FRENCH/WEST/VAUGHAN SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT APPOINTED TO TWO LEADING PET/VETERINARY INDUSTRY GROUPS
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BluePearl Clinical Trial Review Board and Fear Free Advisory Group Welcome Pet Marketer and Lifestyle Expert Kristen Levine
RALEIGH (May 31, 2017) – French/West/Vaughan (FWV) one of the nation’s largest independently-owned public relations, advertising and digital marketing agencies, today announced that its Pet & Veterinary Practice’s Senior Vice President, Kristen Levine, has been appointed to two leading industry groups: the BluePearl Clinical Trial Review Board and the Fear Free Advisory Group. Ms. Levine founded Fetching Communications, a leading pet and veterinary PR and marketing firm based in Tampa, Fla in 2003, and it was acquired by FWV in January of this year.
BluePearl’s Clinical Trial Review Board – a division of BluePearl Veterinary Partners – evaluates clinical trials, or studies that test new treatments, drugs or diagnostics to find out if they are safe, effective, and better than the current standard veterinary treatment. If the clinical trial is approved by the review board, BluePearl Science will coordinate the study, which is then sponsored by pharmaceutical and technology companies. Participating in a clinical trial is voluntary. No patient ever participates without the owner’s express, written permission.
Developed by “America’s Veterinarian,” Dr. Marty Becker, the Fear FreeSM initiative is an innovative movement designed to take the ‘pet’ out of petrified and get pets back into veterinary practices by promoting considerate approach and gentle control techniques used in calming environments. Utilization of such methods helps lead to the reduction of anxiety triggers for pets. The Fear Free program educates and certifies veterinary professionals in the creation and delivery of Fear Free veterinary visits designed to alleviate anxiety and stress.
A leading pet lifestyle and marketing expert for close to 30 years, Ms. Levine will bring a consumer point-of-view to both groups. “I’m honored that I was chosen to be a part of both groups, which collectively, are elevating the veterinary hospital experience for pets and the quality of treatment they receive there. As a marketer and pet lifestyle expert, I hope to provide a unique skillset to both groups and as an animal lover, I aim to represent the perspective of the consumers and pet owners.”
“Because pet owners are of utmost importance to BluePearl, one of our requirements is to have at least one consumer advocate as a member of the board,” says Teresa Lightfoot, DVM, DABVP-Avian, and BluePearl Clinical Trial Review Board Director. “Kristen is a wonderful fit for that role, as her insight and experience marketing to pet owners truly allows her to be their voice during the review process.”
With close to 200 representatives, the Fear Free Advisory Group selects and approaches potential members based on their individual expertise. “By design, each one of our members has a different specialty,” says Ruth Garcia, Chief Operating Officer of Fear Free. “Kristen has a built-in audience of pet parents, pet product consumers, and pet businesses, so she is frequently speaking at industry conferences and pet-related broadcast segments. Because she already abides by our tenants, she’s a natural Fear Free Ambassador.”
Ms. Levine established Fetching Communications in 2003 as the nation’s first marketing and PR firm focused exclusively on the pet and veterinary industries. The company built a national reputation as a trusted marketing and communications resource for pet-positive companies, veterinary practices and related organizations, including the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, PetSafe® Brand, Calmz® Anxiety Relief System for dogs and John Paul Pet, created by John Paul Mitchell Systems. Today – in addition to her role at FWV – she is a nationally-known speaker, media personality, author and blogger, reaching passionate pet lovers across the country through her website, Kristen Levine Pet Living.
Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles and Tampa, FWV will celebrate its 20th year in 2017. The agency earned four separate PR industry Agency of the Year honors in 2016 and was ranked in the Top 10 of the Holmes Report Global Creative Index.
About French West Vaughan
French West Vaughan (FWV) is one of the nation’s leading public relations, public affairs, advertising and digital media agencies, with offices in Raleigh, New York City, Los Angeles and Tampa. National, international and local clients represented by the agency include Wrangler, ABB, Hood River Distillers, Melitta, NATHAN, Fleet Feet, Concord Hospitality, Peter Millar, Paralyzed Veterans of America, International Gemological Institute (IGI) and Moe’s Southwest Grill restaurants. FWV is a partner in IPREX, the $200 million network of communication agencies, with 1,500 staff members and 100 offices worldwide. FWV was named North American Consumer Agency of the Year at the 2016 SABRE Awards and Midsize, Consumer and Communications Agency of the Year by Bulldog Reporter. For more information, please visit www.fwv-us.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest or Instagram.
About Fetching Communications
Founded in 2003, Tampa-based Fetching Communications is a national PR and marketing agency for the pet and veterinary industries led by pet lifestyle and marketing expert Kristen Levine. In 2013, Fetching acquired the news distribution platform PetPR.com. Levine’s website, Kristen Levine Pet Living, is read by pet and animal lovers worldwide. She is a 2016 Pet Age Women of Influence Award winner and was recognized in 2015 by the Women in the Pet Industry Network as a Pet Industry Woman of the Year.
About Mars Petcare US
Mars Petcare is the world’s leading pet nutrition and health care business. A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS® is the vision statement held by Mars Petcare as we believe that pets make our lives better and that pet ownership brings joy and benefits which should be accessible to everyone. In the United States, Mars Petcare food brands include PEDIGREE®, IAMS®, ROYAL CANIN®, GREENIES®, CESAR®, NUTRO® and SHEBA®. Veterinary practices include BANFIELD® and BLUEPEARL®. Specialty brands include WISDOM PANEL® Canine DNA Tests and WHISTLE® GPS Pet Tracker. The company’s WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition is a leading scientific authority on pet nutrition and wellbeing. Mars Petcare has more than 37,000 Associates worldwide. For more information about Mars Petcare’s vision: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS®, visit https://www.facebook.com/ABetterWorldforPets
About Fear Free
Developed by “America’s Veterinarian,” Dr. Marty Becker, the Fear FreeSM initiative aims to “take the ‘pet’ out of ‘petrified’” and get pets back for veterinary visits by promoting considerate approach and gentle control techniques used in calming environments. Utilization of Fear Free methods and protocols leads to reduction or removal of anxiety triggers, which creates an experience that is rewarding and safer for all involved, including pets, their owners, and veterinary health care teams. The end result? Calmer, more accepting patients, more compliant clients, and better veterinary care.