“Over my 17 years at the Veterinary Medical Center (VMC), I’ve worked with great supervisors and coworkers in radiology, the intensive care unit, the emergency room, and now primary care. The benefits at the University can’t be beat, and I’ve been able to grow my knowledge through continuing education opportunities and onsite experience. Being able to apply what I’ve learned to help teach interns and students is another reward of working at the VMC.
“But with all that in mind, my absolute favorite part of my job is helping animals and their humans.”—Kelsey Brown, Animal Care Tech Specialist, AFSCME Unit 7 - Technical, pictured here with Grace White (L), a veterinary medicine student
“We’re the best of the best, and I’m happy to be part of it. Working at the Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) means that I’m surrounded by experts in the field who can help me with any questions I have.
“There’s also always room to grow at the VMC. You can cross-train in multiple services or specialize in your favorite area of medicine. Since I joined six years ago, I’ve been able to focus on providing basic dental care to help animals live long and healthy lives.”—Katie Clapp, Animal Care Tech Specialist, AFSCME Unit 7 - Technical
“I love my job. In addition to learning something new every day, I get to work with new veterinary students and interns each year. Helping them grow as professionals and seeing them continue to succeed after they graduate is incredibly rewarding. Our alumni go on to make a difference in animals’ lives across the country—or in some cases, around the world.
"Add in the amazing benefits, the pension plan, and the discounts on treatment and food for my pets, and that’s why I’ve been here for eight years and counting.
“If you’re looking for an environment where learning is prized and with lots of enriching opportunities (including everything from continuing education to discounted tickets to University opera shows), then you’ll fit right in at the VMC.”—Jodi Stafford, Animal Care Tech Specialist, AFSCME Unit 7 - Technical
"I joined the VMC in 2000 for my clinical internship and have been here ever since! My primary interest is reducing pain and discomfort for animals, so specializing in anesthesia and physical rehabilitation has allowed me to follow my passion every day.
"While working at the VMC, I've been able to earn several advanced certifications, including a VTS (Veterinary Technician Specialist) in anesthesia, a CCRP (Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner), and CVPP (Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner). The VMC has supported me every step of the way.
"I love working with little dogs like pugs and Bostons—I call them goblin dogs—so being able to help a pug learn how to walk again is one of my favorite memories of working here. He took his first steps on his owner's birthday, and she said it was the best birthday present ever. Helping people by helping their pets is incredibly rewarding."—Siri Rea, AH Pro 3-Clinical Vet Care, Civil Service
"What I love most about working at the Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) is that I've been able to learn what I'm passionate about and improve my knowledge in internal medicine every day. I can also make decisions about our equipment due to my expertise. Vet techs at the VMC do much more than take orders—we play active roles in shaping our clients' care.
"The benefits at the University are amazing. I've taken advantage of the free Employee Assistance Program to improve my mental health and to help me be the best team member I can be, and I've also used the free financial counseling to help me manage budgeting and student loans. Getting paid sick and vacation time off is wonderful too.
"In the future, I want to teach other vet techs, and I know that the University will support me as I keep learning and growing as a vet tech."—Madison Ellis, Senior Veterinary Technician, AFSCME Unit 7 - Technical
“It’s exciting to be a part of an organization that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in veterinary medicine. At the Veterinary Medical Center, I get to work with cutting-edge equipment and experts in veterinary and human medicine.
“In my eight years with the VMC, I’ve assisted in open heart surgery and cared for dogs, cats, farm animals, seals, foxes, and even a sloth. The variety of projects and the fast-paced flow of the VMC mean that I’m always learning new things, but my biggest takeaway is that animals receive the best care when a team of passionate people work together to treat them. I’m proud to be a part of that team.”—Rian Ashmore, Animal Care Tech Specialist, AFSCME Unit 7 - Technical
Meet Todd Tanner, our Zero Waste Program manager! Todd manages the ReUse Program, and he also develops and enhances University programs for keeping recyclables and organics out of landfills.
