Veterinary Technicians & Assistants    

Nancy Swartzendruber: Certified Veterinary Technician

Nancy has been in the veterinary field since 1988 and has worked in various private practices since 1990.  She has been at Prairie View since 1999 and just celebrated her 10 year anniversary here at PVAH.  Nancy grew up in Leland, IL.  She attended Parkland College and received her associates degree in Veterinary Technology in 1989.  Nancy's family includes her husband Rod and their three sons Ryan, Curtis, and Brett.  Nancy has 2 dogs; Cubby a 7 year old maltese and Bailey a 4 year old schnauzer.    

Christa Ryburn:  Veterinary Technician
Christa has been in the animal related field since 1991.  She has been at Prairie View since 2001.  She grew up in Shabbona, IL.  Christa attended Kishwaukee Community College and the University of Illinois and received her BS in Animal Science.  Christa is involved with the Waterman Bible Church.   She also enjoys trail riding, camping and family time with her husband Dewayne and their children (Riley, Rylie Margaret, Makayla, and Chase).  Their family also includes their dogs Ruby, Minka, Sabrina, and Kelly, 4 cats named Monster, Cheddar, Magee, Pickles, and their 7 horses Teddy, J. G., Shiloh, Delilah, Diamond, Ritz, and Sparky, and their guinea pig named Oreo.

Sarah Koster: Veterinary Technician & Receptionist
Sarah has been in the veterinary field since 1999 and has been with Prairie View since October of 2002.  She grew up in Hoffman Estates, Illinois and attended James B. Conant High School.  She received her bachelors in liberal arts and sciences with a major in biological sciences and a minor in philosophy from Northern Illinois University in June of 2006.  Sarah has 3 pets, a cat named Keatzel, a beagle mix named Piper, and a bulldog mix named Miley.     


No DescriptionCharity Wold:  Certified Veterinary Technician 
Charity has been in the animal related field for the majority of her life.  She grew up in Colorado where she helped on the family dairy farm. Charity has been a technician since 2002, and a member of the Prairie View Team since 2003.  She attended Northeastern Junior College where she was ambassador and Colorado Mountain College where she received her Associates degree in Animal Science in 2002. Charity and her husband, Andy, have two children: Allayna Deborah who is currently in her terrible two’s & Dylan Kari who was born August 2009.  Charity also has a cat named Cheyenne and two dogs named Zip & Puppy.  In her spare time, she enjoys running, hiking, and scrapbooking.

 

 

Kayleigh Kennedy: Certified Veterinary Technician 

Kayleigh has been working in the veterinary field since 2007, and here at Prairie View starting September of 2009. Kayleigh is interested in animal surgery and dentistry.  She grew up on a farm in Shabbona where she attended Indian Creek High School. Kayleigh continued her education at Kishwaukee Community College where she received her Associates degree and her Certification as a Nursing Assistant. In addition to working here, Kayleigh also works part-time at Shabbona Supportive Living Center as a certified nursing assistant. In 2008, Kayleigh attended Fox College Veterinary Institute in Tinley Park where she not only received her Veterinary Technician Certification, but she also made the dean’s list. Kayleigh’s pets include a 3 year old German Shepherd named Shade and 2 cats named Bosco and Pukah. In her spare time, she enjoys attending truck & tractor pulls, horseback riding, going to fairs, and playing & coaching softball.   

 

 

No DescriptionZoe Slagstad: Veterinary Technician, Kennel Support
Zoe has been working in the veterinary field and at Prairie View since 2004. Zoe is interested in veterinary dentistry and surgery. Zoe just completed additional veterinary dentistry training through Veterinary Support Personnel Network. Zoe grew up here in DeKalb, where she attended Dekalb High School. Zoe continued her education at NIU, and has recently graduated with her Bachelor of Art degree. At NIU, Zoe was on the dean’s list, a member of Phi Eta Sigma & Phi kappa Phi, a Golden Key member, and she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Zoe and her Husband Jim Slagstad have three cats named Daisy, Jitter Bug, and Peck. In her spare time, Zoe enjoys drawing, photography, and all outdoor activities including playing disc golf with Jim.  Zoe also house sits for those who live in the DeKalb area, just call the clinic and ask for her to schedule.  

 

 

 

 

Sarah Christensen: Veterinary Assistant, Receptionist
Sarah has worked at Prairie View since December 2007.  Sarah grew up in Chicago, and moved to the DeKalb area in 1993, where she attended Sycamore High School.  She is currently enrolled in the Veterinary Technology Distance Learning program at Purdue University.  Sarah has two 7 year old cats named Muffin and Ash.  Sarah also has a recent addition to her family, a Golden Retriever puppy named Rosebud.  When not hard at work at Prairie View, she enjoys figure skating, horseback riding, and doing yoga.  Sarah and her husband Rodney have a daughter, Anabelle, who is 4 years old and likes swimming, playing in the snow, and coloring.

 

                                                     Amanda Johnson: Veterinary Assistant, Receptionist, Kennel Support
Amanda has worked at Prairie View since January of 2008.  She is currently attending Joliet Junior College and is enrolled in their veterinary technician program.  She grew up in Leland, Illinois and attended Leland High School.  She was active in 4-H for 11 years and FFA for 4 years in which she raised and showed pigs for her project.  She has a Border Collie named Buck, an Australian Shepard named Wrigley, a Quaker parrot named Jack, an African Grey parrot named Simba and two cats named Buddy & Peanut.

