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Meet The Team

Get to know us (and our pets!).

Deal Team

Finance

Operations

Marketing

Emeritus Advisors

DEAL TEAM

Rich Lester Rich on Stage

Rich Lester

Chief Executive Officer

Win Lippincott Win on Stage

Win Lippincott

Chief Operating Officer

Dr Roger Redman Roger with Dog

Roger Redman, DVM

Executive VP of Business Development

Michael Kemp Michael Candid

Michael Kemp

VP of Business Development, Canada

Ryan Lester Ryan Lester with Cat

Ryan Lester

VP of Business Development

Ryan Barlow Ryan Candid

Ryan Barlow

VP of Business Development

FINANCE

Steve Haas Steve Candid

Steve Haas

VP of Financial Analysis

Rita Wong Rita Candid

Rita Wong

Senior Financial Analyst

Guncha Singh Guncha Candid

Guncha Singh

Senior Financial Analyst

Shelby Bryson Shelby Candid

Shelby Bryson

Senior Financial Analyst

Wade Klussman Wade Candid

Wade Klussman

Financial Analyst

OPERATIONS

Chris Watkins Chris Candid

Chris Watkins

VP of Operations

Jacki Anderson Jacki Candid

Jacki Anderson

Business Operations Manager

Lindsey Marsh Lindsey Candid

Lindsey Marsh

Operations Analyst

Regina Estrada Regina Candid

Regina Estrada

Operations Analyst

MARKETING

Ryan Berry Ryan Candid

Ryan Berry

Director of Marketing

Olivia Waite Olivia Candid

Olivia Waite

Senior Marketing Manager

Logan Bucks Logan Candid

Logan Bucks

Marketing Manager

Liz Guiducci Liz Candid

Liz Guiducci

Marketing Associate

Emeritus Advisor

Gary Ackerman Gary Candid

Gary Ackerman

Founder and CEO Emeritus

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“Hire them. Gary’s expertise was and remains invaluable. Each person at Ackerman Group was not only highly skilled in their area of expertise, they were always kind, supportive, attentive, and available at all hours to support me every step of the way. Gary negotiated the best possible…”

Christie D’Andrea, DVM

“They helped me polish up our accounting to present the best image of the clinic and helped us evaluate the offers that we received. We are extremely pleased with the offer that we accepted, and the attention to detail provided by The Ackerman Group to get us to a successful closing.”

Steven Whittle, DVM

“It is noteworthy that even though I had a smaller practice, Dr. Ackerman always invested ample and considerable time, effort, and attention despite the fact that most veterinary corporations purchasing practices are usually only interested in the larger multi DVM practices…”

Roger Paulson, DVM

“I can’t thank the people at Ackerman enough for the help they have given me in the sale of my practice. Every step of the way — from positioning and presenting my practice to soliciting and negotiating offers to dealing with the inevitable issues that arose before closing — they were there…”

Adam Arzt, VMD

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Rich Lester

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 

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Rich Lester has spent the past 15+ years in the veterinary industry, primarily working with veterinarians to ensure their financial success. After a few years as President of BrightHeart Veterinary Centers, Rich became the Founder of Veterinary Practice Partners (VPP) in 2011. VPP was the first group that exclusively focused on co-owning hospitals with local veterinarians, and as CEO, Rich grew it from a startup idea to a large organization with more than 65 hospital partnerships. In 2020, he stepped down as CEO and remained as an advisor. In his current role at Ackerman Group, he enjoys helping veterinarians secure their financial futures.

“I enjoy helping practice owners realize their goals, which includes the combination of the financial rewards, finding the ‘right’ fit for the staff, and Associates going forward and ensuring continuity for their hospital’s role in the community.”

Having spent over a decade as a practice buyer, Rich is extremely well-versed in the space and enjoys advising practice owners on the process of selling to corporate groups. Prior to the veterinary industry, Rich worked within the human healthcare sector in senior management. In particular, he spent much of this time at DaVita, a multi-site operator and consolidator of dialysis clinics.

Rich has an MBA from UCLA and an undergraduate degree in Finance and American History from the University of Pennsylvania. He’s married to his wife, Rachel, and they have three children. He loves to ski, golf, and spend time with his family.

