2025 Ascend: The Independent Summit for Veterinary Leadership

Elevate Your INDEPENDENT Practice: Ascend Summit for Veterinary Leadership!

November 8 - 9, 2025 · Whitney Peak Hotel, Reno NV

As an independent practice veterinarian, you understand the unique challenges and opportunities that come with owning an independent practice. That's why we're excited about Ascend: The Independent Summit for Veterinary Leadership, a two-day event dedicated to empowering and elevating independent veterinary practices like yours.

Although this event is now closed, we remain energized by the momentum it sparked. We look forward to sharing what's next and continuing to champion independent veterinary leadership!

Agenda

Saturday, November 8

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Registration

12:00 PM

Event Start

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

**LUNCH**

1:00 PM - 1:50 PM

ALPINE TRACK - Social Media Marketing: Foundations for Success

In this session, we’ll explore the core principles of social media marketing—what works, what doesn’t, and how to craft a winning strategy. (see more)

BOULDERING TRACK - Partners in Care: Elevating Surgical Outcomes through Veterinary Practice Leadership

This session explores the crucial role of leadership in veterinary practices to enhance surgical outcomes. By fostering collaboration among ... (see more)

2:00 PM - 2:50 PM

ALPINE TRACK - Financial Triage

BOULDERING TRACK - Five Ways to Connect with Your Clients" - Building strong client relationships is essential for practice success and can provide actionable insight

Building strong relationships with clients is essential for the success of any veterinary practice. This session will outline five effective strategies for ... (see more)

3:00 PM - 3:50 PM

ALPINE TRACK - The Iceberg of Inventory: Uncovering Hidden Costs Below the Surface

Effective inventory management is like navigating an iceberg field: the visible expenses, such as cost and procurement, are just the tip. (see more)

BOULDERING TRACK - Cultivating a Positive Workplace Culture in Veterinary Practices

This session will explore the key elements of fostering a positive environment that enhances team morale, improves employee retention, and ultimately leads to better patient care.

4:10 PM - 5:00 PM

ALPINE TRACK - Essentials to Great Leadership and Management

Over the last few decades, thousands of Gallup Polls have been performed on employees, administrators, executives and managers. (see more)

BOULDERING TRACK - Linking KPIs to Mission, Vision, Values, and Company Purpose

In this unique and insightful session we’ll explore an innovative approach to using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) not just as ...(see more)

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

ALPINE TRACK - Poll the Speakers

BOULDERING TRACK - Poll the Speakers

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Sponsor Reception

Sunday, November 9

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

**BREAKFAST**

9:00 AM - 9:50 AM

ALPINE TRACK - Mastering Advanced Client Care Strategies for Exceptional Customer Service

This session will equip you with the tools to lead with empathy, navigate high-stakes conversations, and create a consistent, compassionate client experience.

BOUDLERING TRACK - Transforming Veterinary Health Care: Applying Lean concepts to improve patient care, client care and overall hospital flow

Over the last two decades, human healthcare has been forced to become more efficient. By implementing ... (see more)

10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

ALPINE TRACK - The Art of Compassionate Leadership

Explore leadership styles that balance compassion and authority. (see more)

BOULDERING TRACK - We are all addicts: Understand the biochemistry of the upset client

Veterinary medicine can be an emotional business. Clients, staff and leaders run a gauntlet of emotional ups and downs every day. (see more)

11:10 AM - 12:00 PM

ALPINE TRACK - Veterinary Service Fees That Don't Bite: How to Set Fair, Profitable Pricing

BOULDERING TRACK - The Science of Success: How Veterinary Practices Can Leverage Analytics

Uncover the power of analytics in identifying profitable services, ideal practice locations, and the right time to expand or hire.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

**LUNCH**

1:00 PM - 1:50 PM

ALPINETRACK - Comprehensive Financial Management Made Easy

We invite you to join this session, where you'll dive into foundational financial concepts, including key concepts of basic finances. You'll gain... (see more)

BOULDERING TRACK - Real-Time Marketing: How Data Analytics Are Shaping the Future of Veterinary Practice Growth

The marketing world is evolving, and data is leading the charge. Join us as we share how... (see more)

2:00 PM - 2:50 PM

ALPINE TRACK - Social Media Marketing: Measuring Success with KPIs & ROI

Social media isn’t just about posting content—it’s about results. This session will dive into... (see more)

BOULDERING TRACK - To Err is Human. Cause and Outcome of Negative Events in Veterinary Practice

Mistakes and errors are bound to occur, and some will escalate to include financial and legal consequences. This session investigates the etiologies of negative events and assesses the effects on the practice’s culture.

3:10 PM - 4:00 PM

ALPINE TRACK - How to put the "Fun" back in FUNdraising.

How to legally fundraise at your clinic with fun strategies

BOULDERING TRACK - To Err is Human. Prediction & Prevention of Negative Events in Veterinary Practice

When mistakes occur, a comprehensive evaluation should occur to maximize the prevention of a reoccurrence. This session includes tools to enhance predictive methods in staff training with procedural comprehension to have the best chance of avoiding...

4:10 PM - 5:00 PM

ALPINE TRACK - Poll the Speakers

BOULDERING TRACK - Poll the Speakers

5:00 PM - 5:15 PM

**CLOSING**

6:00 PM

Event End

Speakers

Courtney Campbell

DVM

Nate Woudstra

Anne Felmate