Stith Keiser is the Chief Executive Officer for Blue Heron Consulting (BHC). His team of coaches collaborates with new and seasoned practices owners alike to improve their lives and the lives of their team members while simultaneously enhancing client experience, building sustainable practice profitability and elevating the quality of care for pets.

In addition to his role at BHC, Stith speaks internationally at veterinary conferences and writes for a variety of veterinary publications. He also collaborates on the development and delivery of professional development curriculum at several veterinary schools where he serves as an Adjunct Faculty Member. Relatedly, he served through Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences working under a federal grant to explore and design strategies for successful rural veterinary practice ownership.

Stith’s volunteer experience includes serving as past-Chair of VetCAN (Veterinary Career Advisory Network), terms as President of VetPartner’s Career Development and Practice Management Special Interest Groups, ongoing participation in Washington State University’s CVM “Diagnostic Challenge” and a seat on the former AVMA’s Economics Advisory Research Council Financial Literacy task force.

His passion for our profession extends into his role as managing partner in a handful of privately owned mixed and small animal veterinary practices. In partnering with veterinarians hungering for successful practice ownership and wishing to build a legacy, Stith contributes to team development and leverage, operations, financial management and general strategy.

In his free time, Stith enjoys spending time with his wife, a small animal veterinarian, adventuring in the outdoors with their daughters, dogs and horses.

Jeannie Bellsmith comes to Blue Heron Consulting with over 20 years of ownership, finance, management, customer service, business and veterinary experience. She has owned and operated her own business and worked as a practice manager for over 10 years in an AAHA accredited veterinary hospital where she was one of three founding practice managers of the original North American Business Association (NABA). Following her career in veterinary medicine, she served in a financial advising office focused on comprehensive financial planning and asset management.

Jeannie enjoys being involved in her community and was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel for her efforts in providing local K-9 officers with bullet proof vests in 2008.

In Jeannie’s spare time she enjoys gardening, traveling, exercising, hiking, “facetiming” her children, and porch time with her husband.

Katey Keeton joins the Blue Heron Consulting team with several years of industry experience. In addition to possessing a vast understanding of customer service, Katey has a legal and insurance background making her a great addition to the BHC team.

Katey was born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, where she graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in sociology. Katey played two years of collegiate basketball which instilled in her the importance of teamwork. Her interests include photography, being outdoors, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Katey and her husband, Noah, now reside in Stanford, Kentucky with their children, Knox and Quinn, and their two dogs, Rupp and Cali.

My Why: When it comes to veterinary professionals and their brands, my purpose is to create, connect, and empower. I am driven by a passion for innovation, creativity, and impact. Whether through a focus on strategic marketing, brand development, or customer journey, I aim to bring clarity, inspiration, and creativity to every project.

Champion Areas: Marketing strategy, graphic design, and branding

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Cassidy Matano developed a passion for animals and an appreciation of the behind-the-scenes contributions to their care at a young age. A local AAHA accredited veterinary hospital doubled as her school bus stop and her weekday afternoons were spent playing with animals, actively avoiding kennel duty, and observing hospital procedures and client interactions whenever she could.

Her professional career briefly took her away from the industry following her graduation from Centre College and The Pennsylvania State University. Upon graduation, she pursued a career in higher education where she could leverage her expertise in organizational leadership, customer service, project management, marketing, and creative design. After several years serving both public schools and private universities, Cassidy returned to our profession as the Director of Marketing. She enjoys serving our team and clients, especially through brand development, marketing strategy, and creative design.

Cassidy resides on the East Coast with her husband, John and their cat, Wrigley. In her free time she enjoys baseball games, thunderstorms, and trying new recipes.

Shelby Johnson grew up in the small town of Thorndale, Texas, where she developed a deep love for cattle, horses, and dogs in the heart of rural life. After several years away, she recently returned to the area with her husband, Dillon, their young son, Cam, and their three dogs — Delilah, Moe, and Hattie.

Shelby works as a Marketing Coordinator for Blue Heron Consulting, where she enjoys creating engaging content and helping connect veterinary professionals with meaningful resources.

When she’s not spending time with her family, Shelby enjoys being active, exploring new destinations, and soaking up the beauty of the great outdoors.

