Our Veterinary Staff
Our staff members are fervent animal lovers with big hearts and a dedication to offering emotional and medical support to people and their pets. We’re lucky to have team members who have been with us for many years, forging long-lasting bonds with pet families in and around the community. Take a moment to learn their names and faces before your first visit!
Jill, Practice Manager
Jill began her career at Skycrest in 1991 as a receptionist, eventually became a technician, and since 2001 has served as the practice manager. Her duties include payroll, inventory control, accounts payable and receivable and most of all, trying to keep everyone happy! She has an advanced diploma in Animal Homeopathy and a certificate in Animal Nutrition, and hopes her knowledge will benefit our patients at Skycrest. Jill and her husband Steven share their home with a dog, Ella, and three cats named Lady, Sparkle, and Violette. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with her horse, Spirit.
Client Service Representatives
Amanda C., Lead Client Service Representative
Amanda’s journey in veterinary medicine began in 2016 at a 24-hour Specialty Emergency & Critical Care/Level 1 Trauma Center as a client service coordinator. While this was not her intended career path, it didn’t take long for Amanda to realize that this was the field she was always meant to be in, and her passion has only grown each day since.
In August 2019, Amanda decided to venture into general practice, and was fortunate to join the Skycrest team as a receptionist. In February 2021, she took on the role of lead client service representative. She instantly fell in love with her new family and second home; and no, not just because of the aesthetics! Amanda loves helping her clients, patients, and support staff and genuinely cannot picture herself anywhere else. Outside of work, Amanda can be found in tie-dye hanging with her family, friends, and/or three dogs Buck, Archibald, and Loucy-Lou. Her hobbies include yoga, hiking, making people laugh, and anything art-related, including drawing, painting, writing, photography and of course, tie-dying.
Iza, Client Service Representative
Iza is originally from Poland, where her grandfather and uncle are veterinarians. Iza has worked in the veterinary field for over 15 years and has been a part of our Skycrest family since 2012. Iza loves and shares her life with two very spoiled cats, Azriel and Mufa and spends lots of time with her sister's dog and bunny, but Iza's biggest passion is horses.
Amanda K., Client Service Representative
Amanda began working as a technician assistant in 2017, left us for several months, and then came back as a receptionist in 2019. She is part of the reception team that makes sure that all of our clients' questions are answered and that all runs smoothly at the front desk. Amanda lives with her husband James and their dog Autumn. When Amanda isn’t working at Skycrest she is an avid equestrian who rides and shows her own horses.
Barb, Client Service Representative
Skycrest is Barbara’s dream job because she gets to work with great people and play with dogs all day! Barbara is an award-winning freelance feature writer with two degrees in journalism, including a master’s degree in medical and health writing. She writes an online Pet of the Week column for shelter dogs and cats for www.patch.com, and believes that rescuing saves both the pet and the new owner! Barbara’s 3 children are all grown up, but she and her physician husband, David, have three rescue dogs, Mickey, Alex, and Sammy, along with their “grand dog” Libby, to keep them busy!
Gena, Client Service Representative
Gena recently joined Skycrest in the summer of 2021 as a receptionist. She enjoys learning all she can to help all of our clients and feels like she has made some amazing connections. Animals have always had a special place in her heart, and being able to help others keep their furry family members healthy is very fulfilling for Gena. She shares her home with two dogs, Hoss and Stella, and in her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends and loves to travel. Her newest hobbies that she enjoys are computer video gaming and cooking.
Alison, Client Service Representative
Alison joined the Skycrest team in the summer of 2021 as a Client Service Representative. From a very young age, Alison has enjoyed being around all kinds of animals. Alison worked at Bentley’s Pet Supplies in Long Grove where she coached clients on what and how to feed their pets. Following in the footsteps of her Mom who was a veterinary technician, Alison decided to join the veterinary field. She enjoys meeting new clients and seeing some familiar faces from her time at Bentley’s. Alison currently lives with her two dogs Colt and Shelby, as well as her two cats Willow and Nala and her chinchilla Muffin. During her free time Alison enjoys going on long walks and riding her horse.
Alondra, Client Service Representative
Bio coming soon!
Annie, Client Service Representative
Bio coming soon!
