Our Staff

(pictured with Sassy S.)

Jim, one of our Front Desk Managers, came to Family Pet in 2002. It was our good fortune that he wanted to give up his previous career in dog walking to work at our front desk! Jim always goes the extra mile for our clients and his fellow staff members.

Tell us about your own pets: Matilda, a 7 1/2 year old Doberman mix with a lot of energy!

What do you love most about working at FPAH? The people and animals I work with.

Hobbies and interests: video games

Favorite FPAH memories? How the staff came together as a team after the hospital fire in 2005.

Future aspirations? I would like to make brisket someday.

(pictured with Abby)

Colleen, one of our Front Desk Managers, joined FPAH in 2002. Working both full- and part-time through school, she earned a B.S. in Biology from Loyola University. Colleen has a remarkable ability to instantly know everything happening anywhere in the hospital when she's here, and she is an invaluable resource for clients and staff alike.

Tell us about your own pets: Abby, a chow mix; Priscilla, a bull mastiff; and Svetlana, a Domestic Long Hair cat.

What do you love most about working at FPAH: The staff and the patients!

Favorite FPAH memories: Adopting Abby and Svetlana as strays that were brought to FPAH.

Hobbies and interests: Spending time with family and friends; taking my dogs to the park and beach.

Aspirations: To be a valuable team member and employee at all times.

(pictured with Mirabel M.)

Julie S joined FPAH in 2009, coming to us with a B.S. in psychology from Loyola University Chicago. We are pleased to announce that she has been promoted to Front Desk Assistant Manager.

What do you love most about working at FPAH? I like my fellow Front Desk co-workers, and all the cute kittens and puppies that come in.

Hobbies and interests: playing tennis, reading, cooking, eating

3 words that best describe you: happy, diligent, curious

Future aspirations: I would love to be able to travel a lot.

A favorite quote or motto: Life is not about what happens to you, but about what you do with what happens to you.

(pictured with Franklin)

Michelle, one of our Technical Staff Managers, came to FPAH fresh from school in August 1993. Starting as kennel staff, she was trained in-house by our own doctors to assist in anesthesia and dentistry, and has become a pillar of the Family Pet team.

Tell us about your own pets: 6 cats, all adopted from FPAH - Ernie, Tabitha, Franklin, Pixel, Tanuki, and Willow.

What do you love most about working at FPAH? Since helping pets is a given, I love meeting all the pets and different personalities, and the people I work with are great.

Favorite FPAH memories: I have so many, I can't pick just one.

Hobbies and interests: Reading, hiking, music

(pictured with Tank)

(pictured with Chicken)

(pictured with Binky M.)

(pictured with Philly)

Laura came to FPAH in 2005 with a bachelors degree in Marketing from Ferris University. She is invaluable in our hospital pharmacy, and her long tenure here ensures that our clients receive expert service whenever they are being assisted by Laura!

Tell us about your own pets: 2 cats - Philly and Diego

hobbies and interests: bicycling, knitting, outdoorsy stuff

3 words that best describe you: easy-going, adventurous, crafty

(pictured with Milton)

Jennifer joined FPAH in 2005, coming to us with a bachelor's degree in communication arts with a double emphasis in theater and film from Austin College. Our clients know and trust Jeni, and her genuine love for our patients is evident in all of her interactions.

Tell us about your own pets: I have 3 cats.

What do you love most about working at FPAH? The relationships I build with clients and their pets.

Hobbies and interests: theater, film, reading, music

3 words that best describe you: sense of humor

Future aspirations: I am currently working on completing my Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, and will go on to pursue my PhD.

(pictured with Baxter)

Whitney came to FPAH in 2006 with a BFA in acting from Millikin University. Her level of  compassionate professionalism with our clients is matched only by the playful sense of humor that makes her such fun to work alongside. 

Tell us about your own pets: Baxter - 11-year-old Cairn Terrier, had since college! Deenie - 8-year-old blonde mutt, asopted when I joined FPAH.

What do you love most about working at FPAH: Second-hand knowledge acquisition.