Shelby Davis comes to Blue Heron Consulting with several years of client relationship, event management, project management, and business experience. As CE Manager and Manager Continuing Education and Client Experience, she delivers one-of-a-kind continuing education opportunities for the industry and ensures an exceptional client experience for all veterinary professionals placing their trust in Blue Heron Consulting.  

Along with being a dedicated professional, Shelby is a proud mother and enjoys spending her free time outdoors, embracing the beauty of nature and creating memorable moments with her daughter. 

Nick was introduced to veterinary medicine as his wife, Taylor, was going through veterinary school and using the family’s dining room for study sessions with her classmates. Nick cooked for the study group, and listened to more conversations about pathology, anatomy and too many other “ologies” to count. Nick’s first ‘official’ foray into veterinary medicine occurred through a company he and his wife started, Checkpoint Veterinary (CPV). CPV was designed as traveling veterinary exam trailer providing a heated, clean area for veterinary care at sled dog races across the Midwest. Experience working closely with veterinarians during races, coupled with watching his wife navigate the rewards and challenges of her career, helped him realize the impact of a practice’s quality of medicine, client service, culture and profitability.

Nick began his BHC quest, working alongside CEO Stith Keiser, helping facilitate the company’s “Wilderness CE Series” in the mountains of Idaho. Since that time, Nick fully immersed himself in the profession becoming a private practice owner himself as well as joining BHC fulltime. During the last few years, Nick has been blessed to serve hospitals of all sizes across the country as an Operational Coach. In addition to operational coaching, he has helped develop the company’s Start-Up Division, helping aspiring owners navigate the challenges of launching their own hospital. One of Nick’s greatest professional accomplishments is his role in helping design and lead strategic planning retreats for hospitals seeking to grow with a purpose and plan.

In his spare time Nick loves spending time on his hobby farm with his wife and son, Jack, surrounded by their menagerie of pets – 2 steer calves, 2 pygmy goats, 30 chickens, 2 garage cats, 1 indoor cat, and a 3-year old springer spaniel named Evie. They also love spending time in the outdoors with their families pursuing a range of activities.

Dr. Kate Crumley brings decades of experience to the Blue Heron Consulting team as a veterinarian, practice owner, and mentor. She serves as Lead of our Startup & Acquisitions division, advising and inspiring veterinarians who want to own their own practices.

Dr. Crumley holds a DVM from North Carolina State and also holds a Masters degree in Biochemistry. Her veterinary career path includes 7 years of mixed practice experience, companion animal medicine and surgery, and practice ownership in the roles of partner and as a sole owner. She has been active with AAHA beginning in veterinary school and was honored to serve as AAHA President from 2014-2015.

She is passionate about top-notch veterinary medical care and developing people into leaders who can make their practices thrive. She loves working with other veterinarians to help them achieve their best while building a practice that provides financial security, a fun work environment, and excellent service and care. Her goal as a part of the Blue Heron Consulting team is to inspire veterinarians to feel fantastic about their legacy.

In fact, her most rewarding accomplishments stem from mentoring. Her veterinary practice, Heartwood Animal Hospital, serves the rural North Carolina community of Youngsville, just north of Raleigh. Dr. Crumley built the hospital from the ground up; when she sold the practice, the legacy of the hospital was paramount. She sought out an aspiring owner as an associate, who joined the practice immediately after graduation and became a partner in the practice a year later. Three years later, Dr Crumley sold her shares and is proud to see the success of Heartwood continues in good hands.

Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Crumley enjoys recreational road biking, gardening, travel, and listening to audiobooks. She and her husband, Steve, live in the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina. Of course their dogs, Poppy (Papillon) and Stout (Bernese Mt. Dog) get their fair share of attention, too.

Kelli Kerwin’s early experience in medicine and management originated in human healthcare, at the world renown Cleveland Clinic Foundation. She began her career in veterinary medicine in 1998 when she joined Animal Hospital Inc., a small privately-owned practice in Ohio. The practice grew quickly and, in 2004, she managed the remodel and expansion of their state-of-the-art 14,500 sq. ft. facility. In 2005, Kelli earned her Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM) distinction and continued to later receive a certificate in Veterinary Practice Management from Purdue University in 2009.

