Nicole – Practice Manager
Nicole grew up in the Chicagoland area, loving horses and riding hunter/jumpers. She took her passion to Colorado State University where she majored in equine science. Post graduation, Nicole gained experience working in several aspects of the equine industry, including: serving as an Assistant Breeding and Quarantine Manager on a warmblood farm in Florida; installing and training veterinary clinics on digital radiography all over the US and Canada; and serving as an Equine Specialist and Territory Manager for a major pharmaceutical company. Nicole and her husband have two boys and an English Cream Golden Retriever, Bodhi. Nicole is thrilled to join the NLEP team and looks forward to meeting you.
Heather – Client Care Specialist
Heather has had a love for animals and nature her entire life. She started riding at a young age and has happily retired her horse at her home to enjoy the remaining years of his life.
At the age of 16, she became certified as an Equine Sports Massage Therapist and still enjoys making her equine clients feel and perform their best! Recently, she had been working at a small animal veterinary clinic but jumped at the chance to be a part of NLEP! In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Rob, and daughter, Charlie. They can be found out and about exploring their property and living their best farm life.
Heather has her horse Vegas, Charlie’s pony Gus, two amazing basset hounds, and five guinea pigs!
Lauren – Veterinary Assistant
Lauren has been passionate about animals all her life. So much so that she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Purdue University. Inspired by and following her older sister’s love of horses, she began riding at the age of eight. While she grew up riding in the hunter/jumper discipline, she is open and willing to try new disciplines.
Lauren has four pets at home – two cats (Zack and Eddie) and two dogs (Baxter and Chase). She loves taking her dogs for long walks and cuddling with all her pets at home.
Kristen – Veterinary Assistant
Kristen has been riding since she was 9 years old. She initially started riding western but competed in both western and english pleasure for the majority of her riding career and has since switched over to barrel racing. Kristen studied western equestrian studies at the University of Findlay. Post graduation she became a riding instructor and trainer. She has three horses, Walt, Lilly, and Snook, and a yellow lab, Mickey. Outside of NLEP and horses, Kristen enjoys going to Disney World and building legos.
Rachel – Veterinary Assistant
Rachel’s love of horses led her to pursue her Associates in Equine Science at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa in 2017. Post graduation, Rachel worked for various farms assisting with training, farm management, and lessons. Rachel also worked at a different clinic as an Equine Vet Assistant before joining the NLEP team. In 2019 she became certified in Equine Massage and started her business Finesse Equine Massage, which travels all throughout Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. In 2023 she became certified in Canine Massage as well.
When at home, Rachel loves to spend time with her three horses (Sahara, Freya, Wesley) and two cats (George Costanza, Merlin).
Noelle – Veterinary Assistant
Noelle’s love of animals and caring for them has been a lifelong passion. Although her involvement with horses as a child was sporadic, her time working with the ranch program at Camp Anokijig in high school solidified her desire to pursue a career in the equine industry. This ultimately led her to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she earned her B.S. in Animal Science. After graduation, Noelle began her career with a move to Kentucky, starting out as a Thoroughbred groom for Coolmore America. She then found her way into veterinary medicine as a vet tech for Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. Since joining the NLEP team and returning home to Illinois, Noelle enjoys spending more time with her family and friends, and snuggling with her dog (Kam) and cat (Oskee Wow Wow).
Liz – Veterinary Assistant
Liz grew up in the southwest suburbs, loving all animals from an early age. Although unable to be riding consistently growing up, she made sure she went to every horse-related Girl Scout camp she could. She spent some time at Colorado State University in the Natural Resources college, and it was there she picked up her passion for riding and being around horses again. Once back home in Illinois, she met her heart horse, a chestnut appendix mare named Quinn, and has been casually riding hunter/jumpers for the last three years. It was Quinn that inspired Liz to go to tech school, where she graduated with her Associates of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology.
She spent two months working at a mixed large animal/equine referral hospital in Northern Colorado before joining the NLEP team, and has loved every minute of it since. When not working or at the barn, Liz enjoys spending time reading, writing, going on walks with her dog Forrest, and snuggling her cat, Cal Kestis.