Print edition: 
Veterinarian Christen Skaer is the new sole owner of Skaer Veterinary Clinic.
On Jan. 4, she bought out her father's share of the practice, which he established in 1971. He has no plans for retirement, she said, but was ready to give up the business reins.
Skaer has been a veterinarian at the clinic since graduating from Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999, "although I've worked here since I was able to walk."
She has earned recognition in recent years for her work establishing animal rescue teams to respond in disasters. She and her husband have "five four-legged kids": two old cats, two Chihuahua mix dogs and a blue heeler mix.
Skaer's younger sister also worked at the clinic but chose nursing over veterinary medicine.
"She knew she did not want to do this for a living," Skaer said. "When I was 5, we had to write down what we wanted to do, and I wrote veterinarian or president. I got one done. I still have time for the other one, right? Although I don't think president is as cool of a job as I used to think it was."
Obviously, you love animals. Does the business side appeal as well?
"I watched my dad do it when I was a kid, and I thought it was so great. One of the things I loved about it was the paperwork he had to do.... I remember sitting at his desk when I was 10 years old, and I loved the brochures that he had from the drug companies, and the charts he had to write up. I just thought it was so glamorous. Now I'm not sure what I was thinking."
What's been the hardest part of owning a business?
"Our overhead is immense. We have to have all of the new technology that I would expect a veterinarian to have if I were going there. We don't have the big group practices (in veterinary medicine). It's hard to find a way to offer all that technology and still have a viable business."
What business lessons did you learn from your father?
"He's taught me a lot, although I still have a lot to learn. Right now, he's still helping me along, and every day I ask him for some advice about something.
"What I found out was that in veterinary school they don't really teach you a lot about business. That's been sort of a complaint of mine. I think they ought to offer a little bit of business."
Have you been involved in the business side all along?
"We were equal partners, or 51-49, for the last several years, and I did all the management part of it — the employee management, personnel, that sort of thing — and he did all the financial mangement.... The business part of it, it is hard to learn. I had no idea what a P and L was after I got out of school — had no idea of what a profit and loss statement was."
Do you have plans to grow the business?
"I think we'll probably remain around three veterinarians.... I don't want it to get real big. I think you lose the family touch once it gets big."
Is it difficult to work with a family member?
"Sure. Everybody has disagreements, and we're no different. We did employ a family business consultant for a period of time, just to help us find our way through the maze, and we really have to remember what we are at work. I'm not the daughter at work, I'm the veterinarian."
Is it hard to strike a balance between paying bills and doing what you're passionate about?
"It really is. It's hard to find the balance between giving away the store by helping the animals and making payroll."
Coffee or tea?
"Coffee. Lots of it."
What's something most people may not know about you?
"I do yoga religiously. Almost every single day. It's the way that I stay centered. If I didn't have yoga, people would like me less."
