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“Our mission is personal.”
– Tony and Suzanne with their Clydesdale/Thoroughbred gelding, Chase, and one of their miniature schnauzers, Sam (2004 – 2018)
Co-founders Tony Ferraro and Suzanne Cannon, pet parents themselves, understand the financial strain of unexpected vet bills. Driven by personal experiences with their horses and dogs, they developed VetBilling to ensure no pet parent faces the loss of a pet due to financial constraints.
VetBilling, a division of Electronic Billing & Customer Support (EBCS) founded in 1986, originally provided electronic payment solutions for the health & fitness industry. In 2014, we expanded to serve veterinary practices, offering managed in-house payment plans that reduce workload and financial risk for clinics.
Suzanne Cannon grew up in Towson, Maryland, and now calls Westminster, Maryland, home. As co-founder of VetBilling, her workdays are filled with variety— writing, responding to emails, managing social media and the website, collaborating with the branding and marketing team, copywriting, creating sales collateral, reviewing metrics, and tracking industry trends. Amidst all this, she also tends to her beloved dogs and horse!
Suzanne is a true animal lover—no animal is excluded from her affection. However, she’s spent most of her life surrounded by the wagging tails of dogs and the gentle nuzzles of horses. She has a shaggy, goofy Otterhound named Scout, and an adorable, feisty miniature schnauzer, named Finch, who is “specially abled” and navigates life in a custom wheelchair. Suzanne also cares daily for her senior Clydesdale/Thoroughbred gelding named Chase, who is a real mama’s boy.
Her heart dog Sam, a Schnauzer, is the inspiration behind VetBilling. Sam faced a life-threatening situation requiring expensive surgery. Refusing to consider the heartbreaking option of economic euthanasia, Suzanne paid for the surgery, though this unexpected expense left her financially destabilized. And that’s how VetBilling was born, with a mission to help other pet parents in similar situations by allowing them to pay veterinary bills in installments, rather than risking their financial stability or the lives of their beloved pets.
An interesting tidbit about Suzanne is her knack for recalling the release years of movies and songs, a skill that often comes in handy during trivia nights at the pub – but isn’t useful anywhere else. As a child, she dreamt of becoming a show jumper on the US Equestrian Team or a jockey, but she eventually set her sights on teaching, although she ended up earning a graduate degree in counseling and worked in both private practice and hospital settings.
When it comes to food, Suzanne adores Southern fried chicken and falafel – though not together! Her preferred beverages are iced green tea and occasionally a good Malbec or Merlot. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, caring for and riding her horse, and indulging in her love for reading multiple books simultaneously.
Suzanne’s passion for improving access to veterinary care and ensuring pets can remain in loving homes drives her dedication to her job. She is curious by nature, which aids her in asking the right questions and uncovering valuable information.
Animal welfare is a cause close to Suzanne’s heart. At VetBilling, she cherishes the opportunity to help people manage veterinary costs, making care affordable and restoring their hope. It’s rewarding for her to hear the gratitude from those who are relieved to find genuine support after facing numerous rejections.
Since 1986, Tony Ferrano has been committed to helping businesses thrive by addressing one of the most challenging aspects of ownership: accounts receivable management (AR). His entrepreneurial journey began in the early 80s when he opened and operated health and fitness clubs, which ultimately led him to specialize in billing and collections for the health and fitness industry.
Tony’s business philosophy centers around the idea that purpose drives profit, believing that a sincere purpose naturally leads to financial success. Starting from the humble beginnings of his basement, he eventually moved to an office. A life-changing blind date, arranged by his cousin, introduced him to Suzanne Cannon, Co-Founder of VetBilling. After an early dinner and a high school lacrosse game at his cousin’s alma mater, Tony and Suzanne formed a deep connection that altered the course of his life.
Captivated by Suzanne and her Clydesdale and dogs, Tony’s love for animals, previously unfulfilled due to his busy schedule, found a new expression. Suzanne’s experiences with vet bills and her trusted equine vet ignited Tony and Suzanne’s interest in supporting equine veterinarians with their financial challenges.
This passion led to the creation of VetBilling in 2013, which launched in 2014. Tony and Suzanne’s shared philosophy of conscious capitalism has positioned VetBilling as a leader in professional AR management. Tony attributes the company’s success to their unwavering focus on AR, avoiding diversification into unrelated products or services.
