OUR TEAM
VETERINARIANS
KELLY LOREE
Veterinarian | Owner
Kelly has been working at CVC since 2003. He completed his undergrad studies at University of Calgary. He has a double major in Zoology/Cellular Molecular and Microbial Biology. He then obtained a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999.
Growing up, Kelly moved around all over Alberta. It was work that brought him to Ponoka.
His favorite parts of veterinary medicine include: bovine reproduction, dairy production, mastitis and small animal surgery. At home, Kelly lives with his much better half and his 2 kids. He has 3 dogs and 5 cats. In his spare time, he likes to play guitar and work on his acreage.
LEIGHTON COMA
Veterinarian | Owner
Leighton graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. Leighton received advanced dairy training from Cornell University in 2012 and was awarded the Young Veterinarian of the Year by the ABVMA in 2012.
Leighton comes from a ranch family in Thorhild, AB. His special interests include production medicine and surgery. In his spare time, Leighton spends as much time with his family and volunteering in the community including Boyscouts and his church group.
TREVOR HOOK
Veterinarian | Owner
Trevor started at CVC in May 2011. He took his undergraduate studies at the University of Alberta and graduated with honours in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Saskatchewan. Trevor received the ABVMA Young Veterinarian of the Year award in 2015 and selected for the CVMA Emerging Leaders Program in 2018.
Trevor has special interest in equine performance horse medicine, orthopedic surgery and dairy herd management. Trevor is proud to serve the community of Ponoka and has served in the past on the Ponoka Fire Department and Ponoka Ag Society. At home Trevor and his wife Deserae have a 3 children and a number of pets including 2 horses (Tater & Troy), a mini Australian shepherd (Tux), a cat (Pumpkin) and some fish. In his spare time enjoys spending time in the outdoors, hiking, canoeing, mountain biking, adventure racing, and really playing any sport, especially hockey.
CATHY NEF
Veterinarian
Cathy grew up on a cattle and grain farm just north of Ponoka. She graduated with a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan in 2009 and graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. Cathy spent 3 years working in a mixed practice in southern Alberta and then worked in small animal practice in Ontario for 4 years.
She lives just outside of town with her husband and two children, as well as a herd of horses, a dog and several cats. In her free time she likes to spend time with her family and horses as well as work in the garden.
TREY DRINKARD
Veterinarian
Trey grew up in middle of Tennessee where he finished his undergraduate studies and moved to St. Kitts in 2010 to study veterinary medicine at Ross University. Afterwards, he moved out to Colorado to work at a large animal practice, primarily specializing in beef cattle work. After 4 years he moved out to Alberta to be closer to his fiancé and now live in Olds with their Old English Bulldog “Mac” and cat “Wally”.
Special interests include bovine reproduction including herd work and calving, Ultrasound diagnostics and examinations, and Dairy production. At home Trey has a fond appreciation of exploring the outdoors with camping and hiking as well as spending time inside with all manner of boardgames and novels.
ANIMAL HEALTH TECHNICIANS
MICHELE GERRARD
Registered Animal Health Technologist
Michele started at CVC October 1st 2014. She obtained a diploma in Animal Health Technology from Lakeland College in 2010.
She really enjoys the variety that rural mixed practice brings. Her favorite parts include kittens & semen testing on farm.
She grew up on a small hobby farm near Elphinstone MB and she moved to Ponoka because she was looking for a busy, rural, mixed animal practice in central Alberta. Here she lives with her boyfriend Travis, golden retriever, Buck, as well as various foster cats and kittens.
Michele’s other hobbies include camping, fishing & other outdoor activities, as well as crocheting and growing succulents. She has 1 sister who lives nearby in Leduc. She also enjoys volunteering with nearby animal rescues.
NAVADA MOORE
Registered Animal Health Technologist
Navada joined CVC on September 12, 2016. She obtained a diploma in Animal Health Technology from Lakeland College in Vermillion and did her practicum placement here with us. She grew up outside of Donalda Alberta were her family raised sport horses and spent most summers rodeoing. She currently resides in Ponoka.
Navada enjoys working with all species, but has a special interest in performance horses and cattle.
Outside of work, Navada likes to spend time outdoors. hiking, spending time with friends and family, and travelling which leads her often to the States. She has a Mini Australian Shepard named Scout who loves to go hiking in the mountains and spend time playing with his dog friends.
