Programs to Serve
At the First Coast YMCA, we pride ourselves on having our finger on the pulse of what’s going on in our communities. We have more than a dozen locations in five counties throughout our association, and while a lot of the programming is similar at many of our branches, there are unique offerings at each Y based on the needs of the people who live nearby. We want to make sure we’re empowering people to live their best lives, and throughout May - and the entire year - there’s one population in particular that we always want to make sure we honor properly. Chances are if you’ve been in Northeast Florida long enough, you or someone you know has served in the military, especially with several military installations being located here. Florida has one of the highest military populations in the country, and more and more people, including those who serve or have served, are moving to our neighborhoods. That can be a difficult process, as active-duty military members are constantly forced to learn a new area. The First Coast YMCA is here to help, though, as we have the honor of being an Armed Services YMCA affiliate, which means we have specific programming dedicated to active-duty military and veterans. It’s so important to have a welcoming environment and central community resource for military families and veterans, as they sacrifice so much for our country. Operation Hero Specialty Camp The moving process can be particularly hard on children of active-duty military members as they have to constantly make new friends and learn their way around new schools. That’s why we have our Operation Hero Specialty Camp, which we’re offering at our Nocatee location. The program is only $25 for a one-week program for active-duty military children in 1st – 6th grade. It’s designed to help them cope and adjust to the unique challenges of military life, such as frequent moves and deployment separation. It is facilitated by trained professionals to create a fun and safe environment for children to express their feelings, receive academic and emotional health support, and connect with peers experiencing the same challenges. Maintaining that family bond is vital for military families, and we see so many of them come together at our Camp Immokalee in Keystone Heights. We offer discounts of up to 40% for overnight and 30% for day camp for families of up to E6 active-duty service members and additional discounts for veterans plus discounts on our before and after school programming. Operation Strong & Ready We also know that for many active-duty military and veterans, physical fitness is a crucial part of daily life, and we want to make sure we’re helping them maintain an active lifestyle. That’s why we have Operation Strong & Ready, which we’re offering at our Flagler Health Village location. Just like with Operation Hero, Operation Strong & Ready is run by certified professionals who assist not only in physical fitness exercises but also in nutritional guidance, as well as mental health resources. Having a sense of camaraderie is fundamental to being in the military, and Operation Strong & Ready helps facilitate that by connecting active-duty military and veterans in an encouraging group setting. While May is Military Appreciation Month, we want anyone who is serving or has served to know that they and their families are always welcome at the First Coast YMCA, and we appreciate them every day of the year. If that’s you, or you know someone who may be interested in learning more about what we offer the military community, please reach out to your local branch or visit us online at fcymca.org/military-outreach. To those who have served and their families, from all of us at the First Coast YMCA, thank you for your service.
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Taylor Berkowitz: Inspiring a New Generation of Moms Through Community & ConnectionAt just 30, Taylor Berkowitz is redefining what it means to be a modern mother and entrepreneur. A mom of three—Viv, 7, Brody, 6, and Easton, 4—Taylor is the powerhouse behind St. Johns Moms, a thriving community of over 20,000 women, and The Bar Societé , a dynamic network of local female business owners. With her blend of authenticity, vision, and fearless entrepreneurship, Taylor is helping to transform what it means to be a working mom today. From Coast to Coast: The Spark of an Idea Originally from Long Island, Taylor’s journey began when she and her husband Robbie, a Veteran, and a Lieutenant Commander Naval Flight Officer (NFO) who after 11 years, recently went into the reserves, relocated to Washington state. With two young children and no local support system, Taylor experienced firsthand how isolating motherhood could feel. When the family moved again—this time settling in Rivertown—Taylor was determined to build the community she once lacked. Starting a career in real estate, Taylor needed local resources for her family—everything from pediatricians to play spaces. She created a personal local guide for her clients, but the idea quickly took off. Moms across the area were eager for the same kind of curated, trustworthy recommendations and connections. St. Johns Moms was born. From Guide to Movement As the group expanded, Taylor began hosting monthly networking events and soon launched The Bar Societé, a vibrant professional collective for women entrepreneurs in the area. The idea, she says, evolved naturally from a desire to bring women together in ways that were meaningful and empowering. St. Johns Moms is also a platform for giving back. Whether through supporting local charities, or spotlighting small businesses, the community she’s built is rooted in kindness, service, and showing up for one another. Today, St. Johns Moms has over 20,000 members and The Bar Societé includes more than 170 female business owners. In time, Taylor transitioned fully out of real estate to focus on her mission-driven businesses. Balancing Business and Motherhood When it comes to balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood, Taylor is refreshingly honest: “There truly is no perfect balance,” she says. “You have to give more attention to one or the other at different times. That’s the real trick.” Whether she’s serving as class mom or on the sidelines at soccer, she prioritizes being fully present—and when she’s in work mode, she’s all in. Her best advice for moms dreaming of launching their own venture? “Just start. Don’t wait until it’s perfect. Learn along the way.” Tech, Motherhood & Staying Real Taylor and her communities talk often about technology’s role in modern motherhood. "Tech lets us take calls from the car line, run businesses from our phones while cooking dinner, and schedule posts during nap time," she says. "But I’m big on authenticity—it’s important to not let technology take over.” Mom Life, Business Wins & Beyoncé Taylor’s leadership is rooted in community, but her “mom superpower” is the ability to build it—fast. “We can plan events, support local businesses, connect thousands of women, and still remember who has soccer today,” she laughs. Her anthem? Beyoncé’s Run the World (Girls)—naturally. Taylor leads by example, even inspiring her own children to explore entrepreneurship. Her daughter Vivi makes bracelets, and all three kids launched a hot cocoa stand last winter, learning about budgeting, reinvestment, and profit. Taylor and her husband, who is a constant support behind the scenes, even helped them map out business expenses. He has since started his own community group, St. Johns Dads. Mother's Day: For Mother’s Day, she plans to keep it simple: breakfast out and beach time with the kids. And if she ever hires her children, they’ll be in charge of swag bags—they’re naturals. Jone’t "Jo" Tirado: Rooted in Purpose, |
The celebration kicks off on First Friday October 4th from 5-9 pm. Meet the Artists, enjoy memories and sumptuous hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment by the House Cats, and a champagne toast at 6pm. Established in February 1999, Butterfield Garage Art Gallery is the brainchild of artist Jan Miller. Her vision was to create an artist-run gallery for professional artists that would encourage creative experimentation. She was affectionately dubbed “The Mama Cat” by the 12 artists who came together for their first meeting in late 1998. The gallery opened its doors in February 1999. Since then, the Gallery has provided its artists with the chance to grow and take advantage of opportunities that may come their way through exposure in a professional gallery. True to the gallery’s original mission: it continues to be a leader in the presentation of traditional and contemporary visual arts in Northeast Florida, and to encourage the experience of direct accessibility and dialogue between artists and their customers. Twenty-five years of success have allowed the gallery to establish its reputation for highlighting the area’s most distinguished professional artists, peers who are selected by a jury process and expected to exhibit their best work, as well as their experimental work and, once a year, their old work in the Annual Fine Art Garage Sale. Member artists share their process, contacts, and camaraderie. They offer a dynamic and diverse array of styles with regular changing exhibits. Many show their work in the St. Augustine Art Association, and outdoor art festivals, and answer calls for opportunities nationwide. Join Butterfield to celebrate the impact Butterfield has had supporting the local art scene. The Exhibition will be on display through October 31. The Gallery is open daily 11-5. The celebration continues during the month of October with Outdoor Art Studio Saturdays. Join Butterfield in our Group Events on the Portico Sat October 12; 1-4 pm Live Model with Still Life Event Former Energy Lab artist, Tiffany, will be our seated model with still life. Enjoy an afternoon of making art together in front of the gallery. Bring materials, drop cloth and easel, whatever you need . You can set up early Sat Oct 19; 1-4 pm Silk Screen Demo Silkscreen demo with Nancy Hamlin-Vogler and friends. Watch and participate as they print the Butterfield Garage logo on fabric and tote bags. | Butterfield Garage Gallery is pleased to welcome back the following former artists members spanning 1999-2024.: Maribel Angel Gerald Branch Barbee Cunningham Toni DeWitt Joseph Paul Getchius Hillary Gross Xi Guo Nancy Hamlin-Vogler Ted Head Wendy Mandel Jan Tomlinson Master Jan Miller Sydney McKenna Marcia Myrick Siany Laura O’Neal Rosamond Parrish Laine Quinn Beau Redmond Juliana Romnes Barbara Sarvis Joe Segal Theresa Segal Teri Siewert Jo Sinclair James Sanford Wendy Tatter Angie Faye Ullmann |
