In this episode of the Inventory Nation Podcast, I am so excited to introduce Amy VanDeWater. As soon as we met and got to chatting, it such a fantastic conversation and we very quickly vibed as we share a similar passion for the veterinary industry. Amy is the founder of Glue Veterinary Coaching and has over 30 years of experience in the veterinary industry.

Here’s what Amy has to say about her journey in veterinary medicine:

“My life’s work has been dedicated to companion animals and the veterinary industry. With more than thirty years of industry experience, veterinary practices are my second home.

I started my first job in veterinary medicine at the tender age of twelve as the do-er of all things no one else wanted to do. Over the next ten years I continued working in a variety of practices in every role from receptionist to kennel assistant to veterinary assistant.

I completed my Bachelor of Science at OSU and accepted the job of Development Coordinator for the Capital Area Humane Society in Central Ohio. I spent my days event planning and fundraising but my favorite part was the opportunity to take adoptable animals to local news stations to help find their perfect new family.

I joined the pharmaceutical/biological arena as a rep for Fort Dodge Animal Health in 1999, and then Boehringer Ingelheim in 2009. I spent 18 years building long-term relationships with hundreds of veterinary hospitals and teams across Ohio. My primary focus was helping practices discover ways to provide the best medicine and client experiences, and helping build productive, highly-skilled teams that drive practice growth.

With Glue I’ve been able to channel all my passion and energy towards one very specific goal– helping veterinary practices grow by creating vibrant teams and loyal clients. My long-term relationships with hundreds of veterinary practices gives me a unique vantage point to clearly define the most important challenges unique to each hospital. My greatest satisfaction comes from walking hand in hand with each practice to create a highly productive and happy team, fulfilling client relationships and practice growth.

My husband and our two boys (10 and 12) live in southeast Ohio in a cozy house on top of a wooded hill. We love camping, hiking, lake fun and all things outdoors. We have two silly rescue dogs (Bethany and Bug), two hysterical rats (Dillow and Indigo) and one corn snake (Dragon, not my favorite). I am filled with gratitude each day for the opportunity to do what I love and help make a real difference for people and their pets.”

During our conversation, Amy shares her advice for other veterinary professionals: “One of the things that I’ve observed with veterinary teams over the last 30 years, is recognizing that we do a whole lot of just throwing stuff at the wall. So, someone makes comments about not feeling appreciated, then a manager starts frantically throwing gift cards out at the next meeting and hope that it’s going to change into a culture of appreciation. It’s admirable to try to do those things to make improvements, but really, if we are looking at a big picture goal, of creating this really vibrant team of engaged employees that are able to leverage communication skills with both each other and clients, it is very much a step-by-step process. It’s not just something that we can wing and hope. We need a bigger strategy that we are consistently working on.”

• Glue Veterinary Coaching
• Glue on Facebook