EMIL JOHN AQUINO
Registered Animal Health Technologist
EJ joined CVC in February 2019. He obtained a diploma in Animal Health Technology from Olds College and completed his practicum placement here at CVC. He grew up in the Philippines and moved to Canada in 2008. He has since settled in Lacombe because it is close to Ponoka and all his friends and family.
He enjoys small animal surgery above all, and he very much enjoys hearing stories from clients about their pets. He has a Shih Tzu named Gellie and a Betta fish Freddie.
Outside of work, EJ likes to spend time fishing in the summer, working on his photography, going on nature walks and watching movies with his fiancée Emma.
HANNAH JENSEN
Registered Animal Health Technologist
Hannah started with the CVC team in July of 2019 after completing her RVT diploma at Olds College in 2018. Hannah grew up in a large family in the Blackfalds area but also spent some time in Texas and Malaysia during her childhood.
Some of Hannah’s favorite species to work with are horses, goats and dogs but loves all aspects of a mixed practice. In Hannah’s spare time, she enjoys competing in 3-day Eventing, reading, camping, hiking, and spending time with her dog Basil the Bouvier/Border collie cross.
CLAIRE HOBSON
Registered Animal Health Technologist
Claire joined CVC in March of 2021. She obtained her diploma in Animal Health Technology at Lakeland College in 2014. Claire grew up in Hinton AB and is currently living in Lacombe.
Claire loves the variety she gets working in a mixed animal practice. She enjoys most working with small animal rehabilitation and exotics.
When Claire is not at the clinic, she enjoys spending time with her boyfriend Luke, her dog Jive and many of her other animals. She also enjoys dancing and is qualified to teach multiple styles of adult partner dances.
Claire is excited for all the opportunities that working at CVC will provide.
ASHLEY GERHARDT
Registered Animal Health Technologist
Ashley joined CVC in June 2021 and graduated the AHT Program at Olds College in June. She grew up in Saskatoon, and now lives in Blackfalds.
Her favorite part of veterinary medicine is the diversity of animals we see and that there is always something new to learn.
Ashley has her own crew at home with three cats, a boa constrictor, a blue heeler cross Pitbull and a horse. Ashley used to do show jumping but now attempting to turn her thoroughbred into a cow horse to do cattle sorting with.
RAE- ANN MCDONAGH
Registered Animal Health Technologist
Rae- Anne started at CVC in July 2021 and graduated from Olds College in 2015. She grew up on a farm north west of Hoadley, where her family raise commercial Simmental cows and Blue Heeler Cattle Dogs. This is where her love for animals had started.
Rae- Anne loves the variety that mixed animal practice brings, but her passion lies with dogs, beef cattle and the communication/interaction with the beef producers. She is currently working on buying land to start her own farm and run her cow herd with her family at the main farm.
In her spare time you can usually find her helping her parents on the farm and spending down time with family and friends. Rae- Anne also enjoys camping, hunting and push her physical limits with the occasional 5k run.
DENASIA BROWN
Registered Animal Health Technologist
Denasia joined the CVC team in May 2022 and graduated from Lakeland College in 2022. She completed her 6-week practicum with us and never left! She grew up in the small town of Penhold, Alberta but currently lives in Blackfalds with her husband and 6 pets!
Denasia loves the diversity that a mixed animal clinic brings. She is happy to help wherever she may be needed. She has a peaking interest in learning more about large animal medicine - more specifically equine! She has a passion for Radiology and Emergency Medicine as well.
In her spare time, Denasia enjoys spending quality time with her husband and 6 fur kids - 3 dogs and 3 cats. During the warmer months, she enjoys riding her quad and spending time outside.
Denasia is very excited to start her career as a Registered Veterinary Technologist!
MONIKA KNULL
Registered Animal Health Technologist
Monika has just recently joined the team at CVC starting May 16, 2022, and received her diploma in Animal Health Technology at Lakeland College June 3, 2022. Monika currently lives on a farm with her family by New Sarepta, AB and has a variety of animals including Maine/Simmental cross cows, horses, chickens, many cats, Greyhound dogs and her 3 bunnies.
Monika is excited to get further into the world of veterinary medicine and enjoys learning about all species that mixed practice brings! Her main passion lies in bovine medicine (beef and dairy) and getting to interact with different producers along the way.
In her spare time Monika enjoys horseback riding, dirt biking, reading, being outdoors, and spending time with her friends and family. She also likes helping around the farm and within the Leduc 4-H Beef Club where she was previously a member for 9 years.
