Our Team
VVC continues to grow and maintain a dedicated, educated and wonderful support staff of receptionists, veterinary assistants & grooming personnel.
Meet our Veterinarian Assistants
Meghan - Vet Assistant – Coming to us from Montecito Animal Hospital in 2004, Meghan brings a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of veterinary hospital operation. This experience has made her an invaluable addition to our clinic family.
She is originally from Los Alamos, and now lives in Lompoc with her husband and 2 handsome boys. In her spare time she enjoys camping at Jalama Beach, walking and hiking with family and dogs, horseback riding, and working on her house and garden.
Meghan’s pet family includes, “Emma”, (yellow lab), “Tucker”, (German Shorthaired Pointer), and a tank full of un-named salt water creatures.
Crystal - Veterinary Assistant –Joining Village Vet in 2007, Crystal adds a “sparkle” to our Technical Staff. Prior to her arrival, she worked for both the Buellton Vet Clinic and the Santa Barbara Humane Society. Crystal brings with her 10 years of invaluable experience and work ethic.
Some of Crystal's favorite recreational pastimes are camping at Jalama Beach and Lake San Antonio. Bike riding and hiking the many local trails also add to her enthusiasm for the great outdoors. This foodie especially likes crab legs, shrimp and anything Asian as long as it is not too spicy.
Her furry family includes Wrigley (Chocolate Lab), and her newest baby, Shya (American Staffordshire terrier). Oops... almost forgot the Spike (leopard gecko).
Summer - Vet Assistant/Receptionist – Starting as a kennel assistant in 2006 while attending Cabrillo High School, Summer has moved up through the ranks making her an important member of our team. She occasionally accompanies Dr. Thacker on large animal appointments.
A range of interesting hobbies includes horseback riding and drawing. She enjoys cruising in her truck, shopping and attending concerts with friends. She is an acting Lompoc 4-H Junior Leader for the sheep group. You’ll find her and her charges at the local Santa Barbara County Fair every July.
Her four-footed and no-footed family includes 1 cat, “Preston”, 7 very handsome snakes, and 4 cuddly, fuzzy tarantulas.
Michelle - Vet Assistant – A graduate of San Jose State, Michelle started with VVC in July of 2009. She is a much needed addition to our staff. She comes to us with 1 year of substitute teaching under her belt.
Born and raised in the land of pineapples, Plumeria, poi and surfing, Oahu, Hawaii, is her birthplace. Most of her family and friends are still on the islands.
Hobbies include cooking, home improvements like painting, remodeling and refinishing floors, and gardening. She loves watching HGTV (Home and Garden Television) and tests out her new recipes on staff. Michelle is always bringing in her homegrown seasonal veggies for staff to share.
Alexis - Vet Assistant – Coming to Village Vet in September 2009 from CARE (California Animal Referral & Emergency Hospital) in Santa Barbara, Alexis is a graduate of Santa Barbara High School and is currently enrolled with Santa Barbara City College online courses while working toward her AA degree.
Originally from the San Francisco area, she moved to Santa Barbara with her family as a young child.
Alexis enjoys recreational softball and competes on a Santa Ynez co-ed league team. Going to the beach with dogs and friends, as well as BBQ’s in her backyard are important pleasures in her life. A “must” is going to as many concerts as humanly possible. Her sense of humor is a great addition to our staff.
“Dubi” (pug), she found on the side of the freeway when just a pup and is the best little dog ever as the “boss” of the house.
Rose - Receptionist – Starting with Village Vet 2002, Rose came to us with an outstanding knowledge of customer service and pet care. Her calm, patient attitude and smile is a well-known gift to our clients, patients, and staff.
As our ”Danish Connection”, supplying us with Havarti cheese, rye bread and butter, Rose saves the best for last... the world famous “salty Licorice”.
Favorite past-times include long walks with Zepelin (Labrador retriever), horseback riding, kayaking and working in her garden. Rose and her husband's newest outdoor activity is motorcycling, taking beautiful scenic trips on the unbeaten paths of the Central Coast.
Kelly - Receptionist – Having managed the former “Books West” for 15 years, Kelly came to our clinic in 2002. She hales from the great frozen North, land of the Tundra and our favourite Canadian, “ay”. “Granny” has been seen rocking little pets in her rocking chair giving them her tender loving care. Also known as, “Cookie”, no one comes close to her “from scratch Chocolate Cake” as well as all the other goodies she cooks and brings to share. Kelly was an essential part of choosing our new clinic colors with her decorating expertise.
Gardening and multi-media art work, are her forms of relaxation. Kelly explains her children saying she’s a little eccentric as “being Canadian”, delightfully so. Her furry household includes “Snoop”, (Dachshund), “Pepsi”, aka PuppyPuppy (a chuw-eenie), and of course Will’s turtles, “Myrtle and the 2 Kids”.
Sarah - Receptionist – An integral part of our reception staff, Sarah came to us in the autumn of 2007. She will be sorely missed the beginning of 2010 as she starts on her new adventure of nursing school. She will continue to work for us and her ultimate goal is to become and RN specializing in labor and delivery.
Sarah loves spending time with her daughter taking frequent trips to their favorite destination Disneyland. You can always find Sarah with a camera in her hands ready to snap a photo in a moments notice.
