Our Staff

• Larry Baker , DVM, FAVD, Diplomate AVDC

  
  

  Dr. Baker graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1969.  He practiced in Little Rock, Arkansas, for one year. In 1970 he returned to the Decatur area and built Northgate Pet Clinic. His initial staff consisted of  himself and one assistant! Northgate has  grown to a staff of almost thirty people. Dr. Baker is a Fellow in the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry.  In March of 2005 he became a Diplomate in the American Veterinary Dental College, one of about 100 board-certified veterinary dentists in the world today.

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• Becky Reardon , DVM

  
  

  Dr. Reardon is a 2002 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. In 2002 she joined our staff as a new veterinarian. She had worked part-time at Northgate in high school and throughout her college career.    She and her husband have one son, Connor; one yellow lab, Gracie; a Golden Retriever, Winston; four cats Jo, Boomer, Hermione, and Henry; and two gerbils, Jack and Cody.

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• Jennifer Rojas , DVM

  
  

  Dr. Rojas is currently attending Chi Institute in Reddick, Florida, where she is studying animal acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

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• Dr. Joella Koss , DVM

  
  

  Dr. Koss joined our Northgate team June 2008. She graduated from U of I Vet School in 2008 and is a fabulous addition to the Northgate team.

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• Holly Culllen , DVM

  
  

  Dr. Holly Cullen joined the northgate team in July of 2008.  She recieved her DVM in May of 2006.  Recently married, she and her husband enjoy wildlife and all things outdoors.  She currently has a bullmastiff mix, a redbone coonhound, 2 parrots, and a oppossum.

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• Melissa Thornton , Practice Manager, C.V.T. ; Head Technician

  
  

  Melissa joined our Northgate team in 1999 and became our Practice Manager in December 2009. She graduated from St. Petersburg College Distance Veterinary Technology Program in December of 2003 and become a Certified Veterinary Technician in February of 2004. Melissa’s special interests include communication, leadership training and recognizing team members for everything they have to offer our clinic, our clients and our patients! Her mission here at Northgate is to share her passion for Veterinary medicine, leadership and animals with our patients, clients and team members. Her next pursuit is to become a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager. Melissa and her husband and their 11 year old daughter Makenna have a Golden Retriever named Bailey, three cats; Jack Frost, Psycho Kitty, and Midnight a turtle named Bob and a Guinea Pig named Weet-Weet! Melissa and her family hope to move to the edge of town this summer where they can have a goat or two as well!

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• Angee Baker , Computer Network Administrator

  
  

  Angee, a former teacher for 20 years, received her B.S. in Education in 1973, and her M.S. in Education in 1977 from the University of Illinois.  Angee retired from teaching to work at Northgate.  She established and manages our computer network.  She has owned and bred Champion Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers.  She and her husband have two dogs: a Lab mix, Millie, and a Rottweiler mix, Bo.  In 2004, they opened Millie & Bo's Barkery, a pet bakery boutique.

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• A. Ray Jones

  
  

  Ray is our contractor, architect, landscaper, carpenter....you name it, he can take care of it!  He keeps Northgate Pet Plaza up and running and looking great.  Ray has been working with us since 1994.

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• Judy Ozier , CVT, VDT

  
  

  Judy has been working as a Certified Veterinary Technician at Northgate since 1986.  In 1997 Judy was the third runner-up in the National Technician of the Year Award sponsored by Veterinary Technician Magazine.  Through continuing education, she became a Veterinary Dental Technician, and she is a charter member of the specialty group, American Veterinary Dental Technicians and continues to be an active member.  She enjoys working with people, pets, and medicine. When not working, she keeps very busy with her husband, four grown children, and seven grandchildren.  They enjoy hiking and the outdoors around the lake where they live.  They have one cat and a yellow Lab.

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• Amber Harrington , C.V.T.

  
  

  Amber joined the Northgate team in June 2003. In May 2003, she graduated from Parkland College, in Champaign, with her C.V.T. degree.  Amber has a special interest in exotic/zoo medicine.  She enjoys working with pets and people.  Amber also enjoys outdoor activities, watching movies and spending time with her husband, friends, and family; She has four cats, one dog, and a snake.

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• Becca Wayne , C.V.T.