VETERINARY TECHNICIAN ASSISTANT
KAYLA NAKONESHNY
Veterinary Technician Assistant
Kayla joined the CVC team in May 2019. She received her Veterinary Technical Assistant Certificate from Olds College in 2016.
She was born in Whitecourt and has since moved all over Alberta. She has now settled in Ponoka where she has lived for the last dozen years.
Kayla enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine but especially enjoys exotics. Reptiles are her favorite! She breeds Crested/Gargoyle geckos as well as Dumeril’s Boas and Kenyan Sand Boas as a hobby. She also has 3 dogs: Charlie, Cammie, and Lyra, 3 cats: Suki, Chimichanga, and Frost, a Reeve’s Turtle (Kiwi), and a small flock of Coturnix Quail.
In her spare time she enjoys landscaping her yard, fishing, playing video games, and tending to her mini zoo!
MADIE ROESLER
Veterinary Technician Assistant
Madie joined the CVC team in July 2021. She volunteered at the clinic weekly since 2017, after going for a tour of their new building. She loved volunteering with the amazing team and helping with the animals, and when she saw they were hiring she jumped at the opportunity.
Madie lives near Morningside with her family and her Rough Collie Flynn.
Madie’s favorite part of work is when puppies come in! She enjoys the mixed practice at CVC and loves to see all the different species that come to visit!
In her spare time, Madie enjoys being outside and biking, waterskiing, fishing, and of course, petting every dog she can.
DYLAN KOHLMAN
Veterinary Technician Assistant
Dylan joined the CVC team in July of 2021. He received his Veterinary Medical Assistant certificate from Lakeland college in Vermillion of that same year.
Dylan was born in Camrose and was raised in Bashaw on a beef farm south of town. This is where his love of animals originated and knew that he wanted to get into veterinary medicine.
The best part about his job is seeing all the animals that come in but mostly the large animals that come in.
In his spare time, you can find him at home outside working with all the his cows, curling, drawing, or hiking in the mountains.
SHARA MARTENS
Veterinary Technician Assistant
Shara started with CVC in January of 2022 and has moved around a lot but spent most of her time in Wetaskiwin County. She now resides in Morningside, enjoying the scenery and how peaceful it is.
Her favourite part of veterinary medicine is the learning and the potential for every day to be different. She also enjoys working with animals everyday and will never say no to good challenge!
Shara currently has a Sphynx (Leeloo), Italian Greyhound (Mavis) and several horses and ponies. Mavis is a rescue who was born with no patellas, so she hops when she walks. Leeloo is a sassy, people-loving girl who is always up for a cuddle to keep warm.
In Shara’s spare time she enjoys horseback riding and listening to opera and Spanish music. Shara is currently becoming a farrier and would like to focus on corrective trimming/ shoeing.
SHELBY COTE
Veterinary Technician Assistant
Shelby joined the CVC team in 2022. With a history in both rescue as well at veterinary medicine, Shelby has a passion for helping all animals big or small. While she may be close to “crazy cat lady” status, she also loves working with dogs, exotics and large animals!
When she’s not at the clinic you can usually find Shelby camping, reading or trick training her animals for sports and fun.
PAYTEN WEISS
Veterinary Technician Assistant
Payten recently joined our team in May 2022 she graduated with her Veterinary medical assisting program at Lakeland in 2021!
Payten and her boyfriend recently moved to Blackfalds with their 2 and a half-legged cat named Oli whom they call their child. He has half his ears and tail and a very big personality like his mom.
Her favorite part of vet med would have to be the fact that it's always changing and there is always something to learn in both large and small animal practice.
In her spare time, you will find her having a fire outside, snuggling her cat or visiting with friends.
RECEPTION
AYLEEN MIELKE
Receptionist
Ayleen has been a part of our central vet team since May 2014. She started her more formal education with an Equine Management program from University of Guelph, and then complete the Veterinary Reception program from Olds collage before starting at the clinic.
Growing up on a dairy farm just outside Leduc, Ayleen has been very involved with large and small animals her entire life.
When not working at the clinic, Ayleen likes to spend her time hiking trails with her energetic Husky “Jemma”, or riding her horse.
MELISSA BOWES
Receptionist
Melissa has been with CVC for more than 15 years, starting here in 2005. She completed a Food & Nutrition Management Diploma at SAIT prior to starting at the clinic in 2005.
Melissa is originally from the Ponoka area. She enjoys the variety of calls coming into CVC and seeing all the familiar faces from the community.
