{"id":50,"date":"2026-06-29T20:57:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T20:57:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flvadvisors.com\/?page_id=50"},"modified":"2026-07-27T15:12:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T15:12:42","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/flvadvisors.com\/?page_id=50","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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About Us<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Experienced Veterinary Advisors for Your Practice's Needs<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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At First Light, we believe great advising starts with genuine care. Shelby, Cory, and Nickolas bring more than 20 years of combined veterinary industry experience to every client relationship, along with a shared commitment to serving others with honesty, humility, and purpose. Whether you’re launching, acquiring, or growing your practice, our team provides the kind of hands-on advisory support that meets you where you are and walks with you toward where you want to be. We’re not here to hand you a plan and walk away, we’re here to see it through with you.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Meet Your Advisors<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Shelby Davis<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Client Relationship Manager II Partner<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Shelby Davis is a family-first, faith-driven leader whose values shape both her life and her work. She believes that strong relationships, integrity, and purpose are the foundation of meaningful success, and she brings those principles into every interaction.<\/p>

Born and raised in Texas, Shelby developed a deep appreciation for hard work, resilience, and the outdoors, values that continue to influence her leadership style today. She is known for her ability to build trust, foster connection, and lead with both authenticity and intention.<\/p>

Shelby brings a strategic, people-centered approach to her work, with a focus on creating exceptional experiences and driving lasting impact. She has a natural ability to align teams, bring clarity to complex initiatives, and cultivate environments where individuals and organizations can grow. Her leadership balances vision with execution, ensuring that ideas are not only developed but successfully carried forward.<\/p>

Outside of her professional role, Shelby enjoys spending time outdoors and embracing her roots. She is married to her best friend and is a proud mom to her daughter, Lane, who inspires her daily and remains at the heart of everything she does.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Cory Pinckney<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Hospital Operations Coach II Partner<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Cory began his career in veterinary medicine working as a kennel technician, gaining hands-on experience with patient care and developing an early appreciation for the teamwork and dedication required in the field. Through hard work, curiosity, and a passion for the industry, he steadily advanced through the profession, gaining experience across multiple roles within veterinary hospitals.<\/p>

Over time, Cory transitioned into leadership within small animal general practice management, where he focused on building strong teams, improving clinic operations, and creating positive experiences for both clients and staff. His leadership style is rooted in understanding the day-to-day realities of veterinary teams because he has worked in many of the roles himself.<\/p>

Building on that operational foundation, Cory moved into urgent care veterinary medicine, where he has played a key role in launching and establishing brand-new hospitals. He has helped open and lead two urgent care practices from the ground up, overseeing everything from early operational planning and workflow development to team building and clinic culture.<\/p>

In addition to his operational leadership, Cory has helped lead inventory management workshops, sharing practical strategies with veterinary teams to improve inventory control, reduce waste, and create more efficient hospital operations.<\/p>

Outside of the clinic, Cory\u2019s greatest motivation comes from his family. He married his best friend, and together they are raising their beautiful daughter. Family sits at the center of Cory\u2019s \u201cwhy,\u201d driving his commitment to build strong teams, create supportive workplaces, and contribute to a veterinary profession that allows others to grow while still making space for what matters most at home.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Nickolas Biermaier <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Hospital Operations Coach II Partner<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Nickolas Biermaier got his start in Veterinary Medicine in 2015 on the trail of a sled dog race in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This was the start of a career that has led him to become a veterinary business advisor and entrepreneur, a partner in four veterinary clinics across the United States. Nick has helped open more than 30 veterinary hospitals and previously led four divisions within the largest veterinary consulting team in the country.<\/p>

Nick is passionate about financial performance, practice strategy, and developing strong veterinary managers who can lead successful, sustainable hospitals.<\/p>

Outside the veterinary industry, Nick is a co-founder of Legacy Forest Strategies with his partner Montell. He and his family also own Nativity Pines Christmas Tree Farm and operate a hobby farm where they raise livestock and sell direct-to-consumer meat products.<\/p>

