Michelle L.
Registered Veterinary Technician
Michelle grew up in Eastern Montana, where she and her sister would spend hours catching turtles and salamanders to leave in the bathtub and scare their mother! In high school, Michelle realized she wanted to work with animals as a career, and looked into the Veterinary Technician profession.
Just before she graduated from Veterinary Technician school, Michelle heard about an opening at Dakota Hills. She put in an application, was interviewed, and then was hired. She’s now worked here for over 20 years!
Erin S.
Registered Veterinary Technician
Erin has been interested in veterinary medicine for as long as she can remember. She always wanted to help animals since they can’t tell their owners what hurts or what is wrong. Now she cares for pets every day at Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic!
Erin lived in Hermosa until she was in third grade, then moved to the Rapid Valley area, where she still lives. She attended Black Hills State University, then joined the Veterinary Technology program at National American University where she earned her Associates of Science in Veterinary Technology. She worked as a receptionist at Dakota Hills while attending school, then accepted a job as a Registered Veterinary Technician after graduation.
Juley C.
Registered Veterinary Technician
Growing up on a small hobby farm in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Juley had three horses of her own and loved to train and ride. These early experiences inspired her to work in the exciting and challenging field of veterinary medicine.
Juley’s passion for animals led her to pursue a business degree and an equine training degree. While attending school in Rapid City, she took a summer job at Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic. This experience solidified her desire to become a veterinary technician.
Shannon K.
Registered Veterinary Technician
Shannon grew up in a military family and lived many places growing up. One of her favorites was Germany! Throughout her childhood, she always had pet rats, and they inspired her to work somewhere that she could educate people on all different types of pets.
Since her father retired at Ellsworth Air Force Base, Shannon started classes close to home at National American University. Now she works as a Veterinary Technician, and especially enjoys running lab work. It’s amazing to Shannon what you can find out about an animal through their blood work. She also enjoys helping pets live longer through the advanced tests the clinic is able to perform.
Outside of work, Shannon loves going camping. She has two little black and white Shih Tzu’s and a tan and white rat—all of which Shannon likes to spoil rotten!
Linda C.
Registered Veterinary Technician
Linda decided to enter the world of veterinary care for a very simple reason: she wanted to use her time and energy to better the lives of creatures who can’t always speak for themselves. She’s always known that pet care was her true calling! Linda is proud to help animals on a daily basis as a Registered Veterinary Technician, and she loves that she’s able to do it as a part of the talented Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic team.
Linda was born in Germany thanks to her father’s military service, and settled here in Rapid City with her family after his retirement. She’s been here ever since! Linda attended National American University’s veterinary technology program to become a Registered Veterinary Technician, and joined the Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic family shortly after earning her credentials.
Abra S.
Registered Veterinary Technician
Like most people, Abra has always loved animals. Beyond that, however, she found herself wanting to do more to help them and gain a deeper understanding of their health and wellbeing. To this day, she feels that if she knew then what she knows now, her beloved cat Mesigh might have lived even longer than her 20 years. It is this desire to ensure that every animal enjoys his or her best life that drives Abra every day.
While living in Colorado, Abra reached a crossroads in her life. Her husband had lost his job and she found herself considering going back to school. Drawing from her deep interest in animal care, she began researching veterinary technician programs and settled on Pima Medical Institute. After completing the program, Abra joined the Dakota Hills team in September of 2022. Clinically, she enjoys patient care and has a particular interest in surgery.
Missy L.
Registered Veterinary Technician
Growing up, Missy spent a lot of time in Torrington, WY, where her mother’s family owned many ranches. Visiting them was a highlight of her childhood, but it wasn’t until she witnessed her great uncle perform a procedure on a cow that Missy became hooked on veterinary medicine. As a vet tech here at Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic, she now gets to follow in her uncle’s footsteps and is loving every minute of it!
Missy attended Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington but ended up in Sturgis with her husband before deciding to stay in the Black Hills area. She joined the Dakota Hills team as a part timer and transitioned to full time in 2022. Outside of the clinic, Missy lives with her husband and their two children. The family is surrounded by cats, dogs, horses, a few dairy goats and one very lovable Holstein.
Missy’s summers are busy with horses and 4-H projects, but during the cooler months, she enjoys quilting and frequenting quilt shops (her fabric stash is pretty crazy).
Kayla S.
Registered Veterinary Technician
Kayla grew up in Rapid City, SD. Raised in a ranching family, she spent most of her childhood rodeoing and was also very active in FFA and 4-H, showing cattle, horses, and sheep. Over the years, Kayla began to develop a deep interest in the medical side of animal care and was always fascinated whenever the vet would come out to visit the ranch. It came as no surprise that she would end up pursuing a career in the veterinary industry!
