Hospital Leader; Vet Assistant; Mindfulness and Wellbeing Specialist Renee Machel
Renee Machel has dedicated over 20 years to the veterinary profession as a team leader and veterinary technician, and she is now a nationally recognized motivational speaker, mindfulness coach, certified yoga instructor, meditation guide, and co-founder of Get MotiVETed.
Renee has presented to many schools and several conferences including Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee University, Duke University, University of Georgia CVM, NC State CVM, AVMA’s Veterinary Leadership Conference, and the AVMA Convention. She has also hosted CE seminars in the largest cities of North Carolina.
Renee knows how important mindfulness-based practices are and how they can reduce stress, improve communication, and help veterinary team leaders lead inspired teams!
Her areas of specialty are Self-Care, Mindfulness, Leadership, Stress Management, Gratitude, Client Communication, and Work-Life Balance!
After overcoming her personal struggles with depression, anxiety and other clinical ailments from chronic stress, she is sharing her story, key skills, and knowledge to help members of the veterinary community transform their lives.
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PhD. Social Work; Focus - Suicide Prevention, Intervention, Postvention Barry Feldman
Dr. Feldman is a nationally-recognized researcher, trainer, and educator in the field of suicide intervention and prevention. He is a sought after trainer and speaker on the topic of suicide prevention and response in public safety settings.
In addition, Dr. Feldman provides technical assistance to schools and universities across the country to help in developing and implementing policies, procedures, and strategies to prevent suicide. Dr. Feldman is regarded as a principal presenter on mental health and suicide risk for professional groups such as physicians, mental health workers, and veterinarians.
Dr. Feldman holds a research appointment with the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs and conducts suicide prevention-related workshops and in-service training sessions for police officers and other law enforcement personnel, mental health clinicians, educators, and other health care providers. He is also an approved trainer for the American Academy of Suicidology, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, and a certified trainer for the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. He is a former Chairman of the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention.
Dr. Feldman completed his bachelors of science at the University of Massachusetts in Law and Psychology, and he obtained his PHD in Clinical Psychology at Boston College.
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Veterinarian; Personal and Professional Development Specialist Quincy Hawley
Dr. Quincy Hawley graduated from NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine with his D.V.M. in 2013. After graduating, he spent 5 years working for Banfield Pet Hospital in Fayetteville, NC, and now serves as a part-time veterinarian on weekends, the President of the NC Association of Minority Veterinarians, and he also serves on the NC State CVM Admissions Committee.
After overcoming his own wellbeing struggles, Dr. Hawley has developed a huge passion for improving wellbeing in the veterinary profession, and he has devoted the rest of his veterinary career towards making poor wellbeing and abnormally high suicide things of the past for the veterinary community!
Putting action behind his desires, Dr. Hawley co-founded Get MotiVETed, a company that provides wellbeing solutions for all members of the veterinary community. Through Get MotiVETed, Dr. Hawley aims to help the veterinary community pursue personal development, mindfulness, and the highest levels of self-care.
He has two daughters, 7 dogs, 5 chickens, and an evil blue-crowned conure named, Jack (aka Satan lol). He is married to Dr. Kershaw-Hawley, who is also a veterinarian and wellbeing enthusiast (Tuskegee University CVM 2013).
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VTS (ECC), Speaker, Author Amy Newfield
With more than 20 years of experience, Amy Newfield is a leader in the veterinary profession. Once earning her veterinary technology degree she obtained her credentials as veterinary technician and then sought to achieve her master's degree in Management and Leadership. In 2003 she earned one of the profession's highest credentials, Veterinary Technician Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care (VTS, (ECC)). Amy is an award winning international speaker and author of more than 50 articles and book chapters. She has held several board positions in various organizations within the veterinary industry. Her first book "Oops, I Became a Manager" was released in 2020 and focuses on creating healthy veterinary teams. It won the Gold Medal for the Reader's Favorite Awards in 2022 in business books. Her website vetteamtraining.com is focused on creating happy veterinary teams. Amy is a two-time VMX Veterinary Technician/Nurse Speaker of the Year (2022 and 2016), and she was named speaker of the year for the Western Veterinary Conference (2015).
Speaker, Veterinarian, Author Sonja Olson
Dr. Sonja Olson grew up in Maryland, USA. She graduated from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of
Veterinary Medicine with a focus on exotic animal and conservation medicine. Her professional path led
to over 25 years of practicing clinical small animal and exotic emergency medicine. Her professional
journey included formal teaching and mentorship of other veterinary professionals.
