Thankful Thursday: Flying High with Appreciation

May 16, 2024

These notes of appreciation have us flying higher than the spring birds. Huge thanks to all of our team members, we hope you know the impact you have not only on your hospital team but on the whole Vetcor network.

Sarah Ganeo from Armitage Animal Clinic, Newmarket, Onatrio, wants to recognize Kaitlyn Carter, Veterinary Assistant: "Kaitlyn is the hidden hero of Armitage. She wears so many hats and helps every member of the team. She has such a way with our clients and their patients. When I have the pleasure of working the front desk with her I'm genuinely amazed at the calmness she displays when dealing with various situations and clients. She deserves a million thank yous and I hope she always knows how appreciated she is."

Amy Klotz from the OPS team wants to recognize the entire team at Massillon Animal Hospital: "The team at Massillon Animal Hospital has battled through adversity with moving buildings multiple times and finally settling into their new home last summer. They provide kind, compassionate care for their clients/pets and treat one another in the same manner. Their pride in their hospital shows and I am so proud to see the amazing progress they have made together!"

Jordan Klaff from Glen Burnie Animal Hospital, Glen Burnie, Maryland, wants to recognize Jennifer Durkin, Customer Service Representative: "Jenn goes above and beyond on a daily basis. She brings new ideas to the daily operations of the hospital and is very warm and empathetic with clients. She also has a wonderful personality and leadership skills. We are very lucky she joined our team this year!"

Melissa Strycker-Grzeskowiak from Western Veterinary Clinic, South Bend, Indiana, wants to recognize Dr. Erin Champion, COS: "Over the past 2 years, we have faced a few challenges at WVC, however, one of the brightest moments is when Dr. Erin stepped into the role of COS. Working alongside her is a breath of fresh air and makes our job in management much more enjoyable! She is a great asset to our team and is taking on this leadership role very well! Thank you Dr. Erin for all that you do for our team at WVC and for helping and guiding me along with our leadership team!"

Pam Daly from Willard Veterinary Clinic, Quincy, Massachusetts, wants to recognize Cindy Bishop, Lead Technician: "For cleaning and organizing the garage. It looks awesome!"

Kim Fegan from Big Creek Pet Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, wants to recognize the marketing team: "The marketing team makes my job easier and for that I am very grateful!  The marketing calendar, the contests, and the online support is top-notch.  Thank you for all of your hard work, it doesn't go unnoticed!!!"

Christine Kahovec from Calling All Creatures Veterinary Hospital, Toms River, New Jersey, wants to recognize the whole Calling All Creatures Team, Drs/Techs/Reception: "They are all so kind and compassionate to our clients and to each other. The best co-workers I've ever worked with."

Danielle Mercado from Leland Vet Clinic, Mableton, Georgia, wants to recognize Meg McNair, Talent Acquisition Manager: "We're over the moon here at Leland Vet Clinic thanks to Meg's amazing recruitment skills! She brought Dr. Brandi Bailey on board for us in mid-June, and we're beyond grateful. Dr. Bailey is a beloved vet in our community, and we can't wait to have her join our team! Meg really listened to what we wanted and nailed it. She's not just a recruiter; she's a talent scout, always on the lookout for the perfect addition to any established team!"

Destiny Rodriguez from Medina Veterinary Clinic, Medina, Ohio, wants to recognize Jake Hudson, Lead Reception, and McKenna Yoe, RVT: "Jake and McKenna have done such a wonderful job holding down our fort. We're currently navigating the waters with short staff and they have always been so willing to help out with shifts and helping out one another. We're super grateful for the both of them!"

Kaycee Herschel from Springfield Animal Hospital, Springfield, Vermont, wants to recognize Sadie McCutcheon, LVT: "Sadie recently returned to our team at the start of April, and has been our missing piece. She works diligently to make sure all tasks are completed in a timely manner, picks up extra slack where needed, communicates professionally and appropriately with clients and colleagues, and above all; Sadie thrives in a high intense environment always keeping her composure. She sets the bar very high for her fellow nurses. I don't think she realizes just how important and valued she is for this team and hospital. We are TRULY grateful for her!!"

Jennifer Weitzel from the OPS team wants to recognize Natalie Swank, Hospital Manager, and Dr. Candy Pieczynski, COS both from Springfield Animal Hospital: "I'm so proud of Dr. Candy and Natalie for positively navigating many challenges at their hospital! This duo focused on rebounding from struggles and took many baby steps forward to help their patients, clients, and team!  Great job tapping into resources and tools such as Tail-o-phone, PetDesk, and Vetstoria to help improve efficiency.  You are making a difference for your community and practice!  Kudos!"

Jennifer Weitzel also wants to recognize Dr. Gary Beall, COS, and Marah Trask, Hospital Manager both from Springboro Veterinary Hospital: "I appreciate having Dr. Beall, Marah, and their team supporting a fellow Vetcor hospital during their time of need. Your kindness, positivity, drive, and eagerness to help is extraordinary!  Thank you so very much!"

