Veterinary Assistant Supervisor
Education: DePaul University
From a young age, I have always loved animals. This may be due to the fact that my parents wouldn’t let me have any pets growing up except for outdoor rabbits. My very first job at the age of 15 was working as a kennel assistant in Oswego, IL. The same clinic cross-trained me in reception as well as taught me the skills to be a veterinary assistant. I eventually moved to Chicago in 2002 to attend college and earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from DePaul University.
I have been with TLC First Animal Hospital since April 2009 and absolutely love working here! I especially love that we are a close-knit bunch and truly like a family. I love the sometimes fast-paced environment of being a technician and the variety of tasks that comes along. I have a distinctive talent for any laboratory work including: fecals, blood differentials, and skin cytologies. I even have the nickname of the “poop queen.” In early 2012, I was promoted to Veterinary Technician Supervisor. Since then I’ve worn may hats at the clinic including: veterinary assistant/technician manager, inventory specialist, OSHA safety manager, assistant to the practice manager, and our annual open house organizer. I have been a member of the Chicagoland Veterinary Managers Group (CVMG) since 2013 and attended and graduated from the PeopleFirst Leadership Certificate Program through Zoetis in 2017.
When I’m not working with my furry friends, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Andres, and our daughter Marisol. In my free time (which isn’t much!) I LOVE to cook and bake, participate in any sort of aquatic activities, scrapbook and craft, and enjoy the many cultural enclaves here in Chicago. We currently have a rescued red-eared slider turtle named Orchid who is approximately 50+ years old.