Staff Retention: Compensation, Benefits and Growth
Using current industry-specific benchmarks attendees will learn appropriate compensation and benefits being offered. Additionally, attendees will learn how they can (financially) be more competitive with pay and benefits.
Brandon Hess
CVPM, CCFP, SHRM-CP
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Emergency Training for the Non-Emergency Clinic: Interviewing Your Team to Play Their Best Part
Emergency patients can happen at any time in any type of clinic. As managers, we need our staff to be prepared to handle whatever comes through the door. Have you ever asked your team how comfortable they are with handling those critical patients and hysterical owners? I will provide you with some interview questions to ask all of your team to help them learn what parts they like to play in the dance that is emergency medicine and how to work towards successful patient outcomes. We will also discuss two different training styles (written and role playing) and how I have used each one to benefit and train my team. You will leave with ideas for document creation and how to plan a real-life emergency practice with your team!
Jill Brecklin
CVT, CVPM
Time: 1:10 pm - 2:10 pm
Communication That Connects: Internally Aligned, Externally Respected
Strengthen team collaboration and enhance client satisfaction through effective applied communication. Content includes communication frameworks, team meeting strategy, emotional intelligence, and client conversation models.
Ingrid Pyka
BS, DVM, CVMI
Time: 2:20 pm - 3:20 pm
VetCE Virtual: Thrive & Lead: Building Stronger Practices Together
May 30, 2026 @ 12 pm - 3:30 pm ET
Agenda
Speakers
Brandon Hess
CVPM, CCFP, SHRM-CP
Brandon Hess spent over 10 years in the management trenches, first as a companion animal veterinary hospital manager and since 2014, as the manager of a large specialty practice in Ohio (2016 AAHA Specialty Practice of the Year). From 2016-2021 Brandon was a full-time Associate Consulting with VetSupport focusing on many aspects of practice management, with a focus on employee wellness topics such as: compassion fatigue, burnout, work-life balance and suicide awareness.
Brandon majored in psychology, and before joining the veterinary world he held leadership positions in multiple athletics organizations. His veterinary business focus is leadership development, communication strategy, conflict resolution and human resources. Brandon brings this diverse experience and unique perspective on leadership and training techniques to all of his work today.
Brandon lives in Liberty Township, Ohio with his wife (RVT), 2 dogs, 3 cats and ball python.
Jill Brecklin
CVT, CVPM
Jill Brecklin has been dedicated to the field of veterinary medicine for over 20 years. With a passion for improving the lives of patients, clients, and teams, she began her career as a CVT at Whitney Veterinary Hospital in Peoria, IL after earning her degree from Parkland College in 2005.
An ambitious individual, Jill always had a desire for leadership and eagerly took on the role of Practice Management in 2018. Her hard work paid off when she achieved her goal of becoming a CVPM in August 2022.
In 2025, Jill became the new host for the VHMA’s Manager to Manager podcast series, where she gets to meet with fellow managers to discuss relevant topics and help others succeed in this challenging field.
Transitioning from an employee to a management position was no easy feat, but Jill saw it as an opportunity to make a lasting impact on her team. By understanding their struggles and continuously striving for improvement in their work environment, she has been able to create a positive and enjoyable workplace. Jill takes pride in being a cheerleader for her team’s successes and helping them learn and grow whenever challenges arise.
Ingrid Pyka
BS, DVM, CVMI
Dr. Ingrid Pyka is a dynamic speaker (two-time TEDx), author, and advocate dedicated to transforming the veterinary profession. She specializes in creating positive and efficient workflows while implementing career and financial strategies that empower veterinary professionals and organizations alike. Ingrid’s mission is to eliminate burnout and promote unity, helping teams and leaders rebuild stronger, more resilient career pathways.
A graduate of Colorado State University (CSU), Ingrid combines her expertise in general practice (GP), emergency and critical care (ER), and animal health economics (AHE). With experience as a practice owner and high-level directorship roles, she integrates clinical knowledge with transformational management strategies to improve workplace effectiveness. Ingrid collaborates with veterinary teams across corporate, private, and nonprofit sectors, and actively consults with veterinarians, technicians, leaders, and students to support growth and development at all levels.
Ingrid is the CEO of her own company – VetMatch, an international resource that fosters community, career growth, and valuable connections within the veterinary field. She is also deeply involved in academic and municipal initiatives aimed at enhancing career satisfaction and personal wellbeing. As a passionate volunteer, Ingrid serves on advisory boards and supports local veterinary associations through community outreach and improvement programs. She has published two award-winning self-help books and just released the first of her four-part fantasy novel series.
Why Attend?
The VetCE Virtual event series of micro-conferences is designed to deliver multiple approved RACE and/or CVPM CE credits in a concise, half-day virtual format with three consecutive one-hour presentations. The series not only provides you with the opportunity to benefit from educational sessions presented by expert speakers but also offers an easy way to learn and earn credits from the comfort of your home or office!
VetCE Virtual events cover a wide range of topics, from detailed medical discussions to practice management and other non-medical subjects relevant to everyday situations encountered by veterinary professionals. If you’ve already registered and happen to miss the live event, no worries, you’ll be given access to the OnDemand courses once they become available (typically about three weeks after the live event) Recordings of the sessions will be accessible for viewing for 2 weeks following each event, providing participants with a valuable reference.
Please be advised that we can not issue CE certificates for only viewing the session recordings. Anyone who registers for a VetCE Virtual event but is unable to attend the live sessions will get free access to the VetCE OnDemand courses we create from the recordings on VetMedTeam so you can still get CE credits!
What People are Saying About VetCE
Learn, Connect, Grow
with our membership option!
If you want to save even more on RACE- and/or CVPM-approved CE credits, the VPN Plus+ membership is perfect for you! It’s a one-stop solution that aims to help you grow and provide all the necessary resources to earn most of the CE credits you require throughout the year! VPN Plus+ members enjoy free VetCE Virtual live sessions, great CE discount opportunities and much more! Also, all VetCE Virtual recordings will be available to VPN Plus+ members for free after the 2 weeks.
