Today we’d like to introduce you to Desiree Riniker.
Hi Desiree, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
After spending 21 years working alongside some of the best and brightest veterinary professionals, like many veterinary professionals in our industry, my mental health broke. Our industry is currently fighting a plague of suicide and mental illness.
I knew that if I did not take a break, it would not end up well for me. I knew my mind and body needed to heal, and so I took 6 months away from my passion to just breathe. I am so glad I did. During that time, my passion was able to return to life and breath fire into the business I run today, Charleston Veterinary Staffing Solutions. The business model is the only one in the state, and one of only two or three in the entire southeast region. My breaking point lead me here – because I knew there were just too many casualties in our industry and it was time to do better. I have tried for so long to surround myself with the movers and the doers in my field, and it was time for me to finally become one.
But let me back up just a little bit. I had my humble beginnings in veterinary medicine working as an entry-level kennel technician until someone took the time to train me into the professional I am today. And while I have several mentors and people I credit for my success and training along the way, the most influential was a business professor at college. When I decided, I wanted to shift my focus in vet med from patient care to people, I decided to become a business major. There, I encountered one of the most influential college professors I have ever had – he taught me so much about people – and I credit the mass success I have had running practices to what I learned from him.
During my time as a practice manager, I managed to lead a very broken, toxic team of people to a top 10 team out of 57 other teams. Under my leadership and their hard work, the practice we ran together doubled its producing revenues in 5 years. This is a feat that is not well heard of in veterinary medicine. Together, we broke the one million dollar revenue mark and kept it ongoing. When my mental health broke in late 2019, it was a devastating blow for all of us. I had to step down and let someone else lead my team… and I was heartbroken.
When COVID began to rage and change the face of how all of us do business, I decided it was time to rejoin my ranks with a new and fresh approach to some of our industry challenges. Charleston Veterinary Staffing Solutions was born in early 2020, right at the outset of the pandemic. It was an incredible challenge, but a challenge that fed my soul. The beginning was rough, it took months to get our first gig. But once we took off, the amount of success our business model has found has been absolutely tremendous.
Since then, the business has thrived under the careful management of its people. I staunchly believe that our people are what make us, and we need to recognize, care, and even pray over them. I credit God for my strength and for my success, he drives me in the directions I need to make sure I can be a caring, kind, compassionate person that understands where my people are.
At CVSS, we believe in harmony and work-life balance, and that our families come first. And sticking to all of these values has brought us everything we need, and more, to recognize the vision I have had.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Most definitely not. Initially, building a client base was one of my biggest challenges. I had to get the word out and we did a TON of marketing via Facebook, mailers, and emails, but because of COVID, it was difficult to get face-to-face meetings to really explain what we were doing. Veterinarians are always usually resistant to change, so getting practices to understand we were here to help was a big challenge.
Also, in an ever-changing and one of the most competitive labor markets I have ever seen, reaching and retaining quality people to go out and carry out our mission was no easy feat. We only look for the best and the brightest to represent us in our client hospitals, so we had to rely on a lot of word of mouth and my previous reputation to find people willing to give us a shot.
Today, almost a year and a half later – we cannot keep up with the demand and I have new applicants that see the value in what we do every day.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are the only firm like ours throughout South Carolina and one of only two or three throughout the entire Southeast. My mission is to make a difference in a field that is suffering from not just staff shortages, but staffing crises. I work hard to stick to that mission every day.
I also think it is important that we are giving back – so I often do discount or no charge work if I feel I am giving something back to my industry. Giving back is as important to me as the financial benefits that have come to me – the financial benefits mean nothing if I am not taking the time to share my knowledge with someone, guide someone, or help them find their way – even if it means I am not paid for that particular situation or connection.
On top of staffing, I also do consultation work, recruiting for staff for hospitals, headhunting for veterinarians, and my personal favorite, full labor analysis. If someone is suffering from a toxic team or a payroll they cannot afford, I love the challenge that brings to help a practice set that right by rebuilding and sometimes even rebranding.
As far as what I am most proud of, it would definitely be the team that we have built. They are some of the most selfless, hard-working, strong people I know… they are my hero’s and I feel so blessed to have them helping bring our passion for helping struggling veterinary teams help pets.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Never, EVER. EVER give up. Believe in yourself and go out and just do things. I had no idea how to launch an LLC, so I researched it and I executed it. Never stop learning, never stop growing and trying to figure out new things. If a door seems to have closed, bang down ten more until you get the desired results.
Contact Info:
- Email: Charlestonvss@gmail.com
- Website: Charlestonvss.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharlestonVSS
Image Credits
Amanda Verhage