 

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Win Lippincott

PARTNER, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

 

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Win has spent nearly a decade thoughtfully advising veterinary practice owners on a wide variety of business issues. At Ackerman Group, he both oversees the growth marketing of the company and works directly with veterinarians during their practice sale processes of their businesses. Previously, he served as Chief Growth Officer for Veterinary Practice Partners (VPP), a corporate practice ownership company, leading its Marketing and Business Development functions. Over his eight-year tenure at VPP, he developed revenue growth strategies that culminated in multiple, successive years of industry-leading revenue growth for VPP’s practices, contributing to VPP’s inclusion on the Inc. 5000 list from 2016-2020. While overseeing Business Development, he developed the company’s new practice assessment methodology and led its efforts to acquire high-quality practices across the country. In addition, Win started and led the company’s Technology and Data/Analytics teams, ultimately improving the organization’s ability to efficiently understand its practices’ performance.

Prior to joining VPP, Win was a Senior Associate at Centerwood Partners, LLC, an alternative investment firm, and Director of Marketing at Foresite Sports, Inc., a specialty B2C insurance brokerage.

Win earned his MBA at Duke University and Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

 

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Roger Redman

EXECUTIVE VP OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

 

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Dr. Redman was born and raised in Wooster, Ohio, the son of a veterinarian at The Ohio State College Veterinary Medicine. He attended The Ohio State University for both his undergraduate degree and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and served as President of his class throughout veterinary school.

He has owned and managed two very successful veterinary hospitals with outstanding teams of healthcare providers and sold these in 2018. He currently owns a third practice in northeast Ohio.
He has been appointed and served under three Ohio Governors to the Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board, was elected to the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association Board of Directors, and was the 2019-2021 President of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards, which oversees the regulation and licensing of Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians in the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands. In that role, he oversaw RACE continuing education and the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Exam) which is the testing requirement of technicians in North America.

In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking, saltwater fishing, and wake surfing. He is also a licensed pilot. He resides with his wife, Peg, and their dog, Ruger at Lake Buckhorn, Millersburg, and Punta Gorda, FL. Peg and Dr.

Redman has 5 children and 8 grandchildren.

 

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Michael Kemp

VP OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, CANADA
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Michael is a seasoned executive with over two decades of experience in corporate development within hypergrowth environments. He has successfully negotiated and closed over 800 transactions, significantly enhancing the growth and success of major veterinary chains. As a key leader, Michael’s strategies contributed to doubling the size of several chains within just a few years. He holds a Master of Applied Sciences degree from the University of Toronto and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Business Valuator (CBV).

 

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Ryan Lester

VP OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
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Ryan has spent over ten years in corporate strategy and business development at some of the largest and fastest growing companies in the world. At Ackerman Group, he’s responsible for Business Development. Ryan is focused on making sure that veterinarians view us as a trusted advisor at every step of the process and have a consistent experience with us.

Before joining Ackerman Group, Ryan worked at Venture Capital-funded startups in addition to blue chip companies like AT&T and Salesforce. At these companies, Ryan’s responsibilities ranged from negotiating complex, multi-site agreements with Fortune 5,000 companies to designing quotas, territories and sales strategies for hundreds of sales professionals.

Ryan holds a degree in History from Gettysburg College and currently lives in Oakland, California with his wife Kim. Outside of work he loves to run, cook and volunteer in his neighborhood.

 

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Ryan Barlow

VP OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
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Ryan Barlow joined Ackerman Group in 2022 as a Senior Financial Analyst. He brings over 4 years of experience in financial analysis in veterinary and multi-site healthcare. Prior to Ackerman Group, Ryan worked as a Senior M&A Analyst for Community Veterinary Partners, where he focused on evaluating the financials of veterinary hospitals and conducting internal financial due diligence. Outside of the veterinary industry, Ryan was a Senior M&A Analyst for Taqitz Advisors, where he assisted in financial consulting and the execution of third-party financial due diligence for private equity firms and their portfolio companies. He is excited to help Ackerman Group continue to guide practice owners in finding their best price, terms, and fit as they look to transition their businesses and secure their personal and financial legacies.

Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Denver, where he also played collegiate soccer. He is originally from Dallas, Texas, and currently resides in Denver Colorado. In his spare time, Ryan loves to eat good food and watch TV shows with his wife Paulina and their three-year-old mini Goldendoodle, Miley.