Tony is a proud father, grandfather, brother, partner, and pet parent. His love for animals and the outdoors is evident in his passion for kayaking. Additionally, his Italian heritage fuels his enthusiasm for cooking and entertaining, bringing joy and connection to his family and friends. Tony believes in giving back to the community, locally and nationally. He has been a chairperson for the past 30 years for the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation, an NFL-sanctioned charity that helps abused children and their families by setting up courage houses in NFL cities. For the last 14 years, he has been on the board of the Catch A Lift Foundation, a national charity that helps post-9/11 combat-wounded veterans improve their lives through physical and mental fitness.
Joe grew up in Lutherville, Maryland, and currently resides just outside Baltimore, MD. In his role as VP of Sales at VetBilling, he serves as the initial point of contact for veterinary teams exploring VetBilling’s offerings. Joe’s days are dedicated to understanding diverse veterinary practices and supporting teams in expanding their payment options with VetBilling.
Joe considers himself both a cat and dog person, being a parent to both. His pets include Gomez, an 8-year-old white and grey Domestic Shorthair, who his fiancé has had since a kitten. Gomez is timid, but very sweet and loves being around his human family. Their other cat, Ash, is the baby of the family. He’s a mischievous and social 5-year-old Black Domestic Long Hair who loves to cuddle and was adopted as a rescue. Then there’s Jax, a 6-year-old Black Lab mix also adopted, who is energetic, and loving towards everyone he meets.
Outside of work, Joe enjoys spending time with friends and family, trying new restaurants, cooking, traveling, and indulging in his passion for all things related to cars. His favorite meal is a double cheeseburger with fries, and he prefers an Old Fashioned with Buffalo Trace as his drink of choice.
Joe brings valuable skills to his job, including client relations, problem-solving, and a deep understanding of veterinary practice needs. His expertise extends to enhancing veterinary practices through innovative payment solutions, ensuring streamlined processes that benefit both veterinary teams and pet owners. His dedication to improving access to pet care underscores his commitment to advancing the mission of VetBilling. He is passionate about animal welfare and rescue.
What Joe likes most about working at VetBilling is the profound impact they have on veterinary teams and pet parents alike. Knowing that their work contributes to saving the lives of pets brings him great fulfillment.
Bobbie Luterman grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and still calls it home today. As VP of Client Support, her workdays involve client relations, setting up and conducting client trainings, creating welcome boxes, and overall ensuring client satisfaction while enhancing access to pet care. Bobbie has a deep love for all four-legged friends, although her experience has mostly been with dogs and some small furry pets like bunnies, guinea pigs, and hamsters. She now shares her home with a 6-year old dog named Dakota, with a bundle of personality.
Bobbie has an unexpected talent and achievement that people may be surprised to hear: running a marathon several years ago, a goal she once thought impossible. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a nurse, driven by a desire to care for others.
When it comes to food, Bobbie’s favorite is a salad with grilled chicken or shrimp, perfectly complemented by a glass of Chardonnay. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, friends, and Dakota. She also enjoys working out, walking, and hiking. At work, her best skills include client support, patience, understanding, friendliness, kindness, and empathy.
Bobbie is passionate about animal welfare and rescue, as well as education. What she loves most about working at VetBilling is the sense of purpose and the cohesive team environment. To Bobbie, the job feels like much more than just work—it’s a mission. Everyone is dedicated to helping VetBilling grow, knowing that as it does, more animals are being helped and saved every day. The team, filled with fellow animal lovers, gets genuinely excited when they receive success stories from pet owners and practices.
Nicole grew up in Forest Hill, MD, where she still resides today. She has also lived in various cities, including Ithaca, NY; New Orleans, LA; New Haven, CT; San Diego, CA; and Baltimore, MD. At work, Nicole’s typical day involves onboarding new clinics, conducting training sessions, monitoring payment plan activities for her assigned clinics, and optimizing their new CRM.
Nicole has always had a clear preference for dogs, but due to her extensive experience as a vet tech, she has developed a broader appreciation for all pets. She dreams of having a mini donkey, but for now, her partner insists on keeping their home a donkey-free zone.