Featured Artists:
Gwen Mehler
Gwen works in a composite realism style, featuring animals juxtaposed with everyday objects and patterned backgrounds. She is particularly drawn to animal portraiture exploring the patterns of nature such as the feathers of a bird or the lines in some fur. She further uses acrylics and patterns to show the connection between nature and design and showcase and enhance the beauty and uniqueness of the subject. An avid quilter, Gwen has always been drawn to patterns. Gwen explains “I find that incorporating them into my work inspires serenity in me and balances the technical process.” Gwen Mehler is a Self-taught Artist, born in born in Washington Township, New Jersey, She currently lives and works in Fleming Island, Florida. She has been an artist at Butterfield Garage Art Gallery since 2022. |
Dave Tuttle
Dave draws on a supply of metal which he's collected over the years from machine shops, warehouses and individuals. His metal work is often infused with mixed media materials such as epoxy resin, polymer clay, alcohol ink, rivets and wire, to name just a few. The heart is a common motif. As a secular humanist he strives to convey compassion, tolerance and empathy thru his work. In December he will be the featured Artist at Butterfield with a new series of robots creations called Metallic Whimsy. He’s a self-taught metal and mixed media artist living and working in St. Augustine. Davee migrated from Salt Lake City, Utah in 2019 and work out of his metal shop and home studio where he uses a variety of tools to create works such as hearts employing recycled materials, robots and industrial lamps. From small handheld magnets to 5 foot sculptures, each one a delight to see! |
Trout Creek Academy will welcome 1,200 students from kindergarten through eighth grade, offering a blend of traditional and innovative learning environments. Unique classroom design allows for both grade-level groupings and multi-age interactions, facilitated by dynamic teaching teams. Moveable walls between classroom pairs enhance a team-teaching approach, while common areas with computer labs and kitchen spaces provide versatile learning settings. These features empower dedicated teachers and paraprofessionals to employ diverse instructional methods tailored to each student’s needs.
St. Johns Magazine was thrilled to learn more about Principal Katie O’Connell, who will lead Trout Creek Academy from its inception, supported by Assistant Principals David Barnes and Sam Sawruk.
Go Terrapins!
Meet Principal Katie O’Connell, the inspiring leader of Trout Creek Academy.
Beginning her educational journey at Bartram Trail High School in 2000, Principal O’Connell brings 25 years of rich experience across elementary, middle, and high school administration, with 14 of those years in leadership roles. Her unwavering passion for education drives her commitment to fostering a positive and engaging learning environment for all students.
Outside the school setting, Principal O’Connell enjoys an active lifestyle filled with playing and watching sports, reading, beach visits, traveling, and cherishing moments with family and friends. Her enthusiasm and dedication make her a remarkable addition to Trout Creek Academy.

What inspired you to become the Principal of Trout Creek Academy and what is your vision for its future?
I was inspired to become the principal of Trout Creek Academy by the opportunity to shape a nurturing and empowering educational environment from the ground up. Our mission is to nurture curious minds and empower students to discover their unique strengths. My vision is to see our students embody the spirit of the Terrapin—strength, resilience, and adaptability—as they persevere and excel in their educational journeys and beyond.
How do you plan to create a positive and inclusive school culture for both students and staff?
At Trout Creek Academy, creating a positive and inclusive school culture begins with embracing our core values of integrity, collaboration, and mutual respect. We will implement daily FLOW sessions for elementary students and weekly CREEK sessions for middle school students to close achievement gaps and promote a supportive learning environment. Trout Creek Academy will be the only licensed Energy Bus School in St Johns County, following the positive philosophy of Jon Gordon. We will thrive by filling each other’s fuel tanks, celebrating our Chief Energy Officers (CEOs) and enjoying the ride!
What unique programs or initiatives will the school offer to enhance student learning and engagement?
Our unique programs and initiatives at Trout Creek Academy are designed to enhance student learning and engagement by catering to diverse interests and needs. We will offer clubs such as the STEM Club, Character Counts Club, Girls on the Run, Odyssey of the Mind, and the National Junior Honor Society. These programs provide students with opportunities to explore their passions, develop new skills, and build character. Additionally, our daily FLOW sessions and weekly CREEK sessions will support flexible student groupings that will extend classroom communities building wide.
How will you involve parents and the community in the school's development and ongoing activities?
Involving parents and the community is a cornerstone of our approach at Trout Creek Academy. From day one, parents have been integral in creating our school identity and community. We encourage parents to volunteer, serve as SAC representatives, and participate in our PTO. Regular communication and collaborative events will ensure that parents and community members remain actively involved in the school's development and ongoing activities. We are really looking forward to Meet the Teacher, our first dance, Grandparent’s Day Breakfast, Fall Festival and all of the family events we have planned for this year.
What extracurricular activities and programs will be available to students, and how will they contribute to the overall development of the students?
Trout Creek Academy will offer a variety of extracurricular activities and programs to support the overall development of our students. Clubs such as the STEM Club, Character Counts Club, Girls on the Run, Odyssey of the Mind, and the National Junior Honor Society will provide students with opportunities to explore their interests, develop leadership skills, and build strong character. These activities will complement our academic programs by promoting teamwork, problem-solving, creativity, and physical fitness. Through these diverse opportunities, students will develop a well-rounded skill set that prepares them for future success.
Where Excellence in Client and Pet Experience Take Center Stage!
High Quality Care, Faith-based & Superior Customer Service
The core ingredients we discussed were high quality pet medicine, well above the standard in our industry, a faith-based focus in our business, which is what defines our family focus, and a level of customer service and client experience that was miles apart from what our clients had experienced at other retailers in our market area. Our expectation for our business was that if we lead with love, care, and compassion, and keep our total focus on the clients and their pets, people will come to us, and they would feel different because of our care for them. Our design began with a heartfelt attitude and focus on the ultimate customer service. As we defined what that would look like, we identified two clear points of difference that other businesses were not utilizing. First were the simple numbers of employees in our building and on our payroll to ensure our clients and their pets are getting the very best and complete level of attention possible. And second was that we lead with love, believe in showing love, and demonstrate love for every client we service. Now these are not popular characteristics in business. Even the savviest of business professionals would tell you that the profit and loss statement will not support this, and the public will not even recognize it for the value it holds. However, I can tell you that this is the foundation of our company, and it is clearly our level of commitment to our clients.