  
  

  Becca graduated from Parkland College in 2006 and has worked at Northgate Pet Clinic since. Her passion is to educate the public about exceptional veterinary medicine and be the best technician she can by continuing to learn every day. Becca currently has 4 cats; Harley Wood, Fieval, Adam, and Spike, a husky mix named Roxie, and a beta named Lunchbox. She lives with her boyfriend of 2 ½ years, Chris! They both enjoy traveling, especially to the coast, outdoor activities, and movies. They both hope to sell their current house and move to the country in the next 2 years and start a family.

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• Lisa Weir , C.V.T.

  
  

  Lisa Weir joined the Northgate team in July 2008.  She graduated from Parkland College this year and is relocating to this area with her husband (Eric), son (Daniel), daughter (Lauren), five cats, one dog, and two rats.  Her hobbies include water sports, reading, puzzles, gardening, and dabbling in carpentry.

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• Kristen Ragusa , CVT

  
  

  Kristen graduated from Parkland College's Veterinary Technician Program in May of 2009.  She recently moved from Champaign with her boyfriend Andy and her pets. Her pets include Rio the two year old German Shephard/Boxer mix whom she adopted from Macon County Animal Control in mid 2008, four lizards, and one frog.  She looks forward to meeting all the clients and patients at Northgate Pet Clinic!

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• Lisa Lambert , Receptionist

  
  

  Lisa has been employed at Northgate since July 2002. She loves being able to help and interact with pet and their owners. Lisa lives with her husband, stepson, daughter, and lots of furry and feathered kids. She owns a Pembroke welsh corgi, a pitbull mix, 4 cats, 2 parakeets and 1 guinea pig. Lisa recently became a Scentsy consultant. When Lisa is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family. She also enjoys reading and selling Scentsy.

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• Christina Renn

  
  

  Christina has been working as a receptionist at Northgate for 2 years .She has 3 amazing boys, Mason, Shannon and Trent; and her boyfriend of 7 years Brett. She has a dog named Capone (who is an amazing family dog)!  She and her family love all sports, especially football which her oldest son Mason plays, and Shannon plays baseball.  She enjoys summer days in the back yard with her family, and snowball fights in the winter! Her motto; Enjoy life while you can, it goes by to fast! :D

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• Lindsey Hodge

  
  

  Lindsey joined our Northgate team in October 2004.  She owns two dogs (Rimmey, and Reesie) and a cat (Phini) She enjoys throwing clay and gardening but most of all enjoys spending time with and watching her beautiful daughter Addison play and grow

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• Jennifer M

  
  

  Jennifer M and her boyfriend Brent have a one year old boy named Grant (he makes their heart melt)! She has been working at Northgate since June 22, 2009 and loves it! Jenn has a blue pit bull, Bella. She is Facinated by fishing, catch and release of course! She one day hopes to catch a cat fish, all on her own!

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• Anthony Strode

  
  

  Anthony started working at Northgate in July of 2009. Anthony loves all sorts of animals but currently has one dog; Foxtimus Prime, three cats; Tangerine, Tybalt, and Evee, a bunny; Rory, and a dumbo rat; Nicodemus. When he is not working he loves to ride his scooter, watch movies, hang out with friends, play with his pets, and go to concerts.

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• Bri Park

  
  Bri started working at Northgate in June of 2010, though she has been a veterinary receptionist for some time. She was certified by Hill's in February of 2010 as a Veterinary Nutritional Advocate and is always looking for the next opportunity to continue her education to better serve our patients! Bri and her husband have a 7 year old daughter, Jamie Elizabeth and a baby boy, Liam Mason. They all love camping, road trips and water sports! Jamie also has her very first pet, a black bubble-eyed goldfish named Bugsy.

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• Katie McDaniel

  
  Katie has been working at Northgate since January of 2010.  She had previously volunteered for Northgate and is very excited to be working here now.  She is a senoir in high school and enjoys dancing, playing sports, and hanging out with her friends and family.  Katie has two dogs, Yogi; a chocolate lab and Callie, a terrier mix

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• Stephenie Cunningham , Kennel Caretaker, Receptionist

  
  

  Stephenie joined our Northgate team in December 2002.  She works both as a receptionist and as a kennel caretaker.  Stephenie enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, Dominick and Dalton.  She also has two Pit Bulls named Caesar and Jewlz.

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• Ryan Holler , B.A. in Spanish, Veterinarian Assistant

  
  

  Ryan Holler has been with Northgate since October 2005.  She is planning to continue school to get her Veterinary Technician degree.  She has 3 dogs and 2 cats, and a new baby daughter, Ruth.  Ryan enjoys singing with her church choir, playing percussion instruments and piano, and playing in the woods.