Alannah Labesky from Regional Manager, North East, Pennsylvania, wants to recognize Elise Skirzynski, Hospital Manager: "Elise was recently promoted to HM at her hospital.  She has done an amazing job so far.  She is so supportive of her doctors and support staff, thinks outside the box, and continues to impress me with her ideas to improve the hospital, patient care, and team morale.  Great job, Elise!"

Canaan Marble from Moosehead Trail Veterinary Hospital, Newport, Maine, wants to recognize Sierra Shaw, Veterinary Assistant: "I would like to recognize this new mother for doing a great job returning to work after maternity leave. Thank you!"

Becca Lange from Kaukauna Veterinary Clinic, Kaukauna, Wisconsin, wants to recognize the entire team!: "We have been preparing for a renovation for months.  The entire team has been excited to get started and have worked together to get things cleaned, organized and packed up before we start the demo process. This has been incredibly helpful as we get started! There has also been a lot of extra communication with the clients to inform them of all the upcoming changes.  The reception staff has done a phenomenal job explaining the process and alleviating the client's concerns.  Thank you all!!"

Kimberly Longenbach from Lehigh Valley Animal Hospital, Allentown, Pennsylvania, wants to recognize Vanessa Pavidis, Lead Client Care Representative: "Vanessa is our lead CCR. She wears many hats and is always willing to help anyone.  She is our IT guru, trains the new CCR hires, handles any front-end issues, and troubleshoots any end-of-day concerns. She is extremely valuable and a huge help for me, the hospital manager."

Christina Lazo from Balfour Animal Hospital, Fenwick, Ontario, wants to recognize Tabitha Mastrogiacomo, Vet Assistant: "Tabitha you have come such a long way in the 4 Months since you started with Balfour. I am so unbelievably proud of you, watching you grow and learn the assistant role. We are sad to lose you in the fall, but I think you're going to make a great RVT when you start school in September!"

Brittany Poulin from Main West Animal Hospital, Welland, Ontario, wants to recognize Candice Hefer, Veterinary Assistant: "I am very thankful to have Candy on our team. Candy goes above and beyond around the clinic. She will take on any task, whether it is asked of her or not. She is a great team player and a great leader. Thank you Candy for being an amazing person!"

Nicole Frank from the OPS team wants to recognize Franco Milza, and Chris Rachwal, Practice Support Coordinators: "Thank you Chris and Franco for all your support during my Q1 projects I could not have done it without you - You both are amazing."

Colleen Zylstra from Dunnville Veterinary Clinic, Dunnville, Ontario, wants to recognize Rachel Boyce, CCS: "Rachel is a long-standing staple of the clinic.  She will wear any hat that is required of her at any moment in time.  She is always willing to share her knowledge with clients.  She is our first contact on the phones and is handling multiple phone lines at any given time along with helping in the pharmacy, and anywhere she is needed.  I would like to recognize Rachel and thank her for all she does for the clinic."

Heather Stevens from Trusty Vet, Huntsville, Alabama, wants to recognize Dr. Kathy Bradshaw, DVM: "Want to thank Dr. Bradshaw for always promoting family-like values amongst the staff. She makes working for Trusty Vet a second home for all staff and inspires all of us that family comes first. She is very involved in hearing any concerns and has always promoted an open-door policy when staff need to express their feelings with no judgment. Dr. Bradshaw shows so much support and encouragement towards her staff and it has always been appreciated from all of us."

Sarah Elkins from Irvington Veterinary Clinic, Portland, Oregon, wants to recognize the entire team: "They are an incredible crew that put their heart into what they do on a daily basis! I am grateful to work alongside them! Keep up the positive and good work ya'll do! Go team IVC!  : ) <3"

Hunter Reed from Animal Medical Center, Mansfield, Ohio, wants to recognize Nicki Carling, CCS: "The genuine love that she has for animals is evident in the attentive care she provides to each individual animal. She goes the extra mile to guarantee that they are all well taken care of and enjoy their time in doggy daycare and boarding to the fullest extent possible!"

Amanda Roman from North Austin Animal Hospital, Austin, Texas, wants to recognize the entire staff: "So thankful for such a warm welcome by my new team. I just started in the role as Hospital Manager less than a month ago and the team I have here have been nothing but amazing, welcoming, and helpful while I get a grasp of everything."

Brystol from Family Pet Clinic of Redondo Beach, Redondo Beach, California, wants to recognize Lacy Callas, RVT: "She has become one of our lead RVT's and has truly done amazing at the job. Love her leading by example and helping out with everything and helping everyone. Plus taking on Dentals others could not do or need to be done in a certain way."

Jerry Johnson from DuPont Veterinary Center, DuPont, Washington, wants to recognize Dr. Jonathan Baker: "I wanted to thank Dr. Baker for taking into consideration the entire team and fighting to make this hospital the best hospital to work in. He really cares about his team and the mental health of all the team members. I appreciate him and his communication with his Manager and Assistant Manager, this makes hospital flow and cohesion much easier and everyone now loves coming to work."

