Thankful Thursday: Raining Down Appreciation

June 15, 2023

Reading these notes of appreciation is as refreshing as summer rain. Read on to see messages about some of the many team members that take teamwork to the next level.

Amber Hansen from Procurement wants to recognize Dr. Tucker (COS), Lisa Tucker and Hannah Jensen (HMs) at Prosper North AMC, Dr. Esmond (COS) at Josey Ranch Pet Hospital, Dr. Montgomery (COS) at Preston Center Animal Clinic: "Thanks to all of these team members for being so welcoming and showing me around their practices last month! It was great to have some face time and see the beautiful facilities which they were clearly so thrilled with and proud of. You're part of the reason why we're so passionate about what we do and are what keeps us going every day. :)”

Michelle Skinner from Crofton Veterinary Center, Crofton, Maryland, wants to recognize Kyleigh McDonald, Senior HM: "Kyleigh is a great listener and I appreciate that she takes the time to chat when I have oddball questions. She has offered different ideas for problem solving, and is very collaborative. Thank you for all that you do!"

Emily Losee from Payroll wants to recognize Kelli Connors, Payroll: "Kelli is the most helpful, patient person ever.  She teaches me something new on a daily basis and I appreciate her so much."

Kayla Goldberg Sun Valley Hope Animal Hospital from, Glendale, Arizona, wants to recognize Dr. Ashley Casida, COS: "Dr. Casida is one of the most selfless veterinarians I know. Everyone in the veterinary field has a passion for animals and wants to help, but Dr. Casida's vision of help is so much larger than that general practice scope. She hears the clients and wants to get past the "cost" of veterinary medicine. She works with patients that most general practitioners won't take a second with. Above her patient and client care, she runs her hospital with compassion, and that says a lot in our field. It is enjoyable to come to work because no matter what the world wants to throw at us, our leader is there with us on every level. She will help with client communications, drawing blood, restraining, ear cleaning, cleaning the clinic, you name it. If the staff is stretched too thin, she is there to assist in any way she can. I have worked at many different hospitals with many different personalities and leadership. I have never worked in a hospital where a member of management has put their staff's needs before anything else. Her mentality of ensuring that the staff has a work/life balance is refreshing. She is the voice of reason when negativity wants to creep in, always preaching understanding and patience. I am not sure if this is a shout-out to Dr. Casida or more of a brag for our clinic because we really do have the best COS."

Nina Hernandez from Miramar Animal Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida, wants to give a HUGE shout-out to the entire staff!!! Dr. Jennifer Ferrin, CSCs Kayce Townsend, Samantha Petrovia, Courtney Tuten, Danielle Wiebe, Taylor Davis-Assistant Technician, Laura Markert-Head Technician, Brandi Tuttle-Head Technician, Zoey Blevins-Technician, Taylyn Collins-Vet Assistant, Chelsea Tewkesbury-Technician: "Apparently it is Healthcare Executives Appreciation Week and my staff went above and beyond to show me they appreciated me! I haven't ever had a staff show love and appreciation like this but my staff surprised me with a customized basket full of things just for me! They all pitched in with filling up the basket and had notes expressing their appreciation! Best work gift everrr!!! Definitely cried! Want everyone to know how great our staff is and to rant & rave about them!"

Deanna Dorer from Briargate Boulevard Animal Hospital Colorado Springs, Colorado, wants to recognize Karen Frank, HM at Veterinary Hospital Associates: "We were partnered up when I first took over the HM role in September, and has been not only an incredible co-HM but she is an incredible person and friend! She is always so patient and willing to help wherever and has taught me a lot! I am very thankful for all of her help and training she did with me and for being an all around great person!"

Jennifer Crepeau from Zippivet, Kyle, Texas, wants to recognize John, Larry, and Xander from IT: "You guys were instrumental in helping us get our internet issue resolved, from helping visualize our modem to providing an ear when things were super stressful. Thank you guys for all you do! We are grateful our internet is running smoothly again."

Cherie Guidry, DVM from Helping Hands Veterinary Clinic Lynnwood, Washington, wants to recognize Kaitlyn Schuman-Darby, LVT: "For pulling the load of two techs in the last 3 weeks!  You are awesome!"

Sherry Thompson from County Line Animal Hospital Ontario, New York, wants to recognize Jim Ellis: "Jim rebuilt our beagle mailbox and installed it for me after a snow plow had taken it down last winter.  A lot of clients had asked about it, and I'm so glad the beagle is back!"

Micaela Erickson from Animal Hospital of Verona Verona, Wisconsin, wants to recognize the entire clinic: "I am so grateful to be on such an incredible team! They make every single day so much fun! I am truly amazed by them!"

