An Introvert Friendly Community

Jenni Rizzo, DVM

Founder

Hello! Thank you for visiting our site! If this is the first time you’ve heard of IntroVet™, I am so glad you found us. Reach out to me anytime if you have questions or want to know more. If you're a frequent visitor, thank you for being a part of our happy community!

Since you've likely come to this page wondering who's "running the show", allow me to share a little about myself. I graduated from Kansas State University in 2012 and moved to Texas the day after graduation. Since 2012, I have practiced emergency, primary care, and shelter medicine in both Texas and Florida.  I have also served as an Executive Board Member on the Board of the American Heartworm Society since 2016 and currently lead as President.

Michelle Popilek

Chief Event Strategist

Michelle Popilek has worked in the veterinary industry for over 10 years. She has had the opportunity to experience the industry on many levels. She started in non profit and moved on to manage multiple hospitals as well as managed a 10 year project of breed specific research and content development.

She started in this field for the same reason we all do – the pets! Along the way, she fell in love with the people. She believes that animal care providers are a unique group of people who deserve industry specific support. Michelle pursued the new Brave Space Certification through the AVMA in 2021.

"When we create environments for people to be themselves we attract more talent and diversity to the industry. When we feel accepted, it is easier for us to be open about struggles we may be experiencing. I became Brave Space Certified through the AVMA and a member of PrideVMC to be part of the solution. With Dr. Rizzo's support, I am excited to work with IntroVet™ in creating more forward thinking, safe space events chalked full of valuable CE. I appreciate IntroVet's commitment to inclusivity."

Currently, Michelle serves as the Practice Manager for an AAHA Accredited hospital in Texas and serves as the Chief Event Strategist for IntroVet™.

“Veterinary CE is an area of high investment that could be leveraged better as a support avenue. It is my perception that CE conferences are geared toward sales opportunities for the large vendors. If we shifted gears and concentrated on creating a safe learning environment to be shared with like minded animal care givers, we could better support the humans who carry the field. As a Practice Manager, I love nothing more than to see my team return from CE refreshed, focused and EXCITED!”

Michelle fills her own cup kayaking with her husband and caring for their 3 sons. She has 3 dogs and has fostered a number of animals that we won’t post publicly 🙂 

Contact Michelle

Kassi McLaughlin

Event Logistics Expert

If you ever get the chance to attend one of our in person conferences, you'll meet Kassi at check-in! Kassi is our on-the-ground event coordinator extraordinaire. She ensures everyone has what they need at each weekend program, and she keeps the day flowing smoothly, so that the snacks never run out, the coffee never gets cold, and nobody forgets their CE Certificate when it's time to go home!

Kassi is a veterinary technician practicing in San Antonio, TX, and she and Dr. Rizzo worked many long nights together in the ER before starting IntroVet™. In her free time, Kassi breeds and shows Dogo Argentinos, including the first Dogo ever to be shown in the working group at Westminster! 

Katie Peterson

Creative Content Expert

Katie has worked in marketing and social media for over 15 years. Graduating from The Ohio State University in 2005, her career took her through the travel industry, food and restaurant industries, and now veterinarian community! Creating, scheduling, and strategizing on how to give a meaningful presence on social media to smaller businesses is her passion. Her social media philosophy is: The only way to do social media wrong, is to not do it at all! 

"Being relatively new to the veterinary community, two things immediately struck me. It is a group of passionate professionals who work hard but love even harder. IntroVet™ brings great value to veterinary medicine as the CE is curated by a veterinarian who understands that learning can be beneficial, interesting, and fun at the same time. Dr Jenni appreciates that time is precious, and she has worked hard to provide education that is valuable while also making space for veterinarians to truly connect with one another." Katie's overall favorite part of working with IntroVet™ is being on an all-woman team who root for each other, and for others!

In her spare time, Katie loves to be with her family, read, travel, and enjoy the occasional glass of wine while listening to late 90's Hip-Hop/R&B and early 2000's pop. 

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