I’ve shared with many new employees and new clients that although I have hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment in our practice, it is our employees who are the most important to us. It takes our amazing employees to be able to provide the service and medical results that has made Pets R Family the high-quality pet facility that it is today after nine years in the Saint Johns community. We now have sixty-five employees and growing, as we have chosen a path to customer service that includes multiple contacts by our staff in multiple departments on each visit. It is never a surprise to our clients when they are greeted, communicated with, and spoken to by five to six employees during a single visit. And their pets, may see, be cared for, and provided with enrichment by far more of our staff during that same visit. It is our belief that the level of customer care is directly related to the number of kind and caring staff that interact with our clients and their pets.
Experience Coupled
with Compassion
In an ongoing effort to demonstrate a better way to care for people and their pets, we are bucking the trends! At Pets R Family we pride ourselves on focusing on our clients, ensuring high quality care for their pets, and having many more employees than my accountant believes we should! We believe in the care we offer and will always practice the highest level of medicine and service in our community and our industry. And you know what, our clients love us for it!
Customers love the Rileys, a local family
whose customer service speaks for itself
Kristy & Craig: In recent years, especially in this area with so many designated “golf cart communities”, the possibilities are endless! Golf carts are the preferred way to travel to and from neighborhood pools, allowing people to keep wet, slimy children out of their shiny SUV’s. Avoid the dreaded school car line, saving people valuable time in their day. Instead of lining up 1 hour+ in advance, you can roll out of your driveway 10 minutes before school lets out and hang out with friends while you wait for your kids. At the end of the day, it’s nice to just cruise around the neighborhood, YETI in the cupholder, and just relax. Many families have even discovered they’ve been able to replace one of their cars with a golf cart!
SJM: What are some of the cool features of golf carts most people may not know about?
Kristy & Craig: We don’t sell your Grandpa’s golf carts. The carts we sell have features like blinkers, brake lights, backup cameras, coolers built into rear seats, booming sound bars, oh! and they are super fast! Cart envy is real! When we deliver new carts and neighbors realize they can get a new lithium cart with a warranty for just under $10K, they start to think about trading up!
SJM: How is Mad Bacon not your average golf cart company?
Kristy & Craig: Just like our unusual name, we are a bit unusual ourselves (side note, our kids are named Madeline, Baylor, and Connor AKA Mad Bay-Con). We probably got the same start as many other golf cart dealers, which was selling used and custom carts out of our garage. That’s pretty much where the similarities stop. The very consistent feedback we get from customers is that we are not at all pushy and we make the buying process extremely easy. People come to us as customers and leave as friends!
The owners of MadBacon are fantastic! They were super responsive and helpful. The buying process was super easy and they delivered the cart same day. I highly recommend this local business for your carting needs. Best value I found in town with the Royal EV brand. Cheers! -Scott H.
SJM: What is it about Mad Bacon that shouts high-quality customer service?
Kristy & Craig: One element people love is that we offer mobile service and repair. Other dealers will come pick your cart up and bring it back to their shop and leave you stranded for days (or weeks) on end. We can usually get you scheduled within 24 hours and our mobile mechanic, Joe, will take care of most any repair, right there in your driveway! Also very popular with customers is that we typically can do same day delivery. If you stop in on a Saturday you will be greeted by Matt or Carter who are fan favorites at Mad Bacon!
SJM: How does Mad Bacon Golf Carts maintain a strong community presence and support northern St. Johns?
Kristy & Craig: We have done sponsorships for various groups at the two schools our kids attend, Liberty Pines Academy and Beachside High School. You can also frequently find us at many of the local neighborhood vendor fairs. In 2024 we are excited to start doing customer appreciation days!
On a personal level our family is very connected to the community. Our boys play basketball, baseball and football so we are at various fields/gyms most every night of the week hanging out with our neighbors in St. Johns. Our daughter practically lives at Bailey’s gym so that’s where she can typically be found!
Great experience from beginning to delivery. Quick response to all questions before arriving in store. They even offered to extend their normal hours to accommodate. Base models equipped very nicely and best price in the area. Friendly family business, no pushy sales. Cart delivered to my house less than an hour after I left the store. They even included very nice reusable insulated cups and shirts for my wife and I. Highly recommend!!! -Kevin B.
SJM: Tell us about your dog Crue’s polka dots.
Kristy & Craig: Oh gosh, crazy Crue. So for Halloween, we thought it would be fun to dress him up as a...I don’t even know what. Tiger, maybe? I used pet-safe dye to give him some brown spots for his costume. I tried to do the same with Motley but he wasn’t having it so I only got as far as giving him black stripes on his face (we put him in a football jersey so he was a football player). Then when it was getting close to Christmas I added red dye to Crue’s existing spots and now I suppose he’s a Valentine’s pup lol. We will have to get him groomed to get rid of the spots so we’re just waiting for the weather to warm up a bit first!
Key West-born Kristy and transplanted New Yorker Craig love living in northern St. Johns and owning a business in this vibrant community. The family plans to open an additional location in the next twelve to eighteen months to keep more in-stock inventory for customers. Mad Bacon Golf Carts is located just west of I-95 on County Road 210 next to Starbucks.
I live in a golf cart community and I see what other families show up in, and knowing what they paid versus how our carts compare, I just laugh. Do yourself a favor when buying a cart here in Jax. Don’t be like everyone else paying 20k for a 12k cart. Mad Bacon is where it’s at. -Jason R.
In 2014, Dr. Deckard began to lay the plans for a new state of the art medical practice to be built just a few miles from her home here in Saint Johns County. Dr. Deckard’s dream was that this new facility would be second to none in focus on the total client experience and quality pet medicine. The design was created with pets’ and owners comfort in mind. Her practice focuses on small animals and exotics. There are two lobbies, one for the Hospital medically focused clients, and one with a focus on the services offered such as boarding, grooming, Pups N Play daycare, and spa bathing. The Hospital features a spacious lobby, offering a canine and a feline waiting area with ample seating for up to 20 clients and their pets.
The 7 exam rooms feature 2 large dog rooms with lift tables and extra space, and a feline only exam room, which is part of the Gold Standard Feline Certification awarded Pets R Family by the American Association of Feline Practitioners.
As the design moves to the Hospital Treatment area, the twenty-five person hospital technician team is organized by position. The pharmacy is staffed by 2 full time pharmacy technicians, the lab is managed by a lead lab technician, while each DVM has assigned to them two room technicians for the day, to meet with all clients and manage all treatments. PRF has dedicated drop off technicians focused on those pets left with the practice for the day, who need treatments and work ups.

Our Hospital technicians manage as “traffic controllers” for all details coming and going through the hospital, including all medical pre and post surgery, as well as medical boarders. Dr. Deckard’s two, on-duty, hospital managers are focused on all client contacts, surgery focused details and DVM and hospital team needs. There is a dedicated surgery team of technicians, who are focussed specifically on our two surgical suites, and the CT Scan room to allow our daily surgery DVM to remain with a dedicated team for all surgeries, dentals, CT Scans, Fluoroscopy scans, ultrasounds, and other surgery focused procedures. This Hospital positional design is unique to Pets R Family, and is one with proven results, as designed by Dr. Deckard.