Sherry Thompson from County Line Animal Hospital, Ontario, New York, wants to recognize Dayna Puccio, DVM: "Dr. Puccio has been amazing since she's started here. She takes on new situations and is willing to do so many things here. We are so very lucky to have her here!"

Crystal Castillo from Beverly Hills Small Animal Hospital, Beverly Hills, California, wants to recognize David L., CCS: "David L. thank you for all that you do around the hospital. You are caring and you are always willing to help. You are truly essential to the hospital and all the hard work that you do. Keeping all our kennel pups taken care of and always treating them like your own really warms our hearts and the hearts of the owners. Sending them pictures and updates goes a long way and really shows them how much you care for their fur babies. Keep up the good work!"

Selina Newkirk from New Baltimore Animal Hospital, West Coxsackie, New York, wants to recognize Paula Newbanks, Lead Technician: "I would love to thank my head technician, Paula Newbanks! We have gone down from having 4 LVTs to just her and myself in a matter of a few weeks. She has been a superstar, more so than usual, and I would be lost without her here. I am truly lucky to have a coworker and friend such as herself."

Jessie Nelson from Sugarloaf Animal Hospital, Lawrenceville, Georgia, wants to recognize the entire team!: "I have been injured and the entire team has been so good to help me and we have a lot of changes going on (remodeling, AAHA, and staff) and EVERYONE has been so good and patient with all of it!  Thank you."

Justine Wood-Graves from Southern California Veterinary Hospital, Woodland Hills, California, wants to recognize Jocelyn Alcantara, RVT: "SoCal Vet wants to shout out Jocelyn for her consistent dedication to providing amazing care to our dental patients, all while also undertaking her new role as Inventory Manager. Thank you for always going above and beyond for our team."

Justine also wants to recognize Daniela Pizano, CCS: "SoCal Vet wants to congratulate Daniela on her successful completion of the VASE online program!  Daniela has been a dedicated supporting member of our team since 2014, and we are beyond overjoyed for Dani's accomplishment. Congratulations, Dani!"

Jim Agan from Facilities wants to recognize Ron Anderson, Chris Rachwal, Franco Milza, Marco Diaz, Vanesa Rivera, and Amber Hansen: "Each member of my Team (and extended Procurement Team) have gone above and beyond to support our hospitals.  From a small repair to a large project (renovation, relocation, De Novo) these guys amaze me every day with their dedication to the hospital teams to ensure as smooth a process as possible, safe workplaces, advice when needed, and beautiful hospitals to work in.  They make themselves available for a call, will jump in their car (or plane) when a major issue arises, and respond quickly to tickets and always with a smile.  Most importantly they all make working on this team fun!

Ron has done some heavy lifting this year managing VetCor's first De Novo project, a relocation, and another relocation scheduled for June.  In addition, he is managing a large number of other projects in a support role.  Ron is an amazing addition to our Team since joining us from the PPV partnership.

Chris has grown leaps and bounds after coming over from Operations a couple of years ago.  Chris manages multiple projects, Manages the Large Project Request queue, is a Lead with small project reviews and approval, and many other tasks for our team.  You rock Chris!

Franco has really stepped up in our time of need.  Franco manages multiple projects in a support role in the greater, MD, VA region or wherever he's needed.  He always makes himself available.  Franco recently took a lead role in managing our insurance claims.  His support to these teams when they are in need is outstanding.  I couldn't have asked for a better person to support these hospitals after a storm, pipe burst (or a car driving into the building).  Thank you, Franco!

Marco works tirelessly to manage a large number of tickets as the Maintenance Manager our buildings in WA state.  His skill set allows him to manage multiple facilities' needs throughout the region. This position allows us to keep our buildings in top shape and more importantly safe for our teams.  We are glad to have added Marco to our Team!

Vanesa is not only a rock star when it comes to our Procurement Team, she also helps out Facilities with project management in the mid-West.  Having someone that can support a project locally is a huge win for our team.  She is talented and knowledgeable and she cares!  Thank you Vanesa for all of the time and the partnership that you share with us.

Lastly, we have Amber.  Amber's plate is full with Procurement and all that they do for VetCor.  Somehow, she always finds time to support this team and our projects.  When there is an emergency, or something is forgotten we always know that she will take care of it for us.  She helps with design ideas and advises when needed, shares her experiences to help my team grow and joins our calls to stay current with all of our projects.  The partnership of our Teams is the key to success and we appreciate you, Amber.  Thank you."