In 2016, Kelli’s practice hired Blue Heron Consulting for a fresh perspective on their practice. They worked with the Blue Heron Consulting team for over three years, achieving unimaginable success and adding a second location. With this expansion, Kelli became the CEO of Animal Hospital Inc. and realized her dream of becoming a practice owner. In 2019, with skillful leadership in place, Kelli embraced her desire to help more industry professionals and joined the Blue Heron Consulting team. She is a former Board President of Lake Humane Society and a current member of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, American Animal Hospital Association, and The Society of Human Resource Managers, as well as Fear Free Certified.

Kelli and their family recently moved to Kentucky. Together, they enjoy being in the outdoors and working on their classic cars and trucks. They remain passionate fans of the Cleveland Browns and THE Ohio State Buckeyes.

Stacy Gentry joins the Blue Heron Consulting team as an Operational Coach, bringing over twenty years of veterinary experience to our clients. She started as a Client Service Representative at Wellington Veterinary Hospital (WVH) in 2001. From the beginning, she has grown there, moving into new positions as opportunities arose, always focusing on her Why ­– connecting with and caring for animals.  In 2016, Stacy become the practice manager and, through this position, was able to make valuable changes to both the hospital and culture. These changes propelled WVH into a four-doctor hospital. In 2018, she became a practice owner, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Along the way, Stacy attended Veterinary Management Institute and coached communications to third-year veterinary students at Colorado State University.

WVH was purchased in 2020 and Stacy found a new opportunity coaching other practice managers. This eye-opening experience allowed her to help cultivate an environment that allowed leadership teams and hospitals to shine.  Stacy knew this was her new path – her new Why.

In addition to her coaching work, Stacy now teaches Foundations, a course she developed for beginning practice managers. This program has allowed her to share her expertise and passion for leadership, equipping new managers with the tools they need to succeed in the veterinary field.

When Stacy is not coaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Vince, her children, and their numerous pets. She is an avid hiker and loves kayaking and camping in the beautiful Rocky Mountains; and she is always on the hunt for the next great beer at the many breweries in Colorado!

Jamie’s passion for animals started as a child and she spent many years in 4H showing dogs, horses, and rabbits. Realizing animals were a way of life for her, she pursued her veterinary technician degree at Macomb Community College and went into emergency medicine. As a licensed technician, she enjoyed how her skills could improve the life of pets and their human families. During her tenure as an ER tech, Jamie completed a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry at Oakland University.

After spending 10 years in the clinical setting, Jamie moved to sales with a Veterinary Distributor, helping clinics improve inventory management and sharing techniques across clinics. Her love for the business side of veterinary medicine led her to the operations side, recently working as a Regional Manager for a group of veterinary clinics where she truly enjoyed diving into and teaching business development, client care techniques, and advancing her staff’s competence and knowledge. Within Blue Heron Consulting, she has been able to work on multiple projects, including industry and hiring focuses, allowing her to learn many new techniques for supporting hospitals and veterinary professionals. Jamie has a true passion for the veterinary industry, and she loves being able to support and educate those around her.

Jamie lives in North Carolina with her partner, James, their three dogs (Ara, Walter and Sadie) and 2 cats (Spice and Pinguino). She is a foster for the Cavalier Rescue Trust and spent many years showing Irish Setters. In her free time, she loves to explore the mountains of North Carolina either in her sports car or with her husband hiking the trails. Jamie a self-proclaimed foodie, amateur wine connoisseur, and enjoys travel and knitting.

Sydni’s career in veterinary medicine started out as a technician at Alpine Animal Hospital in 2014. After several fulfilling years, Sydni made the move to practice manager after her hospital was purchased by new ownership in 2018. Sydni knew the experiences she had as a technician would help her make changes on the hospital scale that would benefit and impact each staff member’s experience at work. Her focus on improving her hospital’s culture proved successful and, under Sydni’s leadership, the hospital grew to a four-location, fifteen doctor network of hospitals spanning the Pacific Northwest.

Improving the culture of veterinary hospitals remains her Why – she is on a mission to transform the veterinary industry into one where long-term success and wellbeing are not just possible, but standard. She wants to see a landscape that prioritizes the mental health, professional growth, and personal fulfillment of its professionals, at every level of the industry. By fostering meaningful relationships and creating supportive networks, she aims to build a community where veterinary professionals can thrive together, inspiring positive change, driving innovation, and creating a ripple effect that elevates the entire industry for the benefit of veterinary professionals, the animals they care for, and the communities they serve.

