NEWS & ARTICLES

Dear AAIV Members, As we move into the second quarter, the American Association of Industry Veterinarians (AAIV) is focused on strengthening our community and maximizing the value we deliver to you, our members. We want every member to be an enthusiastic ambassador, confidently recommending AAIV membership as an essential resource to their colleagues. This commitment is how we will strengthen the professional development of our members, reinforce our organization and amplify our collective voice. Your input is essential to this mission. We actively welcome your thoughts and recommendations on what would make AAIV more valuable to you, whether through education, networking, or advocacy. Please email me at any time at Carolyn_Luther@hillspet.com with your thoughts and suggestions, and look for a membership survey coming in the next few months. A key opportunity to connect and recruit new members is fast approaching! We eagerly anticipate seeing many of you this July at the AVMA Convention. AAIV will be hosting a dedicated networking event and our hybrid in-person and virtual Annual General Membership Meeting on Sunday morning. Please RSVP here , and most importantly, bring a colleague who is not yet a member! These gatherings are a powerful way to reconnect, engage and truly showcase the strength of our community. I would like to share with you a recent and important project that is very nearly completed. In 2025, to ensure a more consistent, timely, and fiscally responsible program, we initiated a search for a new statistician for our annual AAIV Compensation Survey. We are pleased to announce a new partnership with the AVMA, and that the AAIV Compensation Survey will now be known as the AVMA/AAIV Economic Survey. Please watch your inbox over the next few weeks for more information and a link to complete this year's survey. Thank you to our dedicated board, officers, and volunteers for their ongoing commitment. I urge you to stay engaged, participate in our initiatives and help us collectively shape the future of the American Association of Industry Veterinarians. Respectfully, Carolyn Luther, D.V.M. President, American Association of Industry Veterinarians (AAIV)

Debra Nickelson DVM, MBA AAIV Delegate House Advisory Committee VOLUNTEER There are always open positions on AVMA Councils, Committees and Task Forces. You have experience and expertise to offer. Serving on a council, committee or task force is a way to make your voice heard and contribute to the advancement of veterinary medicine in general. What is involved? Usually, people serve a three-year team on councils and committees and may seek a second term for three years. Meetings are at AVMA headquarters in Schaumburg IL once or twice a year and virtually. Any ad hoc work is done remotely. For positions that include both a delegate and alternate delegate, the alternate is included in email and learns from the delegate but may not attend meetings, depending on the group. The positions that will be available for election in January 2027 are: Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents , one position at large and one position focusing on microbiology Committee on Disaster and Emergency Issues , one position for a credentialed veterinary technician. Application due Oct 13, 2026 Food Safety Advisory Committee , one position representing aquatic food animal and one position representing pet food manufacturing Veterinary Leadership Conference Planning , one position of Leadership Development Advisory. Application due Oct 13, 2026. Make sure your professional information is up to date on your AVMA membership profile. Here is more information. Volunteering with the AVMA | American Veterinary Medical Association I am happy to assist you to figure out which position would be the best fit and help you navigate the application and nomination process. Send a message to me at industryvets@ aaivet.org !

