Today’s Veterinary Nurse, the NAVC and CareCredit honor Eli Olind, LVT, as the 2025 Clinic Champion of the Year. Olind earned this distinction for his tireless advocacy for veterinary technicians in the state of Montana and exemplary care for small and large animals in his community.
Olind, of Whitehall, Montana, recently launched his own company, Z Lazy S Relief Services, through which he provides relief support for mixed-animal practices. He is also the 2025 president of the American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians and Assistants and a past-president of the Big Sky Veterinary Technician Association (BSVTA).
Olind started volunteering with the BSVTA in 2013, playing a key role as the association advocated for the licensure of veterinary technicians under the Montana State Veterinary Board and the establishment of a scope of practice for LVTs. They achieved their goals after seven years of advocacy.
“Being recognized as a Clinic Champion is an amazing honor,” said Olind. “It makes the years of hard work and dedication to the profession of Veterinary Technology worth all the trying times that it has brought and will bring in the future. Advanced recognition of this profession may be slow to come but it will always be worth pushing for.”
Whether he is prepping a Pekingese or a quarter horse for anesthesia, Olind utilizes the full range of his training working in a mixed-animal setting. His work serves as a reminder of the vital service licensed technicians and all veterinary professionals provide for members of rural communities, from pet owners to ranchers.
“Eli’s story proves that progress is possible when individuals come together to take on a challenge,” said NAVC Chief Media and Sales Officer Laura C.S. Walker, CAE. “We are proud to honor Eli not only for his work in advancing his profession, but also for the valuable care he provides for animals of any size.”
The Clinic Champions program was developed by the NAVC in 2021 to shine a light on the veterinary nurses/technicians who make a positive impact on their clients, patients, coworkers, and greater community every day. These stories are common in the veterinary community, but often overlooked. Today’s Veterinary Nurse honors a veterinary nurse/technician in each issue for their contributions in community service, scholarship, advocacy, or innovation.
The Clinic Champions program, sponsored by CareCredit, is part of the NAVC’s Veterinary Nurse/Technician Empowerment Initiative, which aims to elevate and advance veterinary nurses and credentialed technicians. This initiative encompasses a wide range of programs that offer new resources and tools for veterinary nurses/technicians, encourage the next generation of these veterinary professionals and bring together leaders from across the veterinary industry to address the challenges facing the veterinary nurse/technician profession.