Our Story

Our story may sound a bit like yours… because like you, we all have experience working in veterinary practices! And like you, it’s played a role in defining who we are and what matters most to us — helping you.

Our Story

Our story may sound a bit like yours… because like you, we all have experience working in veterinary practices! And like you, it’s played a role in defining who we are and what matters most to us — helping you.

icon set of vets, techs and clients

What makes us different?

We’re One Of You!

For your veterinary practice, by veterinary professionals.

Once you’ve worked at a veterinary practice, fellow veterinary professionals become your people, whether it’s a technician standing next to you or a veterinarian halfway across the globe. This uniquely joyful and challenging shared work experience ties you together in a way that’s difficult to describe.
We know this because we’ve been there, and it’s how we feel.
As veterinary professionals ourselves, we believe you deserve exceptional service and support from a team inspired and powered by shared experiences, passion, and empathy.
VIN® Practice Communications is that team. We understand what you care about, what you’re up against, and what you’re celebrating. And because you’re our people, we’re committed to supporting you through every bit of it.

Our History

We invite you to learn a bit about our history in this timeline, and some of the people – just like you – who helped move it along.
2006
2006

VIN® co-founder and president Paul Pion and John Dean found VetVision to help VINners build, grow, and nurture their bond with the clients they serve.

Their idea was to offer communication and management tools to veterinary professionals in VIN®‘s trusted setting, where their clinic data would only be used for the benefit of that clinic and to grow and enhance medical knowledge for the profession.


Paul D. Pion
DVM, DipACVIM

Meet Paul:
VIN® co-founder and president Paul Pion consults with and acts as an advisor to help ensure that VIN® Practice Communications’ services are aligned with VIN®’s mission and meet (or even better, exceed!) VIN® Members’ expectations.


John Dean
VIN® Practice Communications Director
Vet Med Life: Hospital I.T. Manager

Meet John:
Our fearless leader John leads VIN® Practice Communications, handles escalated support, manages our development projects and team, and applies his vision to help us create innovative new tools to help veterinary professionals in their work.

2010
2010

VetVision launches two new platforms to the VIN® community.

PetSites, online client portals for pet health management.

MyVIN Desktop, a client communication tool for veterinary practices.

2011
2011

Carrie Christner joins the VetVision team as the Veterinary Relations Manager, contributing to support, sales, engagement, and content.

Carrie Christner
Outreach, Engagement, & Content Manager
Vet Med Life: Hospital Manager
Meet Carrie: As a former Hospital Manager, Carrie has a long and affectionate history with the veterinary world and is now our resident multimedia content, outreach, and engagement queen. Carrie has her paws in our outreach and awareness campaigns for pet owners, user engagement, branding, and marketing. She’s all about strengthening the relationship between pet owners and their veterinary team.
Carrie is a mystery/suspense bookworm, a green tea enthusiast, and a Beagle enabler (which is exactly what it sounds like).
2013 - Feb
2013 - Feb

VetVision officially joins the VIN® Family and is renamed VINx®.

The added “x” represented an extension of your VIN® membership.

2013 - Dec
2013 - Dec

Jordan benShea is brought on as a Strategic Advisor, to help VINx® define its brand and increase outreach to the veterinary community.

Jordan benShea
Strategic Advisor
Vet Med Life: Executive Director, VIN® Foundation

Meet Jordan:
Jordan benShea currently serves as the Executive Director of the VIN® Foundation, as well as a strategic advisor to us, specializing in brand identity. As an animal lover and advocate, Jordan has a strong appreciation for the animal-veterinarian bond, and brings that passion to her work with VIN® Practice Communications.

Jordan lives in Santa Barbara, California with her dog, chickens, and beehives, enjoys a good book, and loves exploring nature with friends and family.

2014
2014

Katie Gehin joins VINx® as a support team member.

Katie Gehin
Relationship Manager
Vet Med Life: Technician

Meet Katie:
A former veterinary technician, Katie has been active in and passionate about the field of veterinary medicine for most of her adult life and feels it suits her just perfectly. Her extensive veterinary background helps her to quickly understand and address users’ needs and challenges. Katie leads our support team and specializes in onboarding and training new VetTools™ users.

Katie and her beloved dogs love the great outdoors in all its glory. She’s also a skilled DIY home renovation goddess and a talented baker.

2015
2015

Raelene “Rae” Moe joins VINx® as a support team member.

Rae Moe
Reminder Success Manager
Vet Med Life: RVT

Meet Rae:
Rae has been a RVT for over 30 years, working in small animal, equine, mixed and specialty practices as everything from tech to manager. Not much in the veterinary world phases Rae! Happily, Rae is a reminder nerd like Carrie, and was willing to take over the reins of the VINx® reminder system in 2018, and is now our official in-house reminder guru. She’s also an expert analyzing hospitals’ appointment data.