Nicole shares her home with two beloved pets: a goofy, droopy-eyed, 8.5-year-old male bloodhound and a playful, stubborn, 5-year-old male orange tabby. Since childhood, Nicole aspired to be a veterinarian, a dream that has greatly influenced her career path.
Her favorite food is sushi, and in her free time, she enjoys relaxing on her couch, scrolling through TikTok, binge-watching shows, and engaging in deep conversations with her dog.
Nicole brings valuable skills to her job, including her extensive clinic experience from 8-9 years as a vet tech, coachability, and strong interpersonal skills. She is passionate about diversity and inclusivity in the veterinary industry and protecting women’s healthcare rights.
Working at VetBilling, Nicole appreciates the immediate impact she can see from her efforts, whether it’s assisting partner clinics, saving a pet’s life, or making policy changes in the office. She values the mission-driven focus of the company, especially from her perspective within the veterinary industry.
Carrie Bowgren is the Veterinary Practice Manager at Lake Road Animal Hospital in Horseheads, NY, a 5-doctor, small animal practice. With over 23 years in veterinary management, Carrie is dedicated to achieving her Practice Owner’s vision by providing superior veterinary care and exceptional customer service. She holds a degree from Binghamton University and a provisional certification in Secondary Education (Biology) from Elmira College.
Carrie’s passion for developing veterinary staff has shaped a supportive work environment at Lake Road, enhancing patient and client care. Originally from Owego, NY, she switched from teaching to veterinary services after falling in love with the field. Outside work, Carrie enjoys visiting craft breweries across New England with her fiancé, a chemist and home brewer. They live with their two dogs, Porter and Taylor. Carrie’s daughter, Lauren, a recent SUNY-Cortland graduate, also shares her interest in home-based endeavors.
Kathy Cavanagh is a seasoned Certified Veterinary Technician and the Client Care Manager at Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine in New Haven, CT, a facility recognized as a Level One Trauma Center. With a degree in Veterinary Technology from Becker College, Kathy has spent her career in emergency medicine, also serving as Head Radiology Technician and Operating Room Technician.
For the past 15 years, she has managed patient flow and assisted families with medical decisions for their pets, passionately advocating for pet insurance to enhance care standards. Additionally, she implemented VetBilling at the hospital to expand payment options for pet care. Kathy is also a founding member of the Connecticut Veterinary Technician Association and has coordinated programs for the New Haven County Veterinary Association.
Outside her professional life, Kathy enjoys her empty nest with her husband Bob, their terrier Gurdy, two orange tabby cats, and a small flock of chickens. She is an avid traveler, always eager to incorporate animal encounters into her adventures.
Dr. Michael Dicks has been leading AEConsulting, a consortium of university faculty, since 1996, providing economic and business analytics consulting, along with expert witness services. In 2018, he became the Chief Data Human at Erupt LLC, developing tools for enhancing financial performance within the veterinary field, and Chief Economic Advisor at Calico Financial, focusing on financial tool development for veterinary practices.
Dr. Dicks earned his BS in biochemistry and animal science from California Polytechnic State University and his MS and Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri, where his research initiated the Conservation Reserve Program. His career includes roles as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya, a high school chemistry teacher, and a USDA analyst where he launched key agricultural programs.
At Oklahoma State University from 1989 to 2013, Dr. Dicks taught, conducted research, and managed the Great Plains Policy Center, retiring as the Wes and Lou Watkins Chair of International Trade and Development. He then directed Veterinary Economics at the American Veterinary Medical Association until 2018, where he established a significant data analytics initiative and the AVMA Veterinary Economic Summit.
Dr. Dicks has authored over 500 publications and delivered more than 1,000 presentations globally. He also manages a livestock operation, Cimarron Dunes, and a real estate firm, Little Dickens Properties.
Dr. Kent A. Kruse, a veterinarian since 1963, experienced a personal revelation early in his career about the profound human-animal bond, which significantly shaped his professional life. Initially seeing himself as an “animal mechanic,” his perspective shifted following heartfelt gratitude from pet owners during his first Christmas in practice. This recognition steered him to focus on strengthening the bond between pets and their owners through his veterinary efforts.
Dr. Kruse’s career evolved from an associate to establishing a three-veterinarian practice known for pioneering orthopedic surgeries, including the first canine total hip replacement in Wisconsin. In the 1980s, he contributed to the development of what is now known as Impromed’s Infinity, a leading veterinary management software.
