From Portland Incubator Member Kristin Sulis, of Mt Tabor Veterinary Care.
I’ve known since the age of 4 that I wanted to be a
veterinarian. I’ve known since my senior year in veterinary college that
I wanted to be a practice owner. But it wasn’t until I was steeped in the
culture of Portland and had joined Ladies Who Launch that I knew I wanted a Sustainable
Practice.
Portland is nothing if not green. The environment is so
beautiful and conducive to being outdoors that you can’t help but love
nature in Oregon. You get the hiking bug as soon as you move here and before I
knew it I was not only a hiker but a kayaker, camper, birder, snowshoer
(can’t give up the outdoors just because it’s winter), and now a
rock climber. And as you spend more time outdoors you learn more and more about
the importance of stewardship. I’ve joined Sierra Club, Audubon, and
Nature Conservancy. And the thought of throwing away an aluminum can or glass
bottle actually makes me ill. In a time of media bombardment about global
climate change, I was already ahead of the curve but it was Ladies Who Launch
that taught me that sustainability was not just green practice and taking care
of the environment, it’s about taking care of myself.
I attended my Incubator in September 2007 with the intention of finding the perfect name for my new veterinary practice. Well, I left with the same name I went in with but I really became clear on what I wanted my practice to be for pets, clients, employees and, really, for myself - sustainable. Could I have a sustainable practice with the budget I allowed? I found a lease space 8 blocks from my house which means that I will bike commute or walk (and not drive 30 minutes each way to work). The space is in my neighborhood and my target clients and patients live here in SE Portland, so their travel will also be short. There are beautiful skylights in the building and we took advantage in our design of the natural light and left many of the rooms open without ceilings to create an aesthetic sense and to provide our staff and myself with a picture of what was happening outdoors. Throughout the buildout we’ve looked for sustainable alternatives. We have a tankless waterheater that saves energy as well as space (and comes with a tax break!) We purchased steel cabinets and stainless steel wet tables that will never age and can be transferred to our next practice if we move. We are using nitrogen instead of a compressor to power our dental tools (quieter for the pets and for us and very inexpensive). We finished the concrete floor that was already in the space to be friendly to dogs – a gripable surface and to use what was in the space already. For finish materials we looked for environmentally friendly alternatives. We purchased salvaged redwood railroad ties for shelves and recycled Paperstone for our counters and we found wheat core doors for our rooms – all at a price the same or only slightly higher than a non sustainable option.
The way we are practicing supports sustainability as well. Our new client gifts are cotton shopping bags with our logo printed on them to encourage people to bring their own bags when they shop. We are supporting like minded local businesses with our referral program which reward our clients as well. For our staff, one of our benefits is a monthly public transportation pass or two bicycle tune ups a year to encourage alternative transportation – as a non traditional benefit this not only sets us apart from other businesses but shows how much we care about sustainability. And for me, not only do I get the opportunity to share my values through my practice but I get to practice for me as well. With hours set to coincide with my best work time, time off weekly for me to recharge, systems in place for me to practice efficiently and a community practice where my dog DeeDee and I can enjoy the short commute to work, I have discovered and created a work environment to fit my lifestyle.
The first step in sustainable practice is caring. In the words of Dr. Suess from his epic environmental children’s book the Lorax: "But now, says the Once-ler, Now that you´re here, the word of the Lorax seems perfectly clear. UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." Look for alternatives and show that you care. Caring is a trend in business that customers are really looking for. And what could be better than taking care of yourself and the environment while you pursue the business of your dreams?
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