Rae cares for a veritable bounty of critters on her homestead, and is partial to horses and herding dogs (as in dogs that herd; she doesn’t herd them. Much.)

2016
2016

Erica Hulse joins VINx® as a support team member.

Erica Hulse
Fulfillment Supervisor
Vet Med Life: Technician

Meet Erica:
As a veterinary technician for 20 years, Erica has seen pretty much everything that happens in practice. With a well-rounded background in almost all aspects of the hospital, she brings an understanding of the day to day struggles that occur. Erica is multi-talented and excels at teaching and training users, as well as working with them to engage with their clients through custom newsletter campaigns.

Erica, her husband, and their Golden Retriever LouAnne enjoy making the most of their outdoor Texas surroundings, with fishing and boating at the top of their list.

2017
2017

New mobile-friendly VetTools™ Client Communications is launched.

The flash-based VINx Desktop platform for veterinary hospitals transitions to a new mobile-responsive, HTML interface. It’s also rebranded as VetTools™ Client Communications, a subscription-based, comprehensive client engagement service.

 

2018 - Feb
2018 - Feb

Robin Cloud joins VINx® as a support team member.

Robin Cloud
Education Manager
Vet Med Life: Practice Manager

Meet Robin:
Robin joined us from one of our client veterinary hospitals, and fell in love with the VetTools™ suite of services as a Practice Manager there. When she was ready for a new challenge in her career she contacted us (and boy, were we thrilled!). Robin is so passionate about VetTools™ that she started a proactive support program, in which she identifies and reaches out to help users who could be benefiting more from their service.

When she’s not working Robin enjoys boating/kayaking, taking in Long Island Sound sunsets, hiking with her rescue dog, and going to movies with her husband.

2018 - Mar
2018 - Mar

Mobile-friendly PetSites is launched.

The flash-based PetSites platform for pet owners transitions to a new mobile-responsive, HTML interface. The UI design is also overhauled for a friendly, welcoming look and feel.

2019
2019

VetTools™ Messaging is launched.

VetTools™ Messaging, a new communications subscription for veterinary hospitals, is launched. While the original VetTools™ Client Communications plan already includes text and voice messaging (plus much more), VetTools™ Messaging is a smaller package devoted only to text and voice messaging.

2020
2020

COVID arrives, and veterinary hospitals are hit hard.

VINx® quickly pivots to support users with messaging and materials for their clients with important information and updates on new protocols, restrictions, and policies.

2021 - Jan
2021 - Jan

VetTools™ Mobile is launched.

The VetTools™ Mobile app is launched to address the pandemic-related phone line challenges experienced at most practices. The app makes it simple for any approved user to text clients from their own mobile phones without sharing their personal number, and to place calls with the hospital appearing as the caller.

2021 - Oct
2021 - Oct

VetTools™ Client Communications get a new look!

The VetTools™ Client Communications brand gets a fresh new look and name as VetTools™ Clients Engaged.

2021 - Oct
2021 - Oct

VINx® becomes VIN® Practice Communications.

VINx® is rebranded and relaunched as VIN® Practice Communications. This major change is made to more clearly present what we do, who we are, and what gets us up in the morning — the opportunity to work with and help you.

Click here to learn more about the name change.

2022 - Feb
2022 - Feb

Nikki Hays joins VIN® Practice Communications as a support team member.


Nikki Hays
Support Team Member
Vet Med Life: Assistant
Meet Nikki:

Nikki joined us after spending 11 years as a Veterinary Assistant, assisting with patient care, surgeries, and client education. Because of her background, Nikki now brings loads of keen insight and empathy to her role with us. A lightning-fast learner with an amazing positive attitude, Nikki excels at and truly enjoys supporting and educating VetTools users, and helping them to get the most out of their service.

Nikki enjoys spending time with her fur family and also her human family! She has three dogs, 4 cats and 2 children. In her spare time, she volunteers at a non-profit all cat rescue, serving as one of the board members.

2022 - Nov
2022 - Nov

Katy Joyce joins VIN® Practice Communications as Sales Manager.

Katy Joyce
Katy Joyce
Sales Manager
Vet Med Life: Practice Manager
Meet Katy:

Katy started fresh out of high school as a CSR, became an assistant, then certified head technician, then practice manager. That’s 38+ years working in the veterinary world! During her last 5 years in the field, she was a VetTools user and advocate. She loves VetTools software so much that when our sales position opened, she jumped at the chance to share her passion for it with fellow veterinary professionals.

Katy, her beau, and their 2 Oriental Shorthairs love cooking, gardening, watching wildlife in their backyard, and bingeing their favorite TV shows and movies. (The cats prefer the birdwatching part the most, of course!)

VIN® Practice Communications has phenomenal users.

Smart, engaged, dedicated, and vocal! We work hard to build great relationships with them all, so it’s incredibly rewarding to hear their positive feedback. Here are a few of their wonderful comments.
icon set of vets