Kayla attended vet tech school at National American University. Upon her graduation in 2013, she worked at a mixed animal practice in Winner, SD, where she served primarily as a large animal technician. When she married and started a family, Kayla felt it was time to move back to Rapid City to be closer to family. After working at a few different practices, she joined Dakota Hills in April of 2023. Clinically, Kayla enjoys educating owners on how to help their pets enjoy longer, healthier lives. She also enjoys the challenge of surgery and performing dentals.
Victoria R.
Veterinary Technician
As a veterinary professional, Victoria strives to ensure that animals and their humans experience the best quality of life together. Whether through preventative care, education, or support, Victoria’s goal is to empower pet owners to build enduring, meaningful relationships with their animal companions.
Victoria’s journey began in high school, when she shadowed at a local vet clinic. She loved every moment of that experience, and by the end of the day, she eagerly asked if any volunteer positions were available. To her surprise, they encouraged her to apply on the spot, and within a week, she was hired as a veterinary assistant and kennel technician. Throughout her junior and senior years, Victoria worked there every weekend and during holiday breaks.
Christina H.
Veterinary Assistant
As a child growing up in Rapid City, Christina remembers the countless hours she spent glued to the television, mesmerized by animal rescue shows. Even at a young age, she felt inspired and compelled to help pets in need and do whatever she could to provide them with a healthy, happy life.
Christina attended South Dakota State University, majoring in Animal Science with the initial intention of going to veterinary school. Towards the end of her time at SDSU, however, she changed her mind and decided to return to her hometown to get an early start on her career. Upon graduation from college, Christina joined the Dakota Hills team as one of our veterinary assistants.
At home, Christina has a fur baby of her own named Simon, whom she rescued in 2020. Simon’s favorite thing to do is burrow under any blanket he can find.
Paige G.
Veterinary Assistant
All her life, Paige has constantly found herself around animals. Whether she was throwing a ball for her dog, riding horses, taking care of her family’s guinea pigs, or collecting eggs from chickens, she’s always loved being close to the earth’s creatures! For Paige, working as a part of Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic’s boarding team is a dream come true.
Paige is from central North Dakota and moved to South Dakota in April of 2021. It wasn’t long before she’d joined the team here at Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic—Paige has been a part of the hospital family since June. She loves that no two days are ever quite the same, and finds that her job constantly keeps her on her toes. She’s also fond of getting to meet and greet a wide variety of animals as well as their loving owners.
When she’s not at work, Paige likes riding and breaking horses, hiking and camping in the great outdoors, and spending quality time with her family and pets. She has a rescued Red Heeler, Carson, as well as four wonderful horses: Kodiak, Ember, Luna, and Bella.
Emma W.
Veterinary Assistant
When Emma was around seven years old, she was gifted a cat for her birthday. The two quickly became inseparable until the family’s other cat passed away. Seeing her beloved pet grieving over the loss of his companion and how it affected his personality broke Emma’s heart. At the same time, it sparked a desire to work in the animal field so she could help other pets and their owners during challenging times. As a Receptionist at Dakota Hills, Emma pushes herself daily to provide the best care and support possible.
Once she graduated high school, Emma jumped right into the animal care field when she started working at a doggie daycare. From there, she moved on to join the Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic team, initially as a Boarding Assistant which transitioned to a Receptionist position. Professionally, Emma loves helping our patients and boarders feel comfortable and cared for like family, while also creating trusting relationships with their loving owners. When asked, she says she wouldn’t trade working here for anything!
Jaden
Receptionist Manager
Jaden’s journey into veterinary medicine began not with a clear plan, but with a simple truth—she has always felt at home around animals. Growing up in Rapid City, South Dakota, she spent her time playing sports and enjoying the outdoors with family and friends. While she wasn’t sure what career path she wanted to pursue in high school, she knew she wanted animals to be part of her life in some meaningful way. With no prior exposure to the field, she carved out her own path and learned along the way.
That instinct led her into veterinary medicine, beginning on the emergency side of the profession. Working in emergency care gave Jaden valuable experience in fast-paced, high-pressure situations where clear communication, empathy, and calm reassurance matter most. She later expanded her skills as a technician assistant and technician, building a strong medical foundation before transitioning into her current role as a receptionist at Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic.
Lisa H
Receptionist
Lisa joined Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic in October 2024 as the receptionist manager, bringing with her a lifelong connection to animals and a calm, capable presence at the front desk.
Raised in the countryside of New York, Lisa grew up surrounded by horses, dogs, cats, and just about every kind of farm animal imaginable. By the age of 13, she was training performance horses—an adventure that would take her far beyond her hometown. As Lisa’s love for horses evolved into a full-blown career, she’s traveled across the United States, Germany, and Austria showing in Reining, Cutting, Reined Cow Horse, and Ranch Sorting competitions.
