The VetForum 2024 meeting in Austin, TX, was an inspiring gathering of Veterinary leaders, suppliers, and innovators designed to foster connections and address the industry’s key challenges. This was my fourth year as the conference chair, and each year, the event continues to grow. Why? Because it is the most efficient use of time and money. Group practice leaders can meet with up to 35 suppliers over the two days, saving time and money.
Key insights:
- Lots of innovation on the scene, and flourishing once they find the right partners.
- I saw lots of collaboration between suppliers – helping one another and group practices working together to address current market challenges.
- Jennifer Welser, DAVCO, did a great job leading a private discussion with group practice leaders.
- Inflation, a slowdown in visits, and the lengthening of time between visits are on everyone’s minds. Those who bring solutions to help solve these issues will win.
- Financing solutions – Those bringing forward solutions to help address the cost of care will be winners.
One of the highlights included a powerful talk by Walter Brown (RVTg VTS (ECC) and Veterinary Technician Liaison at United Veterinary Care), who addressed the three essentials for longevity for Veterinary Technicians/Nurses: Belonging, Rewards, and Recognition. These three essentials resonated with the audience and were a discussion item for many after the presentation.
A dynamic session led by Chris Kelly, Managing Partner at Antelligence, and Candise Goodwin, Founder of Outlier Advisors, highlighted current trends and the consumer’s ever-increasing influence on Veterinary businesses.
In addition to sessions presented by industry leaders, a panel discussion, “Unleashing Efficiency: Diving into Operational Excellence,” was presented to help group practice leadership improve efficiency and operational excellence. The panelists were Brenda Tassava Medina, CVPM, CVJ, MVLCE (Director of Growth & Innovation at Encore Vet Group), Emmitt Nantz (Co-Founder at Inventory Ally), Raj Chakrabarty (VP of Program Management at Ellie Diagnostics), and Christie Long, DVM (CMO at Modern Animal).
Participants engaged directly with suppliers and experts, setting the stage for actionable insights and partnerships. According to Ben Barter, Managing Director, “VetForum ensures that each attending company receives a personalized experience, providing meaningful conversations that can help both vet groups and vendors come away with the connections that will drive their businesses forward. The dynamic and energizing program squeezes a year of networking and meetings into two days, balancing the work with the industry socializing at top-tier locations.”
As we look ahead to VetForum 2025 (September 22-24 in Nashville, TN), excitement is already building for another opportunity to connect, innovate, and drive the future of Veterinary care. This year’s energy and collaboration have laid a strong foundation, and next year promises to offer even more opportunities to explore cutting-edge solutions and foster meaningful relationships in the industry. For inquiries about registering for VetForum 2025, please email christopher@openroomevents.com. Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of the action!