President: Karla Carlisle, AS, CVT, RLAT
Abington, PA

Karla Carlisle, AS, CVT, RLAT, is a graduate of the veterinary technology program at Manor College in Jenkintown, PA. She continues to be active with the College serving with other alumni, veterinarians, and educators on the Advisory Committee for Manor’s program. Karla has served on the PVTA Board of Directors since 2006. She is also a member of NAVTA, AALAS, and DVB AALAS. Karla works in the laboratory animal science field and has been employed at the University of Pennsylvania for the last three years, currently as a Veterinary Anesthesia Technician Specialist. She is pursuing AALAS certification at the highest level (LATG), and a long-term goal is to become certified by the Academy of Veterinary Technician anesthetists. One of the main goals that Karla envisions for PVTA is promoting the profession of veterinary technology. In addition to PVTA conferences and newsletters, some of the ways that this goal is accomplished is by visiting schools, lecturing and guiding class tours composed of veterinary technology students through her job site.

President-Elect: Danielle Simmons, CVT
Nicholson, PA

Danielle Simmons, CVT, graduated from Johnson College in May 2000. Following graduation, she worked at Endless Mountains Equine in Factoryville, PA, an equine surgical and sports medicine practice. It was there that she developed her passion for anesthesia. Although she left there after two years, she still works there on a per diem basis as an anesthesia technician. She then went to work at S.P.E.A.K. Animal Hospital, a low-cost spay and neuter practice in Binghamton, NY. This position served as an excellent reintroduction to small animal medicine. Since 2002, she has worked at Abington Veterinary Center (AVC) in Clarks Summit, PA. AVC is a general mixed practice. In 2004, she was promoted to the position of Head Technician, the position she currently holds. In spring 2005, she also held a part-time teaching position at Johnson College as the co-instructor of the large animal clinical applications lab.

Vice-President: Brandy Terry, CVT
Rockledge, PA

Brandy Terry, CVT, VTS (ECC) is a graduate of Manor College in Jenkintown, PA. Since graduation, she has worked in small animal hospitals, emergency clinics, and university settings. She is currently the Associate Director of Nursing and the Director of Critical Care Nursing at the Veterinary Referral Center in Malvern, PA. Brandy was an Active Member of the Veterinary Technicians and Assistants of Pennsylvania (VTAAP) and is now a member of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Technicians Association (PVTA). She served as PVTA President last Getting to Know the 2009 Slate of Officersyear. She is also a member of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS), and the Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians (AVECCT).

Recording Secretary: Beth A. Shelby, BS, CVT
Palmyra, PA  

Beth Shelby is a graduate of the Wilson College Veterinary Technology Program. She has been working in the veterinary industry for 12 years. Her interests in veterinary medicine include exotic medicine, physical rehabilitation and client education. After working as both a CVT and manager in private practice, she decided on a change. She is now a Customer Service Supervisor at Northeast Veterinary Supply Co. in Harrisburg. She also works occasional weekends at Veterinary Medical Center in Lebanon as she still loves working with animals and educating their owners and part-time at the Comparative Medicine Department at the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey.

Treasurer: Craig Wicker, CVT
Centre Hall, PA

Craig has been a veterinary technician for over three decades. He was the first male to graduate from Harcum Jr. College. He is currently self-employed with his wife Dr. Susan Wicker at Four Springs Veterinary Clinic in Centre Hall, PA. They have been in business for 25 years. Previously, Craig worked at New Bolton Center from February 1976 until November 1980 at which time he and his wife moved to Centre Hall. Craig has served as VTAAP Treasuer since 1994 and currently serves as PVTA Treasurer.

Robin Hivner, CVT
Reading, PA

Robin Hivner, BS, CVT, currently serves as a Senior Product Support Specialist at Pfizer Animal Health. She has worked with Pfizer in Veterinary Medical Investigations for the past nine years. Robin received her Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology from Harcum College in 1996. She then completed her University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Practicum in 1997 and received her BS in Business Management from Albright College in 2003. Prior to her career with Pfizer, Robin was a CVT at Oley Valley Animal Hospital.

Robin has been a volunteer with the Red Cross for 13 years to support and raise awareness for organ transplantation and organ donation. She speaks at local schools, meetings and organizations to educate the public on the success of organ transplantation.

She has served as an active Board member of PVTA, formerly VTAAP, for five years and is a member of NAVTA. She is currently the PVTA Immediate Past President.