She and her husband make their home on an acreage east of Ponoka with their 3 great kids; William, Sydney & Hudson. They also have 2 hound dogs, 4 cats, and the newest addition is a trio of pygmy goats.
JACINDA PARCZEN
Receptionist
Jacinda joined CVC in July of 2018, after completing her VMR course at Olds College. She completed her 4- week practicum here, as well as volunteered for CVC for 2 years prior.
She was born and raised in the Calgary area and now resides in Ponoka as the small town lifestyle suites her much more than the city lifestyle. Having grown up with animals, Jacinda loves working with all animals that come through the clinic doors. She has one rescue dog Hemi that runs the house and a horse named Winnie.
When not at work, Jacinda enjoys camping, hiking, down hill and cross country skiing and riding her horse.
TYLA PEACH
Receptionist
Tyla started at CVC in August 2020. She went to the University of Alberta for the Bachelor of Science in Large Animal Health and graduated in the Spring of 2019. Her hometown is Castor, Alberta and she grew up on a hobby farm with horses and cattle. Tyla was an avid member of 4-H and still has a love of cattle and pigs today.
Tyla’s favorite part of working in a vet clinic is seeing how excited the pets are to see their owners after being cared for. At home she has 2 cats named Pumpkin and Patch. In her spare time, she loves woodworking, reading, and working with animals but most of all she loves agriculture.
KRISTYN SCHACHER
Receptionist
Kristyn started at CVC in April 2021. Coming from over 12 years experience in customer support. Kristyn is joining our team and is looking forward to meeting and working with each of our clients, while helping arrange their beloved pet’s veterinary care.
She was born and raised in Edmonton but in 2016 her husband’s job had them relocate to Central Alberta. They chose to make Ponoka their new home and share it with a “little” Newfoundlander, Angus. Kristyn has always shared a love for animals no matter their size and cannot wait to start her own hobby farm.
In her spare time, she enjoys curling at the local rink and hitting the slopes on her board in the winter. During the warmer months you’ll find her out on her in-laws’ houseboat, working on her golf swing, or out on the football field.
CATHY LAMARCHE
Receptionist
Cathy was born and raised in Northern AB. Her first job was at Capilano/Ottwell Animal Clinic, in Edmonton. She went on to professionally grooming dogs, then assistant manager at PJ’S Pet Store. She has always had a passion for animals, and discovered several other talents in the workforce throughout life!
Cathy is happily married with two kids, who have left the nest! Her favorite past times are spending time with family, fly fishing, hunting, camping, hiking and horseback riding.
Support Staff
LAURA DUCKETT
Hospital Manager
Laura has been with CVC since 2011, first working at the clinic as a receptionist. After a few years, she took on the role of office manager and has enjoyed the challenges and rewards of her role. She really enjoys organizing and fine tuning things in the office. Her door is alway open to her colleagues as well as clients.
Laura took her post-secondary education at NAIT and spent her childhood and much of her adult years in Lacombe and surrounding area. Laura and her husband moved to the Ponoka area to be closer to her work and enjoy acreage life with their many cats and 2 dogs.
In her spare time Laura enjoys sewing, scrapbooking and spending time with her growing family, which now includes a wonderful grandson and granddaughter.
AMANDA CARLETON
Inventory Specialist
Amanda joined the CVC team in December 2019. She was born and raised on the east coast where she completed her post-secondary education at Memorial University and Academy Canada in St. John’s, NL.
After graduation she moved out west with little more then a suitcase and a dream of living near the mountains. Even though Ponoka is no where near the mountains Amanda, her husband and their kids have called it home since 2006 and feel a deep connection to the community.
In 2010 she adopted her sweet dog, Chloe from Old McDonald’s Kennel and even though she was meant to be the family’s dog Chloe is most definitely Amanda’s. When Amanda isn’t chauffeuring her kids around, she spends her free time perfecting yeast dough recipes and reading dystopic fiction.
KIMBERLY COMA
Inventory Specialist
TAYLOR KRAUSE
Administrative Assistant
Taylor started with the CVC team in August 2022. She grew up in the Clive area and has been a life-long lover of all creatures big and small (besides spiders). Taylor and her husband Steve have bounced around Central Alberta a bit but have lived in Ponoka for a few years now with their two children.
In her spare time Taylor enjoys reading, avoiding folding laundry, camping, fishing, motorsports, going to concerts, and dabbling in all things artsy.