Senior Staff

Technician

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    Tracy Lester
    Registered Veterinary Technician

    I am a registered Veterinary Technician at Veterinary Medical Center.  I have been with VMC since 1988, and still love what I do. I especially enjoy caring for our older patients while hospitalized. I enjoy the challenge of tough cases and watching the pets improvement over the course of their treatment. 

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    Arielle Scott
    Technician and Inventory

     Arielle Scott found veterinary medicine to be her calling after obtaining a job at Veterinary Medical Center in 2015. She is from New Orleans, Louisiana and still has family there, which she visits often. A New Orleans girl at heart, she roots for the Saints when they play, and enjoys cooking New Orleans style meals. At home she has a chihuahua named Frank and a kitty named Kezhman who is nicknamed the “cow kitty” because of her black and white spots. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, and goes out camping when possible. Highly skilled in cat behaviors, her patience with felines is what draws her to the cat rooms. It's no secret she loves them the most!

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    Rachel Placek
    Technician and Intern Manager

    My name is Rachel Placek and I've been a Veterinary Technician at both Crabapple Knoll Veterinary Clinic and Veterinary Medical Center since 1998. I am now currently assisting with management of the intern program at Veterinary Medical Center where I work full time. I have loved animals ever since I could remember and have been drawn to all things medical. I grew up going to work with my Mom who was a dog groomer and got lots of experience handling dogs early on. My favorite pet growing up was my cat, Licorice. I was Floridian born but feel more native to Georgia now. My hobbies are crochet, bottle fed kittens, and playing Pokemon Go. I have 2 children, Piper and Whit, 1 dog, Ruby, and 4 cats, Frisbee, Torti-Pie, Ninja, and Oreo. 

    I love being a Veterinary Technician because it gives me the opportunity to care for pets and their people. One of the things I'm known for around the clinic is making sure all the pet's toe nails are in good shape!  Mainly I just love to help:)

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    Alexis Fonseca
    Technician

    Hello my name is Alexis Fonseca, I am a Technician at VMC. I've been working at VMC for 7 years +. I was raised in Roswell, GA. My hobbies include painting, playing instruments and enjoying food. My skills involve working efficiently in a fast-paced environment and learning new techniques quickly. My favorite parts of my job are running lab work and helping the patients feel better.

Receptionist

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    Becky Schult
    Front desk and Inventory Manager

    Becky Schult, originally from Naples, FL, started as a receptionist at Veterinary Medical Center over 20 years ago. During this time, Dr. Joe Gaston and the clinic have given her the opportunity to grow her skills in inventory management and client services. Currently, she is the receptionist staff and inventory manager. In addition, she earned her associates degree in business during this time. Her love of people and pets makes this the perfect job. She has a Viszla named Sophie and Goldendoodle named Ridley that are the highlight of her and her husband's life. She and her husband, John, enjoy riding Harleys and watching the Green Bay Packers. Becky also enjoys spending time with her twin sister and her nieces and nephew. 

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    Dawn Loud
    Receptionist

    Dawn Loud started working at Veterinary Medical Center at the age of 17 in 1986, she was still in high school but knew she wanted a career working with animals. She has worn many different hats over the years. When she first started she was trained on the job as a Veterinary Technician and really enjoyed working hands on with the animals. A little over half way through her career she moved up front to Reception. This past May 2021 was a total of 35 years with the practice. She has enjoyed working at VMC because it is a practice that always puts the needs of the patient first. She is grateful to have worked at VMC because it is not only a practice that cares about the animals but also truly care about one another. Dawn was born and raised in Alpharetta, Ga., she then moved to Cumming, Ga. in 2002. She still resides there with her husband Mark. Dawn has a love of horses and one of her favorite dogs is the Miniature Schnauzer. She had one named Abbie for 13 years. When not at work she enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends and when she can she enjoys going to the beach and playing golf with her husband. 

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    Cary Carvajal
    Receptionist

    Cary Carvajal was born in Miami, FL. She moved to Georgia in 2011. She has always wanted to work with animals and was blessed with the opportunity in late 2013 to work at Veterinary Medical Center as receptionist, where she has made a lot of friends. She has always had this love for animals (including exotics). She has once owned a couple ferrets, a turtle, spiders, snakes, and currently has a dog and a cat. Cary really enjoys spending time with her family and furbabies. She loves to dance as if no one is watching, making people laugh, relaxing and can ALWAYS appreciate a good joke. 

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    Carrie Parker
    Receptionist and Inventory

    Carrie Parker has been a receptionist with VMC since 2013. She joined the practice shortly after her dog was treated for pneumonia at the clinic. Carrie says it was the sense of community she observed while visiting her hospitalized pet that made her apply for the position. Carrie inherited her passion for animals from her “Oma” who rescued and provided a loving home and impeccable medical care for hundreds of former strays throughout her life. One of her grandmother’s rescues, a Golden Retriever named Viva, was the first fur baby to really steal Carrie’s heart. Carrie has two miracle children (with scars to prove it) named Peyton and Cooper. She is also the mom of 3 four legged children including a Lab mix, Pit Bull and Golden Retriever. When not at work Carrie enjoys cooking, spending time with family and friends, and relaxing with a [large] glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Whenever possible the Parker family enjoys fishing, swimming, and discovering new islands on Lake Nottely in Blairesville, GA. Carrie has many favorite VMC patients, but her coworkers know it’s the dogs with wrinkly faces that she really cannot resist loving on.

Kennel

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    Adam Moses
    Kennel Manager

    Adam Moses has worked at Veterinary Medical Center for 16 years.  When he started working at VMC he was a kennel technician. He's been the Kennel Manager for the past 11 years. Adam is originally from New Jersey. Adam is a die-hard Falcons fan. He enjoys playing and watching sports, spending time with his family and watching movies. He has a dog named Hersey and a rabbit named Kobe. He loves the family atmosphere here at VMC.

Administrative

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    Jennifer Kraniak Reed
    Hospital Administrator

    I've worked with Dr. Gaston for 30++ years as Hospital Administrator. I live in Acworth and love running and waterskiing. I have 2 dogs Stormy and D.G.. I also have 2 cats Tippy and Pickles. I am responsible for human resources, financial, operational, business development activities and coordinate physical plant maintenance. 

    What I enjoy about my job and what has kept me working for Dr. Gaston for 30 plus years is watching the care and heart he puts into his clients, employees, and his stray program.   Along with Dr Gaston's joy for teaching we have been able to develop a large intern program for young students interested in become future Veterinarians, which has been exciting to watch and be a part of.  The clinic's healthy work environment and makes it joy to come to work everyday.

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    Stacey Grant
    I.T., Website, and Social Media Manager

    I started working with Dr. Gaston at Veterinary Medical Center in 1996 as a part time receptionist. I loved working with animals and clients so much I quit my day job and stared working full time with Dr. Gaston. I was the Office Manager at Veterinary Medical Center until 2013.  I noticed a need for more of an online presence at both clinics and Dr. Gaston agreed. I started managing all of our online marketing, client communication, reviews, website, and social media. I also manage the in- house networks for both clinics.  

    I was born in Atlanta then moved to St. Croix, V.I.  when I was 3. I've lived in South Florida, New Jersey, and New York. I attended Rutgers University. I work closely with our Adoption Coordinator and enjoy helping animals find forever homes.  I love all animals especially cats. I have four cats, 2 Persians, Butters and Neela and 2 adoptions from Crabapple Milo and Katarina.  

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