Johanna Appel, BS, CVT
Waynesboro, PA

Johanna Appel, BS, CVT, is a graduate of the veterinary technology program at Wilson College. She has been a wildlife rehabilitator for over 20 years and a veterinary technician for 17 years, specializing in wildlife and exotic pet medicine. She has given several guest lectures at Wilson College on wildlife rehabilitation and exotic animal medicine career choices for veterinary technicians. She currently works as the manager of a private aviary. Johanna is also the Secretary of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Avian Veterinarians and does volunteer work for Fast Friends Greyhound Rescue. Johanna served on the VTAAP Board of Directors from 2003-2006 and currently serves on the PVTA Board of Directors.

Freya Burnett, CVT, MS
Chambersburg, PA

Barbara Bush, CVT
Palmyra, PA

Barbara Bush, CVT, currently works as Head Technician in the Artificial Organs Division at the Penn State University College of Medicine. She has been employed at this location for more than 30 years. Barbara received her AS from Central Carolina College in North Carolina. Barbara was a charter member of VTAAP in 1976 and held the position of Recording Secretary. She is currently a member of the PVTA Board of Directors.

Joy Ellwanger, CVT, BS, AAS
Mount Joy, PA

Joy Ellwanger, CVT, BS, AAS, has been involved in the veterinary profession since 1973. Her career has involved small animal medicine, avian medicine, diagnostic services and now lab animal medicine. Currently, she works as the Animal OR Coordinator at the Pennsylvania State University’s Department of Comparative Medicine at the College of Medicine in Hershey. She has been involved with VTAAP since its formation in 1976; served two terms as President, a term as Vice-President and President-Elect and a term as Corresponding Secretary. Currently, she serves as a PVTA Board member. In addition, Joy represents PVTA at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show and Ag Progress Days assisting at the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association’s (PVMA) booth where she educates the public on veterinary technology. For the past several years, she has also served as the State Representative for NAVTA. She also serves as Chair of the PVTA Continuing Education Committee.

Jane G. Gruber, CVT
Gibsonia, PA

Jane G. Gruber, CVT, graduated from Median School of Allied Health in Pittsburgh, PA in 1981. Since graduation, she has worked at Point Breeze Veterinary Clinic, a small animal practice in Pittsburgh, PA. Jane is a past member of the Veterinary Technicians and Assistants Association of Pennsylvania and is a member of the Board of Directors.

Kelly Mallonee, AS, CVT
Palmyra, PA

Kelly Mallonee, CVT, graduated from Harcum Jr. College with an AS in Veterinary Technology. She worked her first year out of college at the West Shore Veterinary Hospital. Since 1986, she has worked at the Animal Hospital of Dauphin County as a veterinary technician/kennel supervisor. She also worked for a short time as a part-time employee at the Research Farm at the Hershey Medical Center in the Artificial Heart Research Department. She was an Active Member of Veterinary Technicians and Assistants Association of Pennsylvania (VTAAP) from 1986-2006, a Board member from 2000-2006, and served as the 2006 Vice-President. Kelly has served on the PVTA Board of Directors since 2006 and is seeking reelection. She is also an Active Member of NAVTA.

Tara Perry, BS, CVT
Downingtown, PA

Tara Perry, BS, CVT, is originally from Rhode Island where she received her BS in Animal Veterinary Science from the University of Rhode Island. She received her CVT designation from the state of Rhode Island after being a technician for approximately three years in a specialty referral and emergency environment. For the past three years, she has been living in Pennsylvania and has continued working at specialty referral hospitals. After two years of being an orthopedic anesthesia nurse, she has returned to emergency nursing, however, her primary responsibility is as an internal medicine nurse. Tara is a member of the NAVTA and the Rhode Island Veterinary Technician Association. She is also an PVTA Active Member.

Leslie Sheppard, CVT, ALAT
Ewing, NJ

Leslie Sheppard, CVT, ALAT, holds an Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology from Manor College and is now pursuing a Bachelors degree in Animal Science at Rutgers University. She has over nine years of experience as a Veterinary Technician in companion animal medicine as well as laboratory animal medicine. She is currently the Veterinary Technician for Laboratory Animal Services at Rutgers University. Leslie is a member of numerous professional organizations including AALAS, NJ-AALAS, NAVTA, NJVTA, and PVTA.