Favorite FPAH memories: The batch of baby bunnies born and raised here.

Hobbies and interests: playing the ukulele

Future aspirations: 1) Own a car that makes potholes comfy to drive over. 2) I'm currently attending Columbia College's ASL-English Interpretor program.

(pictured with Malibu)

(pictured with Mika)

Staci joined FPAH in 2009, and is currently finishing her last year of nursing school at Loyola University.

Tell us about your own pets:  6-month-old black kitten named Wednesday who is the cutest but feistiest thing.

What do you love most about working at FPAH?  Watching the puppies and kitten grow up.

Favorite FPAH memories:  When we rescued 2 rabbits who were abandoned in a park only to find out one was pregnant - Then the mama had 7 baby bunnies here!

Hobbies and interests:  baking, interior decorating, enjoying the outdoors, motown music, pizza

Future aspirations?  I'm hoping to travel to third world countries after graduating to give the people the medical care they deserve.

A favorite quote or motto:  Hakuna Matata

(pictured with Brenda Berman)

Dylan first worked at FPAH many years ago, leaving to stay home with his kids, only to return to us in February 2010! Before he moved to the U.S. from England he earned a B.A. in English Literature from Leeds University and a Masters in Education from Greenwich University.

Tell us about your own pets:  Tiny, a 2 1/2 year old Boxer / Bull Mastiff mix - 65 lbs of snuggly stupidity. She's a nutter!

What do you love most about working at FPAH?  Building relationships with the clients through caring for their pets as if they were my own.

Favorite FPAH memories:  Being welcomed back so readily - truly a family!

Hobbies and interests:  Reading everything from Byron to Bukowski. Film. Arsenal football (soccer) is an obsession, as are comic books - I have thousands.

3 words that best describe you:  Caring, cheeky, Cockney

Aspirations?  To continue to be the best dad I can be. To re-establish myself in education/teaching.

A favorite quote or motto:  "Even a stopped clock gives the right time twice a day."
                                                                                                                            ~Withnail and I

(pictured with Linus)

Brett joined FPAH in 2010 with a background in fine art. Check out his website www.edentonstudios.com to look at some of his beautiful paintings "in the realist traditions of the old masters."

Tell us about your own pets:  4 cats. Isobel - clever and overexcited. Sophia - sits in the shadows. Rose - obsessed with plastic. Linus - blanket lover.

What do you love most about working at FPAH?  The patients!

Hobbies and interests:  painting, reading, anatomy, good food, time travel

3 words that best describe you:  hungry, awkward, persistent

Aspirations?  To make paintings I am happy with and to not be poor anymore.

A favorite quote or motto:  "Beware the wrath of a patient man."

(pictured with Miko, Milo, and Mooshu)

Lilly came FPAH in October 2010 with a background in management and accounting. A true administrative professional, Lilly works hard to make every client and patient's experience here is as perfect as possible!

Tell us about your own pets: 3 Havanese dogs, all named after Disney sidekicks: Miko, age 4; Milo, age 3; Mooshu, age 6 months.

What do you love most about working at FPAH? Being around all of the wonderful animals!

Hobbies and interests: Traveling and seeing new things with my friends. Working with HALO (Havanese rescue association.) Cross-stitching.

Aspirations? Quit my office job and work with animals - Accomplished! (And take over the world.)

A favorite quote or motto: As my very wise husband would say, "It's all relative."

(pictured with Willamina)

Katie joined FPAH in October 2010 from Baldwin Wallace college in Ohio, after working/interning at the Shedd Aquarium.

Tell us about your own pets: I have the coolest poodle named Roger. He lives with my parents in Ohio, though. I have a guinea pig named Willamina Pigster - She is adorable.

What do you love most about working at FPAH? Seeing super cute dogs and cats all day, as well as being around my awesome co-workers.

Hobbies or interests? Yoga, going to see movies, spending time with family and friends.

3 words that best describe you: Ohioan. Happy. Quirky.

Future aspirations? To be a zookeeper or go to school to be an ultrasound technician.

