2020 Annual Meeting & Conference VIRTUAL

Career Conversations

Ever wish you could talk through career issues with a trusted colleague? VHMA's 2020 Virtual Annual Conference offers you that opportunity. VHMA will match you with a conversation coach, and each participant will be allotted up to 45 minutes per session. These confidential conversations will allow you to ask questions, request feedback, and can yield valuable insights that will equip you to be more proactive as you grow your career.

Conversation coach bios are listed below. If you are ready for a talk that can enhance, adjust or transform your career path, please select this option on the registration form. You will need to complete brief survey to help VHMA better understand the topics you are interested in addressing (due by August 15). This information will be used to match you with a compatible coach. All information will remain CONFIDENTIAL.

There are a limited number of conversation appointments and registration is on a first come first serve basis.  

Career Coaches

Peter Ainslie, CVPM

Peter Ainslie, CVPM

Milestones

  • Non-DVM owner of a three-hospital practice for half of his 30-year career as a hospital administrator
  • CVPM board member since 2000 and VHMA President from 2005 to 2007
  • Facilitator of a Veterinary Study Group, VMG-6, and later VMG-14 and VMG-32

Proud Moments

  • Within a 10-year period, reorganized three practices into one new facility and coordinated the design and project management for each location
  • Oversaw several practice acquisitions and the sale of a number of practices
  • CEO of 8 doctor, 40 support staff practice

Jessica DeCesare, CVPM

Jessica DeCesare

Milestones

  • 20+ years experience in the veterinary industry
  • Opened a community owned emergency clinic by partnering with 23 local veterinarians that has been in operation for over 10 years.
  • Transitioned a 7-DVM GP to a 11-DVM 24-Hour GP/Emergency Veterinary Hospital.
  • Vice President of Operations for VetEvolve - overseeing operations for VetEvolve owned clinics.
  • Speaker at many Practice Manager Meetings and Retreats throughout the U.S.

Superpowers

  • Developed support staff high performers into high functioning Practice Managers.
  • Team Training
  • Team Member Accountability - Fierce Conversation Coaching for supervisors and managers
  • Powerful Positive Manager/Mentor


Jon Cunnington, MBA, CVPM

Jon Cunnington, MBA, CVPM

Milestones

  • A career spanning 24 years in veterinary hospital management
  • Member of the VHMA Board of Directors for 10 years and president from 2013-2015
  • Transitioned from a hospital administrator of a single hospital in 2017 to Regional Operations Director overseeing 12 hospitals

Proud Moments

  • Recognizing VHMA colleagues for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the profession
  • Helping grow a veterinary hospital from 12-doctors and 48 support staff to 30+ doctors and 130 support staff
  • Building an outstanding leadership team in a large hybrid veterinary hospital
  • Speaking at key veterinary conferences

Joanne Graham, CVPM, SHRM-CP, CCFP

Joanne Graham, CVPM, SHRM-CP, CCFP

Milestones

  • Over 10 years of experience in emergency, equine and general practice management
  • Current VHMA Board Member
  • Supports multiple general practice and emergency hospitals as a Regional Operations Director

Superpowers

  • Recipient of the 2015 VHMA Emerging Leader scholarship
  • Industry speaker with special interest in wellness, resilience, emotional intelligence, inclusion and diversity and organizational psychology
  • Contributed articles to Trends magazine and other industry publications
  • Certified Social and Emotional Intelligence Coach

Shelley Johnson, CVPM

Shelley Johnson

Milestones

  • A pioneer in the area of tele-management and multi-practice management
  • Founder of a veterinary consulting, speaking and writing business
  • An enthusiastic and committed contributor to the veterinary profession through industry work and participation in professional associations

Superpowers

  • Communication and networking specialist
  • CEO – Chief Encouragement Officer
  • Glass ¾ - full attitude

Lisa Yackel, CVPM, PHR, SHRM-CP

Lisa Yackel

Milestones

  • 40+ years of experience in the veterinary industry
  • Served on the CVPM Board of Directors 15 years
  • Honored with the VHMA President's Award in 2015

Superpowers

  • Grew practice from 2-DVM/7-staff to 5-DVM/32-staff
  • Started Bird's Eye view Veterinary Consulting
  • Co-authored "The VetSupport Guide to Recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding Workbook"
  • Develops training resources for VetSupport
  • Sought after industry speaker on management topics
  • Thinks veterinary medicine is the most rewarding profession

Brandon Hess, CVPM, CCFP

Brandon Hess

Milestones

  • Hospital Administrator of large specialty practice (180+ staff) when they won 2016 AAHA Specialty Practice of the Year.
  • Non-DVM partner at a 7 FTE DVM practice in Kentucky
  • Full-time veterinary consultant and speaker
  • Co-Founder of the Southwest Ohio Veterinary Managers Association (SOVMA)

Superpowers

  • Coaching effective communication and conflict resolution
  • All things employee wellness (Compassion Fatigue, Work-Life Balance, Burnout, Suicide Awareness etc.)
  • Empathy and resilience