 

Steve Haas

VP OF FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

Steve brings a breadth of veterinary knowledge to the Ackerman Group, having extensive experience in financial analysis, business valuations, and operational assessments of veterinary practices. He was a founder of National PetCare Centers, a company that owned and operated veterinary hospitals across the country. He led the organization from its inception to becoming the second-largest in the space before it merged with a fellow industry leader. Throughout his 6+ years at National PetCare Centers, Steve managed the finance and M&A departments, the latter of which included due diligence, financial analysis, deal negotiation, and post-merger integration. For over a decade, Steve also provided consulting services in the veterinary industry for practice sales, fairness opinions, and tax-related valuations.

Outside of the veterinary space, Steve has held multiple positions that allowed him to diversify his business experience and skills: a Research Analyst for an investment advisory firm, and a Strategic Business Analyst for a global manufacturer of digital imaging, process control, and asset management systems to name a couple. He was also the CFO for a start-up manufacturer and service provider of water sub-metering systems, as well as the Head of Finance for a developer of software products and services for the agricultural industry. Steve holds a Bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Outside of Ackerman Group, Steve is an avid tennis enthusiast, having previously played on local USTA men's and mixed doubles teams, and he's a certified tennis instructor who has taught both kids and adults. In addition to tennis, Steve has an affinity for adopting senior dogs. He particularly rescues siblings (or “bonded pairs”), which are often more difficult for shelters and rescue organizations to place into forever homes.

Rita Wong

SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST 

Rita Wong is an MBA and CPA, with experience in public accounting, financial forecasting and analysis, business valuations, and people management. She started her career in audit at Deloitte & Touche, and has held various Accounting and Financial Planning and Analysis roles. Prior to taking time off to raise two young children, Rita worked for National Veterinary Associates as the Business Development Financial Analyst Manager, where she reviewed all valuations of potential acquisitions, managed the team of analysts, and assisted in the diligence closing process.

 

Guncha Singh

SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST 

Guncha Singh, a seasoned financial professional, joined Ackerman Group in 2024 as a Senior Financial Analyst. Before her role at Ackerman Group, Guncha worked as a Finance Manager at National Veterinary Associates, where she assisted in business development, mergers and acquisitions, and budgeting.

Outside of the veterinary industry, Guncha also served as a Tax Associate at BDO USA LP, where she handled C & S Corporate returns, as well as state returns. Following this, she took on the role of Tax Analyst at Warner Bros. Entertainment, contributing her financial acumen to one of the entertainment industry’s giants.

Guncha, who lives in Los Angeles with her family, finds balance in her life through yoga, Bhangra dancing, travel, and online shopping.

 

Shelby Bryson

SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST 

Shelby Bryson is an accomplished Senior Financial Analyst with a specialization in Mergers & Acquisitions. With extensive experience in the veterinary industry, Shelby began her career at National Veterinary Associates, honing her expertise in business valuations and financial due diligence. She later broadened her knowledge in the orthotics & prosthetics sector before joining Ackerman Group in late 2024.

At Ackerman Group, Shelby leverages her financial acumen and industry insights to assist veterinary practice owners through the complexities of selling their businesses, ensuring a seamless and rewarding transition.

Based on the coast of Ventura, California, Shelby balances her professional commitments with a rich personal life. She enjoys spending time with friends and family and is an avid concert-goer.

 

Wade Klussman

FINANCIAL ANALYST

Wade Klussman is a Financial Analyst at Ackerman Group, where he supports the firm’s growing client base across the U.S. and Canada. With a deep background in veterinary healthcare finance, Wade brings a unique perspective to the sell side of the industry, helping practice owners navigate the complexities of valuation, deal structures, and financial performance.

Before joining Ackerman Group, Wade held analyst roles at Thrive Pet Healthcare and National Veterinary Associates (NVA), where he collaborated with teams across multiple departments, including several current Ackerman team members. His experience includes financial modeling, compensation analysis, budgeting, and strategic planning across multi-location veterinary networks.

Wade earned his B.S. in Business Administration from California State University Channel Islands and is known for his clear analytical thinking, approachable demeanor, and strong Excel and reporting skills. He is passionate about continuing to serve the veterinary industry by helping owners realize the full value of their life's work. Wade and his wife, Jenna, currently live in Ventura County, CA with their 6-year-old cat named Bean, who loves spending her days basking in the sun and bird watching.