Elise Skirzynski from Wintergreen Animal Hospital, Erie, Pennsylvania, wants to recognize the entire team!: "Our team went without a hospital manager for the first quarter of this year. They endured a lot of stress, heavy workload, and minimal leadership.  They stayed positive, got the job done and remained committed to our clients and their pets.  I am so thankful they get along so well and helped each other through that difficult time. Being reliable and supportive of each other helped them get through a really challenging time!!"

Dana Hubbard and Dr. Gillian Kaplan from Ramsey Veterinary Hospital, Ramsey, New Jersey, want to recognize the following team and service center team members:

The staff at Ramsey Veterinary Hospital: "We would like to thank the Staff at Ramsey Vet for all their hard work!"

Erica Soto, IT: "Erica went above and beyond to help us at Ramsey Veterinary Hospital with IT issues."

Nicole Frank, OPS: "We would like to thank Nikki for all her support"

Dana Hubbard also wants to recognize Dr. Gillian Striano-Kaplan: "I would like to thank Dr Kaplan for guiding our team with outstanding leadership!"

Michele Hickman from All Creature Features Animal Hospital, LaPorte, Indiana, wants to recognize Mikayla Tate, LVT: "Mikayla has been such a wonderful addition to our clinic! She is friendly and always offering help to everyone. She loves client education and has been so good for our patients! She brings so much knowledge and experience with her and I honestly don't know what we would do without her! She is truly a fantastic staff member and friend to all!!"

David Gagnon from Kaukauna Veterinary Clinic, Kaukauna, Wisconsin, wants to recognize Kearsten Lamers, High School Co-op Student: "Kearsten has been such a big helper since starting here a couple years ago. She was very willing to work hard and learn as much as possible. She cleans our surgery packs and gowns, helps with restraint, and does odd jobs that would never otherwise be done. Kearsten comes to work with a can-do attitude and is always so kind and easy to work with. We all wish her the very best after graduation this spring!"

Ashley Misner from Stark Animal Hospital, Canton, Ohio, wants to recognize the entire team: "As my time at Stark Animal Hospital comes to a close, I want to thank each and every one of my amazing staff members for being an incredible team. I love how everyone works so efficiently together but we still have fun. I will miss all of you but I know you will continue to do great things. THANK YOU!!"

Carley Papst from Bradford Hills Veterinary Hospital, Wexford, Pennsylvania, wants to recognize Shana Auge, Veterinary Receptionist and Hotel Coordinator: "Shana always goes above and beyond in helping ALL areas of the hospital! She has done an amazing job transitioning to her new title and has not only helped me tremendously but has made such amazing improvements to the team! I cannot appreciate her enough!"

Allen Mueller from Mueller Veterinary Services, Columbia, Illinois, wants to recognize the whole team: "I had a dizzy episode and had to stop seeing patients mid-morning and take an ambulance to the hospital.  It was a scary and crazy experience. My team stepped up and modified schedules, improvised, and kept the ship running. Thanks!"

Lisa Luebbert from Alpine Animal Hospital, Corvallis, Oregon, wants to recognize Mackensie Veeder, Veterinary Assistant: "Mackensie is a huge asset to our team. Recently, they have stepped into training a new employee with such grace and expertise. They are such an amazing educator. We can count on them to handle coachable moments with team members to hold the bar of documentation and care. Outside of the technical work pieces, they are 100% their authentic self every day. With that true self comes an amazing wealth of cool facts. I want Mackensie on my trivia team any day! Thank you Mackensie for how you round out our team and how you take the time to allow everyone on our team for their authentic selves as well."

Danielle Gutierrez from Zippivet Arboretum, Austin, Texas, wants to recognize Kayla, Veterinary Assistant: "Laaaa I am so proud of you! First and second jug draw like a pro. Kayla you do so much in the clinic and we appreciate you so deeply! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!"

Jolene O'Brien from Berrien Veterinary Services, Baroda, Michigan, wants to recognize Susan McGilvra, Veterinary Assistant: "I want to recognize Susan for all her hard work in her vet tech program.  She will be starting her clinical rotations in our clinic soon too, and I am excited to see her skills grow.  She has been a great addition to our team, and not to mention an exceptional baker and cook!  Great job Susan!  :)"

Devinne Yoder from Turkeyfoot Family Pet Center, Akron, Ohio, wants to recognize Theresa Gregory, LVT, and Taylor Ricks, CCS: "I can't thank them enough for their hard work and helping to train all of our new receptionists. I am so grateful to have them on our team all of these years! :)"

Amy Miller from the OPS team wants to recognize Dr. Braun, COS, and Carley Papst, Hospital Manager: "I would like to give recognition to Dr. Braun and Carley for their collaborative efforts with their team to provide greater access to pet care services in their community. I also want to commend them for implementing an efficient two-way text template in PetDesk, which reminds clients of their upcoming vaccinations and appointments."

Ana Castillo from Caldwell Pet Hospital, Visalia, California, wants to recognize Ariana Silva, Veterinary Assistant: "Ariana has shown tremendous amount of growth since her first day on the job. She has shown her willingness to learn and adapt to a fast-paced environment. She is a sweet girl and an excellent team player! Happy to have her onboard the Caldwell team!"

 

Way to go Team Vetcor!