Leadership

Zimmerman

President

Scott Zimmerman, BFA, CVPM (Decatur, GA)

Scott began working in veterinary medicine in 2010 as the Practice Manager for Dearborn Animal Hospital in Decatur, GA. In 2020 he became Dearborn's Hospital Administrator.  Before his current position, he spent 25+ years working in non-profit management, mainly for youth leadership and development programs such as Boy Scouts of America and Camp Fire USA. He also spent time as the Managing Director for a professional theatre Company. Scott has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Technical Design and Production in Drama from the University of Oklahoma.

Scott has had many highlights at Dearborn, including overseeing the design and build-out of a new hospital. He led his team, meeting the standards of AAHA and becoming an accredited hospital. Growing his practice from three to seven doctors and nearly tripled his staff and budget in the past 13 years. Joining the VMHA has allowed him to continue to grow his knowledge and build a network of other top professionals. In 2015, he achieved one of his goals, becoming a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM).  In 2023 Dearborn is celebrating ten years in the new hospital and 75 years of serving pets in the community.

Scott joined the VHMA Membership Committee/Advisory Panel in 2014 and, in 2015, stepped into the role of committee chair until joining the Board of Directors six years ago. Since then, Scott has served on the VHMA Board as a Director, Treasurer, and Vice President. He serves on the VHMA Critical Issue Task Forces (Value-Based Strategic Pricing and Workforce Crisis). He always enjoys being a conference buddy for our new members and/or first-time attendees at the VHMA conferences.

Boudreau

Vice President

Leslie Boudreau, BASVT, RVTg, CVPM, SPHR, PHR, PHRca (Huntington Beach, CA)

Leslie has been a Veterinary Technologist and Practice Manager in Southern California for over 30 years. She earned her A.S. in Veterinary Technology from Mt. San Antonio College and her BASVT in Veterinary Technology – Hospital Management, from St. Petersburg College. In 2011, she became a CVPM (Certified Veterinary Practice Manager). Leslie also holds three human resources certifications which she uses daily at her busy practice of 60 staff members. Leslie is currently the Practice Manager/Administrator at Animal Hospital of Huntington Beach, an eight-veterinarian, AAHA-accredited, small animal, and exotic practice.

In addition to practice management, she is passionate about veterinary technician issues and is a past President of CaRVTA (California Registered Veterinary Technician Association). She sits on the advisory boards for two veterinary technician colleges and volunteers on AVMA site visit teams as an RVT member. She serves on the AVMA Committee on Advancing Veterinary Technician and Technologists (CAVTT) as the representative for VHMA.

Leslie has authored practice management articles for Firstline Magazine and was a practice management consultant for Novartis Animal Health. In addition, Leslie speaks on a wide range of practice management topics as a presenter for local and national practice management and veterinary technician conferences and programs.

Leslie is very active with the Orange County Veterinary Hospital Manager’s Group and is a founding member and frequent speaker. The group aims to mentor and encourage local managers to become CVPMs.

Leslie is avid about all aspects of veterinary practice management, helping the profession grow and adapt to future changes. Since 2013, she has enjoyed volunteering her time with the VHMA. She started served on the Program Committee and then, in 2017 was elected as a Director. Recently served as the Secretary and is the current Treasurer on the VHMA Board.

Kim Hettinga

Treasurer

Kim Hettinga, BSN, CVPM (Seattle, WA)

Kim's passion for the veterinary industry began when she started working at a small-animal hospital in Seattle while earning her BS in Nursing from the University of Washington. This experience fueled her excitement for education, leadership, strategic planning, mentoring, working with diverse teams, and promoting the success of individual team members. After becoming a VHMA member in 2000, she realized the opportunities for developing personally and professionally in veterinary medicine were endless.

As the Hospital Administrator of AAHA-accredited Elliott Bay Animal Hospital in Seattle, where she worked for 26 years, her leadership contributed to their growth from a one-and-a-half DVM hospital to an 8-DVM, 40+ team member practice. In 2018, Elliott Bay Animal Hospital was awarded the Readers' Choice Poll Winner as the Best Veterinary Practice in Seattle. 

In 2021, Kim was thrilled to be invited to join a local, growing practice in South Seattle and worked alongside two highly respected owners, one of who previously served 12 years on the VHMA Board of Directors and continues to be an active member of the VHMA. In this practice, she was challenged and encouraged to continue her personal and professional growth. Kim will always feel fondness, warmth, and deep appreciation for her experience working with this team. 