Chani, Project Manager
Finding Skycrest was a dream come true for Chani. Since 2006, she has worked at various clinics in positions ranging from receptionist and assistant technician to office manager. She loves to come to work every day to see all the adorable pets and really enjoys getting to know their families. Chani is our “go to” computer whiz and does her best to help us utilize our computers and software to the fullest. She also works on all special projects and has her hand in just about everything to help clients have the best experience possible when they come to Skycrest. When she is not working, Chani enjoys spending time with her husband Scott, their daughter Charlotte, son Ben and their Shih Tzus, Looie and Winnie. The entire family LOVES all things Disney!
Veterinary Technicians
Lindsay, Veterinary Technician
Lindsay has been part of the Skycrest family as a surgical technician since 2010. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Shortly after graduating, she started volunteering at a local animal shelter and realized her passion for animals was too strong to ignore. She decided to leave her career behind and enroll in veterinary technician school, where she graduated at the top of her class. Lindsay is thrilled to spend each day at Skycrest doing what she loves most--caring for animals!
Outside of work, Lindsay loves being at home with her husband Zach, their three children Vince, Giada, and Theo, and their Ragdoll cat, Sophia. Lindsay spends any time she can outdoors with her family, enjoying nature, and feeding the deer, foxes, and bunnies that stop by her yard for nightly treats.
Heather, Veterinary Technician
Heather joined the Skycrest team in January of 2018. She graduated from Rockford Career College in 2010 with an associate degree in animal science and is a Certified Veterinary Technician. Earlier in her career, she was able to take X-rays of a red-tailed hawk and administered injections to a great horned owl! Since being in the veterinary field for 8 years, Heather really enjoys educating clients on proper pet care and finds immense satisfaction in helping treat pets that are ill. She shares her home with her husband PJ, daughter Maxine, step daughter Kira, and a cat named Ninja. In her spare time, she enjoys running and being with family and friends.
Kelly, Veterinary Technician
Kelly has been working in the veterinary field in various states, including Virginia and California, since 2012. Her obvious love of travel affords her the opportunity to do what she enjoys, including photographing wildlife and taking animal portraits. Kelly lives with her husband, their daughter, three dogs and three cats, and loves meeting and helping all the pets that come to Skycrest!
Katie, Veterinary Technician
Katie’s career with animals began when she became a dog bather at the age of 12, and her love of animals motivated her to go to school to become a veterinary technician. Although Katie loves all her patients, she has a special fondness for all things feline, and it was at her suggestion that Skycrest became a Feline Friendly Practice! Katie shares her life with a rescued dog and three awesome rescued kitty boys.
Francesca, Veterinary Technician
Francesca joined Skycrest in 2020 as a Certified Veterinary Technician, and you may also see her helping out at our front desk. Francesca’s love of animals led her to become a veterinary assistant at 19 years of age. In 2021, she graduated from Parkland College and became a Certified Veterinary Technician. She has spent most of her career working in specialty and emergency veterinary medicine. When she is not at Skycrest, she shares her home with her husband and is a mom to their 2-year-old daughter and their dog named Vidalia.
Kassandra, Veterinary Technician
Sandy has been at Skycrest since 2007. Most often she is working with Dr. Wojcik to care for your four-legged babies. While she loves caring for the animals, it’s the connection with the clients that she enjoys most. Outside of Skycrest, you will find her spending time with her Golden Retriever, Burton, and her boyfriend Ben at a farmers’ market or craft fair.
Kristen, Veterinary Technician
It seems like Kristen always loved animals from the time she could remember. She began working for a veterinarian when she was 17 and has never looked back. She attended Harper College where she received an associate degree and has been a vet tech for the last 23 years. Kristen lives in the NW Suburbs with her husband, their two children, and 3 rescues: Maverick, a Great Dane, and Jeffree and Raylan, who are domestic shorthairs.
Mindy, Veterinary Technician
Mindy joined Skycrest as a Technician in 2021. She began her veterinary career when she was 16. Mindy has always loved the Shedd Aquarium and in another life served as a special events volunteer there. She has a degree in interior design and loves doing art, design, and gardening when she is not taking care of all of our Skycrest clients.