Although he first attempted to retire in 1996, Dr. Kruse was drawn into the pet health insurance industry, where he worked until 2013, significantly impacting the field. Currently, he serves on the VetBilling Board of Advisors, promoting the integration of pet health insurance and managed payment plans to combat economic euthanasia and improve veterinary care. Dr. Kruse’s commitment to the veterinary profession and the well-being of pets continues to influence his advocacy and consulting work.
Beth Meyers transitioned from a career in investment management to the veterinary field 8 years ago, driven by her passion for dog behavior and training. Starting as an administrative assistant for a veterinary behaviorist, Beth quickly moved to working in client and financial services at a large specialty and emergency veterinary practice. Here, she first noticed the stark gap between the costs of medical care and what many clients could afford.
Four years ago, Beth joined Frisco Emergency Pet Care, a 24/7 emergency facility that embraces a progressive approach to veterinary care. At Frisco, she was introduced to VetBilling, an essential program that helps clients manage unexpected veterinary costs through affordable payment plans. This has made a significant difference in patient outcomes and has become a cornerstone of the practice’s client services.
Outside the clinic, Beth continues her work in dog training, aiding in the development of strong bonds between families and their pets, which helps reduce the number of dogs in rescues and shelters. She is also a devoted mom to two rescue dogs, Speedy, a red heeler/Border Collie mix, and Maya, a blue heeler mix with a penchant for squirrel-chasing.
Christine Sandberg is the founder of RescueWell, a Maryland-based non-profit that has addressed over 100,000 crisis calls and 25,000 re-homing requests from pet owners, many facing economic euthanasia or the need to surrender their pets due to financial constraints. RescueWell also collaborates with local crisis teams and first responders to provide interim support for pet owners during emergencies.
In addition, Christine founded the Coalition of Outreach and Rescues (CORE), uniting over 125 organizations to ensure pets are placed and remain in safe, healthy homes. She leverages her extensive experience to offer workshops aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of animal rescues and shelters, drawing on her 12 years of managing a high-volume crisis hotline.
Beyond her nonprofit endeavors, Christine serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Senior Dog Sanctuary of Maryland. She also has a 25-year background in the telecom industry, where she has held various roles in sales, training, and performance management.
Carol Smock combines her professional role as the Project Management Office Director at Simplex Group, a Transportation Services provider in Miami, FL, with her passion for animal welfare as the founder of Brown Dog Foundation. At Simplex, she leads a team of six, ensuring compliance with transportation laws for America’s truck drivers.
Outside of her corporate responsibilities, Carol dedicates her efforts to Brown Dog Foundation, a non-profit she founded in 2006. The organization is committed to preventing economic euthanasia by helping cover the cost of medical care for family pets. Since its establishment, Brown Dog Foundation has assisted over 2,000 pets.
In 2016, Brown Dog partnered with VetBilling to test and expand a payment plan program that enables families to afford necessary pet care. This collaboration has grown, allowing the foundation to help up to 20 families annually manage their veterinary expenses through the VetBilling platform, ensuring the program’s sustainability and impact extend beyond Carol’s lifetime.
Aimee St. Arnaud has dedicated her career to increasing access to veterinary care, especially in underserved communities. Previously the Director of National Veterinary Outreach at Best Friends Animal Society, she focused on expanding spay/neuter services. Aimee also served as Director of Programs at the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance, overseeing training for 1,000 veterinary professionals annually, and as a Program Manager at PetSmart Charities, distributing $15 million a year to animal welfare organizations.
A co-founder of Ohio Pet Fund and Humane Ohio, a low-cost spay/neuter clinic performing 19,000 surgeries annually, Aimee is deeply invested in veterinary care accessibility. She co-owns two full-service veterinary clinics in Ohio and North Carolina, emphasizing community partnerships and barrier-free care.
In 2021, she launched the Open Door Veterinary Collective, a nonprofit teaching a sustainable business model for veterinary care access, based on her clinics’ successful practices. A new member of the VetBilling Advisory Board, Aimee supports innovative financial solutions in veterinary medicine. Passionate about wildlife rescue and outdoor activities, she enjoys spending her free time biking, hiking, and kayaking.