Despite her best efforts to stay holistically healthy along the way, burnout and the physiologic impacts
of that difficult work caught up with her. This lived wisdom, combined with the intentional seeking of
evidence-based mental health/well-being skills and certifications, have fortified her resolve to offer care
and support for those in the veterinary field.
Today, Sonja lives in Vancouver, WA and her current full-time role is as Veterinary Wellness Educator &
Coach for her own business, Heartstorming Wellness LLC. Through her innovative 1:1 'heartstorming
sessions,' keynote presentations, and resilience-focused writings, she shares practical tools to manage
change, enhance self-awareness, and foster meaningful connections.
She specializes in helping individuals and teams within the veterinary field navigate stress, find balance,
and cultivate emotional well-being. Combining evidence-based coaching, mindfulness, and her clinical
expertise, Dr. Olson creates compassionate, transformative spaces that empower her clients to thrive
both personally and professionally.
Speaker, Chief Empowerment Officer Michael Shirley
Michael Shirley is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Family Pet Health in Murfreesboro, TN. Guided by his belief in hiring great people, equipping them with the tools they need, and empowering them to thrive, Michael is dedicated to fostering a workplace culture that supports both professional and personal well-being.
Before opening Family Pet Health with his wife, Dr. Amy Shirley, Michael spent 16 years in education, serving as a 4-H agent and later as a high school agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. This background instilled in him a passion for teaching and community engagement, which he continues as a volunteer leader for the Rutherford County 4-H Poultry Club and as an elected member within his local county government.
Michael is excited to share insights on leadership, wellness, and the importance of building empowered teams in veterinary practice.
The Florida Veterinary Advisors!
“We believe planning is more than numbers. All relationships require a healthy level of communication. Most advisory relationships are centered on products and less on expectations of the relationship. Products such as investments and insurances are easily accessible, but the plan to bring them all together is where we do our best work. The Florida Veterinary Advisors team is built on principles that help you, and we work as a team towards your financial independence. Our ongoing education efforts include Financial Consulting, Continuing Education Webinars, Articles, Videos, and Speaking at Local Associations, National Conferences, and Veterinary Schools.”
Financial Advisor, Best-Selling Author, Speaker Tom Seeko
Tom Seeko was born in Edison, NJ and his parents relocated to Homosassa, FL at a young age. He grew up participating in Boy Scouts, playing soccer for a decade, learned to play the clarinet and alto saxophone, and graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in finance. The financial knowledge that Tom has built up expands from income protection, debt repayment, business planning, and several other topics.
Tom lives with his wife, Patricia, and their Maltipoo, Theodore. During the past few years, education has become a large focal point for Tom, and he strives to educate himself around psychology, business, leadership, self-development, and communication.
Tom’s focus within the Veterinary field started in 2014 and became approved to provide continuing education in the state of Florida in 2017. In an effort to reach more people, he became an approved RACE provider through the AAVSB in early 2018. Right now, Tom and his team are involved within several associations in the state of Florida, VetPartners, and the VBMA (Veterinary Business Management Association) that provides students in the Veterinary field with resources and access to professionals to help them with solid advice to jump start their career.
Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities and Financial Representative of Guardian.
CA Insurance License #0K80141
Financial Advisor, Best-Selling Author, Speaker CJ Burnette
CJ has always had a deep interest in the financial arena. This began at age 16 when he attended an investment symposium in California. From that point on, CJ became incredibly curious about financial topics and devoured any information he could get from books and periodicals to learn and understand the world of investing.
CJ went on to college to follow his other passion of music as an accomplished violinist and fiddler player. He soon changed his major to Finance, where he truly belonged. In his senior year, CJ, along with a small team of student analysts, helped manage the endowment investment fund at the University of South Florida. The team of students ran financial models and valued equities and were a large part of that year’s decision-making process. He then realized this was his calling. CJ graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance from the University of South Florida.
Although he is an analyst at heart, CJ enjoys working directly with people. In 2011, he started with Westshore Financial Group and brought together all the skills he developed.
Over the years, CJ has had success working with corporate executives and business owners on structuring a financial plan that gives them the most control over the results they are after. CJ does not want to only help people with their financial plans; he wants to change what’s possible for them; to show them how to master the “short game” for them to win the “long game.”
CJ also enjoys working with clients on their charitable giving goals. He works with them to structure a plan to minimize the tax impact on them and maximize the impact they can make when giving money to 501(c)(3) entities.
CJ is a member of Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, FL, and is involved in a few ministries, including the Worship ministry the Stewardship ministry, and serves on the Finance Committee. Once a year, he helps coordinate Financial Peace University for church members.
