Left to Right: Dr. Angie (Ladwig) Gearey, Kenzie Ergen, Lindsay Miller, Heidi Schoenecker and Dr. Carl Larson of Lifelong Veterinary Clinic.
Like many industries, veterinary clinics are undergoing changes that provide both challenge and opportunity. For one local business, the vision of its owner has helped it achieve growth, even during these uncertain times.
While growing up in Bloomington, Minnesota, self-proclaimed “city kid” Carl Larson picked up a part time job cleaning kennels at a local pet hospital. This humble beginning taught Carl valuable lessons on how veterinary clinics work, sparked his love for the profession, and inspired the beginning of his career. It was midway through his studies in college that he recognized that applicants with farm experience on their resume held an advantage when it came time to starting veterinary school admissions, so he stayed with out-of-town family to connect with a mentor located in Watkins, MN.
What began as a way to enhance his resume exposed Larson to the world of “mixed practice” veterinary medicine, and set the path for his future. The Watkins clinic provided vet services to traditional household pets such as dogs and cats, but also supported production animals on farms, “equine athletes” (show horses), sheep, and goats, and other less common specialty vet services. Not only did this job shadow opportunity provide invaluable experience to enhance his academic studies, it exposed Larson to the need for vets in the field. He loved the diversity, and the ability to meet with his clients in their environment. The other strategic element that Larson observed was the fact that many veterinarians in the area were aging, and looking for a way to transition their practices and retire.
And so it began. Soon after graduating from the University of Minnesota Veterinary School in 2007, Dr. Carl Larson joined practice with the Watkins clinic he had mentored under. After 1 year as an associate, he became partner in the business he owns today. Similar expansions took place in Kimball and Litchfield. And when he saw a need but not a clinic, he used his experience and vision to launch startup clinics in Maple Lake and Hutchinson.
As he has grown his business, Larson has been particularly adept at leveraging and developing talent in his organization. Dr. Angie (Ladwig) Gearey worked in the Hutchinson market for ten years under another partnership prior to joining Larson’s practice in Kimball in 2014. Ultimately it was her dream to rebuild her practice in Hutchinson, and they worked together to find a solution that would help her fulfill that dream while supporting the growth of his organization. Dr. Angie worked with Larson to evaluate and select the current clinic location at 905 Highway 15 S, and develop their local business plan. To this point, Larson had worked exclusively with a large national bank, but he turned to MidCountry Bank for his expansion financing in Hutchinson. It was a natural fit, as the property selected had been a retired MidCountry Bank facility. Larson’s business banker had also moved on, allowing a new relationship to be formed with MidCountry a Bank’s Commercial Banker.
Since its launch in Hutchinson in late 2018, Lifelong Veterinary Clinic has proven that there was room for three vet clinics in town. The market is growing, and Lifelong is nearing a point where a second doctor may be added to support Dr. Angie’s expanding client base. Dr. Angie is proud of what they have already accomplished, as she shared, “Being able to provide veterinary service in the city I call home, and where I already have a relationship with most of my clients has been the best part of opening Lifelong. The name of the clinic, our interior design and most importantly our business motto focuses on the special bond between people and their pets. As such, we as a clinic also focus on the relationships we form with our clients. We want all of our clients to leave our clinic feeling like they are family and that we care for both them and their pets like our own.”
As with countless other service industries, COVID-19 has had an impact on veterinary clinics. As the pandemic took an early foothold and Minnesota Executive Orders were put into place, elective procedures were halted to preserve essential Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) until supplies could be inventoried and distributed as required. This immediately halted procedures such as spays and neuters, the “bread and butter” that pays the bills and keeps staff employed. The practice has had to close 2 clinics at different times due to COVID exposures, as well as accommodating several self-quarantine incidents with employees over the past months. Fortunately, the relationship established with MidCountry Bank helped Larson get quick access to the PPP funding, designed to support small business owners.
When the elective procedures were released again in June and July, the combined Larson clinics had over 1000 on the waiting list, a list that they worked all summer to get caught up on. Ironically, the stay at home order resulted in an increase in veterinary care overall, possibly due to the increased awareness of pet health issues while many are working remotely. The good news is Larson is navigating this pandemic effectively, with no furloughs or layoffs to his staff, and a steady demand on the horizon.
When asked what he is most proud of, Larson was remarkably humble in his response. His measure of success has been to “continue to achieve growth by helping others achieve their goals.” In an industry becoming infiltrated by corporate owned clinics, his ability to support local talent and provide mentorships to young veterinary students should be applauded. His goal to facilitate a path into practice without the financial hardship that often dissuades new veterinarians is truly a business model MidCountry is honored to support.