January 10, 2025
Couldn’t attend the live session? Watch the replay of the Veterinary Practice Management Expert Panel, part of the Veterinary Business Institute’s Annual Expert Panel Webinar Series. Designed for veterinary leaders and practice owners, this insightful one-hour session focuses on refining your management strategies for a successful 2025.
Gain access to expert advice and actionable strategies from industry leaders who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of managing a veterinary practice. Whether you’re aiming to enhance team performance, improve client retention, or streamline operations, this webinar delivers practical solutions tailored for sustainable growth.
This webinar is a must-watch for veterinary professionals seeking to build stronger teams, improve operational efficiency, and achieve sustainable growth in 2025.
Veterinary Practice Management Consultant
Founder, Debbie Boone Consulting Services
For over 23 years, Debbie Boone has managed AAHA-accredited veterinary practices, fostering empowered, client-centered teams dedicated to patient advocacy and preventive care. Through hospitality-based training, she equipped her teams to confidently educate pet owners on medical protocols, building trust and achieving high compliance rates for preventive care. This approach resulted in minimal client complaints and notable staff retention.
Debbie’s success in practice management led her to her current role as a sought-after trainer, writer, consultant, and speaker. She specializes in transforming veterinary practices through team empowerment, business management principles, and enhancing communication skills. With 11 years of small-group training experience for Patterson Veterinary Supply, Debbie remains attuned to the challenges faced by veterinary professionals and regularly speaks at major conferences, including AVMA, AAHA, WVC, and OVMA.
As a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM), Debbie holds the industry’s highest credential in practice management, symbolizing her commitment to excellence in veterinary practice. She also holds certifications in Customer Service and Fear FreeSM practices, with roles on the Fear Free Advisory Board, Stokes and Epicur Pharmaceutical Advisory Council, and as a Key Opinion Leader for Weave. Debbie actively shares her expertise through publications, webinars, and conference presentations, supporting veterinary professionals in enhancing client relations, customer service, human resources, and branding.
Her dedication to giving back includes serving as Chair of the Practice Management Special Interest Group and holding leadership roles with VetPartners, an association for veterinary consultants and advisors. Debbie is now available for remote and in-person engagements, bringing her expertise in communication, team building, and customer service to veterinary practices seeking improvement.
Specialties:
President, Marks DVM Consulting
Dr. Natalie Marks is a celebrated veterinarian with over 20 years of experience, widely recognized for her unwavering commitment to animal welfare and exceptional patient care. A University of Illinois alumna, she graduated with high honors in Animal Science, later earning her Master’s and Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the same institution. In 2018, Dr. Marks added a Certified Veterinary Journalist designation to her impressive list of qualifications, reflecting her dedication to public education in veterinary health.
Professional Journey
Since 2006, Dr. Marks has been a cornerstone of Blum Animal Hospital, where she served as co-owner until 2018. Her influence extends to leadership roles within the veterinary community, including as a member of the executive board of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association and a past board member of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association. She has also contributed her expertise to the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association.
Throughout her career, Dr. Marks has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including:
Media Contributions and Fear Free Advocacy
Dr. Marks has a notable media presence, having been featured on Good Day Chicago, WGN-Pet Central, NBC Morning News, ABC, CBS, NPR, and national broadcasts like the Today Show and CBS Nightly News. Her writing regularly appears in Today’s Veterinary Business, Healthy Pet Magazine, and Pet Vet. As a Fear Free advocate, she has advanced initiatives to minimize animal stress, making her practice the 7th in the U.S. and the first in Illinois to earn Fear Free Certified Hospital status, and she is an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional.
Consulting and Innovation
In 2019, Dr. Marks launched MarksDVMConsulting, offering consulting services in veterinary education and media. Her firm collaborates with veterinarians, pet owners, and animal organizations to provide tailored training, coaching, and media solutions that promote animal welfare and improve patient outcomes. Additionally, as an angel investor and advisory board member for organizations like VANE, KeraVet Bio, PetPath, and Bar K, Dr. Marks guides emerging entrepreneurs in the veterinary field, fostering innovation and development.
Dr. Natalie Marks continues to shape veterinary medicine with her expertise, compassionate care, and dedication to the betterment of animal health and welfare.
Founder & CEO, VetSpark Business Consulting
Dr. Christie Cornelius, a seasoned veterinarian with a robust entrepreneurial spirit, brings a unique combination of clinical expertise, business acumen, and innovative thinking to the veterinary industry. Her journey began with a dedication to delivering high-quality care to pets and their families, eventually leading her to specialize in palliative care and in-home pet euthanasia—a practice that has been warmly embraced by the communities she serves.
Dr. Cornelius holds an Executive MBA from Rice University, where she honed her strategic leadership and business management skills, equipping her to adeptly navigate the complexities of the veterinary business landscape and drive meaningful change in the industry. Her commitment to innovation is reflected in her exploration of Generative AI and its transformative potential in veterinary practice, with a focus on improving operational efficiency, enhancing patient care, and creating seamless experiences for both clients and veterinary professionals.
Throughout her career, Dr. Cornelius has consistently bridged the gap between cutting-edge technology and practical application in veterinary care. As an entrepreneur, she has founded and managed successful businesses that prioritize client-centric services and uphold the highest standards of veterinary excellence. Currently, she is exploring opportunities to leverage her skills and vision in a CEO role within the veterinary industry, with a goal to lead with empathy, inspire innovation, and drive growth while maintaining a steadfast commitment to animal welfare.
Key Areas of Expertise:
Webinar Moderator
Co-host, Veterinary Business Podcast
As an influential leader, Michael looks for opportunities to add value to people. He believes everybody has untapped potential, and most of us have a desire to unlock and engage this potential as we experience the adventure of life and achieve the success that matters.
Part of that success for Michael looks like empowering leaders to lead themselves and others and helping them achieve prosperity in every area of life that they can’t wait to give away to others!
Michael is a recognized Leadership and Business Advisory Coach within an exceptionally diverse range of businesses and organizational sectors.
He is also a professional mediator and facilitator. In addition, he also holds the following qualifications and designations: Qualified (Q.MED) mediator with the ADR Institute of Canada.