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• Angie L. , Veterinary Assistant, Hills Consultant, Behavior Consultant

  
  

  Angie has been a part of the Northgate team since 1995.  She has a special interest in orthopedics, veterinary dentistry, and exotic/zoo medicine.  She is also a board member of The Decatur/Macon County Humane Society.  Angie, her husband, and her daughter live on a small farm.  They have two dogs: Dixie, and Boomer; an African Gray Parrot named Cody Bill Hickup; and the cutest miniature donkeys named Hershey's Kiss, Butterfinger, Snickers and the baby, Milk Dud.

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• Amber Procarione

  
  

  Amber worked as veterinary assistant in the late 90’s and re-joined the Northgate team in January of 2009. She is more committed than ever to the practice of superior companion animal medicine in Decatur. She recognizes companion animals hold a special place in their human’s lives, even as family, and is dedicated to making each person and pet feel special that walks through Northgate’s doors. She loves being able to treat our hospitalized furry friends with love and care and watch them leave our practice on the road to recovery. She also enjoys the office work that keeps Northgate running behind the scenes by helping our practice manager, Melissa, with various projects. Amber currently has no pets L, but has been known to have many kitties, a couple of dogs, a betta, a parakeet and even a gecko!!

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• Sarah Beck

  
  

  Sarah began working at Northgate in August of 2009.  She has been working with animals in one form or another for twelve years or so.  She worked as kennel and technician assistant for an animal hospital outside of Chicago,  then graduated from dog grooming school in Sept. of 2000 and groomed for almost ten years.  Recently she decided to put grooming on hold to explore the possibility of becoming a veterinary technician.  Sarah lives in Decatur with her husband, two cats named Tre and Rapunzel, and a lhasa/poodle mix named Chip. In her down time she enjoys traveling, biking, walking/hiking, and hanging out with friends and family.

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• Laura Booker

  
  

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• Andrea Bruni

  
  Andrea was born and raised in Chicago, IL and moved to Decatur with her family in October of 2009.  Her daughter was born in November 2009 and is growing faster than a weed!  She has an adorable Shar-Pei named Taffy who, accompanied with her daughter, makes all her free time a blast!

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• Joy McGeorge

  
  

  Joy McGeorge is an independent groomer at Northgate Pet Plaza.  She has been grooming in this area for the past 11 years and was trained by one of the area's first groomer's (Sue Russell of Sue's Dog Boutique).  In 1983, Joy moved to Florida where she worked for a veterinarian for 13 years and also enjoyed the dog obedience training field. While Joy grooms most breeds, she specializes in Poodles and coarse-coated Terriers.  Her hobbies include trail riding on her horse "Red" and photography.  To schedule an appointment or discuss prices for grooming services, you may contact her at the following business number (217) 972-8578.
  

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• Kathy Templeton

  
  
  Kathy Templeton is an independent groomer at Northgate Pet Plaza.  She learned to groom at a local groomer's shop, after which she attended a three-month grooming course in Lansing, Michigan, at Michigan School of Canine Cosmetology.  She has been grooming now for 8 years and enjoys all different breeds.  When not working, she enjoys being outdoors, walking and playing with her dogs Tilda (Basset Hound) and Turbo (German Shorthaired Hound), and planning her April wedding.  To schedule an appointment or discuss prices for grooming services, you may contact her at the following business number (217) 875-4227.
  

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• Tonya Rauch

  
  
  Tonya is an independent groomer at Northgate Pet Plaza.  She has almost 9 years of experience grooming, and her favorite breed of dogs are Goldens (perhaps because her own dog, Libby, is a Golden!). Tonya also has 2 cats, Teekee and Doris, and a son, Nathan, with whom she enjoys camping and fishing every once in a while. To schedule an appointment or discuss prices for grooming services, you may contact her at the following business number (217) 201-2196.
  

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• Cathy Wilkinson

  
  She works as an independent groomer and her company is called Bubbles and Bows. The number for Bubbles and Bows is 217-855-5318 and her e-mail is cnswilkin@yahoo.com

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• Mr. Brent M Howland

  
      Brent started working at Northgate in May of 2009. He moved to town with his girlfriend Jenn, who also works at Northgate, his little boy Grant, and his Pittbull Bella! He loves to fish, camp, and do anything outdoors!

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