He speaks and teaches on financial topics at Universities, Churches, and Association groups all across the United States. CJ spends his free time with family, reading, playing music, and coaching.
Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities and Financial Representative of Guardian.
CA Insurance License #0K79676
Meet the Panelists!
These are 5 of our Certificate of Veterinary Burnout Preparedness earners!
Director of Client Care, CCFP, CVBL, CVBP Brittany Graves
Brittany has over 10 years of experience in the veterinary industry. Brittany has a passion for client care, leading teams, learning and development, mental health, and operational excellence. Brittany is a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional, Certified Veterinary Business Leader, Certified Veterinary Burnout Prep, and additionally graduated from Cleveland State with a degree in Business Management. Brittany’s current role is Director of Client Care with Gateway Services Inc.
In her free time, Brittany loves to read, participate in community service projects, and spend time with her family. Brittany has what she likes to call her own "mini hobby farm" with the following pets: 4 dogs, 2 guinea pigs, 1 bird, 1 cat, 1 tortoise, and 1 American miniature pig
Veterinary Physiotherapist, CCRP, PgDip A Phys, FFCP (Elite Veterinary), CVBP Natasha Lotter
Hailing from South Africa with formal training, and a history working
as a marine biologist, and animal trainer, the decision was made, when
living in Dubai, to redirect my studies and focus to the physical
rehabilitation of animals. Completing my postgraduate veterinary
physiotherapy studies in 2010, through educational facilities in the
UK, and the US, led me into this exciting, dynamic, and rapidly growing
field. My journey through animal physical rehabilitation has taken me
down the routes of entrepreneurship, burnout, research, and currently I
am employed in a 24-hour care, multidisciplinary, veterinary centre.
With a passion for neurological rehabilitation of cats and dogs,
physical rehabilitation of exotic animal species, and collaboration
with veterinary teams I have been proud to support and offer my input
and treatment of patients’ surgical and non-surgical rehabilitation and
care. This coupled with a desire to “never stop learning” means in my
spare time I’m often reading. When not reading, you’ll find me free
diving and travelling, best enjoyed when in combination with each
other!
CVBP, VRCE, FFCP (Veterinary) Veterinary Receptionist Sam Anderkay
Sam has been in veterinary medicine for 6.5 years as a Veterinary Receptionist. She started working as a kennel assistant after high school, with a passion that never left in the years that followed. In 2018, she started working for her current clinic in Western Wisconsin, learning and growing as a veterinary professional. Since being at her current practice, she has completed certifications for CVBP, VRCE (Veterinary Receptionist Certificate of Excellence) and FFCP. Her interests include Client/Patient Relations, Mental Health/Self Care/Personal Development, Parasiticide Prevention, Fear Free Experiences,, Food/Diets and Continuing Education. Completing her CVBP enabled her to grow and develop not only as a veterinary professional but also in her personal life, giving her the tools to focus more on mental health, self-care and personal development. In her spare time, Sam enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, reading, and going to dog shows with her German Shepherds.
Practice Manager, RVT, CVBP 1 Marilyn Mace
Marilyn Mace graduated from Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology (located in Denver, CO) in
2019 with an Associates Degree in Veterinary Technology. Marilyn moved back to Missouri to
complete a one of kind internship at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium and then started working
at an 8 doctor small animal and exotic veterinary clinic, Kansas City Veterinary Care, in that
same year. Marilyn has been at her “unicorn clinic” since graduating tech school where she has
been able to grow and build all her technical skills. She is a Registered Veterinary Technician
who got promoted within her clinic to become one of the veterinary Practice Managers in July
2022. Since becoming Practice Manager (Head of HR), Marilyn continues to pursue new
education and advancements in leadership to help combat the high turnover rate and burnout
the veterinary field has. Marilyn found Get MotiVETed University and completed her CVBP
Level 1. Marilyn is currently trying to pursue becoming a CVPM and plans on obtaining her VTS
in Avian/Exotics and Companion Mammals.
LVT, Elite FFCP (Veterinary, Avian), CFVP, HAB, CVBP Kate Farver
Kate has been in the veterinary medicine field for 8 years. What started as a summer job turned into a passion. She has worked in multiple small animal specialties, with behavior being her favorite. Kate’s interests include promoting the Human-Animal Bond, practicing veterinary cooperative care, and encouraging well-being in the workplace. As someone who has experienced severe burnout, she knows how important it is to make time for well-being; it doesn't just happen on its own. On top of her specialty vet tech job, she is also working towards her BS and VTS in Animal Behavior. You can often find her practicing yoga, kayaking, and going on nature walks with her dogs in her free time.
