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.
What makes us different?
We’re One Of You!
For your veterinary practice, by veterinary professionals.
Our History
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.
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.
Carrie Christner joins the VetVision team as the Veterinary Relations Manager, contributing to support, sales, engagement, and content.
Outreach, Engagement, & Content Manager
Vet Med Life: Hospital Manager
VetVision officially joins the VIN® Family and is renamed VINx®.
The added “x” represented an extension of your VIN® membership.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
VetTools™ Client Communications get a new look!
The VetTools™ Client Communications brand gets a fresh new look and name as VetTools™ Clients Engaged.
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.
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.
Katy Joyce joins VIN® Practice Communications as Sales Manager.
Katy JoyceSales 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!)
Interested in exploring VIN® Practice Communications?
VIN® Practice Communications has phenomenal users.
Tracy N.
Client Services
Savanah M.
Manager
Jennifer
Client Services
Brandee R.
CVPM
Dr. Sarah V.
Veterinarian
Adrianna
Manager
Katy J.
CVT
Lea E.
Client Services
Kathy B.
Client Services