(pictured with Maribel and Apples)

Lindsey joined FPAH in March 2011 with a background in administration at a human hospital. She is currently pursuing general studies at Wright College.

Tell us about your own pets:  Phoebe aka "Mini", cream tabby cat, 5 years old, so sweet! And Apples & Maribel, guinea pigs adopted from the Critter Corral guinea pig rescue.

What do you love most about working at Family Pet?  Definitely the animals! Watching them grow up and getting to know them is an awesome thing!

Favorite FPAH memories:  Shadowing Dr Lohmar on her surgery day!

Hobbies and interests:  Guinea pig enthusiast, catching up on lost Roseanne episodes, spending time and traveling with my boyfriend Russ, vegan cooking, vintage everything, roller coaster queen.

Three words that best describe you:  Where's my coffee?

Aspirations:  Finish school, relocate, learn to speak Lithuanian

A favorite quote or motto: Exercise your body, exercise your mind.

(pictured with Dusty Berman)

Adamandia "Mandy" Kapsalis joined FPAH as our Admin Assistant in May 2006. She is a talented artist www.flickr.com/photos/ellipsisigh with an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Photography and Computer Imaging. Most clients will know Mandy as the person who takes your pet's photo for its medical record, or as the one who tries to get your correct address when your pet's reminder card comes back to us from the post office. But Mandy is also working behind the scenes doing all sorts of administrative tasks, enabling our Front Desk Assistants to be more available to serve our clients and doctors.

Tell us about your own pets: I have an green 11 1/2 year old parakeet named Artoo and a green  Pacific Parrotlet named Jubjub who is 8 years old. Jubjub's name is perfect for him, my little monster. "Beware the jubjub bird: the jaws that bite, the claws that catch!" (Jabberwocky) And yes, green is one of my favorite colors.

What do you love most about working at FPAH? I love meeting all the pets and finding out the names that people choose. I also studied linguistics and find social anthropology interesting.

Favorite FPAH memories: I don't know if its my favorite, but what comes to mind is the day Dr. Lohmar and a few of the front assistants saved the baby ducks that were stranded under a parked car in front of FPAH. Watching from inside...I felt like I was watching a movie through our front lobby windows. Sometimes life is stranger than fiction.

Hobbies and interests: I enjoy trading small pieces of my art with other artists from around the world through the postal service: Mail Art. I use collage, digital photography, drawing, painting,
printmaking (carved rubber stamps)and fiber arts: crochet, embroidery, knitting... in my art making.

3 words that best describe you: creative, warm-hearted, dreamer

Aspirations? When I was little I wanted to be a mermaid...and then an astronaut. Being either of those, some part of me would still like to come true. I want to keep developing my creative expression through images and words and perhaps curate or collect mail art projects into a book form.

A favorite quote or motto:

"Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is most important that you do it." -Mahatma Gandhi

"Everything you can imagine is real." -Pablo Picasso

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."
-Groucho Marx

(pictured with Goddess)

(pictured with Keelee)

(pictured with Chico)

(pictured with Olive Oyl)

(pictured with Red Dog)

(pictured with Babar H.)

(pictured with Sampson)

(pictured with Avery and Rufio)

Lauren joined FPAH in July 2010 after having worked for several years at a veterinary hospital in the suburbs. She attended Loyola University Chicago and Elgin Community College, where she earned an Associates Degree in Science. Lauren is a great teacher, and is as passionate about caring for our clients as she is about their pets.

Tell us about your own pets: Avery, a female pitbull mix I adopted in November of 2010. Her foster mom brought her into FPAH for a check up and I fell in love when I met her. She is very smart, adventurous, and fun to be around. And she LOVES kids! Rufio is a male pitbull I adopted in September 2011. I thought that Avery would like a buddy and now the two are practically attached at the hip. Rufio is deaf but he obeys hand commands (sometimes better than Avery obeys verbal commands!). He is like a giant teddy bear and loves to be affectionate. Genesis (Gen for short) is a corn snake I've had for about 4 years. When I lived at home with my parents she escaped her tank and was lost in the house for 6 weeks at one point until we found her peeking her head out from under a closet door.

