Influential Woman · Veterinary Healthcare, Event & Floral Design
Holly Crandell, CVT
Certified Veterinary Technician, Floral Design Entrepreneur, Flowery Ever After
Cranberry Township, PA 16066
Fear does not define me, my career, or my life. I can move forward despite uncertainty, own my part in my success, and trust the process.
Holly Crandell, CVT · In Her Own Words
In Conversation
Holly Crandell, CVT for Wisdom Worth Sharing
Read the transcript
Holly Crandell, CVT: I think the most important piece of advice I would give to women who are trying to Protect their mental well-being and still navigate all the challenges, challenges of life, career, family, volunteer work, all of everything. The other health challenges, physical health challenges as well, is that you are your number one priority. So you have to put yourself first. First and foremost. I've learned in my own mental health journey. That if I don't do that, if I don't put myself first, I am not able to show up in my full capacity with my fullest authenticity in any other area of my life. So, I have learned, I've learned so much over the course of my life, having gone through some really serious mental health issues. And My current business, my small business, which I'm a faux florist and I deal with wedding florals, events, and home decor here in the Pittsburgh area. And also I, I sell my products online in my Etsy shop. My creativity has been a huge source of emotional strength for me. And when I'm having a mental health challenge or, or particularly difficult mental health day, I can come into my studio. And even if I don't have a particular order that I'm working on or a client that I'm working with at the time, I can come in here and just pick through my flowers and create something. Whether it's the flowers or also do painting and calligraphy. Anything that's creative. Because what that does for me is it helps calm my brain and it helps me process whatever thoughts I'm having, mental health issues, stress, past trauma, whatever it is. If my hands are busy and I'm doing something creative, I'm able to process through that stuff easier. So, I would recommend to other women to find something. And it doesn't matter. It doesn't have to be creative. It can be, an intense workout or some part of your career that you find particular joy in. But find something that brings you some peace and gives you the ability to move through any problem, but particular mental health issues. We, we still, there's still such a stigma in this country about mental health and mental illness, and, we're so quick to label people as crazy or, unstable or whatever. And the, the bottom line, the truth of it all is that so many people in this country deal with mental illness. And I believe really strongly that that's something we need to bring to light. We need to have more acceptance with, less discrimination with, and we need to talk about it because talking about it. Takes the power out of it. Talking about it helps people not feel so alone. So part of my goal in life is to give back and to help other people who are struggling, and I do that. In my other career, I volunteer. I'm a veterinary medical professional, certified veterinary technician of 27 years, and we have a mental health platform. Where, A group of veterinary professionals who are trained in peer support are available for other professionals who are struggling, and it's an anonymous service. So there's no judgment, there's no, seeing who people's profiles are or anything like that. And it's super important for me to be able to do this. Our profession has one of the highest suicide rates in the country. And Even having just a little bit of ability to try and change that, to try and give back to that community is such a huge blessing for me. And so I would also recommend, I would also suggest that other women reach out to other people who are struggling. Tap into your own personal strength cause we all have it. It's all in there, whether we feel strong or not. So, just reaching out to other people while supporting your own mental health journey is just so important. So thank you for letting me.
Her Story
About Holly
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 technology 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.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Holly
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think the bottom line for me is having the willingness to persevere through any adversity. Having that mindset has given me the courage to walk through some really, really scary times, including some very serious, life-threatening health crises recently. I have been able to recognize that even when life gets hard, I can still do my part to try and create success for myself and help others achieve it as well. I'm VERY determined. My life has not been easy, but I have learned that because of the things I have been through, I can survive anything - literally anything. The past 3 1/2 years have truly put everything into perspective for me. I have to remind myself to analyze each situation as it comes, and if it is not life-or-death, then I know it's going to be okay. Every problem has a solution, and I put that into practice with every obstacle I face. I've also learned how and when to take care of myself, and what it means to acknowledge that I have done a good job, I have done my part, and now I have to give up the rest to God. Practicing this state of mind has given me the awareness of how to let go of the outcome and to know that even if I don't have the best solution at the moment, I can keep working to find it.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I don't know that I have received specific, direct advice from someone, but I have learned a lot by watching others do what they do, and then emulating that behavior. I watch how people achieve success and then take action to incorporate that into my own business model.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't give up! Never quit, do not accept defeat! If it's your passion, that means it's your heart's work, and you will succeed, 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. Ask questions - there are no dumb questions! Do something scary every day and write it down - this helps build self-confidence and self-esteem. Keep this list in a "Things that are Scary, But I Do Them Anyway" diary, and refer back to it often. Remind yourself of where you started and how far you've come, and how much farther you can go (and believe me, it's much, much farther than you think!!). I love the quote by Henry Ford: "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right."
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in the floral design industry right now is inconsistent sales and income. There's a lot of competition, and it boils down to whether the customer is interested in your item or someone else's, and whether it fits into their budget. Many people are really struggling right now and with prices of basic necessities continuing to rise, the money for home and wedding decor is typically not part of the budget.
As far as the veterinary field is concerned, I believe there are many serious challenges right now: long working hours, often times with no lunch or bathroom break; dangerous working conditions, workplace and cyber-bullying and toxicity, pet owners who can't afford care and blame the profession for not giving services for free, low wages, short-staffing, and most of all, the current mental health crisis that we are seeing in the profession right now. Vet med has one of the highest suicide rates of any profession in the country, and many of our most talented members are leaving the profession altogether. We are working on solutions for these things, but change has been very slow and somewhat of an uphill battle. I think bringing more awareness to the difficulties the profession is facing right now could help garner compassion from pet owners and the public as a whole.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important value to me in my professional and personal life is having deep compassion for others and being present to show understanding and empathy with what they are going through. In my experience, letting others know that they are seen and heard gives them the courage to move forward with whatever challenge they are facing. If you know me, you know I'm your biggest cheerleader! Being able to reach out to people or animals who are struggling and provide compassion, comfort, and hope is not only a reward but also an honor to be able to have that impact in their lives.
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