January 2026 marked 30 years since I began serving as Executive Director of the IVMA. Three decades. When I look back at where we were when I started and where we are today, the changes in your profession — and in your association — are nothing short of extraordinary.
And yet, through all that evolution, one thing has remained constant: the power of veterinarians as dedicated volunteers working together for something bigger than themselves.
A Profession That Has Grown in Every Direction
When I first stepped into this role in 1996, veterinary medicine looked very different. Technology was simpler. Communication was slower. The pace of change felt manageable. There was no email or webpage capabilities. Meetings were held in person. “Zoom” wasn’t even a thing. The membership database was kept on 3×5 index cards and I noted on the card each year who paid their dues.
Today, veterinary medicine and association management are more advanced, more specialized, and more complex than ever before.
We’ve witnessed:
- The rapid advancement of diagnostic technology and treatment capabilities
- A growing emphasis on companion animal care alongside food animal and public health priorities
- Increased awareness of mental health and wellbeing within the profession
- Expansion of telemedicine and digital tools
- Heightened regulatory and legislative involvement impacting daily practice
The expectations placed on veterinarians have grown — from clients, from communities, and from policymakers. Veterinarians are not only clinicians; they are business owners, public health leaders, educators, advocates, and trusted advisors.
Through it all, IVMA has had to evolve right alongside the profession.
An Association That Adapted and Strengthened
Over the years, IVMA has transformed in response to members’ needs. We modernized communications — moving from printed newsletters and fax machines to email updates, social media engagement, and real-time advocacy alerts. We expanded continuing education offerings to meet new clinical demands. We strengthened our legislative presence to ensure veterinary voices are heard at the Statehouse. We built partnerships, improved member services, and embraced strategic planning to remain relevant in a rapidly changing environment. Change has never been optional. It has been essential. But change alone does not define an association. People do.
The Constant: The Power of Veterinarians and Volunteers
If there is one truth I have witnessed over 30 years, it is this: veterinarians care deeply — about their patients, their communities, and their profession.
And when they come together with purpose, remarkable things happen.
Our volunteer leaders — board members, committee members, task force participants, legislative advocates — have always been the heart of IVMA. They give their time after long clinical days. They show up to meetings. They debate thoughtfully. They lead courageously. They do it not for recognition, but because they believe in strengthening the profession for those who will come after them.
I have had the privilege of working alongside hundreds of these dedicated individuals. Their willingness to collaborate, compromise, innovate, and serve has been the steady foundation beneath every IVMA success story.
Lessons From Three Decades
Thirty years teaches you a few things.
It teaches you that progress requires patience.
It teaches you that disagreement can lead to better decisions when rooted in mutual respect.
It teaches you that listening is often more powerful than speaking.
And it teaches you that no executive director accomplishes anything alone.
The most meaningful achievements during my tenure were never the result of one person’s vision. They were the result of collective effort — veterinarians, volunteers, staff, partners — aligned around a shared mission.
Looking Ahead
As I reflect on these 30 years, I feel immense gratitude. Gratitude for the trust placed in me. Gratitude for the mentors who guided me. Gratitude for the volunteers who rolled up their sleeves again and again. The profession will continue to change. New challenges will emerge. New leaders will rise. The landscape will look different ten years from now — just as it looks different from thirty years ago.
But I am confident in one thing:
As long as veterinarians remain committed to working together — supporting one another, advocating for the profession, and serving their communities — IVMA will remain strong.
Because the true strength of any association is not in its structure, its bylaws, or even its history.
It is in its people.
And for 30 years, I have had the honor of working with some of the very best.