When setting a plan for her DVM Team, Dr. Deckard wanted to ensure two key elements. First, she wanted to have a team in place to focus on patient care, while being very involved in client education. Secondly, she wanted to allow a congruent level of DVM care, that allowed clients to have limited need for “my favorite Doctor”, as they are supplied with the same high level of medical care across the team. Dr. Deckard works diligently to keep all of her Team up to date and on the same page when it comes to all medical protocols, products to be used, most effective drugs and treatments, and client and patient care techniques. Our medical DVM leaders at PRF are constantly on the leading edge of the most up to date medical treatments, drugs and procedures available in the industry.

The amazing passion of Dr. Kathleen Deckard is not only for high quality pet medicine and the client experience. She also recognizes the real need for her industry that is in a very high DVM attrition rate, with a huge influx of new pet owners. Dr. Deckard has always had a strong desire to share with others the opportunity that this industry brings in career. She has designed a program specific to Pets R Family called “Vets N Training”. This program is for young students, ages 6-12, who have a desire to see what it is like to work in the Veterinary Industry. The classes take place every Tuesday after school at the PRF practice. Classes vary from “Bandaging and First Aid” to “Parasites and Vaccines”, but all curriculum is written and designed by Dr. Deckard and her daughter, Abigail Deckard. The goal of this teaching of young students is to grow the desire and understanding of the industry for application in studies and focus as the students move toward High School and College course structure. To date, Vets N Training has taught and guided hundreds of students through the program.
The school system in Saint Johns County is known for it’s leading edge “Academy” focus at the High School level. In addition to many other professional focused academies, the newest academy to have opened just a few years ago, is the Academy of Veterinary Medicine at Beachside High School, which is the only Veterinary focused Academy in the country. Dr. Deckard was instrumental in lobbying for this Academy to begin while still in the ideation stages. She now serves on the academy’s Board of Directors as a voting member and supporting curriculum professional. In addition, Dr. Deckard has hired several of the Academies students to begin their industry work at Pets R Family, and has approved many other interning students who are beginning their hands on experience in the industry where they hope to dedicate their careers. Certainly training, guiding and directing this age group will be a catalyst to feeding undergrad and postgrad focus in the veterinary field of study.

Dr. Deckard recognized that there are many outside the veterinary industry who have the desire, drive and passion to work in it, but have never had the opportunity to submerse themselves into a veterinary practice setting. Our military branches are full of individuals who have served their country for a number of years, and are then preparing to leave that career and move into civilian life. Dr. Deckard was instrumental in approving and managing the ramp up of the “SkillBridge” program with the United States Military, at our practice. Pets R Family is the first and currently the only Veterinary Practice approved by all branches of the Military to administer training to personnel preparing to retire from their military service and enter a professional position in the field of veterinary medicine. Pets R Family was approved by the US Military branches in 2022, and has 4 current military members actively being trained at the PRF Practice, with 4 prior graduates completing the approved training program. Each candidate receives an interview at the conclusion of their training to potentially be hired to become a full-time employee at Pets R Family as their first position in the industry. Dr. Deckard is involved day to day with the training protocols, scheduling and ongoing medical input for these candidates.She has stated that these are some of the most passionate, determined and results driven people she has ever had the opportunity to work alongside.
Dr. Deckard has not only had an amazing impact on her local community with her passionate focus on quality pet medicine and client care, but she has also continued to focus on the future of the veterinary industry. Her desire to see professionals trained and prepared for a career in the field she has loved for over 24 years, has led her to design pathways for entry, and impact those with interest. Dr. Kathleen Deckard is an innovator in an industry built on new ideas, with a fresh outlook on bringing dedicated professionals to it.
The 139-year-old nonprofit was a life-changing resource for Victoria, who initially dropped out of high school after leaving an unhealthy home environment.
Yet Victoria was determined to change her life – paying rent at her friend’s house and starting school again. She was poised to graduate on time, but worried about what to do when school ended.
Fortunately, her social worker introduced her to Project Prepare, Daniel’s nationally recognized independent living program. She secured a safe, low-cost place to stay in the agency’s Independent Living Village and learned independent living and job preparatory skills.
“Project Prepare was a lifesaver for me,” said Victoria, who is now a successful realtor, wife, and mother of three. “The staff there instilled a lot of great qualities in me that I still use to this day.”
This program is one of many Daniel provides to help improve the odds for local children and families. The nonprofit is Florida’s oldest child-service agency, assisting an average of 5,000 children and families annually.
Daniel’s professional team connects hundreds of children with foster and adoptive homes each year. The agency is also a leader in child abuse prevention, strengthening at-risk families and safely reunifying families who’ve experienced previous challenges.
Yet Daniel is perhaps best known for its truly unique residential treatment center on Belfort Road where youth with the most serious emotional and behavioral issues live short term. Daniel’s team provides intensive individual, group/family therapy, psychiatric and behavioral care, as well as academic and recreational services, to help children and teens find new ways to thrive by overcoming traumas they’ve experienced.
“When it comes to local children in crisis on any level, Daniel has always been there,” said Lesley Wells, Daniel’s CEO and president. “And, with the continued help of generous donors and partners, we’ll be able to continue this vital support well into the future.”
For more information about how you can help the children and families Daniel serves through donations or corporate sponsorships, please visit danielkids.org or call 904-296-1055 ext 1033.
Your Pets Wellness on Wheels!
But even post-pandemic, the fact remains that many cats and dogs get panicked by riding in the car or visiting the vet at the office, and owners are thrilled by the idea that they can have HelloVet come to them. Busy parents with children, disabled and elderly people also benefit from the convenience of having their pets cared for at home.
“Overall, people have been both receptive and appreciative to have less stressful vet visits in the comfort of their own home,” says Dr. Pitkat.
What Services
Are Offered?
The HelloVet mobile clinic is a state-of-the-art exam space where dogs and cats are treated by a professional staff and Veterinarian without ever having to leave home. With a hybrid approach, dogs and cats can also be seen inside the home if a visit to the mobile clinic is too stressful. This is especially beneficial to our feline friends.
HelloVet offers a wide range of in-home services including wellness and sick exams, vaccinations, laboratory testing, allergy testing, microchipping, dermatology, nutrition, and pharmacy delivery services as well as superior hospice and end-of-life care. They also offer specialty services such as Cold Laser Therapy, which assists with wound healing, osteoarthritis, spinal injuries, and skin infections. Tele-health visits are also available after a veterinary-client-patient relationship has been established. Multi-pet appointments are also available. The goal is to accommodate each client’s needs with top-notch care for their furry companions.
If your pet needs emergency services, advanced surgeries, dental cleanings or hospitalization, HelloVet has partnered with Pet Urgent Response And Emergency, Elite Veterinary Surgery of Florida and San Jose Beauclerc Animal Hospital. The process is fully integrated and guided by HelloVet’s staff so that patients may receive the care they need when they need it. HelloVet also partners with a certified dog trainer, pet sitting services, and an in home groomer.
An Appointment?
First, clients may call or go online at www.hellovetjax.com and complete their registration. The process is remote but personalized. “We are not corporate and proud of it!” says Dr. Pitkat. The receptionist then contacts the owner via email, phone or text to determine what type of appointment is needed, and in what area of Jacksonville / St Johns County the client resides. The appointment is scheduled based on availability of both the owner and area of town HelloVet is operating.
