Holly Crandell, CVT
Holly Crandell, CVT (She/Her) is a Certified Veterinary Technician with more than 20 years of experience delivering exceptional patient care, client education, and team leadership across specialty and general practice settings. She is also a Floral Design Specialist and owner of Flowery Ever After, blending creativity and entrepreneurship with her longstanding commitment to service. Holly has held an incredible love for animals since childhood, and as a teenager developed a deep interest in human medicine and biology—an influence that ultimately shaped her calling. Combining her passion for animals with her fascination for medicine has been the joy of her heart and the driving force behind her career. A graduate of Lone Star College System, where she earned her Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology and graduated first in her class with a 4.0 GPA, she brings clinical excellence, communication expertise, and a strong foundation in mentorship and education to every role she serves.
Throughout her career, Holly has practiced in surgery, anesthesia and pain management, emergency and critical care, oncology, small exotics, wildlife rehabilitation, and general practice. She is a Certified Pet CPR & First Aid Instructor with Pet Emergency Education and holds advanced CPR certification through the American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care, in addition to FEMA certification in Animals in Disasters: Awareness & Preparedness. A former veterinary technician instructor, she is deeply passionate about education and hands-on training, particularly mentoring externs and supporting new technicians in clinical settings. Known as the “go-to” team member for colleagues navigating challenges, Holly is recognized for her compassion, attentive listening, and steady leadership. For the past three years, she has also served as a Peer Support Volunteer with Not One More Vet (NOMV), providing guidance and support to veterinary professionals facing burnout, mental health struggles, and crisis situations.
Beyond veterinary medicine, Holly has worked with silk florals for nearly three decades. She launched her Etsy shop in 2017, growing it from a small creative outlet into a flourishing business designing wedding florals, home décor, and local Pittsburgh events. Her floral design work has been both a creative passion and a profound source of emotional resilience, particularly during significant health challenges in recent years. The flexibility to create from home not only sustained her entrepreneurial growth but also safeguarded her mental well-being. Looking ahead, Holly’s long-term vision is to open a brick-and-mortar floral studio an inviting space for bridal showers, birthday celebrations, and bespoke floral retail where she can continue blending artistry, community, and heart-centered service.
• Certificate, Peer Support Specialist
• Certification in Small Animal CPR: Basic & Advanced Life Support
• FEMA Certification, Animals in Disasters: Awareness & Preparedness
• Certified Veterinary Technician
• Lone Star College - AS, Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant
• Peer Support Volunteer with Not One More Vet
• Highmark Caring Place
What do you attribute your success to?
I think it's just literally not giving up and being able to walk through the struggles and recognize that, okay, this is really hard, and I'm really frustrated, and I'm really scared because I don't know what's gonna happen, but I can do my part in trying to make it succeed, and then you kind of have to leave the rest up to fate. I'm very determined. I've been through a lot and gotten through a lot of difficult things, and so I've just learned by those things and that process that hey, I can make this happen, I can keep working to make it happen. I'm like a good cheerleader for myself and other people, kind of encouraging myself, okay girl, you got this. I look on the brighter side, and even when I don't have the best solution at the moment, just knowing that I will get to it, that inner knowing that even if I don't have it right now, I will get to it, and also helping others do that too.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say just don't give up. If it's your passion and it gets hard, just seriously just keep going. Because if it's something you're passionate about, that's your heart's work, and it will happen, even if it seems slow and frustrating at times. Seek out help from other entrepreneurs or veterinary medical professionals and watch what they do that makes them successful. I think that's been a huge thing for me, is to see others' success and then kind of mirror what they do, which has been really helpful. So my main takeaway would be just don't give up.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say probably the biggest one would be just having compassion for other people and of course my patients, the pets. I'm pretty intuitive to be able to see someone who's struggling, or of course with an animal it's more evident when there's a physical struggle. And just being able to kind of reach out to that person or that pet and provide some sort of comfort, even if I don't have the answers. I'm a natural empath, and it's not only a reward but also an honor to be able to make that impact in their lives.