 

Chris Watkins

VP OF OPERATIONS 

Chris Watkins, our Vice President of Operations, has more than 20 years of experience in the veterinary profession. Prior to Ackerman Group, Chris served as a technician and in hospital administration and practice management, most of which was at a multi-site, AAHA-accredited hospital in North Carolina. The hospitals where Chris worked were sold to corporate buyers, where he played an integral part in the transition. The experience gave him an initial dive into the transition process that led to his involvement with Ackerman Group today.

Areas in which Chris excels include practice management analysis, software functionality, due diligence processes, and client services. He’s also a credentialed veterinary assistant and still maintains his CE requirements for his AVA designation. He has an educational background in business administration and is in the process of completing requirements to earn a designation as a CVPM.

“Our team has a unique synergy and cohesiveness,” he says. “I find it rewarding when a client expresses a sigh of relief when they understand the tools, processes, and expertise that we have in place to support them through the various phases of selling their practice.”

 

Jacki Anderson

BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER

Jacki Anderson joined Ackerman Group in 2020 as an Executive Assistant. Previously, Jacki served as a Head Teller at RVA Federal Credit Union, an Office Manager at Aramark, and, most recently, a Client Services Manager at Morse Capital Partners. These experiences and more have equipped her with the skills that make her invaluable to our team.

Areas in which Jacki excels include project management, client communications, planning, logistics, and human resources. At Ackerman Group, she finds the entire sales process exciting:

“I find it rewarding seeing how appreciative clients are once they’ve crossed the finish line. I enjoy working with them throughout each phase of the process, starting with the eValuation.”

 

Lindsey Marsh

OPERATIONS ANALYST

Lindsey Marsh, our Operations Analyst, has over 20 years of experience in veterinary medicine. On the practice side, she’s worked as both a veterinary technician and a hospital manager helping operations and animal care at the clinic run smoothly. While Lindsey’s line of work at Ackerman Group doesn’t interact directly with animals, she still provides support to a mobile veterinarian in the evenings. This way, she says, she “gets the best of both worlds.”

Lindsey finds that being there for practice owners during such an important milestone is one of the most rewarding aspects of working at Ackerman Group. “Making [the transition process] as stress free as possible” is an added bonus to helping practice owners navigate their sale.

In Lindsey’s free time, you can find her on the beach listening to oldies, fishing, drag-racing, and enjoying time with her family and two children. Lindsey also has a 9 year-old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, named Gypsy, who loves to chase her tail and bark at her own shadow.

 

Regina Estrada

OPERATIONS ANALYST

Regina Estrada joined Ackerman Group as an Operations Analyst in 2022. Having been in the veterinary industry for 20 years, Regina started in the hospital setting as an RVT before transitioning to finance and operations.

Before Ackerman, she was an Acquisitions Analyst at VCA. During her time there, she helped the company grow its M&A portfolio, assisted in financial trend analyses particularly in doctor production, and provided direct support to sellers and hospital teams during the diligence and transition processes. Even post-sale, Regina maintained communication with sellers to give any guidance if needed.

“I love using my veterinary experience to help others; not only in the hospital as an RVT, but also helping veterinarians and staff navigate the business side.”

She holds an Associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology from Los Angeles Pierce College, a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Capella University, and a Master’s degree in Management from the University of Phoenix. In her free time, Regina enjoys spending time outdoors and with friends, reading, and self-work. She is the proud owner of four cats (Lucas, Adia, Spencer, and Maka) and two dogs (Harper and Brer).

 

Ryan Berry

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Ryan Berry is the Director of Marketing at Ackerman Group, bringing over 20 years of expertise in traditional and digital marketing. Before joining Ackerman Group, he served as CEO of a digital marketing agency for eight years, Director of Marketing for a self-storage conglomerate for four years, and Director of Marketing at WealthAbility for two years. Since 2009, Ryan has led globally dispersed marketing teams, driving brand awareness and business growth through diverse marketing strategies and impactful storytelling. He is passionate about helping Ackerman Group reach new heights.

Ryan holds an MBA with a focus on marketing from Avila University in Kansas City. He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Stefanie, and together they have three children—two boys and a girl. In his free time, Ryan enjoys helping his kids with karate, playing guitar, capturing astrophotos from his lakehouse observatory, and spending time with friends and family. At home, he shares his backyard adventures with his two dogs, Boomer (a Labrador Retriever) and Baxter (a Pug), and cherishes creating lasting memories.