Kim's enthusiasm and involvement with the VHMA encouraged her to earn her Certificate in Veterinary Practice Administration from Purdue University in 2001. She earned Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM) certification in 2006. This continues to be one of the accomplishments she is the proudest of. For three years, she volunteered by serving on the ACE committee for the AAHA to develop management continuing education programs. In addition, she has volunteered and supported the VHMA on the Education and Programming Advisory Group and served for two years as Secretary on the VHMA Board of Directors.

In May of 2023, Kim joined Timberline Veterinary Emergency and Specialty as the Hospital Administrator of their founding team. This practice, opening May 16th, is a local and privately owned, 24/7 Emergency and Critical Care Hospital which will provide much-needed emergency care to patients throughout the greater Seattle area.  She is delighted to begin this new adventure with a highly-skilled and talented team! 

Kim is eternally grateful for the benefits of being a member of the VHMA. She is delighted to continue sharing her passion, experience, and energy to give back to our association!

Jacobs

Secretary

Kim Jacobs, CVPM, CCFP (Hickory Creek, TX)

Kim's career was the best happy accident ever. She stumbled upon a help-wanted ad for local veterinary practice in town. After spending 13 years in retail leadership, she was ready for a change. At first, she was the only employee, so she worked every position within the practice. She was promoted to practice manager in 2004, and all the tumblers fell into place and unlocked her passion. With her leadership and a supportive practice owner, they have grown the practice to three doctors and 14 support staff. Kim's innovative thinking led to include a daycare for clinic staff in a new hospital she helped design and build.

Kim joined the VHMA in 2007 and was awestruck by the education and information available as a new manager. In 2010 she earned the Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM) certification and welcomed a growing network of colleagues who achieved this milestone. She found herself thinking, "My People!"

In 2014 she volunteered to serve on the VHMA Ethics Committee; in 2019, she was promoted to the chair position. Since 2021 she has served on the VHMA Board as Director. Outside of VHMA, she has worked with colleagues in the Compassion Fatigue sector to moderate an online group providing support and hope for those dealing with compassion fatigue and burnout. She earned certification in Compassion Fatigue in 2020. She looks forward to the opportunity to give back by serving on the VHMA Board.

Bingham

Director

Meghan Bingham, BFA, CVPM (Houston, TX)

More than twenty-five years ago, Meghan started a summer job as a Kennel Technician at her neighborhood veterinary clinic and fell in love with veterinary medicine! She worked her way up from Kennel Technician to Veterinary Technician to Receptionist and eventually settled in as Practice Manager. She helped grow the clinic from a one-doctor to a 12-doctor practice and jokes that she has held every position but veterinarian!

Since then, Meghan has transitioned to her second-ever job as a Senior Operations Manager, where she helps 25 Emergency, and General Practices reach their full potential. She feels like she’s found her dream job in Operations because she gets to help more practices and cross stuff off her list!

Meghan earned her CVPM certification in 2017 after being elected one of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association’s Emerging Leaders. She feels she owes so much to the VHMA for the opportunities it’s allowed her, personally and professionally. Meghan has made life-long friends through this group and learned to be a better leader. The support from the VHMA has been crucial to Meghan’s professional growth.

Meghan enjoys almost everything related to veterinary practice management and operations and feels it’s her job to help set her team up for success. She’s passionate about prioritizing preventative medicine and increasing heartworm and flea compliance. She’s also incredibly proud of having the first Fear Free Certified Clinic in Texas!

A VHMA member since 2016, Meghan is proud to have served as chair of the VHMA’s Marketing Committee and as a Director on the VHMA Board of Directors since 2021. 

Crockett

Director

Susie Crockett, CVPM (Brownsburg, IN)

Susie Crockett began her veterinary career as a receptionist in 1999 for a two-facility practice while attending Purdue University. She graduated from Purdue University in 2006 with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Organizational Communication.

Throughout her career she has managed General Practice, Emergency, and Specialty Hospitals. She is currently the Director of Practice Management for Noah's Animal Hospital, overseeing nine practice managers and location operations for General Practice, Emergency and Low Cost models.

