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Betty, Practice Manager
 Betty
joined Capitol Illini in September 1975 as a receptionist and
veterinary assistant. She was later promoted to Office Manager in 1976
and is currently the Practice Manager. Betty is the proud wife of her
wonderful husband, Jim and devoted mother to her son, Joe. Betty and
Jim have two dogs, Cassie, a Pembroke Corgi and Sad Sack, a Bloodhound
rescue. Betty has a wide variety of animal related interests that keep
her busy while at work and in her leisure time. Betty has seen a number
of positive changes at Capitol Illini during her tenure and looks
forward to many more in the years to come.
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Pamela, Bookkeeper
 Motivated
by her love for animals, Pam has been working for Capitol Illini since
September 1986. Pam is our full time bookkeeper. She and longtime best
friend, Don have been blissfully married for 31 years. They have two
children, Matthew and Kate. Pam enjoys interacting with the variety of
pets, large and small, young and old, that visit Capitol Illini every
day. She and Don are the caring guardians of three barn cats, an
English Springer named Zak and a Pomeranian named Cooper. Cooper keeps
Pam company while Zak and Don are out hunting. Pam and Don spend the
majority of their free time working at the Sawmill business they
recently opened.
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Gail, Surgical Technician
 Though
Gail may have only been with Capitol Illini since the summer of 1992,
she has over 25 years of experience in the field of veterinary
medicine. Prior to moving to Illinois, Gail lived in Pennsylvania and
worked at Prospect Park Veterinary Hospital where she received the
majority of her in-house training. Gail has been the head surgical
technician at Capitol Illini since 1994. She takes pride in her precise
management of the clinic's extensive inventory and enjoys partaking in
the variety of surgical procedures, routine, orthopedic and otherwise,
we perform on a daily basis. Gail and her husband Keith are the proud
parents of two daughters, Caitlin and Amy. They also share their home
with a Chihuahua named Rosario and a cat named Mitchell, the latter of
whom they adopted from the Animal Protective League.
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Connie, Certified Veterinary Technician
 Connie
joined Capitol Illini in August of 2003. She obtained her degree in
Veterinary Technology from St. Petersburg College in Florida. Born and
raised in Springfield, after graduation Connie returned to Illinois and
practiced at an emergency facility near Chicago. Connie volunteers with
the Animal Protective League and the Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Program. She
enjoys a number of outdoor sports as well as routine yard work and
gardening. She has one cat named Pepper and a Labrador mix named Bella.
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Kendra, Certified Veterinary Technician
 Kendra
is another of our Certified Veterinary Technicians. She graduated from
Parkland College in May 2005 and was hired at Capitol Illini shortly
thereafter in July. Kendra has a special interest in feline medicine
and takes great pleasure in the daily interactions with our various
feline patients. She herself has 3 cats, Foxy Brown, Miss Cleopatra,
and Puss n' Da Boots, the latter of whom she adopted from Capitol
Illini. She also has 2 lovebirds, Miles and Mia, a leopard gecko
Dolce', and a fish named Java the Hut. Kendra is a feline foster mommy
for the Animal Protective League. Kendra is also a proud mother of her
son, Jaydn.
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Jody, Head Veterinary Assistant
 Jody
enlisted in the Capitol Illini troops in June 1997. Since that time she
has proficiently held a variety of positions within the clinic. Though
she started as a receptionist at Chatham and was later promoted to the
position of assistant at the Wabash location, Jody is currently the
Head Assistant at the Chatham facility. In addition to her assistant
duties, Jody also oversees interior clinic decorations, occasionally
substitutes as a receptionist, publishes our monthly newsletter and
co-teaches our recently formed Puppy Education Classes. She is also
enrolled in an online Veterinary Technology program. Jody has two cats,
a Siamese named Smoke and a one-eyed, domestic longhair named Winks.
