Practice Manager
Gayle Craig, CVPM
Gayle Craig joined our hospital in August of 2011. She has been a resident of Ashburnham since 2004 and has lived in Massachusetts all of her life. She and her husband together have two very busy children. When they are not attending their children's sporting events, music lessons or theater practice, she is singing and accompanying herself with her acoustic guitar in local venues and farmer's markets.
The co-leader and co-founder of her children's New Hampshire 4H Club - Hooves, Hens, Heifers and Happiness, she and her daughter train their packgoats, Elwood, Killian and Guinness, to hike with them up local mountains. If you live locally, you may have seen them out together on the trail! Besides their hobby farm animals, they share their home with two conventional pets, Daisy, the most loyal of loyal family dogs, and Little Cat (self- explanatory), an avid hunter, yet cuddly companion.
Gayle has been working in the veterinary field since 1989 and has been a veterinary hospital manager since 1995. Her background, though originally in communications and graphic design, led her to her true calling in the veterinary world where she often utilizes those skills, combining them with her passion for exceptional customer service and untiring pursuit of promoting the understanding of what is progressive and outstanding veterinary care, facilitating the delivery of both to the pets of the community.
A former American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) accredited practice of the year award recipient, Gayle is a member of the AAHA Accreditation Awareness Advisory Group, the AAHA Yearly Conference Development Committee – Management Education Workgroup, a Veterinary Hospital Manager Association (VHMA) Marketing Committee Member, a VHMA Mentor for CVPM applicants, and a founding member of the Greater Boston Veterinary Practice Managers Group. She is also an affiliate reporter for the Veterinary News Network.
Gayle became certified in veterinary practice management in 2004 by the VHMA. In order to be certified, one must complete rigorous study requirements and in-depth, various educational requirements in subjects such as law and ethics, psychology, leadership and economics and have 3 years of experience in veterinary practice management prior to sitting for the certification test. To maintain the title she must attend 48 hours of management continuing education every two years. To date there are less than 300 CVPM's in the United States and Canada. Gayle is very proud of this title, and stays fully committed to uphold all that the CVPM certification stands for when working with her team members, with the hospital's clientele and patients, and while representing Gardner Animal Care Center on a local level. She hopes to expand the representation of the GACC on a national and international level in the future by putting the town of Gardner on the map to be recognized as a premiere location for excellence in pet care.