Dana Myers from Doctors Park Veterinary Clinic, Canfield, Ohio, wants to recognize Vera Davis, CCS: "I don't know where to start when thinking of all the ways Vera is special to us here at Doctors Park!  She is a hard worker who never stands still.  She does so many little things behind the scenes that helps our clinic flow smoothly.   She is the definition of team player and she does everything with a smile on her face.  Thank you, Vera.  I hope you know how special you are to all of us!"

Michele Hickman from All Creature Features, LaPorte, Indiana, wants to recognize Jennifer Wiltfong, Technician: "Jennie is a wonderful coworker who always goes above and beyond for us! She is friendly and a great patient care provider! Our clients and patients all love her as do we! She is dependable and caring and I am thankful to work with her!"

Carley Papst from Bradford Hills Veterinary Hospital, Wexford, Pennsylvania, wants to recognize Wendy Colonello, Technician: "Wendy has been so supportive during my transition into being a new HM. She has gone above and beyond to help me with certain things, giving me advice and overall being uplifting during this whole process. She continues to support me day in and day out! I can never say thank you enough. Thanks, Wendy!"

Sean Sornsin from the OPS team wants to recognize Emily Towns, Human Resources, and Sylvia Johnson, Payroll: "Emily and Sylvia are just wonderful to partner with on OPS/payroll projects and initiatives!  They are both great communicators and you can tell they really care about doing things right for our practices and our employees.  They go above and beyond!  Thanks for what you do Emily and Sylvia!"

Sean also wants to recognize MacKenzie Fortner, OPS: "MacKenzie is bringing some awesome leadership and support to VetCor OPS and practices in the NorthEast!  Her focus and decision-making skills are top-notch and I really value what she adds to our OPS team.  Thanks, MacKenzie!"

Lastly, Sean wants to recognize Todd Ingersoll and Victoria Brown from OPS: "They put up with my demanding leadership nature and the constant barrage of questions and check-ins on everything OPS.  They both are stepping up and leading our teams with high integrity and good decision making and I am happy to have them as the lead pilots on the OPS plane!"

Candice Atkinson from Royston Animal Hospital, Royston, Georgia, wants to recognize Dr. Wanda Thompson: "Dr. Wanda Thompson works very hard to make sure that all employees and doctors are treated with respect and fairness here at our clinic.  She works long hours out in the field but is always willing to speak with an employee about concerns.  Dr. Wanda Thompson's compassion for animals and our clinic is commendable.  Thank you! Dr. Thompson for all you do to help Royston Animal Hospital be the best that it can be!"

Alannah Labesky Regional Manager wants to recognize Dr. Gretchen Zarle, COSA: "Just a quick note to let Dr. Zarle know how much I’ve enjoyed working with her in the OH region, visiting practices and having her lend a hand at several locations in need.  Thanks for all you do!"

Alannah also wants to recognize Lauren Maurer, Lead Technician at Twinbrook Veterinary Hospital: "Lauren has stepped up tremendously as the Lead Tech while her HM is on leave.  Lauren has gone above and beyond between training 2 new employees, helping with HM duties, etc.  Lauren, your hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Thank you for all you do!"

Shana Long from Rose City Veterinary Hospital, Portland, Oregon, wants to recognize Andrea Hutchinson (Drea), Exam Room Supervisor: "Drea has been an employee of Rose City for over 10 years.  She was recently honored with the Oregon Veterinary Technician and Assistant Association's 2023 Outstanding Service Award.  Drea is an all-around fantastic team member, patient advocate, and supervisor.  Her knowledge and compassion are obvious to everyone she works with. She is committed to making sure that our patients have as much of a stress-free experience as they can. She also does all she can to support the human/animal bond so that our clients will have the best experience that they can and always will go out of her way to offer solutions that work for all involved.  I am super proud to work with Drea every day, she brings so much value and integrity to our practice."

Ed Zamora from Human Resources wants to recognize Genevieve Payne Sr. Human Resources Generalist: "I am truly thankful for the HR team that I work with, but Genny deserves a special note of gratitude. She does so much that a lot of people do not see or know. If someone has an insurance or benefits issue, no matter which of us assisted in getting it resolved chances are Genny helped us resolve the issue. She is quiet, but her quality and volume of work speak volumes."