She was an active participant in the Veterinary Management Association of Indiana (VMAI), holding positions as Vice President in 2011 and President in 2012. Susie joined the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) in 2008. She earned her CVPM designation in 2009. She served on the Membership Committee and was a member of the 2013 Special Education Task Force. She has served all roles on the CVPM Board, and is currently the Chair for the VHMA DEI Task Force. She has most recently been a contributing author for a AVMAs Journey for Teams, as well as their Well-Being certificate program. She also speaks on a variety of practice management topics.

Lautzenheiser

Director

Molly Lautzenheiser, CVPM, SHRM-CP, CCFP, MAPPCP

Molly entered the veterinary field through her love for pampering pets with nothing but the best. After adopting two Yorkies in 2003, she immediately realized their need for cozy apparel to keep them warm in the frigid Cleveland winters. In 2004, from this need, she created her luxury pet pampering boutique, D.O.G. Apparel. Her business grew, and she was invited to open a second and larger boutique inside Cleveland’s premier boarding facility, Paws by the Lake Resort, owned by the Avon Lake Animal Clinic. After a few years, the Avon Lake Animal Clinic purchased her boutique and hired her as their Practice Manager. She has since fallen in love with the industry, and is currently Hospital Administrator and JV Partner of Avon Lake Animal Clinic.

Molly graduated from Bowling Green State University, earning a BSBA with a dual major in Marketing and Public and Institutional Administration. She became a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional in 2017 after seeing the industry's challenges and went on to serve as one of the instructors of Patterson's Veterinary Professional Wellbeing Course. Her love for learning took her on the journey to earn the SHRM-CP, a Society of Human Resources Certified Professional designation, in 2018. She was a top 10 finalist for 2017 Practice Manager of the Year and earned her CVPM in 2018. Most recently, Molly earned her Master's of Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology from the University of East London in February of 2022. She currently serves as the Membership Advisory Panel's Chair for the VHMA.

Waldrop

Director

Cody Waldrop, BSPH, CVPM, SHRM-CP

Cody’s career in the veterinary field began as a kennel attendant during high school and he has since held a variety of roles over his 18 years in the veterinary industry. In 2019, he was promoted to a multi-site leadership position, where he successfully managed his home hospital in addition to supporting three other hospitals in the state of Florida. Cody continued in this role and was later entrusted with three additional hospitals to support across the state of Florida. Today, as Practice Management Officer for Associated Veterinary Partners, Cody leverages his knowledge of the field, practice management, and leadership to oversee and guide eleven practices and counting nationwide. He excels in optimizing standard operating procedures, communication, and workplace culture to create a positive and efficient environment for his current and future practices.  

Cody’s involvement in the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) began in 2018, and has been instrumental in his success, providing a supportive community of peers and resources. He currently serves on the VHMA Industry Advisory Panel and has since 2019. Cody is also an active member of the One Health Section of the American Public Health Association (APHA).  

Cody earned his Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a Minor in Biomedical Physics from the University of South Florida. Recently, he attained his Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM) designation in 2022, and his Certified Human Resource Professional designation from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM-CP) in 2023. Cody is passionate about all aspects of practice management, with a particular interest in One Health, OSHA compliance, and fostering the human-animal bond.  

Speas

Immediate Past President

Jessica Speas, CVPM, SPHR, PHRca, SHRM-SCP

Jessica has been the Hospital Administrator of her family’s small animal practice in Southern California since 2002. Her practice is truly a family affair, her father is a veterinarian, and her sister is an RVT, all working together. Jessica decided against a career in medicine early on but fell in love with the profession and the celebration of the Human-Animal Bond.

Jessica completed the Veterinary Management Institute (AAHA/VMI) program at Purdue in 2008; she earned the Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM) designation in 2010 and achieved the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification in 2015, with a specialty certification for California Human Resources (PHRca). Additionally, in 2015 Jessica earned the Society of Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). To reaffirm her commitment to the Human-Animal Bond, Jessica earned the Human-Animal Bond Certified designation in 2019. Jessica completed the Workplace Wellbeing Certificate in 2020 and the Brave Space Certificate in 2021 from the American Veterinary Medical Association. Jessica lives by the motto; perfection is not realistic; continuous improvement is.

Since 2013 Jessica has served on the VHMA Board of Directors. She served two terms as a Director, one term as Secretary, Vice President, and most recently as President. In addition to her roles on the board, she has served as the Program Committee Chair, transiting the committee to the Education and Programing Advisory Group and serving as co-chair. Jessica commits to lifelong learning and has provided innovative and new educational opportunities for VHMA members.