Hi, I’m Melissa, and I’m the Practice Manager at Pinnacle. I’ve been working in the veterinary field for 28 years, and throughout that time I’ve had the opportunity to grow within many areas of veterinary medicine while supporting both patients and the teams who care for them. I am a Licensed Veterinary Technician and am board certified in Emergency Critical Care medicine.

My path into veterinary medicine started while I was a biology major doing a job shadow with a veterinarian. While observing the clinic, I became especially interested in what the veterinary technicians were doing. I had always taken my own pets to the vet growing up, but I hadn’t realized there was an entire career path dedicated to veterinary nursing and patient care. After learning more about it, I knew it was the direction I wanted to pursue, and that decision led me to the career I’ve loved for nearly three decades.

At home, I have a small but very entertaining pet family. Tom—also known as “Tom Cat Murder Paws”—is my 12-year-old domestic shorthair and the undisputed boss of the house. Ella, or “Baby Ella,” is my 12-year-old mixed breed dog who is incredibly loyal and easygoing. Then there’s Rocco, also known as “Peanut,” my 9-year-old pit bull mix who is very sweet but not always the brightest and has a habit of chewing up just about anything he can find.

Outside of work, I enjoy reading, traveling, and spending time with my family. I’m also a big fan of binge-watching shows and listening to true crime podcasts, which are some of my favorite ways to relax after a busy day.

Professionally, my areas of interest include emergency and critical care, as well as education and leadership. I’m passionate about supporting veterinary teams, helping clinics run smoothly, and creating an environment where both staff and patients receive the best care possible.

What I love most about working at Pinnacle is that it is privately owned and truly focused on providing personal, compassionate care. Every pet and every client matters to us, and we strive to treat them the same way we would treat our own pets. I’m also grateful to work alongside a team that is genuinely compassionate and deeply committed to the animals and families we serve. Pinnacle’s core values align closely with my own, which makes it a very meaningful place for me to be.