Hi, I’m Stephanie, and I’m a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) at Pinnacle. I’ve been working in the veterinary field for about five years, but my journey working with animals started long before that. I’ve always known I wanted to build a career around caring for animals and learning everything I could about them.
When I was 18, I began working at an animal shelter and quickly realized how meaningful it was to help animals in need. From there, I became a professional groomer and spent 14 years grooming pets and building relationships with their owners. During that time, I also attended college with the goal of becoming a marine biologist—specifically focusing on the conservation and research of orcas. Since that field can be very specialized and difficult to break into, I decided to pivot into veterinary technology when I discovered the program at Trident Tech. Although I loved grooming, the physical demands eventually led me to retire from it due to general wear and tear on my body. Continuing in veterinary medicine felt like the perfect next step, allowing me to stay in the animal care field I love.
At home, my adventure buddy is my dog, Diesel, an American Pit Bull Terrier who will be nine years old on March 5th—but you would never guess it based on his energy! Diesel runs on pure chaos and absolutely loves outdoor adventures. His favorite activities include exploring the woods, swimming, diving for rocks of all sizes, and playing fetch—especially with his beloved chuck-it balls. He also enjoys tugging on his rope toys and is always ready for the next adventure.
Outside of work, I love spending as much time outdoors as possible. Hiking, camping, and anything on the water—like jet skiing, boating, kayaking, or paddle boarding—are some of my favorite ways to relax. I also enjoy yard work, clearing land, building bonfires to sit around, and of course playing fetch with Diesel. When I’m indoors, I enjoy cooking (though baking isn’t really my strong suit, even though I try!). A couple of fun facts about me are that I collect rocks and crystals, and I have a goal of one day making friends with a wild crow.
In veterinary medicine, I enjoy being a bit of a “jack of all trades.” I love running diagnostics and seeing whether my initial guesses are correct, as well as administering treatments and assisting in surgery. One area I’m especially passionate about is client education—whether it’s talking about nutrition, helping pets reach a healthy weight, explaining medical information after a diagnosis, or supporting families through some of the most difficult moments of pet ownership. Helping guide clients through decisions, including end-of-life care, is something I take very seriously and approach with compassion.
What I love most about working at Pinnacle is knowing that my voice matters and that I’m appreciated. That isn’t always the case in veterinary medicine, and I’m grateful to be part of a team that truly values collaboration. Coming from a practice that had been established for decades, it’s exciting to now be part of a newer clinic where I can help build relationships and trust with our clients and patients. Being involved in that growth makes me feel like I’m part of something bigger, and I’m excited to see how Pinnacle continues to grow in the future.