Kate Kalina
Cary,IL
Summary
Organized and strategic marketing and events professional with deep experience in animal health. Skilled in leading cross-functional initiatives, shaping brand presence, and driving commercial impact through conferences, educational programs, and national events. Known for combining big-picture thinking with strong operational execution, stakeholder collaboration, and data-informed decision making.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
EDUCATION & EVENT MANAGER
MOVES
01.2023 - Current
- Lead planning and execution of national conferences (VMX, WVC, ACVS) and several regional CE events, including program development, RACE approval, logistics, and onsite management.
- Manage the full event lifecycle from concept through completion, overseeing venue sourcing, booth design, budget control, vendor coordination, shipping, and staffing schedules.
- Design creative booth layouts and attendee experiences to maximize engagement, traffic flow, and brand visibility.
- Developed and maintained SOPs for shipping, booth breakdown, sponsorship fulfillment, and event documentation, ensuring operational consistency and scalability.
- Partner with sponsors and vendors (Antech, Elanco, Karl Storz, etc.) to optimize relationships, deliver sponsorship value, and improve ROI.
- Hosted recruiting dinners and continuing education events nationwide, enhancing attendee experience and reinforcing brand consistency.
- Collaborate with marketing to align digital campaigns, pre-event communications, and event branding across all touchpoints.
- Own the full attendee journey from registration through post-event follow-up, ensuring a seamless and professional experience.
- Create detailed timelines, task lists, and contingency plans to ensure deadlines are met and minimize onsite issues.
- Anticipated and resolved onsite challenges in real time.
- Tracked and reconciled event expenses, ensuring accurate financial records and accountability in budget management.
- Lead pre-event planning meetings and serve as the central point of contact across internal teams and external partners to ensure alignment and execution.
- Conduct post-event debriefs, compile attendance and engagement metrics, review feedback, and document key takeaways to inform improvements for future events.
CLAIMS ADJUSTER
FIGO Pet Insurance
Chicago
08.2020 - 12.2022
- Investigate and process insurance claims filed by policyholders.
- Exhibit proficiency in evaluating, processing and resolving claims in a timely and competent manner.
- Operate with significant autonomy and independence, while exceeding daily quotas for claim reviews and managing other daily responsibilities.
- Collaborated with diverse team members and departments across multiple technology platforms to facilitate effective claim processing.
- Leveraged multi-platform capabilities to enhance workflow and streamline claim reviews.
- Navigated and achieved high performance in remote setting by adapting to evolving work conditions.
LEAD SPECIALTY VETERINARIAN TECHNICIAN
Elk Grove Veterinary Specialty and Emergency
Elk Grove Village
03.2019 - 08.2020
- Led the Internal Medicine Department and collaborated with the Specialist / Medical Director to manage daily patient flow, including transfers from ER/CC and other specialty departments.
- Managed Specialist / Medical Director's schedule, ensuring timely appointments and effectively coordinating administrative meetings.
- Participated in recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding IM team members and other staff, enhancing team integration and support.
- Supported and managed second IM assistant, including their on boarding, training, and daily workflow (also worked closely with the Specialist / Medical Director to create employee schedules for the IM department).
- Developed SOPs for daily workflow and IM procedures, standardizing processes to improve departmental efficiency.
- Assisted veterinary team with abdominal ultrasounds, endoscopies, CT scans, and laparoscopic procedures.
- Routinely communicated and collaborated with other veterinary professionals within other departments (including assistants, technicians, emergency clinicians and other specialists).
- Volunteered and supported community activities including the Chicago Pet Expo (included booth setup / tear down, organizing swag, attending the event, and actively engaging both the public and other veterinary professionals).
- Routinely volunteered and assisted various departments, including ER / CC and medical oncology.
CERTIFIED VETERINARY TECHNICIAN
The Royal Treatment Veterinary Center
Chicago
04.2016 - 03.2019
- Collected client information and maintained comprehensive medical charts to enhance record accuracy and support effective treatment.
- Executed safe restraining techniques for acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, and x-rays to ensure patient safety during procedures.
- Assisted in rehab exercises and treatments, including underwater treadmill sessions, improving patient recovery.
- Analyzed weekly and monthly sales data to reduce inventory shortages and maintain optimal stock levels.
CERTIFIED VETERINARIAN TECHNICIAN
Animal Hospital of West Lake Forest
Lake Forest
06.2014 - 04.2016
- Administered anesthesia, intubated, monitored patients, and conducted dental x-rays.
- Performed phlebotomy, slide staining, and vaccine preparation with precision.
- Ensured accurate medication dosing, improving patient recovery rates.
- Worked with veterinarians to develop customized treatment plans, enhancing patient outcomes.
- Managed social media, increasing online engagement and client inquiries.
- Enhanced website content, leading to higher client retention.
HEAD CERTIFIED VETERINARIAN TECHNICIAN
Golf Mil Veterinary Hospital
Niles
07.2009 - 06.2014
- Led team, trained new employees, and managed inventory to ensure smooth operations.
- Communicated with clients and educated them about veterinary care, utilizing Animal Infinity software for efficiency.
- Performed preliminary physical examinations and prepared surgical patients for procedures, ensuring thorough discharge readiness.
Education
CERTIFIED VETERINARIAN TECHNICIAN -
12.2025
LICENSED CLAIMS ADJUSTER -
12.2020
VETERINARIAN TECHNICIAN AA -
International Business College
06.2009
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - HEALTH SERVICES MANAGEMENT
Western Illinois University
07.2007
Skills
- Project management
- Budget management
- Vendor management
- Project oversight
- On-site execution
- Post-event analysis
- Travel coordination
- Team leadership
- Collaborative partner
- Rapidly adapts
- Exceptionally organized
- Highly structured
- Detail-focused
References
References available upon request
Timeline
EDUCATION & EVENT MANAGER
MOVES
01.2023 - Current
CLAIMS ADJUSTER
FIGO Pet Insurance
08.2020 - 12.2022
LEAD SPECIALTY VETERINARIAN TECHNICIAN
Elk Grove Veterinary Specialty and Emergency
03.2019 - 08.2020
CERTIFIED VETERINARY TECHNICIAN
The Royal Treatment Veterinary Center
04.2016 - 03.2019
CERTIFIED VETERINARIAN TECHNICIAN
Animal Hospital of West Lake Forest
06.2014 - 04.2016
HEAD CERTIFIED VETERINARIAN TECHNICIAN
Golf Mil Veterinary Hospital
07.2009 - 06.2014
CERTIFIED VETERINARIAN TECHNICIAN -
LICENSED CLAIMS ADJUSTER -
VETERINARIAN TECHNICIAN AA -
International Business College
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - HEALTH SERVICES MANAGEMENT
Western Illinois University