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Sara, Head Veterinary Assistant
 Sara
joined Capitol Illini in December 2006. Originally from Rochester,
Illinois Sara holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from
the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. Since childhood, Sara
has always had a sincere love for animals and is excited to be in her
chosen field of interest. She currently resides in Springfield with the
love of her life, her husband, Diego and her cockatiel Sam. Her other
interests include scrap booking, Pampered Chef, soccer, volleyball,
line-dancing, and various church activities. In her free time, Sara
spends time with Diego, her family, friends, and is an avid supporter
of the fighting Illini. Go Illini!! |
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Andrew, Veterinary Assistant
 Since
he was hired as a Veterinary Assistant in 2001, Andrew has been Dr.
Wright's right-hand-man. Having grown up on a farm, Andrew had ample
exposure to animals throughout his adolescence. His experience
"wrangling wild things" comes in handy when called upon to assist Dr.
Wright with his various routine and innumerable orthopedic
examinations. Andrew is currently enrolled in an online Veterinary
Technology program. True to his childhood roots, Andrew has five
Appaloosas, Sassie, Flite, Joker, Soldier and Scout, one Bulldog,
Junior and two cats, Louis and Mr. Stripes. Andrew volunteers with the
Feral Cat Spay Neuter Program and is currently housing six feral "barn"
cats, Blacky, Clifford, Edgar, Fatty, Gray and Mary Ellen. Naturally,
Andrew enjoys spending his free time riding his horses and hopes to one
day operate his own horse farm, raising and showing Appaloosas.
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Melanie, Veterinary Assistant
 Melanie
began her employment at Capitol Illini in 1992 and has since been one
of the indispensable veterinary assistants at our Chatham location.
Prior to her employment, Melanie attended Lincoln Land Community
College and Illinois State University and obtained an Associate degree
in Science. She is currently attending an online Veterinary Technician
Program. She lives in Edwardsville with her husband Bill in order to be
closer to her beloved St. Louis Cardinals. Melanie has a special
fascination with Great Danes and has one of her own named Edison. She
also has two cats, Endora and Waylon. In her spare time Melanie enjoys
swimming, baseball, hockey and football. Her interest in Great Danes
runs a close race with her love for the one and only "King," Elvis
Presley.
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Shannon, Patient Care Coordinator & Records Manager
 Shannon
joined Capitol Illini in March of 2002 as a receptionist. Shannon
occasionally serves as a veterinary assistant, but is currently a
receptionist and the patient care coordinator for the Chatham clinic.
Shannon has lived in the Chatham area for 20 years and is a graduate of
Virden High School. She and her husband Jimmy, her high school
sweetheart, have been married since 2001. They welcomed their first
child, James in 2004. Shannon, Jimmy and James have a dog, named
Scruffy and a cat named Talouse. Shannon enjoys spending time with her
family and friends, exercising and reading.
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Ben, Veterinary Assistant
 Ben
joined Capitol Illini in May 2005 as a kennel attendant and is
currently one of our veterinary assistants. A 2004 graduate of
Ursuline academy, Ben was born and raised in Springfield. Ben shares is
home with two cats, Seno and Rascal.
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Ashley, Veterinary Assistant
 Ashley
joined Capitol Illini in August of 2006. She plans to go back to school
in the fall of 2007 to pursue a degree in business. Ashley and her
husband Otis live in Auburn with their two dogs, Titus a Staffordshire
terrier and Gunner, a Golden Retriever mix. They also share their home
with a gecko name Aggie. In Ashley's spare time she enjoys reading,
spending time with family, and being a new foster mom for the Animal
Protective League. |
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Lindsay, Veterinary Assistant
 Lindsay
joined the Capitol Illini team in October 2006 after leaving her
Florida residence of 7 years. During her time in Cocoa Beach, FL she
attended Brevard Community College. Lindsay was a Certified Nursing
Assistant for 7 years until a career change to animal medicine. Lindsay
has a love for the medical field whether dealing with people or
animals. A childhood with many beloved pets peaked her interest in the
veterinary field. Lindsay shares her time with a cat named Thomas
O'Malley and a Rat Terrier named Benny. |
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Molly, Veterinary Assistant
Molly joined Capitol Illini in July
2007. Although Molly has not worked in a vet clinic previously,
she has quickly become a valued veterinary assistants. Molly is
originally from Kansas but has lived in Sprinfield for most of her
life. She attended Illinois State University and studied
Psychology. When Molly isn't taking care of our four legged
friends, she enjoys scrapbooking, watching movies, and spending time
with her boyfriend David and her family.
