Andy Roark, DVM
Founder of Uncharted Veterinary Conference
Dr. Andy Roark is a practicing veterinarian, international speaker, author, and media personality. He is the founder of the Uncharted Veterinary Conference and DrAndyRoark.com. He has been an award-winning columnist for DVM360 and his popular Facebook page, website, and YouTube show reach millions of people every month.
Andy Roark, DVM
UVVC 2021
Craig Spinks
Co-Founder & Senior Producer, Veteos
Craig Spinks is a seasoned video producer who specializes in veterinary video production and emotional marketing. The company he co-founded in 2017, Veteos, has quickly become the go-to resource for veterinary video production. Its growing staff has worked with numerous veterinary practices and industry partners and has received eighteen NAVC Vetty marketing awards, including “Best in Show – Nonprofit” in both 2019 and 2020. Craig lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife, two kids, a rescued dog and cat, and backyard chickens.
Craig Spinks
UVVC 2021
Andy Roark, DVM
Founder of Uncharted Veterinary Conference
Dr. Andy Roark is a practicing veterinarian, international speaker, author, and media personality. He is the founder of the Uncharted Veterinary Conference and DrAndyRoark.com. He has been an award-winning columnist for DVM360 and his popular Facebook page, website, and YouTube show reach millions of people every month.
Stephanie Goss, Practice Management Goddess
Stephanie Goss started in the veterinary field quite by accident but fell in love with the experience of being able to serve people and their pets. With over 15 years of experience both on the floor and in the office, Stephanie is passionate about staff education, team culture, management and training. Stephanie loves helping managers and owners control their inventory and leverage their profits by maximizing their home delivery using online pharmacies. She is a vetmed nerd who loves to geek out about technology, especially Practice Management Software. She has experience as a practice manager in both private and corporate practices, ranging in size from one to seven doctors. She has experience as a consultant and trainer with AVImark software, paperlite/paperless transitions, practice management and staff. Stephanie currently runs a four doctor practice in the Pacific Northwest. In addition to her work in the practice, Stephanie is the Director of Community Development for Uncharted Veterinary Conference. More notably she’s the co-host of the Uncharted Veterinary Podcast where her laughter highlights the start of every episode and her knowledge bombs reign down like massive chunks of enlightenment from on high.
SARA HOGAN
Sara Hogan, a veterinary hospital manager and newly-dubbed culture coach for small workplaces, has spent the last five years with Clarendon Animal Care hospitals in the Washington D.C. area growing the practices and cultivating leadership from within.
Sara Hogan
PMS Speaker
Amy Deshotel
Amy Deshotel has been in the veterinary industry since 1993. She has served in many roles in the veterinary hospital as well as an outside sales representative in the industry. In 2003, she returned to practice in order to fulfill her dreams of creating a better culture and developing staff learning programs for her husband’s hospital. She has a strong focus on building a better community by developing employees to reach their maximum potential. She also loves to find new ways to work smarter, not harder, by implementing technology into practice and is a strong advocate for full utilization of electronic medical records and inventory control through practice management software.
Amy Deshotel
PMS Speaker
HEATHER PRENDERGAST
Heather has spent over 25 years in the veterinary industry, with 20 years in small animal practice. She has taught several years for both veterinary technology and assistance programs and has authored the book “Front Office Management for the Veterinary Team”, now in its 3rdedition. Heather is well known and lectures nationally and internationally and has authored several articles with the goal of developing leadership and management structure in the veterinary practice. Currently, Heather is the Director of Operations for Encore Veterinary Group. She serves on several advisory boards, including the WVC Board of Directors and Pet Nutrition Alliance. She has received Speaker of the Year awards for both 2016 and 2017 from the Western Veterinary Conference.
Heather Prendergast
PMS Speaker
Philip Richmond, DVM, CAPP, CCFP, CHC-BCS, CRTDr.
Richmond practices in New Port Richey, Florida. He currently serves as the chair of both the Florida Veterinary Medical Association’s Outreach and Professional Wellness & WellbeingCommittees. He is a member of the UFCVM wellbeing curriculum committee. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Medical Professionals Group, an organization that supports medical professionals in recovery in the state. Dr. Richmond is a published writer and speaker. He is Certified in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP), a Certified Resilience Trainer, Certified Health Coach — Behavioral Change Specialist, Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional, and a Certified QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Instructor.
He is married to Dr. CarlaChannell, also a veterinarian. They have two children, three dogs (an Aussie, a Beagle/Dachshund, and a Maltese/Affenpinscher), a bevy of cats and turtles, a sulcata tortoise, a ball python, and a corn snake. He is a Krav Maga practitioner and enjoys weightlifting and functional training.
Philip Richmond, DVM, CAPP, CCFP, CHC-BCS, CRTDr.