Raj Singh from Oakridge Veterinary Clinic, San Jose, California, wants to recognize Elsa Carrasco-Rodriguez, Hospital Manager: "Elsa is our new practice manager. Three months into the job she has transformed our work environment into a positive fun arena that allows us to focus on taking care of clients and patients by minimizing disruptions. She engages in problem-solving with the team to help us take care of each other in crisis situations that have hit our clinic hard. I am so thankful to have her kind leadership for our team and me! :)"

Jasmine Washington from Harris Boulevard Veterinary Clinic, Charlotte, North Carolina, wants to recognize Dana Dalrymple, Vet Assistant: "Dana is one of our tech assistants. She is a great team player. She is always on time gets the morning prep before clients come in and makes sure no one is needed anything. She steps up to fill up front when in need with no questions asked. She goes above and beyond to help all team members while she's working on her own task. When I come in the morning, I smile because she is always dancing with a smile before the morning starts. She brings the morning vibes positive."

Stacey Homistek from the OPS team wants to recognize Gateway Animal Clinic: "Dr. Zarle, Melissa Fox-Terrill, Amy Klotz, and the entire Gateway Team. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. It is known that small hinges swing big doors, and you are all making a big difference. We are all so proud of you. Keep up the great work!"

Jessica Timmins from Middletown Veterinary Hospital, Middletown, New York, wants to recognize John Prindiville, Legal: "The staff of Middletown Veterinary Hospital would like to thank John from Legal for the exceptional information he provided to us regarding a legal matter. He removed all the confusion, gave great advice on how to handle things and everything has gone very smoothly thanks to him!"

Eric Detrick from Pleasant Hills Pet Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, wants to recognize Mandy Muehlbauer, LVT: "From surgery, pharmacy, treatment, x-ray to ensuring we are OSHA compliant, keeping the controlled drug logs in order and accurate, Mandy does it all! She jumps in and helps cover extra areas when we have call offs and are short-staffed and never complains. She will come in early to ensure medication refills are completed on time. Mandy is a true rock star and we are truly blessed to have her on our team!"

Brittany Klopp from Central Animal Hospital, Petaluma, California, wants to recognize Brandy Puckett, Vet Assistant: "Thank you for always coming to work ready to go and helping out where ever needed!"

Jeff Lanz from Turkeyfoot Family Pet Center, Akron, Ohio, wants to recognize Devinne Yoder, HM: "Devinne has an outstanding "others first" focus. She calmly handles clients' unmet expectations professionally and with empathy. She shows the staff appreciation by meeting their needs, primarily thru food and Starbucks! I appreciate you, Devinne!"

Debra Connell from Berlin Veterinary Clinic, Berlin, Wisconsin, wants to recognize Beth Holt, Veterinarian: "Absolutely goes above and beyond her best to keep everyone happy and the clinic running smoothly! We sure appreciate what you do."

Megan Ruller from Middletown Veterinary Hospital, Middletown, New York, wants to recognize the full staff: "We have been down a full-time doctor for about 6 months now and that has not stopped our staff from putting in 110% all day, every day! Their expertise and excellence from reception to our LVTs, assistants, and especially our HM have ensured that our client and patient care has not faltered a single day. Our doctors would not be able to do what we do without the hard work and dedication our support staff puts in every single day."

Liz Hall from the OPS team wants to recognize Lyndsi Fajkus, Recruiter/Talent Acquisition Manager: "Lyndsi has been working tirelessly to find DVM candidates for the Missouri practices I help support and it shows!  She has found SO many great DVM candidates lately!  She is also super quick to respond to any questions the practice leaders or I have and always has such a positive attitude. I'm so thankful to have her in my region!"

Trevor Lake from Shore Pet Hospital, Pasadena, Maryland, wants to recognize Jessica Lawyer, Hospital Manager: "I’m thankful for your calm leadership.  You make everything run smoothly.  I couldn’t do it without you!"

Mallory Joyner from Ambassador Animal Hospital, Fayetteville, North Carolina, wants to recognize Melonie Mercer, Vet Assistant: "Melonie has done a great job and has put in a lot of time and effort helping Dr. Cawthorn complete the health certificates. She is very gentle with the patients and is very helpful to everyone. She does well keeping a check on the refills and lab requests as well."

Mallory also wants to recognize Bailey Klinger, Vet Assistant: "Bailey shows great initiative and keeps on top of things. She has organized a lot of spaces to help maintain and clean and clutter-free work space which OSHA and myself can appreciate."

Jenny Driscoll Central Support wants to recognize Sean Sornsin: "I just wanted to thank Sean Sornsin for all his support and guidance."

Alyx Istvan from Creature Comforts Animal Hospital, Las Vegas, Nevada, wants to recognize Kai Coll, Brandy Anselmo, Tiffany Lund, & Alyssa Ferguson AKA the BEST leadership team: "We have such great teamwork and accomplish so much together! They are amazing people and do so many wonderful things to help their teams thrive, learn & grow! I am very fortunate to have them! I appreciate you all."