital, North Adams, Massachusetts, wants to recognize Ashley Gilvey, Hospital Manager, CVT: "Ashley works quietly behind the scenes, keeping things organized, meeting all our deadlines and supporting the whole team.  She is willing to help however the hospital needs.  She has been very supportive with a new COS in 2024 as well.  We appreciate Ashley and all she does to make Greylock Animal Hospital a great team!"

Mackenzie Hayes from Wintergreen Animal Hospital, Erie, Pa, Pennsylvania, wants to recognize Dr. Amanda Jones: "Dr. Jones is one of a kind. She is so passionate about her work and her patients.  She goes above and beyond with her cases, ensuring she offers the highest quality care and treatment options available.  She routinely offers to help out when there is a scheduling conflict or urgent appointment/surgery need. Her dedication and commitment to veterinary medicine are worth recognizing.  I would like the Vetcor community to know how much she means to us and Vetcor.  Thank you so much Dr. Amanda, we truly are so grateful for you!!"

Lori Krause from the OPS team wants to recognize Barry Road Animal Hospital and Northland Animal Hospital: "These teams have been through lots of changes over the past couple of months and they have handled it with courage and grace. I am grateful for all of them!"

Lori also wants to recognize Nicole Taylor, COS, Cascade Pet Hospital: "Thank you for being the best boss that I have ever had. I so love working with you. I look forward to coming to work because I know I get to work with you. Thank you for being such a great mentor."

Morgan Schreiner from the OPS team wants to recognize Amy Klotz, Regional Manager: "She opened her schedule and hosted me to help me learn my role. It was invaluable. She is a very kind and intelligent person. I feel lucky to have her as a mentor moving forward. I know that I also gained a friend. I can't thank her enough for making time for me.  Thank you, Amy!"

Jessie Nelson, COS Sugarloaf Animal Hospital, wants to recognize Caryn Vandooyeweert, CSR at Main West Animal Hospital, Welland, Ontario, Canada: "Shoutout to Caryn! Caryn, your dedication and hard work don’t go unnoticed. You always put our clients and patient’s needs first. Your kindness and compassion make such a positive impact on our team and everyone you help. Thank you for being such an incredible asset—you're truly amazing!"

Dr. Nelson also wants to recognize Karen Laurinas, Senior Director of Operations: "She took time out of her busy schedule to help me learn one note."

Kathleen Phillips from Clarkson Veterinary Hospital, Brockport, New York, wants to recognize Dr. Sabrina Miller: "She has been put through the ringer this past year, running Clarkson Vet all alone (no HM) while also being a vet and treating a variety of patients. She does all of this while wearing a smile on her face and keeping her attitude up."

Heather Rodgers from Sugarloaf Animal Hospital, Lawrenceville, Georgia, wants to recognize Marissa Day, Hospital Manager: "Thank you for helping me to be better and for understanding while I figure things out. Thank you for the support you give us all."

Nicole Curler from the OPS team, wants to recognize Suzzane Campion, Technician at Sugarloaf Animal Hospital: "You are a great leader in our practice. Thank you for taking the initiative on projects."

Tamatha Bortoletto from Kindness Animal Hospital, Wheaton, Maryland, wants to recognize Natalie Sweeney, Hospital Manager: "We are undergoing a complete renovation and Natalie is doing such a great job navigating that considering we are both new at our positions so did not have anything to do with planning.  She wears many hats and is doing such a great job figuring things out and helping people.  She has been great at working closely with our new roles.  I know I can count on her to help me and get the job done."

Chad Harris from the Veterinary Leadership team wants to recognize Liz Brooks, Director of Operations: "Liz is an amazing Director of Operations. She is dedicated to learning and development.  Her style of leadership is highly successful.  Liz has the ability to stay calm during a storm and problem solving quickly! It was a pleasure working under her. I'm thankful for all that I've learned from her. "

Alexa Jacquier from Hawks Prairie Veterinary Hospital, Lacey, Washington, wants to recognize Kami Owens, Lead Veterinary Assistant: "Kami has been a rockstar while we've been transitioning to a new leadership team.  She will pitch in and help every department without being asked.  She is the definition of a true team player!"

