Mr. Gibb is the President of Global Physicians Alliance and has extensive experience in the healthcare and business industry spanning the past 25 years. This experience includes starting and managing his own businesses both in the private sector as well as the public arena. Mr. Gibb has authored and created several small business educational programs, which have been successfully marketed throughout North America. He has had articles published in newsletters and magazines addressing specific areas of concerns to small businesses. He and his wife Amy have been married for 23 years, and are the parents of 5 children. Mr. Gibb has spoken to thousands of people nationally and internationally, including healthcare professionals, helping them understand how to maximize the benefits of small business ownership.

Dr. Julie Buzby graduated from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine and then earned certification in both veterinary chiropractic (AVCA lifetime member) and acupuncture (IVAS). In 2000, she built Vetcetera Pet Healthcare Centre, selling it in 2008 before relocating to Beaufort, SC, where she practices part-time. Julie integrates Western medicine and alternative therapies to maximize wellness for her patients, mostly senior dogs, and serves on the Grey Muzzle Organization Advisory Board. In 2013, she launched Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips, a nail-based traction device for dogs. The company has since evolved into Dr. Buzby’s Senior Dog Co.

Dr. Catherine Twarowski, DVM, is a highly respected veterinarian and leader in the mobile veterinary medicine space, bringing more than 15 years of experience in animal healthcare to her patients and colleagues alike. A graduate of Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Twarowski began her career as a licensed veterinary technician before earning her veterinary degree in 2015. Her extensive background spans general practice, preventative medicine, internal medicine, veterinary leadership, and medical quality management across multiple hospitals. As the founder of Hand to Paw Veterinary Services, she has become a passionate advocate for delivering compassionate, high-quality veterinary care directly in the comfort of patients’ homes. Known for her personalized approach and commitment to strengthening the human-animal bond, Dr. Twarowski continues to help shape the future of accessible, stress-free veterinary medicine.

Valerie Garuccio BS, CVT, VTS (ECC), has over 25 years of experience in veterinary medicine and a passion for making complex topics practical and relatable. She serves as the Learning & Development Manager at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, where she fosters psychologically safe learning environments and supports veterinary teams through education and leadership development. She is also the founder of Sunnyval24, LLC, providing lectures and hands-on workshops for the veterinary community. Valerie is dedicated to advancing the nursing team through credentialing pathways, leveraging distance-learning models that support professional growth and VTS advancement. Known for her engaging teaching style, she brings energy, clarity, and a love of learning to every lecture.

Eva is an RVT in California with 14 years of experience in the field of veterinary medicine, and has worked in a variety of hospitals and roles around the country. Her favorite specialties are exotics, anesthesia, and emergency medicine. She also greatly enjoys mentoring and supporting new vet techs and assistants, and teaching them how to advocate for themselves and their patients. Eva is striving to elevate the vet tech field by advocating for high standards of medical care, greater technician utilization and title protection, and healthy/inclusive/professional workplace cultures. Outside of her career, Eva enjoys reading, crafting, music, and camping.

Julie Antonellis received her bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology from Quinnipiac University. Since then she has been working in the field of emergency and critical care and pursuing her love of teaching. She became a Veterinary Technician Specialist in emergency and critical care in 2001. Julie is grateful to be able to give back to the veterinary community through teaching, training and lecturing. She is devoted to helping veterinary technicians recognize their potential and elevate the level of nursing care they provide. Julie is currently the Program Director for the VCA Vet Tech Academy.

Suzanne Thomas is a veterinary operations leader, speaker, author, and founder of Leading Veterinary Teams. With nearly 20 years in veterinary medicine across ER, ICU, oncology, hospital leadership, and multi-site operations, she brings a practical, systems-based approach to leadership development. Her work helps veterinary leaders move from reactive, emotion-driven management to structured, sustainable leadership grounded in clarity, accountability, and trust. Suzanne is known for translating complex challenges around communication, team dynamics, technician utilization, neurodiversity, and culture into clear strategies veterinary teams can apply in real hospital environments.

As CVO of Empowering Veterinary Teams® (EVT), Alyssa leads content development, clinical training, and the overall strategic direction. With a BS in Marine Biology and an AS in Veterinary Technology, she is a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) who has spent over 20 years in the veterinary profession. She is an inaugural Fellow of the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators (AVTE), underscoring her dedication to education in the field. Alyssa also serves as the Director of MentorVet Tech, co-founder of both nûrtûr and the nonprofit Project Sticker, and as an advisor for BlendVet and several veterinary technology programs. As a Key Opinion Leader and international speaker, she collaborates with industry providers and has presented internationally, co-authored a book - her latest "Veterinary Training & Team Empowerment" will be published by Wiley in early 2027, and contributed to various publications and podcasts. Alyssa is passionate about inclusivity and empowering all voices within veterinary medicine to help strengthen the profession.

Dr. Reif is an associate professor and the inaugural holder of the Bailey-Goodwin Endowed Professorship in Parasitology in the Department of Pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University. Her research interests broadly revolve around vectors and vector-borne diseases of veterinary, medical, and agricultural importance, with a primary focus on ticks and tick-borne pathogens of public health and veterinary concern. Dr. Reif speaks internationally on the importance of ticks and tick-borne pathogens.

A well-connected and respected veterinarian with an exceptional grasp of the profession thanks to experience in almost all aspects of small animal practice. The last sixteen years have been spent in arguably the most challenging part of the profession: recruiting and retaining top talent. He developed the Recruiting & Professional Relations Director role for VCA and has been recruiting every type of veterinary professional since then. He often presents, both retrospectively and prospectively, about the nature of veterinary recruiting.