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Our Staff
Doctor Management
Melissa Thornton , C.V.T. ; Head Technician
| Melissa joined our Northgate team in 1999. She graduated from St. Petersburg Distance Veterinary Technology Program in December 2003. Melissa's special interests include anesthesia and emergency medicine. As a supervisor, she enjoys training current and new employees. Her mission at Northgate is to share her passion for animals with our patients, clients and fellow staff members. Melissa, her husband, and their 10 year old Makenna daughter have Bailey, a Husky mix; three cats, Jack Frost, Midnight, and Psycho Kitty; Bob, a turtle; fish; and one guinea pig named Weet Weet. |
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Angee Baker , Computer Network Administrator, V.D.T.
| Angee, a former teacher for 20 years, received her B.S. in Education in 1973, and her M.S. in Education in 1977 from the University of Illinois. Angee retired from teaching to work at Northgate. She established and manages our computer network. She has owned and bred Champion Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. She and her husband have two dogs: a Lab mix, Millie, and a Rottweiler mix, Bo. In 2004, they opened Millie & Bo's Barkery, a pet bakery boutique. |
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Janet , B.A., Office Assistant Janet joined our Northgate team in 1997. She currently volunteers with office correspondence, customized pet tags and laundry "catch up" days. She graduated from a liberal arts college with a degree in English and minors in Psychology, History, and Theology. Much of her time in recent years is spent attending to elderly folks in her family. She has two dogs, an Airedale Terrier and an Old English Sheepdog.
A. Ray Jones Ray is our contractor, architect, landscaper, carpenter....you name it, he can take care of it! He keeps Northgate Pet Plaza up and running and looking great. Ray has been working with us since 1994. |  View |
Julie Voelker , Millie & Bo's Pet Barkery Manager
Julie Voelker joined the Northgate team in September 2005. Her father is a veterinarian and she has spent many hours growing up in his clinic. Julie graduated in 1997 with a degree in Elementary Education. She married Keith in 1992 and they have two beautiful, wonderful and gifted children: Brian (born 2000) and Brooke (born 2003). After Julie taught for several years, she decided her first passion was animals, so here she is ready to start a new adventure. |  View |
Technician Reception Assistants
Stephenie Cunningham , Kennel Caretaker, Receptionist
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Stephenie joined our Northgate team in December 2002. She works both as a receptionist and as a kennel caretaker. Stephenie enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, Dominick and Dalton. She also has two Pit Bulls named Caesar and Jewlz. |
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Ryan Holler , B.A. in Spanish, Veterinarian Assistant
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Ryan Holler has been with Northgate since October 2005. She is planning to continue school to get her Veterinary Technician degree. She has 3 dogs and 2 cats, and a new baby daughter, Ruth. Ryan enjoys singing with her church choir, playing percussion instruments and piano, and playing in the woods. |
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Angie L. , Veterinary Assistant, Hills Consultant, Behavior Consultant
Angie has been a part of the Northgate team since 1995. She has a special interest in orthopedics, veterinary dentistry, and exotic/zoo medicine. She is also a board member of The Decatur/Macon County Humane Society. Angie, her husband, and her daughter live on a small farm. They have three dogs: Chubby, Dixie, and Boomer; an African Gray Parrot named Cody Bill Hickup; and the cutest miniature donkeys named Hershey's Kiss, Butterfinger, Snickers and the baby, Milk Dud who was born on June 20, 2008!
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Amber Procarione | Amber has recently rejoined the Northgate Team in 2009, previously with us in 1997. She enjoys learning new skills, broadening her knowledge in the veterinary field, and of course loving and caring for pets at Northgate. She has a red betta fish named Antoine that lives with her family and herself in Decatur. |  View |
Kristen Ragusa | Kristen graduated from Parkland College's Veterinary Technician Program in May of 2009. She recently moved from Champaign with her boyfriend Andy and her pets. Her pets include Rio the two year old German Shephard/Boxer mix whom she adopted from Macon County Animal Control in mid 2008, four lizards, and one frog. She looks forward to meeting all the clients and patients at Northgate Pet Clinic! |  View |
Sarah Beck
Sarah began working at Northgate in August of 2009. She has been working with animals in one form or another for twelve years or so. She worked as kennel and technician assistant for an animal hospital outside of Chicago, then graduated from dog grooming school in Sept. of 2000 and groomed for almost ten years. Recently she decided to put grooming on hold to explore the possibility of becoming a veterinary technician. Sarah lives in Decatur with her husband, two cats named Tre and Rapunzel, and a lhasa/poodle mix named Chip. In her down time she enjoys traveling, biking, walking/hiking, and hanging out with friends and family.
Grooming
Joy McGeorge Joy McGeorge is an independent groomer at Northgate Pet Plaza. She has been grooming in this area for the past 11 years and was trained by one of the area's first groomer's (Sue Russell of Sue's Dog Boutique). In 1983, Joy moved to Florida where she worked for a veterinarian for 13 years and also enjoyed the dog obedience training field. While Joy grooms most breeds, she specializes in Poodles and coarse-coated Terriers. Her hobbies include trail riding on her horse "Red" and photography. To schedule an appointment or discuss prices for grooming services, you may contact her at the following business number (217) 972-8578.
Kathy Templeton
Kathy Templeton is an independent groomer at Northgate Pet Plaza. She learned to groom at a local groomer's shop, after which she attended a three-month grooming course in Lansing, Michigan, at Michigan School of Canine Cosmetology. She has been grooming now for 8 years and enjoys all different breeds. When not working, she enjoys being outdoors, walking and playing with her dogs Tilda (Basset Hound) and Turbo (German Shorthaired Hound), and planning her April wedding. To schedule an appointment or discuss prices for grooming services, you may contact her at the following business number (217) 875-4227.
Tonya Rauch
Tonya is an independent groomer at Northgate Pet Plaza. She has almost 9 years of experience grooming, and her favorite breed of dogs are Goldens (perhaps because her own dog, Libby, is a Golden!). Tonya also has 2 cats, Teekee and Doris, and a son, Nathan, with whom she enjoys camping and fishing every once in a while. To schedule an appointment or discuss prices for grooming services, you may contact her at the following business number (217) 201-2196.
Cathy Wilkinson She works as an independent groomer and her company is called Bubbles and Bows. The number for Bubbles and Bows is 217-855-5318 and her e-mail is cnswilkin@yahoo.com
Maintenance
Mr. Brent M Howland Brent started working at Northgate in May of 2009. He moved to town with his girlfriend Jenn, who also works at Northgate, his little boy Grant, and his Pittbull Bella! He loves to fish, camp, and do anything outdoors!
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