Clinic Technicians

Tandy Clifton

Tandy Clifton has been at Kryder Veterinary Clinic since we opened our doors. During high school, she worked in our boarding area and continued at Kryder Veterinary Clinic while attending Purdue University’s veterinary technician program. Her inspiration for becoming a veterinary technician was her compassion for animals and meeting new people. Tandy spends her continuing education time learning how to help animal owners maintain a comfortable quality of life for their senior pets. Tandy received her certification in canine rehabilitation in 2006. She has developed a rehabilitation program at Kryder Veterinary Clinic that includes an underwater treadmill.

When she isn’t working, she is spending time with her canine family, Sachi the bulldog and Rain the yellow Lab.

Heather Ploense

As a child, Heather Ploense knew that working with animals was what she wanted to do. So she began volunteering at Kryder Veterinary Clinic while still in high school and is proud to be working for us today. Heather graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Veterinary Technology. About Kryder Veterinary Clinic, she says, "I love the mixture of having fun while getting down to business." As a technician, Heather’s main enjoyment is dentistry, and at home, her main enjoyment is spending time with her son, reading, running, and cycling.

Jennifer Worvey

Jennifer Worvey started her career at Lake Michigan College. After obtaining an Associate’s degree in science, she went to East Lansing to attend Michigan State University. There, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology. At Kryder Veterinary Clinic, she focuses primarily on pet dentistry. We are proud to have her as part of our team.

At home, she enjoys spending time with her labrador ("Bo") and rabbits ("Pepper" and "Fire").

Sara Gray

Sara Gray grew up in Granger and worked at Kryder Veterinary Clinic during high school, before graduating from Purdue University in 2000 with a Bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology. After graduation, Sara stayed in Lafayette and worked at the Purdue Small Animal Hospital as a surgery technician for three years. She later moved to Indianapolis and worked a year at a progressive small animal clinic before moving back home to be closer to her family, which now includes Petie, the Lab/Boxer; Monica, the Mastiff mix; and Bruiser, the American bulldog. To our delight, Sara returned to Kryder Veterinary Clinic in the summer of 2005. "Kryder Veterinary Clinic is a second family to me, and I’m glad to be home," Sara says.

Jodi Kleinsmith

KVC welcomed Jodi Kleinsmith to the family in November 2014 when she decided to move back to the Michiana area where she grew up! She comes to KVC with 14 years veterinary experience and every day she is teaching us new things and we are teaching her new things! Her love is dentistry and she has been thoroughly enjoying her time with the dental team. Outside of veterinary medicine you will find Jodi spending time with her kids, Paul and Julia. They enjoy being on the lake in the summer and heading up to Northern Michigan to spend time in the great outdoors.

At home, Jodi hugs her white havenese "Daisy", her white Maltapoo "Poppy", and her 2 kitties, "Vinny and Tony the Kit Kat Meatball."

Lindsay Taylor

Lindsay has been working with animals from a very young age; she would nurture and hand raise orphaned kittens. She graduated from the Vet Tech Institute of Fort Wayne in 2013 and has been at KVC every since. She loves working with cats and critical care patients. At home you can find her with her Pomeranian, "Charlie," and her 2 cats both that she bottle fed as babies, "Attila" and "Vixie."

Nikki Long

Nikki started her veterinary journey in 1996 as an assistant. She eventually received her associate degree in vet technology in 2014 because she loved the veterinary field. She is happily married with 3 children and 1 grandchild. She not only loves animals but also painting and chilling on the couch. She is proud to be a member of the wonderful team at Kryders.

Client Relations

Jessica Murphy

Jessica Murphy, CVPM, began coming to Kryder Veterinary Clinic at the age of 6 to job shadow her dad on Saturdays. When Jessica wasn’t observing Dr. Kryder in exam rooms, she was earning her allowance by cleaning out cages or counting out medications. Jessica was "officially" on the payroll when she turned 15. After graduating from Indiana University with a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology, she was still drawn back to the clinic to establish a career in the family business. She became a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager in 2010. "The family business is in my blood. My plan is to help guide the business into the future," Jessica said.