For the actual visit, Dr. Pitkat says they are flexible. When the mobile clinic arrives, the client has the choice to either bring their pet out to the van, or Dr. Pitkat and her team will go into the home with all diagnostic equipment. Dr. Pitkat says the focus is always to make the pet more comfortable during what could be a stressful experience. In every instance, their dedicated and compassionate staff is always ready to serve the client.
Based on feedback from happy clients, HelloVet Pet Care At Home has already made a difference in countless pets' lives and their owners' lives. Dr. Pitkat says she loves to see the joy on their faces when they arrive at a client’s home to provide quality veterinary care without the usual stresses of transport, time, and energy.
HelloVet hopes to grow in the future with a few more vans on the road in the next few years, as well as a separate specialty van for technician services such as vaccine administration, injections for allergies etc, fluid administration , nail trimming and basic grooming.
Fun Facts About Dr. Pitkat Dr. Erika Pitkat is a proud native of Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinarian Medicine in 2004. She practiced small animal medicine in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia Beach before returning to her home state in 2012. Approximately half of her career was spent exclusively working with cats, which hold a very special place in her heart. Dr. Pitkat strives to create a stress-free visit for every patient, treating each pet as if it were her own. She is comfortable with routine wellness care, internal medicine and advanced diagnostics, dental prophylaxis and oral surgery, and end of life care. A St. Johns resident for 11 years, Dr. Pitkat enjoys spending time with her husband, Frank, and their four children at home. Her five cats and dog have trained her to do their bidding. The family enjoys traveling in their Airstream any opportunity they can get. Dr. Pitkat is thrilled to service St. Johns and Jacksonville residents in their homes with HelloVet! |
Buy Local, Invest Local:
Saint Johns Family Businesses!
We all have our favorite pizza place, our favorite hairdresser, our favorite dentist and veterinarian in the areas in which we live. But have you ever stopped and thought about the number of local, family-owned businesses that are in our area that make up the texture of our community? These places are the fabric of what makes us proud to live in the Saint Johns area. Certainly we all have our corporate chains that offer something to our palate of family needs. But it’s the family owned and operated companies that make us special, and bonded together. There’s a special feeling we all get when we realize the owners are neighbors, or remember when their retail store began. In a country with a free market system, we get excited to “Buy Local” as we support those around us that have a real point of difference in the quality and type of products they sell. And when exhibiting American Pride, is there any better way than to support those who have dedicated, worked and sacrificed to provide a good or service to the community in which they live.
Our family moved onto CR 210 twenty-five years ago. At that time there was little more than rows of pine trees on both sides of the two-lane road. We had to drive to the truck stops near I-95 to get a gallon of milk, and over 10 miles to the nearest grocery or drug store. Certainly many things have changed over that time, including the lanes of traffic. One of the most impactful, exciting and alluring changes has been the growth of family-owned businesses. So many of our neighbors and friends have taken the risk and the dedication to bring CR 210 a cornucopia of offerings to meet the needs of the amazing influx of people moving to this area. And whether you are looking for retail goods or service needs, you can find a business here that is locally owned and operated.
As a family that has chosen this path, we can tell you first-hand that our decision to start a local company first came from the love of our community. We declared this wonderful place home when there was virtually nothing here. And as it grew, our excitement for variety and community grew with it. We’ve seen the growth of our neighborhoods and schools, church’s and ballfields. We’ve experienced the exciting addition of grocery stores and doctors offices, and enjoyed the variety of dining experiences we now have. And as part of that community of business’s, we longed to invest in our community and provide needed services to those who call it home. And for us, as with many, it was a desire to raise a family, and invest in the area we live.
This is how many small businesses begin. It’s a dream to be part of something bigger than yourself, and to serve those around you. And with it comes a long-term dedication to quality as you provide for the clients that are your neighbors. What a joy to work and live in the area where your children go to school, and where your family is involved in church activities. What an amazing honor to care and support those you call friends and family with a business you operate from your heart.
The truly amazing result from our locally owned businesses, is without a doubt, the quality and dedication our community receives. As a local business owner, I can attest to the fact that there is no better quality control agent, than to be serving someone you know and love. The level of heartfelt effort is truly endless, and nothing is more satisfying than to serve them well. In direct relation to that effort, is the level of joy that caring for a local client brings those of us who are part of this community. The satisfaction of accomplishment in knowing that you provided a truly positive outcome for a person you live near is second to none.
The level of personal and financial sacrifice to be a local business owner is absolutely a challenge to us all. There’s not a small or large family business that hasn’t felt the impact of time and money in starting a business and then keeping it going successfully. It’s a deep and heartfelt dedication to the companies business plan and the impact on the community. But it’s a labor of love, and a focus on the great things the business can provide those it serves. I can share that our family has absolutely felt the influence of many dedicated hours in the office that can stretch our few hours at home together very thin. But the rewards of our families involvement in a dedicated effort to serve our community, is a family bonding experience with lasting impact on us. I’m not sure there’s a better way to raise children than in a family-owned company, dedicated to serving.
So what’s the bid deal? Why focus on “locally and family owned?” First of all, these are the people of your community that are sacrificing to serve your community. They have taken the risk to provide the goods and services your community needs and wants. So support them! Take a chance on them as they took for you. Second, these business owners are most likely, supporting a level of quality that you may not find in a large corporation or entity that is so much larger than a community business. And thirdly, these businesses are the independent texture of who we are in the Saint Johns area. Is there a better way to differentiate ourselves as a community, than through the quality, customer caring businesses we propagate?
Buy local and invest in local. Our Saint Johns Family businesses and our community thank you!
Brad and Dr. Kathleen Deckard with their children Abigail and Gavin Deckard, are the owners of Pets R Family Veterinary Hospital on CR 210 since 2015.
www.PetsRFamilyVet.com
Selling & Living the Dream of the Florida Lifestyle
Locals Kristy and Craig Riley are experts at making that dream accessible. The couple, who live with their family in St. Johns Golf & Country Club are the founders and co-owners of Mad Bacon Golf Carts where they help people purchase a golf cart, deliver it to them, and provide at-home repair services.

Kristy and Craig have always had a simple goal in mind. “To spread happiness on four wheels by offering the joy of the golf cart experience.” As Kristy says, “It is such a fun way to get around!”
In the beginning, back in 2017, Kristy and Craig started selling refurbished golf carts out of their garage. They were talented and they understood how to build relationships with their customers and the business grew. Then, in 2022, the self-described ‘serial entrepreneurs’ jumped at the chance to expand even more. When a retail location became available less than five minutes from their house, they opened a full showroom. Conveniently located less than 1/4 mile west of I-95 on County Road 210, they are located right next to Starbucks.
Both Kristy and Craig are not new at owning a business, having run several successful businesses over the last 20+ years, everything from private label sales on Amazon to a camper rental business to landscaping and of course, selling golf carts.
“One common element in every business we've run is stellar customer service. At the end of the day, the customer is who we report to and we have a solid track record of positive customer experiences.”
At the St. Johns showroom customers can test out Royal EV golf carts. As one of the best golf carts on the market, Royal Electric Vehicles come standard with many upgraded features such as lithium batteries, plush seats, custom rims and tires, extended roofs, headlights, tail lights, turn signals, top speeds of 30mph, and more.
Signature customer service combined with an ideal price point, same-day delivery, and onsite mobile repair in your own driveway, offers a seamless, five-star experience that customers value and rave about.