Her pet family includes, “Ruthie”, (terrier mix), and her cat “Jersey”.
Miranda - Receptionist – Miranda joined us in the late summer of 2007 as a boarding assistant. After traveling to Africa and volunteering for C.A.R.E. (Center for Animal Rehabilitation and Education) at the renowned Baboon Rehab Center, she decided to train as a vet assistant.
She is also our house “Leonardo daVinci”. Get a glimpse of our Information Board and you can see her colorful and whimsical artwork. We hope that she continues her artistic endeavors.
Miranda’s pets are “Beans” and “Worf” (2 cats), and a pocket puppy, aptly named, “Lint”.
Brenda - Kennel Manager/Assistant – Born and raised in Lompoc, she left the human field of Medical Assisting to come to VVC and run our boarding facility. Her family of 3 was raised here in Lompoc. Her favorite hobby is taking her 2 grandchildren on adventures. She also enjoys camping at Lake San Antonio, bowling, and especially motorcycle riding with her husband. She and her husband are members of the Lompoc Elks.
Her furry family consists of, “Austin” (Welsh Springer Spaniel), “Layla”(American Staffordshire terrier), and her kitty, “Molokai”.
Karlee - Kennel Assistant - After graduating in 2008 from Lompoc HS, Karlee started at Village Vet in August of that same year. She is currently taking classes at Allan Hancock College to become a member of Law Enforcement specializing in the Juvenile Justice System.
Karlee loves the great outdoors working with cattle and playing with her dogs. She enjoys her Angus Cattle herd as well as her Yorkshire Terrier herd. Outdoor hobbies include camping with family and friends.
Maryann - Groomer & Boarding Assistant – Joining us as we opened our clinic in 2007, MaryAnn adds much to the successful running of our Grooming and Boarding facility.
As a member of IPG (International Professional Groomers, INC), she is a Certified Pet Care Sylist and Certified Pet Care Technician, earning her certification through the American Boarding and Kennel Association.
Born and raised in the Santa Ynez valley, she has resided in Lompoc with her husband since 2002. Taking care of their house and garden are some of the hobbies they enjoy together. MaryAnn loves photography and spends some of her free time with camera in hand.
Their furry family consists of , “Miss Zero” (Min-Pin), “Willow” (Maltese-mix), “Mr. Haku” (Shih-Tzu), and a cat fish, “Kitty”.
Marie - Kennel Assistant/Reception Assistant – Marie will be part of the 2011 Cabrillo HS graduating class. Born in Roseburg, Oregon and raised in Lompoc, she is very active in Lompoc Valley 4H and the Cabrillo choir and drama department. She raises cattle with her family and her pets include, “Rae” (cow), “Bleu” (heifer), “Dulcee” (cat), and the rest of her family’s cattle, horses, goats, and house pets.
Tom - Boarding Assistant – Before enhancing Village Vet with his knowledge in November 2008, Tom’s jobs included working at Marine World USA, the San Francisco Zoo, and closer to home, the Santa Barbara Zoo and Turtle Dreams (a turtle reserve, breeding and rescue center). Reptiles, amphibians and fish are his niche.
Tom and his wife volunteer time to animal education program, featuring some of their many pets.
Tom is also a member of California Turtle and Tortoise Club in San Luis Obispo. It is a wonderful surprise for the entire clinic when he brings a pet to work.
Kaylee - Kennel Assistant – A senior at Cabrillo HS and set to graduate in 2010, Kaylee enjoys sports and was recognized as player of the week for varsity volleyball. This is her first job and is gaining valuable knowledge and work experience. Her love of dogs, owning 3, is an essential asset to our team.
Matt - Kennel Assistant – A recent graduate of Lompoc HS, Matt is Village Vet’s newest kid on the block. Matt currently attends Allan Hancock College and has a keen interest in Physical Therapy and Kinesiology and would like to become an athletic trainer.
A sports enthusiast, he enjoys football, baseball, basketball, swimming and surfing. Taking long walks with his “Dodger” dog and working out at the local gym.
Matt also enjoys spending free time with family, friends and his cat, “Butchie”.
Adriana - Kennel Assistant – joined our team in August of 2009. A school senior attending Cabrillo High School, she is a member of the CHS Madrigals, Drama Club, Medical Interest Club and the Red Cross Club.
Hobbies include reading with a love for fiction and American and British biographies. An avid hiker, she enjoys the trails at La Purisima Mission and Lake Cachuma usually bringing along her dog Gidget (Rottweiler).
Vicki - Office Manager – Coming from the City of Lompoc in 2000, Vicki oversees all areas of hospital Administration. Her outstanding skills in budgeting, scheduling, and management provide invaluable service to Doctors and staff.
After raising 4 children here in Lompoc, Vicki enjoys being “GaMaw” to her one and only grandbaby girl. Spending time with family and friends is almost a year ‘round activity. Home hobbies include making the most beautiful, warm and toasty fleece blankets. Her photography is worthy of a gallery display. You never know when you will hear, “Say cheese! Smile!”
Vicki and husband love motorcycling and have taken 100’s of miles of back-road trips for leisurely picnics and exploration of our vast coastal vistas.