“I first worked at the ReUse warehouse as a student at the U of M. When the ReUse coordinator job opened up in 2015, it was a natural fit for me. I have a DIY ethos, I’m an outdoor enthusiast, and I’m passionate about sustainability. I have kids, and I want them to enjoy the outdoors just like I have,” said Todd. “In early 2019, they added work with the Recycling Program to my job description and I became the University’s first Zero Waste Program manager.
ReUse Program
The University’s ReUse Program takes surplus University materials and redistributes them to departments in need or sells them to the public. Resellers are frequent customers at ReUse, so much so that ReUse staff knows them by name.
"To that end, we follow Regents policy to be good stewards of University funds and price items appropriately. At the same time, we want resellers to turn a profit since they’ll help us fulfill our mission: to find a good second home for materials.”
How do they know what a fair price is? “We do a lot of Googling around here. We need to know what things are selling for and also what people are interested in.”
“I have a really cool microscope on display in my office with its original case and power supply. Someone offered me $50 for it, and because I had done my research I knew that it would go for $1,500 or more. I couldn’t give it away at that price.” It now sits on Todd’s shelf that displays some of his favorite finds. But most of the interesting things that come across his desk are sold to make money for the University. In fact, everything on Todd’s shelf is still available for sale, just not for $50.
“The biggest sale [by price] I ever made was a collection of maps that were going to be given away. When I saw them, I knew there would be a market for them. They sold for $40,000, and 90% of the profit was shared back to the department that had owned them.”
ReUse’s Impact
“The work that I do makes a difference,” said Todd. “I work with a team of 35–40 full-time, part-time, and student employees to divert materials from landfills and incinerators.”
The ReUse program also saves money for the University. “We estimate that Twin Cities departments are able to find materials that would cost a total of about $350,000 annually,” said Todd. Instead, departments get most things for free at ReUse.
And, ReUse sells on average $350,000 worth of materials to the public annually. Many of the materials sold could cost money to dispose of, but instead Todd and his team help the University make money off its castoffs.
Additionally, ReUse provides direct help to students. Twin Cities students can take advantage of summer storage at ReUse–something that comes in handy since many leases end at the end of July, but the student’s next lease may not start until September. For only $20 a month, students can be sure that their items will be safely stored in ReUse’s warehouse.
Follow ReUse
ReUse is known for puns on its Facebook page, which is used to share new arrivals and other updates. Who writes the puns? “My staff and I run the Facebook page, and I like to say if you found a pun really funny, then I wrote it,” said Todd with a smile. “But my creative team comes up with most of them!”
Follow ReUse for the jokes and the latest updates on what’s available. You never know what’ll show up next.
When asked about the strangest thing he’s seen come through ReUse, Todd said, “One time, a truck full of mannequins rolled up to our dock. There were legs and arms sticking out everywhere. I wish I had taken a picture.”
Todd is also working on a program to reuse binder clips across the Twin Cities campus.
Recycling Program
In his work with the Recycling Program, Todd and his team are finalizing the rollout of the Twin Cities campus-wide organics project. “We want to make recycling organics as natural as recycling bottles and cans. [To that end] we put organics recycling bins next to just about every indoor trash and recycling station on campus.
“Next we’re working on rolling it out with Athletics. We’re four years into a two-year rollout due to COVID and other factors, but we’ll get it done.”
Todd and his team are working on a way to recycle Styrofoam by processing it into plastic ingots. He expects for the densifier to be up and running in fall of 2022.
“We reduce the Twin Cities’ campus waste on average by 45% of what it would be. Our goal is to get this number up to 50% in the short term and higher in the coming years.”
Blog Abstract
Meet Todd Tanner, our Zero Waste Program manager! Todd manages the ReUse Program, and he also develops and enhances University programs for keeping recyclables and organics out of landfills.
