After lengthy searches, conversations with the Board of Directors, and interviewing numerous candidates, NAVTA President Jamie Rauscher, LVT, recently filled three vacant committee leadership positions with the full unanimous consent of the NAVTA Board.
Amanda Shelby, RVTg, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia), has been appointed as Chair-Elect of the Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialties (CVTS). Amanda was appointed by the NAVTA President, with the unanimous approval of the NAVTA Board and within the full parameters of the CVTS Policies and Procedures, after a long but unsuccessful attempt by CVTS Chair Vicky Ograin to find a candidate for the seat from among the CVTS members.
The CVTS last year adopted two amendments to the CVTS Policies and Procedures: the first added language explaining how leadership vacancies would be filled, the second added language explaining what actions must be taken in the case of there being no nominee for a leadership seat. Unfortunately, this last scenario of having no nominee for the Chair-Elect seat came to fruition in January when, after exhaustive efforts by Vicky and the CVTS Nominating Committee, no one on the CVTS was able to assume the Chair-Elect position. Once learning there were no nominees, the NAVTA President interviewed several candidates for this seat and selected Amanda as the Chair-Elect.
Understanding that Amanda’s appointment results in two individuals from AVTAA being on the CVTS leadership team, Amanda has agreed that she will serve in a non-voting capacity during her term as Chair-Elect, allowing the AVTAA representative to vote on behalf of the academy.
Anna Santos, BS, LVT, was appointed Vice Chair of the District Representative Committee, filling a seat that had been vacant for several years. Anna is a former District Representative for NAVTA. She has a BS in Animal & Dairy Science from the University of Georgia and is expected to attain a Master of Public Health degree this summer.
Amanda Searles, CVT/LVT, VTS (ECC), FFCP, was appointed as Representative for NAVTA’s District 1, covering the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Amanda serves as the Secretary for the Maine Veterinary Technician Association and is that state’s representative to NAVTA’s District 1.