Cassandra
Receptionist
Cassandra has always believed that the way you make people feel matters. Born and raised in Rapid City, she naturally gravitated toward roles centered around communication and connection. She worked in serving, call centers, and medical reception, developing strong customer service skills while searching for a career that felt purposeful and fulfilling.
That direction became clear during the eight years she lived in Wisconsin. It was there that she discovered her passion for the pet care industry. She stepped into reception roles within boarding facilities, grooming salons, daycare programs, and dog training environments. Each setting gave her a deeper understanding of pet behavior, client education, and the trust families place in those caring for their animals. Veterinary medicine became the perfect blend of her strengths — supporting people while helping the pets they love most.
Brittany
Receptionist
For Brittany, working in veterinary medicine feels like coming full circle. Her career with animals began in 2008 at a local animal shelter, where she quickly discovered how much she valued being part of something bigger than herself. She looked forward to every shift and often volunteered for extra hours, drawn to the sense of purpose that came from caring for animals who needed a second chance. That experience confirmed that her future would always include animals in some way.
She later spent time working in pet daycare before joining an animal hospital in 2011, starting in the kennels and eventually moving into a front office position. Along the way, she realized something important: what fulfilled her most was not just caring for pets, but also helping the people who love them. Supporting worried owners, answering questions, and guiding families through appointments allowed her to blend her two passions — helping animals and helping people — into one meaningful career path.
Amber B.
Boarding Manager
As a child, Amber spent most of her summers traveling with her grandparents. While visiting with family in Minnesota, she and her cousin would spend days on end collecting goose feathers, or trying to catch frogs and salamanders following a rain storm. When she wasn’t playing outside, she was parked in front of the television watching Animal Planet or animal specials on the Discovery Channel. Even back then, Amber knew deep down that she’d one day work with animals.
Unlike many of her colleagues, Amber didn’t jump right into animal care. Instead, she spent many years working in retail, including 11 of which she served as general manager of a candy store. When that store closed, Amber found herself at a crossroads, and her childhood dream of working with animals began to creep back in. Despite having no experience beyond owning her own pets, Amber took a chance and applied at Dakota Hills. What she loves most about her job is the relationships she builds with clients and getting to see the animals that come in as puppies or kittens grow into adults over the course of their stays.
Shelby G.
Boarding Assistant
Shelby was raised in Rapid City around house pets and farm animals of all different species and temperaments. From a very young age, she felt a strong desire to learn more about animals and help them in any way she could. This passion for creatures large and small ultimately shaped Shelby’s career path and led her to where she is today.
Prior to joining the Dakota Hills team, Shelby spent several months working at a doggie daycare and boarding facility. She found herself longing for more, so she decided to change gears and focus on the veterinary industry. In her role as a boarding assistant, Shelby enjoys spending time outside with the dogs, letting them exercise and play. She also loves learning new things every day.
Ambree I.
Boarding Assistant
At just 16 years old, Ambree took a step toward the future she had always imagined. Wanting to see what life inside a veterinary clinic was really like, she applied to Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic in September 2025. She had always known animals would be part of her career, and working as a boarding assistant felt like the perfect place to begin exploring that calling.
Sage B.
Boarding Assistant
Sage joined Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic after reaching out to the clinic in search of work that would help her get some hands-on experience with animals. Now a dedicated boarding assistant, Sage is a gentle and devoted caretaker, who does all she can to make sure her furry wards are comfortable during their stays. She is also the friendly face many pets see during their stay. Whether it’s helping a nervous pup adjust to their first time away from home or facilitating a joyful reunion at pickup time, Sage helps make the entire boarding experience as smooth and easy as possible for both pets and their people.
Katrina W.
Inventory Manager, Veterinary Technician
Katrina’s passion for animals and the veterinary field began at the age of eight when she was growing up on her family farm in Northern Montana. Her special affinity with animals and knack for their care made her a natural fit for working as a Veterinary Technician!
Katrina received her degree in Veterinary Technology from National College in Rapid City. After working at various clinics, Katrina and her family settled in Rapid City because it was the perfect hub for their busy schedules—she was hired at Dakota Hills shortly afterwards and recently celebrated her tenth anniversary with the clinic!
Kendra H.
Clinic Administrator
Kendra grew up on a ranch about an hour northeast of Rapid City. Since her parents’ livelihood depended on the livestock they raised, Kendra learned not only how to care for animals, but the value of responsibility and a strong work ethic!
After high school, Kendra enrolled in National American University’s Veterinary Technology Program. She worked part-time as a Veterinary Assistant until she finished up her degree, when she was given a Veterinary Technician position at the clinic. She’s been working at Dakota Hills since November of 1997, and has held the Clinic Administrator position since 2009!
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