See the Full Issue
January 2024
Employee of the Month, January 2024
This month’s prize winner is Customer Care Representative Supervisor Jillian Shenkel, of Rose City Veterinary Hospital, in Portland, Oregon!
Jillian Shenkel
Customer Care Representative Supervisor
Rose City Veterinary Hospital—Portland, Oregon
Started in veterinary medicine: 2019
Years with practice: 4
Nominated by: Drea Hutchinson
Why Is Jillian So Awesome?
Jillian is our Customer Care Representative Supervisor, and she’s worked here at Rose City Veterinary Hospital for over 4 years. She helped us all get through the challenges of the pandemic, while maintaining top-quality customer service.
She really is a ray of sunshine for our team, clients, and patients every day. She has a wonderful warmth about her that helps clients and patients feel welcome, loved, and at ease. Jillian really relates to our clients on a personal level, and can commiserate with the highs and lows of loving a furry family member through thick and thin. Her best girl Charlie is a 15-1/2-year-old female pittie mix who is living her best life everyday.
How Does Jillian Go Above and Beyond?
Jillian shows her genuine love to each and every patient. Her compassionate and empathetic nature make her excel in her role!
In Her Own Words
Why do you love your job?
This job nourishes my soul. I cannot do anything I don’t wholeheartedly believe in. It’s important to me to be able to advocate for pets and their people the way I would want someone to advocate for me if I were in their shoes.
Pets at home:
Charlie, my sweet old lady pittie and BFF.
What brought you to the profession?
I’ve tried out various avenues of working with animals—daycares, grooming—but I did not find them to be as impactful as veterinary medicine. I am grateful that they led me here.
Hobbies outside of work:
I love nature walks with my dog and going to concerts.
Favorite TV show/Actress:
Shows: Seinfeld and King of the Hill
Actress: Gillian Anderson
Photo courtesy of Rose City Veterinary Hospital
Each month Trends spotlights, with generous support from CareCredit*, an AAHA member. Does your team boast an outstanding veterinarian, veterinary technician, veterinary assistant, customer service representative, or kennel worker?
Nominate your employee at aaha.org/EOTM, and you and your employee can win $500 in gift cards courtesy of CareCredit!
*The Employee of the Month contest is administered by AAHA.