Have you ever wondered where they got their funny name? As Kristy and Craig explain it, when they tell people Mad Bacon is named after their kids, there is usually a pause. “Our kids are named Madeline, Baylor, and Connor AKA Mad Bay-Con,” and then there's an aha! moment. “People love it and it's a name they will always remember. This means we have to be on our A game at all times because if we screw up people will also not forget, haha!” And if you were wondering about those cute dogs in the pictures, they also got cute names. They go by "Motley" and "Crue,” a nod to Craig’s high school days when he looked like a member of a hair band.
Kristy and Craig agree that the best part of their job is doing deliveries. “It is typically a whole event for the customer, the neighbors all come outside and everyone gets excited waiting for our truck to show up! Cart envy is definitely a thing, and frequently neighbors start thinking about trading up when they realize they can get a brand new cart with a 3-year warranty and lithium batteries with prices starting at just under $10K."
Mad Bacon is a one-of-a-kind local business that truly sets itself apart with an amazing product, stellar customer service, and the family-owned vibe that characterizes everything they do. A fun fact about Craig is that he was so popular in high school he had an actual fan club. Meanwhile, Kristy in high school was a band nerd who actually went to band camp! Their popularity disparity has since evened out a bit.
To learn more about Mad Bacon Golf Carts visit the showroom at 1745 County Road 210, St. Johns; or go to www.madbacongolfcarts.com
A Mother & Daughter Team Helping People Organize their Lives

Mother and daughter team Jill and Sierra Flores opened The Closet Factory Jax one year ago and since then they have never looked back. It was the perfect fit for Jill and Sierra whose deep connection to the community combined with their background in sales, property management, and real estate gave them the desire to put their creativity to work to help people organize their lives. Jill says she loves owning a business and has a great sense of accomplishment in the fact that it is a woman-owned enterprise.
Jill and Sierra specialize in custom-designed storage solutions for homeowners in northern St. Johns, pairing organization with beauty and functionality. Projects include custom closet systems, pantries, home offices, entertainment centers, wall beds, garage organization, and wine rooms using a wide range of materials to fit any budget from basic white melamine to fully stained hardwood. The possibilities are endless says Jill. "Closet Factory has a diversified line of products that allows us to help all of our clients with their organizational needs, no matter how large or small the project is."
What sets The Closet Factory apart is superior customer service. When you contact Jill and Sierra, you will connect with a locally owned business. The first step is meeting with an experienced designer in your home who listens to your needs and, with your input, creates a functional and great-looking system that complements your home décor. For those who are uncertain about where to begin, they bring Idea Books filled with past projects they have designed and installed.
Jill and Sierra are excited every time they meet with a new client to hear their ideas and help them formulate a plan. “I love helping our clients to organize their life. This really helps them to spend time in other areas of their lives, without worrying about the need to spend their valuable time on organization,” Jill said.
Jill makes it a priority to continually increase her value to clients by learning about the latest design trends and new technology in closet systems with the goal of helping clients make the perfect unique design for their homes. She has learned that since people are more often staying at home, working from home, and entertaining at home there is a desire to not only beautify, but also organize their space. On trend right now are the use of vibrant colors; the addition of lighting; accessories that further increase organization; and using closets as multi-purpose spaces with things like pull-out ironing boards, dressing tables, and more. Home office design and entertainment spaces are popular trends as well.
For those hoping to bring organization, functionality, and beauty into www.closetfactory.com/locations/jacksonvilleyour home as a way to transform not only the space but your entire life, The Closet Factory is your ideal solution.
For more information please visit www.closetfactory.com/locations/jacksonville or call 1-800-838-7995. Located at 2628 Port Industrial Drive Jacksonville FL 32226,
Choosing a True Artist is an Important Decision in the Field of Permanent Makeup
For more information and examples of Terri's work
visit nouveaupc.com or check them out on Facebook
Terri has always been an artist from early childhood. From as far back as she can remember, she enjoyed playing with color and many types of mediums and later in life she became the talented artist she is today. (Her work was even featured in St. Johns Magazine’s Art issue). At the age of fifty, she was drawn to the field of permanent makeup after life threw her a curveball, and she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After her mastectomy surgery, Terri discovered she was unable to receive a nipple reconstruction but was a candidate for a 3D areola tattoo.
“After all the surgeries, chemo and healing were complete, my private nurse asked if I would like to complete my journey with a tattooed nipple. I agreed. While watching the technician do her job, I fell in love with the process and realized why cancer had been a part of my life.”
Terri says at that moment she decided to go back to school and become a Permanent Makeup Artist herself so she could use her artistic talent and first-hand knowledge as a cancer survivor to help as many people as possible. For Terri, her work is more of a calling than a job.
Terri’s personal experience as a cancer survivor gives her an advantage when it comes to serving her clients. She understands what it is like to lose her eyebrows, all of her hair, and her areola. She has been in their shoes and relates to why a person may want permanent makeup as a way to feel complete again. “I enjoy looking in the mirror every day and seeing a survivor with a tattoo that is natural looking.”
Today she does all kinds of artistically styled permanent makeup for breast cancer survivors, alopecia clients, and people who need scar or burn camouflage. Her goal is to help women and men, or even young adults who need or desire to look and feel their best from their heart with a simple and subtle change through permanent makeup. She specializes in eyebrows, eyeliner, lips, and 3D areola for cancer survivors.
According to Terri, permanent makeup doesn't replace makeup, rather it improves your natural beauty. The application of medical cosmetic tattooing and permanent makeup can resolve time and convenience issues or solve problems when applying makeup such as allergies to ingredients of makeup, eye issues, unclear vision, arthritis, loss of hair from aging, alopecia, chemotherapy, accidents, burns or cosmetic surgery, and replacement of skin colors.
Terri says she is grateful the permanent makeup industry is non-competitive and client-centered. Each technician brings something special to a client, and as a result, they are like a sisterhood that supports one another. Terri loves it when she is able to collaborate with others and by doing so, help more people. She shared the story of a client who had come to her for Permanent Makeup. While doing her eyebrows, they discussed their backgrounds, discovering they were both breast cancer survivors. The woman made an appointment to complete her journey and have her breasts tattooed which changed her life. Terri decided to video the process and the results for future survivor clients so they could see the power of permanent makeup. Through a series of surprising connections, Terri's educational video was used by a local Plastic Surgeon to inform their own patients.
Knowing she is changing the way someone feels about themselves is Terri's greatest accomplishment. “The hugs, the tears, the thank you's, the referrals! When I see a client in local stores and they stop me and say thank you and introduce me as "This is Terri, the woman who changed my life", that makes my heart beat.
While Nouveau Image Permanent Cosmetics has been in business locally for ten years, Terri has recently opened a new location in World Golf in St. Johns at 319 W Town Place, Suite 21, St Augustine Fl 32092. For more information about Nouveau Image Permanent Cosmetics, please visit www.nouveaupc.com or call Terri directly at 917-584-8863 for a free consultation.
I See You NICU
Founder & President, I See You NICU
I See You NICU is an organization started by NICU mom, Jennifer Sesniak, who saw the lack of available support in the experience of parents with preemies who stay in the NICU and wanted to do something to fill the need.
The statistics are alarming and going in the wrong direction.
- 1 in 10 U.S. babies are born preterm -- a statistic increasing yearly and is one of the worst among high-resource nations.