AAIV’s sponsor, Total Planning, would like to share some frequently asked questions. Make sure to mention you are an AAIV member as members receive a discount! What is Disability Income insurance? It’s a financial safety net that helps replace a portion of your income if a serious illness or injury prevents you from working. How does Disability Income insurance work? You make scheduled payments just like you do with other types of insurance. Then, if you ever get a serious illness or injury that prevents you from working, you receive a monthly benefit that helps you pay everyday living expenses. Think of this insurance as protection for your income (disability insurance is sometimes known as “income protection”). How much does Disability Income insurance cost? It depends on a few factors, such as your income and age. Why is Disability Income insurance important? Your income is your financial foundation. It pays for immediate needs, like groceries and your mortgage or rent, and it helps you save for the future. That’s why protecting it in the event of a disability is so vital. Disabilities are more common than you might think. The word “disability” may make you think of accidents, like back injuries or severe falls. But most disabilities come in the form of common, long-term illnesses, like cancer or Parkinson’s disease. Supplement what you have through work. Already have disability insurance through your employer? That’s a good start. But it typically only covers about 60% of your income—also when you leave a job, that coverage doesn’t come with you. Individual Disability Income insurance can help protect more of your income, and it’s 100% yours. Focus on healing. No one wants to think about getting too sick or hurt to work. But if it happens, Disability Income insurance lets you worry less about your finances, so you can focus on getting better. Contact Total Planning Veterinary Services for more information- 352-373-3000 or https://www.tpvetservices.com/ Make sure to mention you are an AAIV member as members receive a discount! Insurance products issued by Principal Life Insurance Company®, a member of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392. This is a summary of the benefits disability insurance provides, but there are limitations and exclusions. For cost and coverage details, Total Planning Veterinary Services. David Lerner Total Planning P: (352) 373-3000 F: (352) 373-9887 4881 NW 8th Ave Suite 4 Gainesville FL 32605

When I made the decision to step into the world of business, I never imagined the depth of lessons I would learn along the way. Science and business are not two separate worlds; they are intertwined, each feeding off the other, creating something much bigger than the sum of their parts. In my early days, I relied heavily on my scientific background, thinking it would be enough to navigate the business world. After all, science is grounded in evidence, logic and experimentation. What could go wrong? But soon, I realized that business isn’t just about data! It is about people, communication, style, relationships and creativity. It’s about knowing how to apply the scientific principles to create real-world value. So, the data in the paper is not enough if it is only a theory. Lesson #1: Science Without Business Is Incomplete Science is big and it is powerful alone! But this does not mean you can always translate science into success in business. I could analyze data, interpret results and create solutions, but I had to learn how to communicate scientific ideas effectively. Business taught me that understanding customers’ needs, developing a strategy and managing resources were at least as necessary as the scientific results. In other words, if you don’t understand the market, the regulatory environment and how to build the brand, even the most groundbreaking scientific discovery can fall short. Take science as the foundation and create the business as a structure – they are good together! Lesson #2: Failures Are the Best Teachers It took a decade for me to accept failures as opportunities! In my early career days, any failure felt like the end of the world, at least the product or project. Then I looked back one day and realized that my failures have been my greatest teachers. After that day when something went wrong, I just saw it as an opportunity to adjust, learn and grow. Remember that failure isn’t a reflection of your capabilities but a part of the journey. Enjoy and welcome them when they happen, then learn from, correct and proceed. Lesson #3: Small Steps Lead to Big Wins One obvious outcome from my two decades of experience was: “Success rarely comes in a single leap. It usually is a series of small, intentional steps.” You can see how they become giant strides by taking small steps every day. Consistency is the key! Even a little something becomes a great buildup with consistent work, leading you to significant achievements. Lesson #4: Build Strong, Meaningful Relationships If you cannot be the queen or king of networking (like me, thanks to ADHD), immediately find one for yourself and love them so much! Focusing only on research, results and data is easy and enough in the scientific world. But in business, relationships are everything. I learned that the success of my company was not just about the science behind the ideas and products; it was about the people I worked with, the connections I made and the networks I built. Don’t make a big collection of new business cards! Focus on the collection of meaningful relationships with the people who challenge you, support you and push you to grow. And be grateful to them – they are your true assets. Lesson #5: Adaptability Is Key to Survival If you ask me about a similarity between science and business, I say things will not go as planned, every time! An experiment might fail, but this is the beauty of science, right? We call it the ever-evolving process of learning and adapting! The same is true in business. No matter how carefully you plan, there will always be unforeseen challenges. The key is adaptability. When the market shifts or regulations change, being able to adjust your strategy is crucial. Thus, you must be flexible and open-minded, not to fear changing directions when necessary.