insightful.vet 2026 Preliminary Agenda

Each year, we kick off the conference with heavy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails in a relaxed, welcoming setting designed to help you connect with fellow practice owners from the moment you arrive.

No presentations. No pressure. Just time to settle in, meet your peers, and start real conversations early.

Day 2 is focused on the core drivers of practice performance. Expect practical sessions on leadership, human resources, pricing, cost management, marketing, and incorporating AI technology into your practice, along with peer discussions built around real-world owner experience with the small group you met during the Thursday evening icebreakers. These discussions are consistently rated as a favorite by past attendees.

Leading a High-Performing Veterinary Practice

Hear directly from practice owners on leadership structure, delegation, hiring decisions, and building accountable teams. Expect candid conversation, real examples, and live audience Q&A.

Pricing Strategies That Support Sustainable Growth

Practical pricing frameworks, product margin strategy, and how owners are competing with online pharmacies and corporate groups.

Real Estate Strategy for Practice Owners

Options for owners who own their building and key considerations for those who lease, including how real estate decisions influence flexibility and long-term value.

Building HR Systems That Support Growth

Practical HR advice, living your mission and values, building culture, hiring, and performance management approaches built specifically for independent practices.

Peer Conversations by Practice Size

Curated small group lunch tables designed to continue conversations begun at the cocktail party, with owners running similar-sized practices.

Guided Peer Discussions on Leadership, Culture, and Practice Philosophy

Structured small group conversations on leadership style, compensation philosophy, delegation, and brand positioning.

Owner-Selected Learning Tracks

For the first time, select sessions will be offered in two breakout rooms covering the same core topic but designed for different stages of practice growth and ownership experience.

To help keep conversations relevant and practical, attendees will be placed into the room that best aligns with their practice size and experience level. This allows each group to explore the same topic at a pace and depth that makes the discussion most useful for everyone in the room.

Breakout topics include:

• Revenue Growth and Client Volume Strategy
• Cost Structure and P&L Optimization
• AI Technology and Practice Efficiency

It will be your choice of which sessions to attend but we suggest first-time attendees and those with practices of three doctors or less go to one session and larger practice owners and returning attendees go to the other sessions.

Day 3 focuses on the strategic decisions that shape how your practice performs today and what options you create for yourself over time. We start with performance-driven topics focused on recruiting, mentorship, and creating workplaces where teams thrive, then expand into how those same decisions influence practice strength, flexibility, and long-term value.

Many owners tell us this is the day that changes how they think about their practice long term.

Recruiting in Today’s Veterinary Market

How practices are competing for doctors and staff in a tight labor market, including practical recruiting strategies and ways to build stronger pipelines through externships, mentoring, and onboarding.

Externships, Mentoring, and Early Career Development

How owners are building relationships with veterinary students earlier and creating stronger onboarding experiences that improve long-term retention.

Building, Remodeling, and Maximizing ROI in Your Space

Your physical space can influence recruiting, retention, and operational efficiency. Learn practical strategies for remodeling while staying operational and hear insights from an owner who recently completed a remodel.

Legal Questions Every Practice Owner Should Be Asking

Ask questions and learn from real world situations regarding non-competes, non-solicits, employment agreements, and practice legal structure considerations.

Veterinary Market and Workforce Trends

Supply and demand of veterinarians, new school expansion, workforce pressures, and what these trends mean for practice operations, growth, and long-term ownership strategy.

Casual, Small-Group Conversations with Peers and Industry Experts

Prior to the event, you will receive an email to select a lunch table hosted by a sponsor based on the topic or service area you are most interested in. Designed to be conversational, practical, and easy to engage in. Limited seating available.

Real Guidance from Owners Who’ve Recently Sold

Hear directly from owners who have gone through the sale process. Expect honest discussion around timing, emotions, surprises, and what they would do differently.

Selling Your Practice: Start-to-Finish Overview

Hear from a fellow DVM who has personally sold and helped sell practices nationwide. Corporate vs internal options, preparing for market, DIY vs broker, and realistic timelines.

How Deals Are Actually Getting Done in Today’s Market

Go beyond theory and into how real transactions are being structured right now. We break down how buyers are thinking about risk, how purchase price is really being delivered, and what owners are actually walking away with at close and over time.

Key Takeaways, Market Perspective, and Final Owner Insights

We close the weekend by connecting the biggest themes from across the conference and highlighting the ideas owners are already planning to take back to their practices. This is where many attendees gain clarity on what matters most for their next phase of growth, leadership, or ownership planning.

You will also see a short highlight recap from the weekend, capturing the conversations, connections, and moments that made the event unique.

Extend your learning beyond the main stage with smaller, high-value conversations designed to give you direct access to expertise, insight, and real discussion time.

These are intentionally limited to keep conversations meaningful and practical. Once you’ve officially registered for the conference, you’ll receive an email to explain details, topics, and how to sign up.

Short, 20-minute conversations that give you direct access to sponsor expertise on specific operational or strategic topics relevant to practice owners.

Limited availability. Sign-ups, topics, and participating sponsors will be announced prior to the event.

Casual, small-group learning sessions hosted by sponsors and focused on specific service or operational topics relevant to independent practice owners.

Limited seating. Topics and sponsors will be announced soon.