Practice Owner Summit
Tierra Price, DVM, MPH
Dr. Tierra Price is a recent graduate of Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, where she served as Vice President of her class and President of the Women’s Veterinary Development Leadership Initiative. She is currently a Community Medicine veterinarian in Los Angeles, California, but has a wide variety of veterinary interests including emergency/critical care, surgery, public health and lab animal medicine. As a veterinary student, in 2018, Dr. Price founded BlackDVM Network, a community that connects Black veterinary professionals for mentorship and advancing veterinary medicine. This safe space provides educational and networking opportunities for its members as well as a sense of belonging. Dr. Price’s commitment to highlighting Black veterinary professionals is directly related to her desire for a mentor she could identify with.
In her free time, she loves dancing, yoga, reading and soaking up the sun. Most importantly, Dr. Price believes we should be able to show up as our entire selves in our careers. She hopes to inspire others with her drive, authenticity and confidence to boldly take on challenges in veterinary medicine.
Tierra Price, DVM, MPH
GSD Speaker
Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA
Dr. Peter Weinstein attended Cornell University undergraduate and the University of Illinois to receive his DVM. After graduation, he worked as an associate for three years before opening his practice.
While he was managing and practicing full time, he attended University of Redlands to receive his MBA.
As a result of the MBA, he was able to relocate, expand and sell his practice to a corporate consolidator.
Politically, he served as President of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association and the California Veterinary Medical Association and President for VetPartners, the national consultants association.
In the veterinary industry, he acted as Medical Director overseeing the Claims Department for Veterinary Pet Insurance.
Dr. Weinstein provides small business and corporate consulting via his company, PAW Consulting
He was the 2018 Speaker of the Year for the Western Veterinary Conference Practice Management Section. And is the Chair of the Veterinary Economics Strategy Committee of the AVMA.
He co-authored with Michael E Gerber, “The EMyth Veterinarian- Why Most Veterinary Practices Don’t Work and What to Do About It”.
On top of all that, Dr. Weinstein is the Executive Director for the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association.
Peter Weinstein, DVM MBA
GSD Speaker
Alrinthea Carter
Alrinthea Carter’s work as an Academic Affairs Professional at Clemson University is cover for her not-so-secret life as a photographer, Social Media maven, voracious consumer of podcasts, Improv Comedian, and Executive Producer of Alchemy Comedy Theater in Greenville, South Carolina. As Executive Producer, one of her responsibilities is the creation of a safe and equitable atmosphere for performers, students, and staff, while advocating for company members who are experiencing harassment and other issues that endanger that atmosphere. Her other passions include improving the accessibility of art and artistic expression and leads by example through public service, social engagement, keen logistics, and bold creativity! Prince Rogers Nelson is her patron saint.
Alrinthea Carter
GSD Speaker
Lance Roasa, DVM
Dr. Roasa is a 2008 graduate of Texas A&M who has bought, operated and sold veterinary practices. He has completed a law degree from the University of Nebraska, is the president of the American Veterinary Medical Law Association (AVMLA), and on the board of directors of the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association.
Dr. Roasa is a founder of Drip Learning Technologies, a veterinary continuing education provider and guest lectures in 13 veterinary colleges on the legal aspects of medical recordkeeping, veterinary malpractice and veterinary business as part of the curriculum. He serves as a national co-advisor to the Veterinary Business Management Association and regularly lectures to regional VBMA chapters and the national association on the topics of growth, business metrics, technology implementation.
Dr. Roasa is also the primary attorney for the Roasa Law Group, P.C., a law practice dedicated to serving veterinarians in practice transactions, employment contracts, and as legal counsel to startup businesses.
Lance Roasa, DVM
GSD Speaker
Jenn Galvin
Jenn started in the veterinary field as a kennel assistant in 1999 and has since worked as a receptionist, technician, office manager, and now owner and practice manager. While working in several different veterinary hospitals, she attended Mohave Community College and Northern Arizona University to obtain her business degree. She has a passion for staff development, client education, and marketing.
“Owning my own hospital has allowed me to achieve my goal of being a practice owner. I am proud to offer the kind of care to our patients that I demand for my own pets.”
Elizabeth “Betsy” Charles, DVM, MA
Elizabeth “Betsy” Charles, DVM, MA combines a wide variety of professional experiences with her love of veterinary medicine in order to help others be the best they can be. She believes we all have the capacity to be exceptional people of influence by learning the skill sets necessary to become effective communicators, relationship builders and boundary setters. After completing an internship in equine referral practice, Dr. Charles spent a year in ambulatory practice followed by 6 years in performance horse practice where she was the director of her practice’s imaging center. She completed an alternative track residency program in diagnostic imaging while also serving as a member of the faculty at Western University of Health Sciences where she taught until 2017. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Washington State University for several years.
Dr. Charles holds a master’s degree in Organization Leadership and pairs that expertise with veterinary medicine to help veterinary professionals understand how emotionally intelligent servant leaders can facilitate the development of high functioning organizations. Her master’s thesis dealt with implementing change initiatives within veterinary practice. She is passionate about helping others understand that change, whether personal or professional, can be difficult but is necessary and exciting. She also believes that veterinary medicine in the 21st century requires new leadership models and strategies in order to thrive. She has presented on leadership topics at the state and national levels in numerous venues including over half of the veterinary colleges in the U.S., numerous state VMA’s, the AAEP national convention, NAVC, and the AVMA-VLC. She has served on the AVMA’s Council on Communication, the AAEP’s Leadership Development Committee and was a long time member of AAEP’s Student Programs Task Force.