Nick lives with his bride, Dr. Taylor Biermaier (DVM), and their three boys, with their fourth boy expected in April 2026. When Nick is not at work, you will find him on his off-grid property in Northern MN, enjoying nature and teaching his boys life skills.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What Our Clients Are Saying<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"I have had the pleasure of working with Nick, and he truly stands out as someone you can always count on. Nick is a natural problem solver and a person many of us turn to when situations become challenging. One of the things that makes him exceptional is his ability to listen first. He often asks whether you just need to vent or if you want help finding a solution, which shows the level of respect and support he has for the people around him.\n\nIn high-stress situations, Nick is often the calm and steady presence everyone looks for. He has a way of staying focused and level-headed, helping guide conversations toward practical solutions while keeping the team grounded. His ability to think clearly under pressure makes a real difference during difficult moments.\n\nNick is also incredibly hardworking and consistently willing to step in wherever he is needed. His dedication, reliability, and supportive attitude make him an invaluable member of any team. He is the kind of person who not only helps solve problems but also helps those around him feel supported and capable of working through them together.\"\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWe recently completed a 3-day consultation with Nick Biermaier, and I can honestly say it was a game-changer for our clinic. The experience included three full days of shadowing our team, followed by two detailed follow-up meetings to assess progress and ensure things were moving in the right direction.\n\nGoing into it, I was nervous. I didn\u2019t know what to expect and feared hearing everything we were doing wrong or having our existing systems torn apart. But from the very beginning, Nick put those fears to rest. He approached our team with encouragement, empathy, and a genuine desire to help us grow. Yes, he pointed out areas for improvement\u2014that's why we brought him in\u2014but he did so while highlighting what we were already doing well and providing clear, actionable steps to elevate our operations.\n\nOne of the most impactful parts of the consultation was how empowering it was. Before Nick\u2019s visit, I often felt paralyzed when it came to decision-making, always waiting for approval and fearing I\u2019d make the wrong move. He helped implement a system that gave both myself and our doctor\u2014the clinic owner\u2014confidence and clarity. Our communication has dramatically improved, and decisions are being made faster and more effectively. Tasks that used to stall are now being accomplished, and what once felt like a wall now feels like a window with a clear path forward.\n\nI've attended countless conferences, CE events, and meetings trying to learn how to be a better leader and improve our clinic's efficiency. None of them have come close to the level of insight, clarity, and support we received from Nick Biermaier. If you're looking to grow your clinic and are open to meaningful change, I can\u2019t recommend him enough.\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIn 17 years in the veterinary field, I've worked alongside a lot of people. Some you remember, some you don't. Cory is someone you remember.\nAs a program manager, I've had the opportunity to observe a lot of leaders in this industry, how they perform under pressure, how they manage people, and how they make decisions when the stakes are high. Cory stands apart. I witnessed him walk into one of the most demanding shifts I've ever seen. A dog that came in limping that turned out to be IMHA. A walk-in emergency, a seizing older dog. A puppy with suspected distemper. An aggressive dog with a potential foreign body. Another aggressive dog that wouldn't stop vomiting. A little Maltese with a horrific, painful skin infection. All in the building at the same time, all needing our undivided and individual attention, with three techs and two doctors. Without hesitation, Cory assessed every single situation, figured out the order everything needed to be addressed in, and just moved. He didn't stand back and delegate from a distance \u2014 he led from the front. Every client was informed, every patient was cared for, and every team member was supported.\nAll at once. Without losing his composure for a second.\nThat kind of leadership is rare. Cory doesn't just manage situations, he elevates the people around him. He makes his team feel capable and confident, and then backs that up by actually getting them there.\nThat feeling your team gets at the end of a really brutal shift, somewhere between walking out the door and walking to their car, they take that breath and they smile. Not because of all the good work they did that day, but because they did it with someone who believed in them and gave them the courage to get there. That is what Cory is. That's what he is as a person, and that's what he brings to every single practice and situation he goes into.\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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About Us Experienced Veterinary Advisors for Your Practice’s Needs At First Light, we believe great advising starts with genuine care. Shelby, Cory, and Nickolas bring more than 20 years of combined veterinary industry experience to every client relationship, along with a shared commitment to serving others with honesty, humility, and purpose. Whether you’re launching, acquiring, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-50","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flvadvisors.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/50","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flvadvisors.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flvadvisors.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flvadvisors.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flvadvisors.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=50"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/flvadvisors.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/50\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":355,"href":"https:\/\/flvadvisors.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/50\/revisions\/355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flvadvisors.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=50"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}