 

 

 

 

 

Client Services Coordinators     
           
No DescriptionDebbie Kakoliris:  Office Manager, Receptionist
Debbie has been at Prairie View and in the Veterinary field since May of 1996.  Debbie is married to Tony who is a teacher and baseball coach at West Aurora High School. Together, most of their free time is spent with their 3 year old son Paul, and their 4 year old Siberian Husky Gunther. Debbie enjoys scrapbooking and traveling to numerous baseball fields around the United States. Debbie grew up in Arlington Heights, and moved to the De Kalb area to study at Northern Illinois University. Debbie graduated from NIU in 1988 with a Bachelor’s in Education.  Debbie is a supporter of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and monetarily donates to this cause.









 

Nancy Mangan:  Receptionist   
Nancy has been in the veterinary field and at Prairie View Animal Hospital since 1999. Nancy attended Kishwaukee Community College and obtained her Associates Degree of Science.  She is also liscensed through the USDA as an animal foster home.  In her community, Nancy is a member of the Goodfellows Organization and volunteers at TAILS Humane Society.  Nancy also leads tours and field trips for a variety of organizations here at the clinic.  She speaks to preschool programs about her love of animals.  Nancy has 3 dogs Finnigan an Irish Wolfhound, Toula an English Mastiff, and Jimmy a Jack Russell Terrier.  Nancy and her husband Tom live in rural Clare.  They have 4 grown children:  Sarah, Molly, Ian, and Jake.  In her spare time, Nancy enjoys cooking, traveling, swimming, gardening, and reading.

 

Support Staff       


No DescriptionShea Carpenter:  Veterinary Assistant, Kennel Support
Shea has been employed in the animal related field since 2003.  He has been at Prairie View since 2003.  He previously worked as an assistant animal control officer.  Shea grew up in Galesburg, IL.  He attended Carl Sandburg Community College and is currently attending Northern Illinois University.  He is pursuing a degree in Biology/Pre-Veterinary Medicine.  Shea is involved in Phi Theta Kappa and is president of the NIU chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.  He has a dog named Apollo, 2 cats named Eros and Venus, a Leopard Gecko, a Green Iguana named JD, an African Clawed Frog, and various fish. In his spare time, Shea enjoys cycling, hiking, running, skiing, camping, and hanging out with his son Chandler. 






 

Kate Blechschmidt:  Receptionist, Kennel Support
Kate started working in the veterinary field when she was 15 years old as a kennel worker, and has been here at Prairie View Animal Hospital since January of 2007.  In the past, Kate has been a trail escort at a horseback riding stable, a bather at a grooming facility, a pony handler for parties, and a horseback riding instructor for disabled children. Kate and her husband Matt have a 10 year old Rottweiler mix named Tank, a 6 year old Shar-pei named Suki, and a 3 year old Pitt Bull named Olin. Kate is currently enrolled at Kishwaukee Community College.  In her spare time, Kate enjoys horseback riding, bike riding, camping, and hiking. 

 

 

Ashley Reed:  Receptionist     
Ashley has been working in the veterinary field and at Prairie View Animal Hospital since August of 2009.  Ashley grew up in Sycamore and attended Sycamore High School.  She is currently working to achieve her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Northern Illinois University.  Ashley and her husband Matt have two Chihuahua “children”, Sadie and Hector Sanchez.        

Angie Brown:  Veterinary Assistant, Kennel Support     
Angie has been working in the veterinary field and here at Prairie View Animal Hospital since 2004. Angie volunteers at the De Kalb County Animal Shelter and currently works part time at Huckleberry’s Pet Parlor as a bather and daycare attendant. Angie has been involved with breeding and raising goats for the FFA. Angie’s pets include 2 cats named Sophie and Yoshi, a rabbit named Smudge, and 2 Great Pyrenees Border Collie Mixes named Mater and Cali.  She is currently training Mater and Cali to be therapy dogs. She is currently attending Northern Illinois University to achieve her Bachelor of Science degree. Angie is engaged to Nelson Hillquist who is currently studying automotive technology at Kishwaukee Community College. In her spare time, Angie enjoys scrapbooking, traveling, horseback riding, and hiking.       

Liz Kelly:  Kennel Support
Liz joined joined our staff part-time in 2007.  She grew up in Hampshire and currently lives in DeKalb, IL.  Liz is an active member in her church and bible education.  She has a dog, Maggie, a cat, Tomy, three fish, two newts, and one frog.  Liz enjoys fishing, baking and cooking, painting, pen drawing, and walking her dog in her spare time.

Lexie Millburg:  Kennel Support
Lexi recently joined our staff part-time.  She currently resides in Sycamore, IL where she attends Sycamore High School.  Lexie attends St. Mary's Church and is active as a peer minister.  She has a dog named Mae that is about 3 years old.  In Lexie's spare time, she enjoys volleyball, cross-country, and track.

Gail Anderson:  Kennel Support
Gail recently joined our staff part-time and currently resides in Sycamore.  She attends Sycamore High School.  Gail enjoys participating in marching band, choir, jazz choir, madrigals, musicals, and playing the piano.  She has two dogs, Ernie and Smudge.

 

 

 

No Description In Loving memory of Pam London. February 16, 1952 to June 4, 2010.