By Joanna Miller, Staff Writer

Kathy Hennen keeps the books at River Valley Veterinary Service as the practice manager for the clinic.

“I handle the business side of the veterinary business,” Hennen explained.

Hennen has lived in Prior Lake on and off ever since the third grade, she said.

She studied in Prior Lake for third through fifth grade, then left and returned again in ninth grade.

“I’ve been here ever since then,” she said.

She and her husband, Jamie, have two daughters, Becky, 24, and Emily, 22.

Hennen said her “third child” is a black lab, Riley.

Outside of work, Hennen said she enjoys attending sporting events and reading, but some of her favorite outings are with her “birthday club” friends.

When one of her friends called and said she was disappointed that her family had forgotten her birthday, they whipped up a plan to celebrate all of their friends’ birthdays in a club.

“We went up to Captain Jack’s and had a celebration of our own birthdays for ourselves,” Hennen said.

Since then, the birthday club also plans fun events, such as a lake day, vacations and pool days.

“We do all kinds of fun things throughout the year,” Hennen said.

Do the guys feel left out?

“They will just hoot and holler,” Hennen said of their husbands reading about the club in the newspaper. “They give us such a hard time.”

Q and A with

Kathy Hennen

What’s the best thing about Prior Lake?

I would say the lake itself. We live out on Fish Lake, but I like being on the water.

What would you change about Prior Lake?

I wish Prior Lake had been a resort town full of little shops. I just love the idea that they moved the Farmers Market to downtown Prior Lake. I’d love to see the downtown with more of a small-town feel. It’s so fun with the Farmers Market and Giggle Gals. [The move] was like a no-brainer.

What is your favorite book?

I’m really into James Patterson – the Alex Cross series. The early years of his books are really gory and gross. Then, they get a little more tame after that.

What’s your dream vacation?

The Caribbean islands, I think.

What would you do as president for the day?

I’d find a way to have gas prices lower. I’d make friends with whoever I’d need to make friends with. Gas prices being lower would help stabilize the economy.

What is your favorite restaurant or food?

The Cheesecake Factory. Every time I go there I get the same chicken and asparagus [dish], Chicken Madeira.

What’s your favorite movie?

 I just saw “Mama Mia!” and I can’t get the songs out of my head. Meryl Streep is wonderful in it.

Joanna Miller can be reached at (952) 345-6375 or jmiller@swpub.com [2].

Do you know someone who would make a good Faces in the Crowd candidate? Contact the editor at (952) 345-6378 or editor@plamerican.com