Currently, Dr. Charles is the Executive Director of the Veterinary Leadership Institute. She is also developing an online radiology training opportunity for veterinary students, new graduates and veterinary technicians called RadiologyRules. When she takes a break from trying to make a positive difference for the profession, she enjoys having meaningful and authentic conversations with all who cross her path, developing young entrepreneurs as they pursue their passions, riding her horse Lenny, reading, and hiking with her red heeler, Sadie.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Charles, DVM, MA
UVVC Speaker
Caitlin DeWilde, DVM
Dr. Caitlin DeWilde is the founder of The Social DVM, a consulting firm devoted to helping veterinary professionals learn how to manage and grow their social media, online reputation and marketing strategies. Working with large industry groups and individual practices alike, Caitlin and her team are passionate about translating the geek speak to veterinary speak and helping vets reach more clients and pets.
Caitlin is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and a recipient of their Outstanding Young Alumni Award, and also an alum of the AVMA’s Future Leaders Program. She served as medical director for a large AAHA/Fear Free/Cat-Friendly certified hospital in St. Louis before stepping back to focus on her marketing passion. Today, she divides her time between practice, consulting, and writing. She is the author of a new book from AAHA Press, “Social Media and Marketing for Veterinary Professionals,” and a columnist for Today’s Veterinary Business.
Caitlin DeWilde, DVM
UVVC 2021
Bret Canfield
Bret Canfield is a Global Process Efficiency Advisor and Regional Business Consultant for Elanco Animal Health. In this capacity, he is responsible for providing Elanco customers with unbiased customer-specific recommendations and solutions. He has been fortunate enough to work with hundreds of clinics, including many of the most successful groups and organizations within the Animal Health Community.
Specializing in Process Efficiency, Bret brings value to his clients by seeing the world through different eyes, identifying latent needs, making open-minded observations, and providing customized solutions. He works with his partners and clients to help them improve their business, engage their staff, challenge their status quo, and solve the struggles that keep them up at night.
Bret Canfield calls the beautiful American Pacific Northwest his home base. When he is not saving the world with Process Efficiency you can find him hiking, kayaking, or doing yoga with his wonderful wife, Moriah, or relaxing with his mischievous torby cat, Eve, and his lazy pitbull, Rookie.
Bret Canfield
GSD Speaker
Tracy Sands, DVM
Tracy Sands is on a mission to empower veterinary support staff and to improve mental wellness in the veterinary profession. A practice owner and mom, Tracy strongly feels that the way to do this is to normalize conversations about mental health and well-being, incorporate core values into a positive culture, and share our veterinary journeys. As part of her journey, she co-hosts the Vet Med After Hours Podcast, co-founded the #VetYouMatter campaign, and speaks on topics of staff wellness and improving client experience.
Tracy Sands, DVM
GSD Speaker
David Liss
David Liss is a Registered Veterinary Technician/Technician Specialist and Certified Veterinary Practice Manager who currently serves as the Regional Director of Operations for Amerivet. He has almost 20 years in the veterinary industry from technician, to technician specialist to leader/manager. David has been a trainer and educator for more than 15 years and strives to make veterinary teams as engaged and productive as possible.
David Liss
GSD Speaker
Carol Hurst
Carol has been in the veterinary industry since 2005 when she graduated tech school and became a Licensed Veterinary Technician. Even more than helping furred and feathered friends, she found that she enjoyed being able to affect the positive change within her clinic that having a leadership role afforded her. She managed for twelve years. After many years of study, she gained the designation as a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager in November of 2017. Her proudest accomplishment is the work that she’s performed for her local management group. She has been a member since 2010 and served as the President up until December 2019. In 2018 she started as an instructor for Patterson University’s courses and in 2019 she joined forces with the team at VetSupport, taking on a role as a full-time consultant. Her family includes 2 boxers, her “furry” children, a husband and the newest addition, Rowyn, her “non-furry” child.
Carol Hurst
GSD Speaker
Adam Little, DVM
Dr. Adam Little works at the intersection of accelerating technologies and veterinary medicine. His career has spanned areas of focus ranging from artificial intelligence to telemedicine to connected devices.
He is the co-founder of FuturePet, a startup focused on improving access to care for pets and those that love them. With its acquisition of GoFetch, FuturePet now operates Canada’s largest pet services marketplace which helps thousands of pet owners from coast to coast access boarding, daycare and dog sitting. They recently launched GoFetch Health, a subscription healthcare service, which provides owners with the most affordable and convenient way to access vet care by partnering with local veterinary practices.
He served as the first-ever Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship for Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine where he spearheaded such initiatives as the Veterinary Innovation Summit and the Veterinary Entrepreneurship Academy and currently holds an adjunct faculty appointment.
Dr. Little holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Ontario Veterinary College and was the first veterinarian to complete the Graduate Studies Program at Singularity University. He is a past Board member of the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association and Veterinarians without Borders and currently serves on the Board of Directors with the Catalyst Council and the Vet Futures Commission.