Outside of work, Sydni loves riding her horse, Sizzle. Whether they’re on the mountainous trails of Southern Idaho, or in the arena practicing mounted shooting, horseback is Sydni’s happy place. When she’s not on horseback, she’s usually in the kitchen baking a new recipe, testing her skills so she can one day fake UK citizenship in order to be a contestant on the Great British Baking Show.

Originally from Las Vegas, NV, Carissa Welsh earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Utah State University. With over ten years of administrative experience in veterinary and human medicine, she brings a wealth of expertise to the team.

Carissa is passionate about building meaningful connections and ensuring practice owners and DVM candidates feel valued and supported throughout every step of the interview and hiring process. She excels at strategic thinking to help practices achieve their hiring goals and candidates connect with practices that align with their career goals.

Carissa shares a deep love for animals and veterinary care with her husband, Peter, a Veterinarian who specializes in small animal surgery. Together, they have an energetic toddler and two hairy dogs! On their days together as a family you can find them doing anything that involves them being active. Whether they are mountain biking, trail running, hiking, or at one of Carissa’s group fitness classes she teaches outside of her time with BHC, the Welsh family is always on the move!

Bobbie Stout joins the Hiring Services department of Blue Heron Consulting with over a decade of veterinary experience.

Bobbie’s passion for veterinary medicine started as a kid when she would beg her mom to go along to the family dog’s veterinary appointments. She started her first job in the veterinary industry over 15 years ago as a kennel attendant by driving around to every clinic in town and offering to do any job available. Eventually, she moved on to other clinic roles and most recently was the practice manager of a privately owned clinic in Washington.

After 8 years in that role, she is excited to bring her love of veterinary medicine and her hiring skills to BHC. Bobbie loves the challenge of finding the right candidate for each role and is looking forward to helping hospitals add the perfect new member to their teams. Her main goal is to help clinics as much as possible so that they can focus on providing the best care to their patients.

Bobbie lives in Southern California with her black lab (June) and her ginger cat (Pickle). When not working, she spends time volunteering for the local animal shelter. She also enjoys going camping and exploring with June (June’s favorite would be the Huntington dog beach!).

Leslie Riley, a dedicated Talent Acquisition Specialist at Blue Heron Consulting, has crafted a career marked by a unique blend of expertise in both the veterinary and recruiting industries. Leslie’s journey began with the pursuit of her Associates in Veterinary Technology at Brown Mackie College, where she honed her skills and gained valuable insights into the world of animal care.

However, Leslie’s professional trajectory took an exciting turn when she discovered her true passion for recruiting. Fueled by her innate ability to connect with people and a genuine desire to help others achieve their career aspirations, Leslie found her calling in Talent Acquisition. At Blue Heron Consulting, Leslie excels in identifying and securing top-tier talent, leveraging her extensive industry knowledge to match skilled professionals with rewarding opportunities.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Leslie leads a fulfilling personal life in St. Louis, MO. In addition to sharing her home with her husband Bryan, dog Maggie, and four cats, Leslie is the proud owner of a horse named Merida. Leslie and her husband can often be found exploring the beauty of nature by camping, floating, and visiting National Parks, creating cherished memories together. This connection with the majestic animal world adds another layer to Leslie’s love for nature. Outside of her outdoor adventures with Bryan, Leslie finds solace in the pages of books, showcasing her avid love for reading.

Aida Raslawsky joins the Blue Heron Consulting team with experience in talent sourcing and recruiting. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing, which has equipped her with a strong foundation in strategic marketing and consumer behavior. Her educational background, coupled with her dedication to the veterinary industry, positions her as an asset to our hiring services team.

Being in the recruiting and sourcing space since 2017, she’s had the privilege of connecting talented individuals with their dream careers. Her passion for this work stems from a genuine desire to help people achieve their professional goals and find fulfillment in their roles. She believes that the right talent can truly drive an organization’s success and is committed to making meaningful contributions in this field.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Aida has a creative side that finds expression through crafting hobbies. She often spends her free time immersed in various DIY projects, such as painting and sculpting. She shares her home with four beloved dogs, Lucy, Scarlett, Ginger, and Isabelle, and one kitten named Blue, who bring endless joy and laughter. Alongside them, her husband, Jesse, and children, are a constant source of support and inspiration.