About Erin Heck
Hello! Thanks for taking the time to learn a bit about me. I’m the founder and owner of Happy Paws Veterinary Clinic in Airdrie, Alberta, where my commitment extends beyond exceptional animal care to fostering a positive, cohesive team culture. With the invaluable support of my husband Jeff, who manages the clinic's financial side, and the inspiration from my family—including my golden retriever Sam and two young children, Fiona and Ethan—I’ve dedicated myself to creating an environment where both pets and their guardians feel genuinely valued and where our team feels supported and empowered to excel.
Growing up in a small town in Alberta, Canada, I developed a deep passion for animals that shaped my career path. My journey into veterinary medicine has been profoundly influenced by my experiences in emergency and mobile practices, where I refined my technical skills and learned the importance of effective communication and collaborative decision-making. After serving as an Animal Health Technologist and earning my DVM from the University of Calgary, I set out to build a practice that enhances the human-animal bond while fostering a nurturing and supportive work environment. As I continue to grow and evolve in my role, I remain dedicated to learning and adapting alongside my team to create a clinic where we all flourish.
About Erin's Session at Uncharted Practice Owner Summit 2024:
Opening a Second Location and Keeping the Culture (Workshop)
In this workshop, we will explore the challenges and strategies for expanding a veterinary practice while maintaining its core culture and your sanity as an owner. We will learn how to diagnose your challenges, reset expectations and trust in what practice can teach you. Culture ebbs and flows, but you can get better at identifying shifts and culture changes with time if you know what to look for!