As we mark VetEvolve’s 10th anniversary, we can’t help but reflect on the incredible journey that has brought us here. From our humble beginnings with a single practice to our current community of 37 thriving veterinary practices, our story is one of growth, partnership, and unwavering commitment to our core values.
Rooted in Service and Empowerment
VetEvolve was founded on principles that might surprise some in the corporate world — military-inspired ideals of empowering people, trusting them to excel in their roles, and embracing a servant leadership mentality. These principles have been our North Star, guiding us as we’ve grown and evolved over the past decade.
VetEvolve was officially founded in 2014, but its roots go back to the early 2000s. In 2006, VetEvolve founders Paul Habenicht and Nick Lodestro were in Al Anbar province of Iraq on their last deployment with their Marine Reconnaissance unit when they began to consider life after active duty.
What was most important to them was creating an organization similar to what they were leaving. One with core values, a mission focus, and a team-based culture. “That’s exactly what we found in the veterinary services industry,” says Nick, VetEvolve’s Chief Executive Officer.
This mindset coupled with a perpetual belief in taking care of people is the foundation for the people-first culture at VetEvolve. Since 2014, VetEvolve has partnered with practices to provide them with the support they need. While this is similar to what other veterinary platforms offer, again and again, we hear that what makes us different is our authentic, genuine commitment to our people and our support of their individual goals throughout their careers.
Our First Partnership: A Promise Kept
Our journey began in Falls Church, Virginia with Fairfax Animal Hospital and our partnership with Dr. Jerry Goldfarb. From day one, we were committed to honoring our word and working tirelessly to learn the ins and outs of
practice operations. We knew building trust and delivering on our promises would be crucial to our success.
We worked with Dr. Goldfarb to develop a succession plan for his ownership. He wanted to continue working — and continues to this day — but needed support to make the practice everything it could be.
“I’ve been very happy with our arrangement. I was considering several other offers from the large consolidators, and in the end, I just couldn’t see how the vision of the practice would be able to continue if Fairfax Animal Hospital was purchased by a corporate group,” Dr. Goldfarb said. “ VetEvolve was the right decision for my practice, our clients, and our patients.”
Fairfax Animal Hospital was our first partnership and continues to thrive today. It serves as a great example of everything VetEvolve wants to accomplish:
- Preserving each of our partner practices’ uniqueness and basing our relationships on shared values
- Supporting every member of veterinary care teams so they have happy, fulfilling careers
- Improving operational efficiency for our community practices and improving care through investments in people and facilities
Growing Our Community, One Practice at a Time
As word of our unique approach spread, more practices sought to join our community. We recognized that to support this growth, we needed to expand our team — but not just with anyone. We searched for individuals who shared our values and people-first mindset. This led us to Jessica DeCesare, who joined our team and has since become our Chief People Officer, embodying our commitment to putting people at the heart of everything we do.
Jessica’s day-to-day work is focused not only on supporting doctors within the organization but also on finding the right doctors to join VetEvolve and creating custom onboarding plans for them. She nourishes communication channels between vets and managers, clients, technicians, and more to ensure everyone on all sides is met with clear and consistent information and treated with empathy, support, and respect.
The goal, then and now, is to make every veterinary professional Happy Here at VetEvolve.
“Happier vets lead to happier pets, which is why having a point person to reach out and support our veterinarians’ goals, interests, and overall work-life balance will ultimately help our vets focus their energy on excellent care,” Jessica says.
Where We Stand Today
Fast forward to today, and VetEvolve has blossomed into a vibrant community of 37 practices with over 850 team members, supported by a dedicated team of 39 professionals. Each team member brings their unique passion and expertise to the table, and every practice owner has their own story of why they chose to partner with us.
What sets us apart? It’s simple: we give each person, each practice, and each owner the same personalized attention as if they were our very first employee, our first practice, and our first partner. We understand that no two practices are alike, and we tailor our support to meet the specific needs of each hospital.
Our Values: The VetEvolve Difference
In an industry where many companies offer similar services, we pride ourselves on being different. It’s not just about what we do — it’s how we do it. Our values have remained constant over the years, serving as the foundation for what makes VetEvolve special.
- Serve — We remember we’re here to serve our people, our clients, their pets, and the communities in which we all reside.
- Evolve — We strive to evolve our veterinary practices, with technology investments, operational efficiency improvements, and increased support for vets and their teams.
- Trust — We work hard to earn trust, not only from clients and their pets but also from practice owners looking for transition opportunities and veterinary professionals looking for a company that supports them throughout their careers, both professionally and personally. We do what we say we’re going to do.
These values are displayed in how we approach every practice and team member. We believe in:
- Empowering our team members and practice partners
- Maintaining the unique identity of each practice
- Autonomy of medical decisions
- Operating with transparency and integrity
- Fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate this milestone, we’re filled with gratitude for the trust our partners have placed in us and excitement for what the future holds. We remain committed to our people-first approach, confident that it will continue to guide us in empowering veterinary practices for decades to come.
Here’s to 10 years of growth, partnership, and making a difference in the veterinary community — and to many more years ahead!
