The natural

Kevin Vasquez has always known how
to work hard. After his father died
when Vasquez was just 9 years old, his mother moved him and his three siblings to
North Carolina. Even at that young age, he
felt an intense desire to provide for his family and keep them off of government support while his mom struggled to make ends
meet. Vasquez did everything he could to
help, from cutting grass to working as a
janitor and spending long days working in
the Carolina tobacco fields. The long hours
instilled not only a solid work ethic but
also fueled a desire to succeed.

After putting himself through college,
Vasquez found himself working f o r D i a m o n d
Shamrock/Fermenta.
He worked his way
up to the executive
vice president role
and was asked to
move to Germany.
He declined the promotion for personal reasons and was
instead offered a chance to turn around the
company’s largest channel/distribution
partner, Butler Animal Health Supply LLC.
In 1999, he was appointed executive vice
president and chief operating officer. The
company was family-owned, and it was on
the verge of bankruptcy. In 2003, he
teamed up with a private equity firm and
acquired Butler. Vasquez immediately redefined the company’s mission and vision,
and implemented a profit and loss discipline that was critical to ensuring longevity. Within a year, sales were increasing.
Through a key acquisition, Butler has now
become the largest veterinary distribution
company of companion health products in
the United States, and maintains a 98 percent satisfaction rate among its customers.

HOW TO REACH: Butler Animal Health Supply LLC, (800) 282-5162 or www.accessbutler.com