Webinar Recording: Veterinary Practice Succession Through Cooperative Ownership: Lessons from the Field

Veterinary Practice Succession Through Cooperative Ownership: Lessons from the Field

Watch the YouTube video here

Did you miss our recent session on the future of independent vet clinics? The full webinar recording is now available to watch on demand.

Hosted by the California Center for Cooperative Development (CCCD), this panel explores cooperative ownership as a viable and rewarding succession strategy for independent veterinary practices. As practice owners consider retirement and ownership transitions, cooperative conversion offers a proven pathway to preserve local ownership, retain experienced staff, maintain continuity of care, and set a course for long-term sustainability.

This recording is highly recommended for:

  • Veterinary clinic owners planning to retire, relocate, or transition their business.
  • ​Veterinarians exploring new organizational models for their practice.
  • ​New veterinarians or current DVM students evaluating future career opportunities.
  • Clinic staff curious about how a conversion to a worker cooperative actually works.

What Is Covered

Cooperative developers and veterinarians directly involved in recent practice conversions share their firsthand experiences and practical lessons. The panel breaks down the realities of the conversion process, including financing, governance, implementation, and the necessary legal structures.

Meet the Panelists

  • John Dally, DVM & Anne Vetter, DVM (Veterinarian-Owner-Members, Spring Green & Mazomanie Animal Hospital Cooperatives) Drs. Dally and Vetter co-owned two companion animal practices in rural Wisconsin before successfully transitioning them to an all-employee-owned structure, renamed Cooperative Veterinary Care, in January 2023. They share their candid experiences from before, during, and after the transition process.
  • ​Kristin Forde (Cooperative Development Specialist, University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives) Kristin helped lead the transition of the Spring Green and Mazomanie practices to cooperative ownership. She discusses the step-by-step conversion process, governance design, financing, and key lessons learned from creating one of the nation's first veterinary worker cooperatives.
  • Paola Eisner (Attorney, Tuttle Law Group) Paola advises businesses on ownership transitions and cooperative conversions. She outlines the crucial legal considerations, transaction structures, and practical guidance for veterinary practice owners considering a cooperative model.