Current Council of Regents
President
Lynnsey Klassen, RVT, VTS (Behavior)
City: Saskatoon, Province: Saskatchewan, Postal Code: S7K 5C5
Lynnsey is an RVT working at a small animal practice in Saoskatoon Saskatchewan, Canada She graduated from the tech program at Lakeland College in 2006 where she obtained her first fur baby as an adult, and started learning about all things behaviour. It very quickly became evident that there was a lack of behavioural care for the creatures she encountered on a daily basis in clinic and she focused her attention on how that could be remedied. She is passionate about supporting and growing the human animal bond in every interaction that she has with clients and their furry family members. In 2018 she obtained her VTS(Behaviour) and has been working very hard at public education since. She has introduced low stress handling and fear free practices to her clients and staff team and is so excited to see the difference that is being made for every animal that walks through the doors. She is excited to be the first VTS(Behaviour) in Canada, but can't wait until the behaviour bug bites other techs and a strong force of appropriate behavioural care can be developed all throughout Canada!
Past President
Sherrie Yuschak, RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA-CTP
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526
Sherrie is a faculty member of the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Behavior and Training. She was employed by the NC State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Behavioral Medicine Service for 5 years: contributing to behavioral research, providing behavior modification and educating students, staff and clients. Sherrie is a co-creator of Family Paws Parent Education for Veterinary Professionals. She is a Fear Free Certified℠ Professional and has served on several task forces for the Fear Free℠ Initiative. Active in the veterinary community, Sherrie holds positions and maintains memberships with many technician and behavior organizations. Passionate about providing continuing education, Sherrie lectures at conferences, writes articles for publication, and teaches hands-on skills to veterinary professionals.
President Elect
Shanna Rayburn
BIO COMING SOON
Secretary
Danielle Bolm, RVT, VTS(Behavior)
Danielle graduated from The Vet Tech Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her associate degree in Veterinary Technology in 2007. She was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, after graduation from the Vet Tech Institute, she moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where she worked in emergency and general practice for a total of 10 years. During her 10 years in practice, she became passionate about animal behavior and started to dedicate herself to it. Since 2016 to 2022, she has worked in veterinary practices that were only limited to behavior. Her interest in behavior led her to become a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner in 2017 and finished her journey to become a Veterinary Technician Specialty in Behavior in the fall of 2021. Her behavioral interests are, but not limited to, aggression, reactivity, and resolving fear-related issues in horses.
In July 2022, Danielle opened her own behavior consulting business in Howell Michigan, Dedication-N- Behavior.
Treasurer
Debbie Martin, BS, RVT, CPDT-KA, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior)
Spicewood, TX 78669
Debbie Martin received a Bachelor of Science degree in human ecology from The Ohio State University and an associate of applied science degree in veterinary technology from Columbus State Community College. She has been a fulltime registered/licensed veterinary technician since 1996. Debbie is the animal behavior technician for Veterinary Behavior Consultations, a specialty veterinary practice located in Spicewood, TX, with practice limited to the prevention and treatment of animal behavior disorders. She assists a board-certified veterinary behaviorist, Dr. Kenneth Martin, who is also her husband, during behavior consultations. Debbie is a co-owner of TEAM Education in Animal Behavior. Debbie is a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Behavior. She is the past president and treasurer for the Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians and an active member and previous recording secretary for the SVBT (Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians). Debbie is a Karen Pryor Academy Faculty Emeritus and Certified Training Partner and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). Debbie and her husband published a book on normal development and training in dogs, Puppy Start Right: Foundation Training for the Companion Dog. They are also the authors of the Karen Pryor Academy course, Puppy Start Right for Instructors. Debbie is the co-editor and a contributing author of the textbook, Canine and Feline Behavior for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses published in 2015. Debbie is honored to be a Fear Free Certified Professional, a member of the Fear Free Advisory Panel, on the Fear Free Executive Council, and the subject matter expert for Fear Free.
Member at Large
Monique Feyrecilde LVT, VTS (Behavior)
Auburn, WA 98001
Since 1997, Monique Feyrecilde has been a team member at Mercer Island Veterinary Clinic in Mercer Island, Washington. In 1999, she began serving as clinic manager, and was credentialed as a technician in 2002. Monique currently manages the clinic and serves as head technician. Realizing more pets become homeless and are euthanized for unwanted behaviors than any disease, Monique spearheaded implementation of behavior protocols within her clinic.
Monique’s consulting and training business is called Teaching Animals, established in 1999. She provides private behavior consultations as well as group classes and community education.
Aside from her duties as a technician, manager, instructor and consultant, Monique enjoys presenting and lecturing at CE events, reading, singing, spending time at the beach, and training her own pets. She has lectured at numerous conferences including NAVC, WVC, AVSAB/ACVB, AVMA, PacVet, ACVC, WSVMA, and more. Her particular areas of interest include compassionate animal handling, behavioral medicine for the general practice team, cooperative veterinary care and husbandry, learning theory, behavior modification, and human-animal bond. She has served on the board of directors of SVBT and the board of regents of AVBT. Monique was also named 2015 Veterinary Technician of the Year for the US and Canada by PetPlan Pet Insurance.
Sharing her home with 3 dogs, 1 cat, an African grey parrot and her wonderful husband, Monique enjoys competing with her own dogs in agility and sheepdog events.
Member at Large
Gayle DiMenna, RVT, BSc. VTS(Behavior)
Gayle holds a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology and has been a credentialed Veterinary Technician since 1999. Her passion for improving pet welfare and enhancing the human-animal bond led her to earning her VTS(Behavior) designation in 2020. She has also completed multiple related certifications including Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, Elite Fear Free Certified Professional (Level 3), Low Stress Handling Certified Silver and TAGteach Level 1 Certification.
Gaylecurrently provides pet behavior education, training and solutions for pet guardians, shelters/rescues as well as veterinary and pet professionals through her business Pawsitive DiMensions, LLC.
Parliamentarian
Ginny Price, MS, CVT, VTS (Behavior)
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
Ginny Price graduated from Saint Petersburg Junior College, Veterinary Technology Program, in 1981 and became certified the same year. She worked at a small animal practice from 1981-1999 and began teaching the Small Animal Breeds and Behavior Laboratory at SPJC (Saint Petersburg Junior College, which is now Saint Petersburg College) in 1995. In May of 2000 she attended the five-day lecture and practicum class at Purdue University, DOGS 2000!.
Ginny was an animal behavior laboratory research assistant at the University of South Florida from 2001-2006 where she also earned her BA in psychology. She earned her Masters degree in General Psychology at Walden University in 2007.
From 2002 – 2005, Ginny worked at Main Street Animal Hospital, a progressive, bond centered small animal practice in Dunedin, Florida. She continues to teach small animal behavior as well as various other courses at Saint Petersburg College, Veterinary Technology Program. Advanced Veterinary Behavior was developed by Terry Curtis, DVM, DACVB and Ginny for the BAS program.
Ginny has given lectures on animal behavior for various local, state, and national veterinary conferences.
She is a member of FVTA (Florida Veterinary Technician Association), AVTE (Association of Veterinary Technician Educators), AALAS (American Association for Laboratory Animal Science), and NAVTA (North American Veterinary Technician Association). She is a founding member and past president of SVBT (The Society of Veterinary Behavior) and a founding member of AVBT (The Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians).