THE TEAM

Our support staff is key to keeping our operations running smoothly and making sure your animals feel at ease during visits.​

Kat Smith

Lead Veterinary Technician & Inventory Manager

Kat joined McCleery Equine in February 2023. Born in Abilene, Texas, and raised in Archer, Florida, she’s a familiar face to many of our clients. Kat has held a variety of roles in the local horse and livestock community and grew up showing in both western pleasure and performance events. These days, her focus is on cutting horses, and she and her husband Josh run a breeding operation for AQHA cutting horses.
As a certified Fear Free® Equine professional, Kat is committed to making each visit as low-stress as possible for both horses and their owners. She brings a calm, capable presence to the truck and enjoys supporting clients through everything from routine care to urgent calls.
When she’s not working, Kat enjoys time with her family, riding horses, working cows, and hunting with her husband and kids.

​Armie Ugates

​Administrative Assistant

Armie is an administrative assistant at McCleery Equine Veterinary Service, joining the team in June 2024. With a bachelor's degree in communications, she's always been passionate about animal care. She has two years of experience as a veterinary receptionist in Doha, Qatar, and a year working at a non-profit animal welfare organization. In her free time, Armie enjoys music, walking her dog, and watching crime movies. She also volunteers with an animal welfare group, advocating for pet adoption. Armie lives with her husband, Axel, three cats—Dora, Macho, and Mizu—and their dog, Dash.

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Wilson Carvalho
Veterinary Technician

​Wilson joined McCleery Equine in late 2024. He brings a wide range of experience to the team, with a background that spans hands-on clinical work, research, and teaching.
He brings an unusually strong academic background to his role, with advanced veterinary degrees earned internationally and ongoing work toward U.S. credential recognition. His experience includes research, teaching, and extensive training in equine physiology, performance medicine, and diagnostics.
​At MEVS, Wilson focuses on hands-on patient care and practical problem-solving in the field, combining technical skill with a strong foundation in equine medicine.

Kelli Smith
​Veterinary Technician

Kelli was born and raised in Wellington, Florida, where she grew up playing volleyball and softball, raising livestock guardian dogs, and spending time in the AKC show ring. She began her career in veterinary medicine on the small animal side, starting at a dog rescue before moving into clinical work.
She later relocated north with her fiancé, dog, horse, and three cats while working for a large Quarter Horse show barn. After more than six years as a small animal technician, Kelli is now expanding her skills into the equine field—where her true passion lies.
Kelli joined McCleery Equine in September 2025. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and her LVT, with plans to continue on to veterinary school. In her free time, Kelli enjoys riding her horse, drawing, and spending time with family.

​Addison Grosz
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​Emergency/After Hours Veterinary Technician

Addison grew up in Florida and developed her passion for horses through 4-H, personal horse ownership, and years of riding and competition. She competed at the area, state, and regional levels in 4-H and earned her Dressage Bronze Award with her Quarter Horse.
She is currently an undergraduate at the University of Florida studying Animal Sciences on the pre-veterinary track. Addison is active in multiple equine and agricultural programs, including horse judging, equine genetics research, and leadership roles within the UF equestrian and 4-H communities.
Outside of school and work, she enjoys trail riding, obstacle challenges, and hands-on learning experiences. She is excited to continue building her skills and knowledge in equine emergency medicine.