LAS VEGAS, March 11, 2013 " Western Veterinary Conference is pleased to announce that David Littlehas assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer as of March 4, 2013. Little accepted a dual position on the WVCExecutive Staff in February 2009 as Assistant CEO of the Western Veterinary Conference and Director of WVC’sOquendo Center for Clinical Education. Previous CEO Guy Pidgeon, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), who joined WVC asAssistant Director in 2006 and became its CEO in 2007, has retired and is now appreciatively recognized by WVC asChief Executive Officer Emeritus through June 2013. The two officers are working together for a seamless transition inleadership of the organization, which is based in Las Vegas.
Little has provided highly effective, multifaceted direction for Western Veterinary Conference and particularly forthe Oquendo Center through strategic planning and collaborative management of staffing, events, activities, and services.Before joining the administration at Western Veterinary Conference, he was affiliated with the American VeterinaryMedical Association (AVMA) Convention and Meeting Planning Division, spending the majority of his tenure there asDivision Director. Throughout his career he has been actively involved in organized event and meeting planning,including service on the Board of Directors of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and onCustomer Advisory Boards in Atlanta, Seattle, and Washington, DC.
Contemplating his new role, Little says, “I am extremely excited to assume leadership of Western VeterinaryConference at this time. WVC is an outstanding organization, with a tremendous Board and a hardworking and dedicatedstaff. The WVC Annual Conference continues to be an industry leader in the veterinary continuing education arena, andwith the success and growth of WVC’s hands-on training facility, the Oquendo Center, our organization has manyopportunities ahead to redefine the waypostgraduate veterinarians learn and improve their skills and confidence. It is an honor to be named CEO of WesternVeterinary Conference, and I look forward to contributing toward our future successes.”
Raised in a veterinary family, Little began working at age 7 in his father’s mixed animal practice. Little’s brotheris a thoroughbred racetrack veterinarian in the Chicago area, and their father recently retired from his position as AVMA’sExecutive Vice President. David Little is married, with three children and a family dog and cat.
Past CEO Dr. Guy Pidgeon has skillfully served the Western Veterinary Conference since 2006. Prior toaccepting a position on the Conference’s Executive Staff, Pidgeon was CEO of the Animal Medical Center in New YorkCity and was elected President of the Center’s Board of Trustees. His career has also included a 12-year term on thefaculty at Auburn University. In 1990, he joined Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. as Associate Director of Veterinary Affairs andwas later promoted to Director of that department. Recipient of multiple awards for teaching and previously recognized asVeterinarian of the Year by the New York City Veterinary Medical Society, Pidgeon also received the inaugural Spirit ofExcellence Award from Veterinary Specialists in Private Practice (VSIPP).
“I have truly enjoyed my years with the Western Veterinary Conference as well as the opportunity to play a smallpart in the development of the Oquendo Center, ” says Dr. Pidgeon. “I am delighted to leave the organization in the handsof such a capable Board and executive crew. The talent represented in new CEO David Little, Manolita Moore as AnnualConference Director, and Don Waldron as Chief Medical Officer, as well as the dedicated support staff, assures a bright,exciting future for the Conference and the Oquendo Center.” As he moves forward into retirement, Dr. Pidgeon leaves anexemplary record of achievement worthy of admiration by all participants in the Western Veterinary Conference and theveterinary community at large.
About Western Veterinary Conference
WVC is the premier continuing education provider for veterinary professionals. Located in the world-class destination ofLas Vegas – Entertainment Capital of the World – WVC hosts its annual conference for veterinary professionals eachFebruary where global authorities present the most up-to-date scientific and practice management topics to more than14,000 total attendees. Additionally, WVC opened its conference/training facility, the Oquendo Center, as a dedicatedhands-on learning center for the veterinary profession. For information about WVC, go to wvc.org. To learn more aboutOquendo Center programs, go to oquendocenter.org. Questions: 866.800.7326 or carin@wvc.org.