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Audrey, Veterinary Assistant
Audrey joined the Capitol Illini team in July of 2007. Always an animal lover,
Audrey has taken to working with animals and enjoys learning new things
and meeting new furry friends. She plans on continuing her education in
the veterinary field. When not at Capitol Illini or class, Audrey
enjoys the outdoors and loves to spend time hiking and playing outside
with her Weimaraner, Wilson, and most recent addition, a rescue pup,
Houser |
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Renee, Receptionist & Patient Care Coordinator
 Renee
has been a member of the Capitol Illini reception staff since August
2005. Her warm personality and excellent customer service skills make
her an important part of our team. Renee is the proud mother of three
children, two boys and one girl. When their children aren't keeping
Renee and her husband busy, the family pets are. Renee and her family
have a Lab mix named Jack, a Shetland Sheepdog named Snickers, a cat
named Tiger and a Cockatiel named Bird. Bird keeps the family
entertained with his impression of the microwave timer. When not
working or attending their children's sporting events Renee and her
husband enjoy camping.
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Carrie, Receptionist
 Carrie's
history with Capitol Illini far preceded her employment, the latter of
which began in December 2005. While growing up in Springfield, Carrie
and her mother brought the family pets to Capitol Illini for expert
veterinary care. Even after striking out on her own, Carrie continued
to bring her own animals to Capitol Illini. Carrie, her husband Johnnie
and their son Harlan happily share their home with a Maltese named
Gabriel and a cat named Peanuts. They adopted Peanuts from the Animal
Protective League. Carrie's warm personality blends well with all our
staff members and with the vast variety of clients and patients we
welcome at Capitol Illini every day. Whether on the phone or in person,
rest assured Carrie and the rest of the Capitol crew will see to it
that each client and patient's needs are met promptly and efficiently. |
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Lori, Receptionist
 Lori
has been a member of the Capitol Illini reception staff since July
2006. She has three active sons who are 16,13 & 11, and is thankful
to have them in her life. Recently, she acquired two miniature
schnauzer puppies, Nika and Kianna. She enjoys babying them and
watching them play with Remington, her German Shepherd. Lori is also a
licensed esthetician and graduated from the University of Spa and
Cosmetology in Springfield in 2005. In her spare time she loves having
campfires and roasting hot dogs and marshmallows with her family and
friends. |
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Shelby, Receptionist
 Shelby
joined the Capitol Illini team in July 2006. As a child she lived
in Sherman and developed a love for animals, caring for several cats
and horses. Presently she lives in Greenview with her
parents. She shares her home with 2 hamsters, Maggie and Pepper,
and a very curious kitty named Zipper. When Shelby is not at
Capitol Illini, she enjoys taking photographs and making pottery.
She is also an avid gardener and loves tending to her Bonsai trees. |
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Sean, Receptionist
 Sean
joined Capitol Illini in January 2007. Sean holds a business associates
degree in liberal arts. Owning approximately 15-20 cichlids along with
other fish and undersea creatures, Sean enjoys learning about aquatic
and oceanic life. In his spare time he enjoys movies, drawing, writing,
and spending time with his wife and 3 kids. |
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Walisa, Receptionist
Walisa
was born and raised in New Jersey. She moved to Springfield in 2005 and
joined Capitol Illini veterinary Services in July 2007. Although a hair
stylist by trade, Walisa has always had a deep passion for animals. A
mother of a 12 year old boy and two cats, Nathan and Madison, working
at Capitol Illini has been more rewarding than she ever imagined. Since
becoming apart of the Capitol Illini family, Walisa has developed not
only a greater appreciation for the health and welfare of animals, she
has developed a greater admiration for those who love them as well.
