Financial tools like pet insurance and financing are becoming more integrated into the moments of care, driving deeper trust and sustained engagement for both clients and vets. This panel explores how insurance, wellness plans, embedded benefits, and flexible financing are broadening access to care for all including those traditionally underserved. We’ll examine the expanding role of these tools in a care ecosystem that includes retail, tech, and finance, and ask who are we reaching with these innovations—and who’s still being left behind?
Deborah Meyers
Deborah Meyers is a recognized leader in the pet health insurance industry with more than two decades of executive experience driving operational excellence, organizational transformation, and customer-centric innovation. As a longtime executive at the largest U.S. pet health insurer, she led major initiatives that elevated service delivery, strengthened profitability, and improved standards across operations, sales, claims, and the contact centers.
Deborah led her company’s first enterprise-wide Customer Experience transformation - an initiative that significantly advanced how the organization approached customer engagement, retention, and service excellence. Today, she consults with pet health companies on designing customer-driven operations, building high-performing teams, and aligning culture, strategy, and execution for measurable growth.
Deborah served as an active NAPHIA Board Member from 2018-2024, including a term on the Executive Board, contributing to industry collaboration and the advancement of the veterinary and pet insurance ecosystems.
She holds a master’s degree in leadership, Lean Leader certification from The Ohio State University, Forrester Customer Experience certification, and Evidence-Based Coaching certification from Fielding Graduate University.
Deborah is the founder of Deborah Meyers Coaching & Consulting and DM Publishing Ventures LLC, where she works with executives and emerging leaders across the pet industry and beyond. She is the author of How to Talk to Anyone: Communication Strategies to Unlock Networking Skills, Gain Confidence, and Master Conversations for Social and Professional Success.
Known for her strategic clarity, operational depth, and ability to translate complex challenges into actionable solutions, Deborah brings a results-driven perspective to every boardroom and advisory engagement. Her experience and insight make her a trusted voice in today’s rapidly evolving pet health landscape.
SHORTER PROGRAM VERSION:
Deborah Meyers is a seasoned pet health insurance executive with over 20 years of leadership experience in operations, sales, claims, customer experience, and organizational transformation. As former Secretary on the NAPHIA Executive Board, she helped advance industry collaboration and standards. Deborah now consults with pet health companies on strategy, customer experience, and building high-performing teams. She is the author of How to Talk to Anyone and founder of Deborah Meyers Coaching & Consulting.
Miles Thorson
Christie Horvath
Christie Horvath is CEO and Founder of Wagmo, a modern pet healthcare company redefining pet benefits in the workplace. Christie holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics from Northwestern University. She began her career in the Financial Institutions Group at BlackRock before launching Wagmo in 2017.
Recently, Christie was named to the Inc. Female Founders 500 list, and in 2024, Wagmo was recognized with the Benefits Trailblazer Award for Best Lifestyle Solution.
Etienne Legangneux
With over 15 years of expertise in pet care and consumer brands, Etienne has combined private equity and operational leadership across global markets. He was involved in investments in leading companies such as Edgard & Cooper and Vita Coco, before co-founding Wolf Spring, a U.S. pet supplement business. He is now leading Vet-AI, where technology and veterinary expertise converge to deliver innovative solutions for pet owners and industry stakeholders.
Nick Loring
Nick Loring is the SVP GM of Pet Insurance & Investments at Synchrony. In his role, Nick partners with leading brands to create insurance and wellness experiences that are integrated with CareCredit, the trusted brand and leading financing solution for pet parents and clinics. Prior to his current role, Nick held a variety of leadership positions in product management, client relationship management, corporate strategy, and M&A consulting.
Nick holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BSBA degree from UNC Chapel Hill.