- As many as 60% of NICU parents experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- On a positive note, 98% of babies survive the NICU due to the latest care and technical developments.
Jennifer's Story

"The experience of seeing my tiny, fragile baby in a plastic box with wires connected everywhere, depleted all my strength. I thought, is this my fault, did I eat healthy enough, and why did my body fail me? "
This inner dialog sent me into the darkness of postpartum depression and anxiety with PTSD symptoms. I lost what being a first-time mom should look like and found there was no help on how to navigate my mental health, work life, insurance questions, or any sense of normalcy.
NICU professionals provided extraordinary care and were patient but our new normal meant permission had to be granted even to hold Logan. Depending upon his condition, some days we couldn't. I’ll never forget the alarms and late-night phone calls we hoped would never come, but day by day, Logan grew stronger, achieving milestones that seemed like mountains!
Today Logan is a strong-willed, happy four-year-old. We still reflect upon our journey as if no time elapsed. "We appreciate how lucky we are -- we could have used more support beyond one lone Facebook group. We didn’t know who to turn to for help during this time. I now know none of this was my fault, but we want to make sure others benefit from networking with those who share their experiences."
Unfortunately, the road of being a NICU parent doesn’t end at discharge. Our experience became the inspiration for I See You NICU, whose mission is to develop a network of past, present, and future NICU families. Also providing support, awareness, and education to our community. The goal this year is to grow our support network and build relationships with hospital NICUs to improve the process and patient outcomes.
Interested in getting involved or supporting the cause? You can share, like, volunteer or donate. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Let's all support the NICU community better. Remember, I See You NICU really does see NICU families.
OZZY TREVINO PHOTOGRAPHY
Proud and bold. But of course, one can be many things. With a little more context, you may find out that I am a husband, a father, a Texan, and a photographer.
I have been married to my lovely wife, Rebecca, for over 14 years. She is my best friend, my trusted advisor, and my voice of reason. She motivates me to be more and to be better at everything. She is the definition of a muse.
I have been blessed with two incredibly wonderful kids. Young, healthy, and curious - I couldn’t ask for better children. Their joy and humor is a constant uplifting light in my life.
Born a Texan, I’ll always feel a sense of pride tied to the Lone Star State, but after moving to the DC area for a few years, and after living in Florida for 5 years, I’m happy to say that I’m hopeful to stay in St. Johns for a very long time. St. Johns has become our favorite area by far. The location, the climate, the people… I feel that my family and I fit right in.
I was always the artistic kid growing up. My favorite toys were sharpened pencils, a clipboard, and a stack of blank paper. I grew up knowing I wanted to do something artistic but never really knew what that was until my senior year of high school. I was introduced to graphic design and found it was a great way to express my creativity. Photography came out of necessity during my graphic design work. I did not have access to the images that I needed in order to complete the projects at hand. A company I used to work for purchased a Canon DSLR camera, handed it to me, and said “I’m sure you can figure it out.” From that point on I read blogs, I watched YouTube videos, and I watched other photographers.
"Photography is just another outlet for creating something from nothing, and impacting the viewer in a different way.
Years later, I was lucky enough to work alongside other talented photographers. It quickly became my primary source of creative expression to where I have almost left graphic design work completely behind.
Photography is just another outlet for creating something from nothing, and impacting the viewer in a different way.
After photographing families, weddings, pets, and many other genres, I have found that commercial and stylized portraiture are my passion. Commercial photography allows me to solve an issue by figuring out the best approach and expressing the message that the client needs. Stylized portraiture gives me the opportunity to photograph many interesting people and visually creating a concept or an emotion.
To sum it up, Jessica Huffman once wrote, “Ozzy is an editorial photographer that captures his subject’s energy leveraging their individual strengths and interests. His ability to curate the perfect image communicates creativity, vibrance, and drama that speaks to the proper audience,”
In 2023, I will be setting specific business goals in order to grow. A friend of mine often says, “Goals that are not written down are just a wish”. Go, write them down, but be realistic. One completed goal is better than no goals reached. Make smaller, more obtainable goals, and hold yourself accountable.
As a small business owner, I will be making more of an effort to find the clientele searching for my style who have an appreciation for my type of imagery. My style is not for everyone. It has taken years for me to be comfortable with that. I feel any business owner should find that following and focus on that group of individuals. Build your own brand by doing what you love, how you love it.
Learn from the past, but focus on the future. I wish you the best at the start of this new year. From my family to yours, we wish you nothing but success and happiness!
Giving Comes from the Heart, Which is the Soul's True Compass
The pet industry, on its face, seems that it would be such an amazing effort to be part of based on the true joy of animal care. What could be more fun than to cuddle with a cute little kitten, or to romp around with a playful pup? And it absolutely is all those things! But it’s also an amazing dedication to giving. Giving that takes a truly dedicated heart, mind and soul to accomplish the extreme challenges the industry brings. And we aren’t just talking about giving in relation to the beautiful pets that fill our days. We are also talking about giving of ourselves to the people we serve every day.
Imagine going to work each day, and the patients you are caring and providing for, cannot speak to you. Meanwhile these beautiful loving patients have sometimes serious issues that require an all in effort to prevent extreme suffering even death. Now add to that the hurt and suffering of the parents of these patients, along with their mood swings, judgement and fears. These are the challenges of the Veterinary Industry every single day.
We are in a unique situation, as are so many care giving industries, where we are the advocates for our patients, even through their suffering. That is why so often, professionals in the Veterinary Industry, suffer along with the pets and clients. It is a transference of the challenges that a voiceless patient experiences. And those feelings are big and they are real.
So many of us began our focus on this industry as an honest passion to care for Gods beautiful creatures. And that passion drove us to Colleges, Universities and institutions where we spent many years studying (8 years to achieve a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine) to learn our craft of animal medicine. Often times, many more years were spent in a specialty or particular line of study. But it was the true love and dedication to giving of ourselves and our talents to help those who cannot help themselves, that drives us all to be those advocates. In the midst of beginning to practice animal medicine, we realize that this is the pinnacle of our passion. Caregiving, saving lives, and providing better health for our furry friends is a noble and wonderful calling.
This passion and heart that drives so many of us every day does truly come at a price. Our industry is riddled with burnout, suicide, compassion fatigue and a shortage of dedicated leaders and true practitioners of high-quality medicine because of the heavy weight it bares. It’s an industry that requires a solid support system to provide for each others needs. Our people have to learn how to cope with not only the challenges of loss of life of a patient, and lack of complete control over the needs of the pet, but also the results of human abuse and pet parent anger and frustrations toward those in the industry.
Often as we approach Christmas, we think of giving and caring as synonymous with our hearts special attempts to provide gifts and offerings to others. However, in our industry, the true spirit of giving, is a daily dedicated approach to our chosen passion of loving our patients beyond a simple offering. We give our hearts and minds every day to provide a happy healthy life to an innocent animal, who is simply counting on us, to do our very best for them. We give our very best to the pet parent who is suffering along with their beautiful pet, as we comfort, support and educate them in the process of caregiving. And we give to each other, as we support, guide, administer to, and love, our co-workers who need our group help, to overcome the weight on our souls as we go through each day of work.
You see the true spirit of giving, comes from the heart, which is the soul’s true compass. So in the Veterinary Industry, and certainly within our amazing staff at Pets R Family Veterinary Hospital, we believe that the spirit of giving lives in us every single day we are alive.