 

Olivia Waite

SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER

Olivia Waite joined Ackerman Group in 2022 as a Senior Marketing Manager. She brings over 10 years of marketing experience with content creation, automated marketing practices, brand development, and implementing long-term marketing strategies. She is passionate about thoughtfully applying her expertise to help Ackerman Group build quality relationships.

Prior to joining Ackerman Group, Olivia worked as a Senior Marketing Manager at Veterinary Practice Partners, a corporate practice ownership company. At VPP, she created and managed traditional and digital marketing strategies for over 90 veterinary hospitals. Additionally, to ensure a smooth transition, Olivia led the marketing integration efforts for 55 new partnerships during her tenure with VPP. Before joining VPP, Olivia was a Marketing Manager at Hankin Group, a commercial and residential real estate development company. There, she led the marketing efforts for 12 apartment communities within the Hankin Apartments brand.

Olivia lives near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with her husband, Steve, and two shorkie brothers, Wolf and Digby. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, watching sci-fi movies, and making her house a home.

 

Logan Bucks

MARKETING MANAGER

Logan Bucks joined Ackerman Group in 2024 as a Marketing Manager. With over 7 years of marketing experience, she has a wide range of knowledge spanning across both digital and traditional marketing efforts. Her expertise extends to strategy development, event management, and brand marketing, showcasing a diverse skill set in the field. She’s eager to offer her skillset to Ackerman Group to drive innovative marketing campaigns.

Throughout her career, Logan has showcased the ability to integrate various marketing channels and strategies, crafting cohesive and effective campaigns that are tailored to the target audiences. Her professional career includes spending several years at digital marketing agencies, primarily focused on inbound marketing. Notably, Logan spent over 5 years in new home sales, spearheading a local builder’s comprehensive marketing initiatives.

Logan lives in Wilmington, North Carolina with her husband, David, and two corgi mixes – Dibs and Dewey. During her downtime, she enjoys relaxing at the beach, starting a new DIY project at home, or cuddling up to watch a new TV series.

 

Liz Guiducci

MARKETING ASSOCIATE

Liz Guiducci joined Ackerman Group in 2025 as a Marketing Associate, bringing with her a strong foundation in strategic marketing and a passion for storytelling that connects brands with the right audience. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Colorado State University in May 2024 with a degree in Marketing and International Business, distinguishing herself as a top performer both academically and professionally.

Liz has developed a strong foundation in various facets of marketing, including digital campaigns, social media strategy, content creation, direct outreach, and traditional media. She has contributed to cross-functional teams in fast-paced environments, where she developed and executed marketing initiatives that drive engagement, elevate brand presence, and support business growth. Her attention to detail and creative problem-solving make her a valuable member of the team, where she supports marketing efforts that reflect the firm's mission of helping veterinary practice owners build, grow, and transition successfully.

Based in Denver, Colorado, Liz lives with her two tuxedo cats, Tippet and Boone, and her golden retriever, Piper. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors—especially fly fishing—cheering on her favorite sports teams, and sharing quality time with family and friends.

 

Dr. Gary Ackerman

FOUNDER & CO-CEO

Dr. Gary Ackerman is the Co-CEO of Ackerman Group, having founded the company 20 years ago after developing a proprietary process that helps practice owners successfully sell to the corporate market. You can read more about the story of Ackerman Group here.

Gary earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Georgia before establishing his own multi-doctor, multi-site practice in Virginia. After growing his veterinary practices for 20 years, he sold them to a corporate buyer in 2001, where he experienced the transition process firsthand.

Throughout his career, Gary gained a wealth of knowledge and experience across many different areas that position him as an industry leader in the veterinary world today. In addition to being a DVM and former veterinary practice owner, he is also a licensed commercial real estate agent and investment advisor. His areas of expertise include (but are not limited to): corporate consolidation, veterinary practice ownership, business growth and management, real estate transactions and construction planning, tax mitigation strategies, practice transitions, due diligence, practice valuations, and negotiations.

Gary is a regular speaker at veterinary conferences and events, and he is an approved CE teacher for numerous realtor, accounting, and legal firms. He is published across multiple trade magazines and management publications where he writes about real estate issues in healthcare as well as practice transitions.

Gary lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife Brenda. He has two children in college. When time permits, he enjoys water sports and an occasional game of racquetball.