Working for Capitol Illini has influenced Walisa to pursue a career in
veterinary medicine and her son, Quamir, to be a veterinarian. We are
truly proud to have Walisa as a member of our team |
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Tracy, Receptionist
Tracy joined the Capitol Illini team in
August 2007. She has resided in Chatham her whole life, although
she did spend 7 months in the U.K. Tracy spends her spare time
with her 8 year old son and in communicating with her fiance' who is
currently residing in England. Their home is shared with a
beautiful kitten named Laya.
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Jenn, Receptionist
Jenn joined our staff in September
2007. She is a graduate of Southern Illinois
University-Carbondale, holding a bachelor's degree in business
management. Jenn is a native Illinoisan who recently returned
from the east coast. She and her husband, David, have two dogs,
Neely and Maddie. Neely is a beagle mix who loves to eat, sleep,
and snuggle (other hobbies include: begging for treats, watching
Maddie eat, and chasing squirrels). Maddie is a terrier mix who
enjoys chasing squirrels and protecting her turf (other hobbies
include: chasing geese, chasing chipmunks, and chasing birds).
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Traci, Receptionist
Traci joined the staff of Capitol
Illini in October of 2007. Coming from a medical imaging center, she
was ready to bring her knowledge into the field of veterinary care. Her
concern for healthy pets became a major focus in her life after the
loss of her beautiful Calico cat, Nala, from renal failure in February
of 2007, at the age of 13. Since then, her compassion for grieving
owners has definitely been a top priority for her. She believes being
educated about your pets is key to a happy life, and her love for both
pets and their informed owners make her a great asset to the Capitol
Illini team. Her education includes Witt High School and Lincoln Land
Community College. She has already begun to further her education with
the clinic by enrolling in a medical terminology class, and aspires to
be a veterinary assistant. She shares her home with her 15 year-old
son, P.J., a lovey-eyed Retriever mix named Browser, and a new addition
to their family is Y.Y. Frosty Paws, a beautiful, blue-eyed Siamese mix
kitten, who keeps them all entertained with her quite extroverted
personality. Traci enjoys traveling with her son, being a movie critic,
and hanging out by the fireplace with a great book and a clean house.
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Jamie, Kennel
 Jamie
joined Capitol Illini in March 2005. After time behind the reception
desk, Jamie was ready for more hands-on animal interaction and became
our full time kennel assistant in the fall of 2005. A rural Springfield
native, Jamie now lives in Riverton with her husband Greg. Jamie has
aspirations of pursuing a degree in Psychology. Jamie and Greg have two
cats, Moses and Mittens and a rescued Chihuahua named Sadie Marie.
While fulfilled with their present four-legged brood, Jamie still holds
fond memories of her deceased horse Grady who was a special part of
Jamie's life for nearly 10 years. Jamie enjoys horseback riding, a
number of outdoor activities and occasionally volunteers as a dog
walker at the Animal Protective League.
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Carolyn, Kennel
 Carolyn
joined Capitol Illini in June 2006. She is currently attending Glenwood
High School with future plans of continuing her education at the
University of Minnesota. Her college education and veterinary hands on
experience will likely carry her to a career in veterinary medicine in
either small animal or equine medicine. Carolyn is also an avid
photographer, with some of her best subjects being animals. |
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Sara, Kennel
 Sara
began her first job with Capitol Illini in August 2006. She is
currently attending Glenwood High School with the interest of
furthering her education in veterinary medicine. Sara is a competitive
show jumper currently riding a quarter horse named Duke. She has a
Dachshund named Scott whom she rescued from animal control on
Valentines Day in 1999. |
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Venus, Chatham Clinic Cat
 Venus
has been a resident at Capitol Illini Chatham for nearly nine years.
Found as a youngster, Venus was brought into Capitol Illini by a good
Samaritan who was concerned she had a broken leg. A physical
examination and radiographs revealed radial nerve paralysis in her left
front paw. Unfortunately Venus would never have normal use of the
affected paw. Due to the severity of her condition, the good Samaritan
entrusted us with her care and she quickly won the doctors' and staff's
hearts. She has been a prominent part of Capitol Illini Chatham ever
since. Venus seems unaffected by her condition and still to uses her
paw to play and groom herself. Her favorite activities include
sleeping, bird watching, lying in the sun, and chasing bugs in the
foyer.
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