Randy Griffin

Randy Griffin, Kryder Veterinary Clinic’s front office manager, has been with the clinic since June 1993. When she’s not working, she can usually be found playing in her koi pond or hybridizing daylilies, growing more than 2,000 different cultivars and seedlings. Randy is the proud owner of five cats, two dogs, and a bird. "It’s an occupational hazard," she explains. "I have been working for veterinarians for the past 30 years, and I truly believe Kryder Veterinary Clinic is the best. We have wonderful doctors, top-of-the-line equipment, a beautiful facility, and our entire staff is willing to go the extra mile to do anything they can to help both our patients and their owners."

Jeanie Nelson

Office Manager Jeanie Nelson joined the Kryder Veterinary Clinic staff in 1993. Transplanted from Minnesota, where she was a school nurse, Jeanie enjoys the Granger and South Bend community, as well as the anything-but-Minnesota weather. While working at Kryder Veterinary Clinic, Jeanie has expanded her education, her friendships, and her love for animals. "I consider Kryder Veterinary Clinic as part of my family," she says.

Jeanie loves traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

Jenny Desimone

Jenny Desimone worked at Kryder Veterinary Clinic from 1994 until 1998, before leaving for Indiana University. She returned to the clinic in 2004 to work in the front office. In September 2007, Jenny married her husband, Marc, and today they have a full household consisting of kids Mikayla and Cayden and Isabella. The joy of animals and the relationships she has developed is the best part about working at Kryder Veterinary Clinic, Jenny says. She hopes to continue developing her skills and knowledge in animal health and develop a bond with the people who care enough to bring their pets to Kryder Veterinary Clinic.

Diann Linback

Diann Linback started at Kryder Veterinary Clinic just as it was moving into the current building in 1986. After taking a few years off when she had her two children, Diann returned to KVC as a technician assistant. After a small stint with the fellow technicians, Diann returned to the front desk where she currently resides. "I have always enjoyed working with the staff, the clients, and their animals," she says.

When she is not at the clinic, she is at home with her husband and two kids (Mike Jr. and Paige), as well as their yellow Lab, Aspen.

Cindy Decker

Cindy Decker joined the Kryder Veterinary Clinic team in the summer of 2005. Her pets, Khan the standard poodle, Giza the Portuguese waterdog, and Cairo the collie, along with her 5 Persian cats Fondue, China Rose, Flashdance, Ramesses, and Jazzy, all present regular grooming challenges. Anyone have a spare vacuum cleaner?

Lindsey Manriquez

Lindsey Manriquez graduated with the class of 2002 from Penn High School. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising from Ball State University in 2006. In November 2010, she joined the Kryder Veterinary Clinic team. Lindsey has always cherished spending time with animals and grew up as a regular client of Kryder Veterinary Clinic, entrusting her pets’ health care to us.

In the summer months, Lindsey spends a lot of time with family on Eagle Lake, and during the winter, she enjoys cheering on the Fighting Irish and the Chicago Bears.

Sharon Collins

Sharon Collins moved to Indiana in 1995 and started bringing her pets to Kryder Veterinary Clinic soon after. She liked how everyone cared for the patients and clients. Sharon always wanted to work in the medical field, with people or animals. So when the opportunity arose to work at Kryder Veterinary Clinic, she jumped at it. Sharon enjoys listening to client stories about their pets and looks forward to regular petting opportunities of the many puppies brought in to the clinic.

When not at work, Sharon enjoys spending time riding a Harley with her husband and entertaining her two children and three grandchildren during visits. Sharon owns two dogs, Hunter and Jake, and cat, Laci.

Brittany Barnett

Brittany graduated from Penn High School in 2011. She followed high school by attending South Western Michigan for a year for special education, she loved kids with special needs but her love for animals pulled her towards pursuing a career in the veterinary field. She is currently taking online classes to become a veterinary technician assistant. She loves seeing all the animals that come into KVC! Some of her favorite breeds are Great Danes, Mastiffs and German Shepherds. When not working she loves hanging with family and friends playing volleyball. In the winter months she is cheering on the Irish and the Bears!