Tamara Sloan from Cat Care of Rochester Hills, Rochester Hills, Michigan, wants to recognize Amy Miller, VP of Operations: "Let's shine a light on the incredible Amy Miller! Amy's fun yet professional demeanor has made every collaboration with her a joy. Her ability to balance a lighthearted spirit with unwavering professionalism is truly inspiring.  It has been an absolute pleasure during my time at Vetcor to partner with Amy. Her dedication, creativity, and positive energy have made a lasting impact on all of us. We are grateful for the wonderful memories and successful projects we've shared together. Here's to many more years of success and camaraderie!"

Tamara also wants to recognize Jennifer Weitzel, Director of Operations: "Jen has provided wonderful support to my clinic and me as we've faced several challenges these past few months.  She's amazing!"

Matthew Campbell from Cat Care of Rochester Hills, Rochester Hills, Michigan, wants to recognize Jenn McLean, HM, VetSelect Novi: "Jenn has been helping us out since we lost our HM several months ago.  She's been amazing in her willingness to go the extra mile (literally) for us!"

Aubrey Mills from the OPS team wants to recognize Sarah Brown, Hospital Manager: "I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for your incredible hard work and dedication during what has been a challenging period for our team. Stepping into a new managerial role is never easy, but your leadership, patience, and clear communication have truly made a difference. Your ability to navigate tough situations with professionalism and care has not gone unnoticed, and it has been a great comfort to your staff. We're grateful for the positive impact you’ve made in such a short amount of time."

Amanda Paull from Helping Hands Veterinary Clinic, Lynnwood, Washington, wants to recognize Juliana Stead, Veterinary Assistant: "Juliana is a hard worker and always has a positive attitude. She always has a funny video to share, and she makes us all take a moment to smile and laugh a little!!"

Dava Hunt from Vetsavers Pet Hospital - Carrollton, Carrollton, Texas, wants to recognize Thelma Ramos, Lead Technician: "Thelma has been a very strong member of our team for almost 5 years.  In those 5 years she has become one of the most valued members of our team.  She is always a team player, willing to help out wherever she is needed.  In addition, she takes on the challenge of making sure our technician team is properly trained and she is always there to support them in every way possible.  Without Thelma, we would be lost.  We are so glad to have Thelma as part of our team!!"

Melissa Strycker-Grzeskowiak from Cozy Cat Veterinary Hospital, Raleigh, North Carolina, wants to recognize Sarah McConnell, COS: "To Dr. McConnell and the entire team at Armadale Animal Hospital.  We are so thankful for all the help this year since we are down a vet and could not do dentals.  They have come to help at our hospital, and we have sent patients to them.  They have all gone above and beyond to help us. Vetcor hospitals step up when needed."

Melissa Guthrie from Jacksonville Community Pet Clinic - Beaches, Jacksonville, Florida, wants to recognize Jasmine Jones, Technician: "Jasmine is not only a skilled technician but she talks and laughs with the clients. Today she was singing with a client. It makes our clients feel at home with her."

Sharon Davis from South Orange Animal Hospital wants to recognize the whole team: "It is important to acknowledge the exceptional team at South Orange Animal Hospital, whose dedication consistently exceeds expectations in the field of animal care."

Sharon would also like to recognize Nicole Frank, Regional Manager: "I would like to express my gratitude to my Regional Manager, Nicole Frank, for her steadfast support whenever I require assistance."

Finally, Sharon would like to recognize Dr. Marc Levine, COS, and Fran Melton-Levine, Hospital Manager: "Additionally, I appreciate the guidance of our Chief of Staff, Dr. Marc Levine, whose leadership has been invaluable over the years. A special mention also goes to Hospital Manager, Fran Melton-Levine for her attention to detail and unwavering support. The past year has proven to be remarkable, and I take great pleasure in collaborating with all team members. I look forward to the continued growth and learning opportunities that lie ahead as part of this exceptional team."