We wish all of our amazing clients and each of you in our Saint Johns Community a blessed Christmas season. And may the spirit of giving of ourselves be the commonality we see in us all.
Caregiving, saving lives, and providing better health for our furry friends is a noble and wonderful calling
Dr. Kathleen Deckard
at Pets R Family!
Dr. Kathleen Deckard DVM, has been a resident of Saint Johns County for over 45 years. She moved here as a young girl, in the area of Fruit Cove, near Julington Creek. Access to Fruit Cove was a two-lane road across the Julington Creek Bridge, where pavement left the suburban area of Mandarin and entered the country. Race Track Rd was still just two lanes as well back then, and our County Road 210 corridor, was only a road down to the Greenbriar area, which was then still dirt. The Community of Cimarrone was the only neighborhood on County Rd 210 during those early years in the 1990’s, and the local Truck Stops at I-95 were the only place to pick up supplies unless you drove into town.
Dr. Deckard had a dream to become a Veterinarian. It was a dream she had enjoyed for many years, and after graduating from the University of North Florida in Biology, she headed off to the University of Florida to finish her degree in Veterinary Medicine. Upon completion in 1999, she knew her absolute desire was to come home to Saint Johns County, the place she had grown and loved for so many years. You see her dream was to bring her knowledge of animal medicine to the people she loved the most. She always longed to serve her community in a way that impacted peoples lives. And her love for animals allowed her to reach her community with love, care and compassion for the beautiful fur babies that were their pets.
She began in Saint Augustine, FL, as an Associate DVM for a large practice in town. In her 16 years there she prioritized the three most important things for her life; honing her animal medicine skills, caring for people around her, and having children as she started her family with her husband. These key ingredients make up the distinct character that is the heart of this amazing care giver, and they still define her today.
Dr. Deckard had one piece of her dream left to attain in 2015. Her hearts desire had always been to have her own Veterinary practice, in her own community, and to live nearby so that her three lifes priorities could be practiced daily. Pets R Family Veterinary Hospital was opened to the public on June 1 in that year, and her dream was made complete.
I always knew that achieving my degree in Veterinary Medicine and returning to my home to practice it to the best of my ability for the people I know and love, was my life’s dream. |
Dr. Deckard shared her thoughts on her dream with us, and encapsulated it this way. “I always knew that achieving my degree in Veterinary Medicine and returning to my home to practice it to the best of my ability for the people I know and love, was my life’s dream. And to be able to achieve that in my own family owned and operated company, where my children and husband work alongside me, is beyond what I ever could have truly imagined. My hope as we continue to grow in serving our community in pet and client care, is that we never lose sight of the key tenets in our foundation of approaching each person and pet with love, care and compassion. And if we achieve that each day, then we are truly, living my life’s dream.” Dr. Deckard also shared that her daughter, Abigail Deckard, is also on track to follow in her mothers’ footsteps and become a Veterinarian, one day working alongside her.
Not often in life are we able to achieve all the things we wished we could do. And quite often, life finds a way to steer us in other directions and into other places than we expected. However, this local, hometown lady, has found a way to stay on course, achieve her life goals and bring them home so that we all can benefit from her talents in pet care and in the human care.
as a photographer?
I started as an actual BUSINESS (license, insurance, the works) when I moved down here from Missouri in October of 2014. I had always had a camera around my neck BEFORE that, but in October, all the teaching jobs are FILLED, and no one needs a substitute yet, either. :D Rather than mope around on the couch, I decided to chase my other passion…photography – and I still get to work with kids! <3
What has been your biggest challenge as a small business owner?
Back end work. Keeping up with all the permits, licensing, insurance, advertising…I do it, of course, but I’d MUCH rather be creating art. :D
What is nature's child photography
known for in our community?
Gosh. I would LIKE to say it’s my amazing personality and bodacious body…BUT I’m going to go with my ability to capture your genuine selves, timeless non-fad artwork, quality heirloom prints, albums, and other commissioned pieces, and excellent customer service.
I’m also pretty active in the volunteer community with Momcology and V for Victory – both of which help families affected by cancer. In 2019, I created a calendar that helped raise funds for Alex’s Lemonade Stand – a non profit organization that also helps families affected. I had to take a break for 2020 and 2021 due to the spread of the virus and the viral sensitivity of the subjects, but I PLAN to be able to do it again in 2022.
What is your favorite part of
being a photographer?
Seeing people come alive…with love, with happiness, with raw emotion. And when I get goosebumps? I know it’s a win.
What is your perfect photoshoot?
Honestly? Anytime a family trusts me completely, from styling ideas, to location, to posing/unposing. THAT’S when the magic gets to truly happen, and the good times flow…and you see it on your pictures later!
What are your hopes for the future?
I’m pretty happy right now, to be honest. MAYBE, in the far future, expanding my studio space for my Santa experience sessions? We’re cozy right now, (and I like it like that), but a little space never hurt anyone either. :D
Quality Veterinary Medicine
This is a key industry shift, and one that sets apart the “Total Quality Pet Care” focus vs, the “Budget Package” focus of the Corporate Vet practices. Consumers need to fully understand the difference, and there needs to be an awareness of the details and services within, as you make decisions for the very best medical care for your pet.
Corporately run Vet practices have done research and completed studies that show what the very best opportunities are to reach a high percentage of the population with pet care, devise a “Budget Based” system for the pet owner, and achieve a “Turn Rate” of clients that is high enough to achieve a maximum profitable ratio.
Then, just like a fast food chain, they create cookie cutter outlets of that format, where they can offer the exact same design, to then increase their footprint and overall dollar volume. Certainly these companies still have caring and well trained people looking after the pets and clients within this format.
We approach pet medicine from a two tiered level of, quality and fact based medical research and resolution along with education of our client owners, for an improved “best life” opportunity for your pets.
We all have to pay our personnel, buy our expensive equipment, and pay back our student loans for our Vet Degrees, and keep the lights on in our buildings. So certainly we all must have some focus on pricing and the optimal ways to reach as many people as we can with the knowledge of our practices. However the key difference that is evolving, is that the “Quality Medicine” focus of private practices, is completely focused on total pet care from the tip of the pets nose to the tip of the pets tail. A “package” does not define the limits of our scope, nor does it drive the register ring.
Our practice at Pets R Family Veterinary Hospital, is totally focused on the highest quality pet care and client experience. We approach pet medicine from a two tiered level of, quality and fact based medical research and resolution along with education of our client owners, for an improved “best life” opportunity for your pets. We offer a leading edge facility with equipment, hospital and medical protocol design that is of the highest level. And we operate with a trained, professional staff, that is built with a service ratio greater than other practices our size. We have chosen this design to better serve our clients with attention, communication, education, and supporting services that make your pet care experience fulfilling and complete. And we start each day with the promise that we operate under the tenants that have been offered to us by our Creator, of Love, Care and Compassion.
At Pets R Family Veterinary Hospital, we believe that your pet is truly a part of your family, just as we feel about our own. And we approach each patient with the focus of providing the very best in pet care. Never will you hear us speak of a “package” or a designed program that has nothing to do with your pets needs. We believe that each pet is a different and unique living creature, that deserves our upmost attention and effort to achieve the best medical care and quality life possible. That’s why we say “At Pets R Family Veterinary Hospital, we are your other family Doctor!”
Author
St. Johns Magazine
Debbie Gaylord
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