Technician Assistants

Emily Rassi

As a kid growing up I always wanted to be one of two things. I either wanted to be a teacher or someone who worked with animals. As I got older I started leaning towards working with children and ended up taking some college courses towards an elementary education degree. I then got a job working as a teacher at a daycare and realized my heart was with animals. I started doing online classes and I received a certificate as a vet tech assistant. I worked at a small clinic for a few months, at first. Then I landed here at KVC shortly after where I could not be any happier. I have worked here for many years and I have enjoyed every bit of it. I have learned so much and I have come such a long way.

I love dogs, especially German Shepherds, Pugs, Frenchies, Boston Terriers, and Bull Mastiffs. I have five Shepherds and one pug of my own. Family and friends will always come first and in my spare time I love taking pictures and scrapbooking.

Kerry Perry

Kerry attended the University of Findlay and received her Bachelor's of Science in Equine Business Management and Animal Science in May 2011. After graduating, she returned to KVC as a technician's assistant to fulfill her love of working with animals on a daily basis. She is looking forward to strengthening her skills and learning more about veterinary medicine.

When Kerry is not working, she loves spending time with her husband, shopping, and being around her animals that consist of horses, cats, and a dog. Kerry says about returning to work at KVC, "I am very fortunate to be able to work in an environment that lets you learn and have fun at the same time!"

Bonnie Richardson

Bonnie Richardson has always had a tremendous love for animals. She is a volunteer of Pet Refuge, a shelter for cats and dogs where KVC provides medical care for animals. She came on to the KVC team in 2009 and is proud to work at a clinic that cares so much for animals and its clients. She has been married for 22 years, has 1 daughter, and some cats and dogs at home.

Michele Kilgore

Michele Kilgore became a Kryder Veterinary Clinic staff member thanks to her pets, which needed to come in nearly every week. Eventually, Dr. Kryder felt he knew her so well, he offered Michele a job. Her love for animals has kept her at Kryder Veterinary Clinic for many years—and plenty more to come. You will commonly find her smiling face here on Saturdays, as during the week she works at Mishawaka High School in the physical education department. "Kryder Veterinary Clinic is a fascinating, wonderful place to work, where you are treated like family," says Michele.

Mary Kate Spahn

Mary Kate was born and raised in San Diego California. She graduated from the University of Hawaii, Manoa where she completed her bachelor's degree in Psychology with a certificate in the Marine Option Program. Her work experience is with marine life and is prominently behavioral based. She has worked with sharks, fish, sea turtles, dolphins, and pinnipeds. Before she left Oahu, Hawaii she was training dolphins at Dolphin Quest. She then found herself at Sea World San Diego Rescue Team. Her love of animal behavior sparked her interest in becoming a veterinary assistant. She finds herself in Granger, Indiana after marrying her husband whose job as swim coach of ND brought them here. Go Irish! She recently adopted an Australian Cattle dog, Bindi Marie and is excited to be apart of the KVC family!

Joe Chandler

Joe Chandler was born and raised in South Bend, IN. His love for animals started at an early age. He was known for having the coolest birthday parties as an adolescent, complete with a traveling petting zoo for all his family and friends to enjoy. Joe has spent a lot of time volunteering at several local animal rescues and shelters. He is passionate about shelter work. He particularly enjoys working with dogs that need help socializing and he has a soft spot for senior dogs. Joe recently graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelors of Science in Animal sciences with a minor in Political Science. In his spare time Joe enjoys running, playing tennis, reading and spending time with family. "Adopt don't shop!"

Paige Gillinger

Paige Gillinger was hired on as apart of our team in the winter of 2016. She has not looked back! Her love of animals and medicine drove her to pursue a degree in veterinary technology. As a graduate of Brown Mackie College in South Bend she continues to grow in her technology skills and loves to be apart of all facets; from dentistry to client service. During her free time, Paige enjoys the outdoors with her son, Carter, and her dogs.