Our Leadership

Stacy Pursell, CPC, CERS, is an award-winning, internationally respected executive recruiter, search consultant, and talent expert specializing in the Animal Health industry, Animal Nutrition industry, Pet industry, and the Veterinary profession. Ranked among the top 1% of search consultants worldwide, Stacy has spent nearly 30 years helping organizations identify, attract, recruit, and retain exceptional talent while helping professionals advance their careers.

As Founder and CEO of The VET Recruiter®, Stacy has built her career around a singular focus: strengthening Animal Health, Animal Nutrition, Pet Products and Veterinary organizations through people. She is recognized for her expertise in executive search, recruiting, talent acquisition, workforce and workplace trends, employee retention, and career development.

Since entering the executive search and recruiting profession in 1997, Stacy has worked with organizations throughout the United States, Canada, and internationally, ranging from entrepreneurial start-ups in the Animal Health space to privately owned Veterinary practices to major Animal Health companies, Veterinary organizations, Veterinary academic institutions, Animal Health and Veterinary associations, and established global Animal Health and Veterinary corporations.

A Pioneer in Animal Health & Veterinary Recruiting

Stacy was the first recruiter in the United States to develop Animal Health and Veterinary recruiting as a dedicated search practice specialty, helping establish what has since become a recognized niche within the recruiting profession. Her early specialization and continued leadership have earned her a reputation as a trailblazer and trend spotter in the Animal Health and Veterinary talent marketplace.

Throughout her career, Stacy has successfully recruited C-suite executives, senior and mid-level leaders, and individual contributors across a broad range of functions, including executive leadership, sales, marketing, business development, research and development, operations, regulatory affairs, professional services, medical affairs, human resources, finance and accounting and other specialized disciplines.

She has also helped start-up and emerging Animal Health and Veterinary organizations build teams from the ground up. Within Veterinary Medicine, Stacy has partnered with both corporate and privately owned practices and Veterinary organizations to recruit executive leaders, Chief Veterinary Officers, Chief Medical Officers, medical directors, chiefs of staff, associate veterinarians, and board-certified Veterinary specialists.

Her extensive experience, industry relationships, and understanding of the talent marketplace have made her a trusted advisor to employers and professionals throughout Animal Health and Veterinary Medicine.

Talent, Workforce & Career Expertise

Stacy’s expertise extends beyond identifying and recruiting talent. She advises organizations and professionals on the workforce and workplace issues influencing today’s employment marketplace, including talent attraction, employee retention, leadership, career development, hiring strategy, recruiting trends, and changing workforce expectations.

She holds the Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) designation and is a Certified Employee Retention Specialist (CERS), reflecting her expertise not only in recruiting exceptional employees but also in helping organizations understand how to retain and develop their people.

Stacy is also a frequent writer, speaker, podcast host, and commentator on recruiting, hiring, careers, leadership, and workforce trends within Animal Health and Veterinary Medicine.

Industry Leadership & Professional Involvement

Throughout her career, Stacy has been actively involved in professional organizations serving both the recruiting profession and the Animal Health and Veterinary communities.

Her professional involvement has included the American Association of Industry Veterinarians (AAIV), VetPartners, Top Echelon, Toastmasters, and the National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS), where she previously served on the Board of Directors. She has also contributed to Next Level Training, a recruiting industry training organization.

Stacy has served in leadership and volunteer capacities within the Animal Health industry and Veterinary community, including as an Advisory Board Member for the Professional Science Master’s programs at Kansas State University’s Olathe campus. Her involvement with VetPartners has included serving as Chair of the Program Committee, Chair of the Membership Committee, Founding Chair of the Networking Committee, and participating in the Opportunities Committee and Technology & Innovation Committee.

She believes strongly in giving back to the broader community and has volunteered with organizations including Feed My Starving Children.

Speaker & Industry Thought Leader

Stacy is a sought-after speaker on recruiting, hiring, employee retention, careers, leadership, and workforce trends. She has been invited to speak at numerous Animal Health and Veterinary conferences, professional associations, industry meetings, and leadership events.

Her speaking engagements have included programs for the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the AVMA Veterinary Economic Summit, the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA), the VMX, formerly the North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC) the Western Veterinary Conference (now Viticus), the American Association of Industry

Veterinarians (AAIV), and VetPartners, among others.

Through her speaking, writing, recruiting work, and industry involvement, Stacy shares insights gained from nearly three decades of working directly with employers, executives, hiring managers, and professionals throughout the Animal Health and Veterinary talent marketplace.

Background

Stacy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Oklahoma State University. Before entering executive search and recruiting in 1997, she worked in television broadcasting, advertising, and communications—experience that helped develop the communication, relationship-building, and storytelling skills that have remained central to her career.

Today, Stacy continues to lead The VET Recruiter® with the same purpose that has guided her work since 1997: bringing exceptional people and organizations together to strengthen Animal Health and Veterinary Medicine.