What do you love most about working at FPAH? The thing I love the most about Family Pet is the people. Everybody is so caring, respectful and upbeat. We all share the same love for animals so I really feel a sense of belonging here.

Hobbies and interests: I enjoy drawing. I also have been playing the violin since I was 8 years old. I'm not currently playing with an ensemble and I really miss it.

3 words that best describe you: Caring, Passionate, Loyal

Aspirations? I don't have any definite plans for the next few years of my life, but I do know that whatever path my life may take I will always be working with animals. Caring for animals is my passion in life.

A favorite quote or motto: "All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost." - J.R.R. Tolkien

(pictured with Chicken, Family Pet's house cat)

Julie B joined FPAH in May 2011 with a BA in Communications and a Master's Degree in Marketing. She's working here part-time while she finishes up her CVT training, and we hope that she will continue on with us full-time when she's done with school!

Tell us about your own pets: 2 siamese cats (Baily & Niko) and 1 bloodhoud/lab mix (Angus)

What do you love most about working at FPAH?  It's like a second family.

Hobbies and interests:  SCUBA diving, traveling, scrapbooking.

Future aspirations?  Work at as a CVT and succeed for many years doing that.

A favorite quote or motto:  "Sometimes the heart should follow the mind
                                                Sometimes the heart should tell the mind to stay at home
                                                and stop interfering." ~ Edward Monkton

(pictured with Red Dog W.)

(pictured with Caesar)

Stephanie graduated in May 2011 from Michigan State University with a B.S. in Zoology and Pre-Veterinary studies. She is working with us as a tech assistant while preparing her next steps toward vet school.

Tell us about your own pets:   I have had 2 previous dogs who have passed away. RIP -- Wrinkles and Cody. I am a proud aunt and official babysitter of a German Shepherd named Izze and a Yorkie-Poo named Ceasar.   

   What do you love most about working at FPAH?   I love to be able to see all the animals leave Family Pet happily and healthy, in particular to be able to work with those, the doctors and techs, that make this happen. I love being part of a group of people who make such a big difference for not only the clients but the animals. All the people that make up Family Pet have made my time here such a welcoming and memorable experience.

Favorite FPAH memories: Helping Oreo (Dr Berman's patient) to be able to eat and recover after a period of inappetence.

Hobbies and interests: I am an adrenaline junkie. I enjoy roller coasters, high intensity workouts, snowboarding, traveling, and outdoor activities. Scrapbooking and being crafty is always fun during my down time.

Three words that best describe you: Family-oriented, genuine, open-minded.

Aspirations? I will go to vet school to focus on conservation and public health. I always enjoy learning and using it to help others. Oh, and find my future husband ;)

A favorite quote or motto: "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll live today." ~James Dean

(pictured with Murray and Bosco)

Sandy joined FPAH in October 2011, coming to us with a Bachelors Degree in Biology from St Xavier University in Chicago and her CVT from Joliet Junior College Veterinary Technician Program.

Tell us about your own pets:  I have 2 shelties. Furry Murray is a blue merle, 10 years old and adorable. Bosco is a tri color shetland sheepdog and is afraid of everything but is the sweetest boy in the world. I also have 2 cats. I adopted Princess Mittens Hemingway ("Hemi" for short) while I was in tech scool - she's 8 years old, white & black with medium-length fur, and is your typical princess of a cat.  My newest addition is a little stray kitten named Lilly - she is a little 14-week-old purr monster with blue eyes.   

What do you love most about working at FPAH?  What I love the most about working here is obviously working with animals. I love that I feel like I can make a difference.

Hobbies and interests:  My hobbies and interests include scrapbooking, knitting and crocheting.

3 words that best describe you:  Well I wasn't sure, so I asked a friend and she said  "loyal, honest, and appreciative."

Aspirations?  Just being the best mom that I can be and setting a good example for my kids.

A favorite quote or motto:  "Sometimes, on the way to a dream you get lost and find a better one."