Meet the NCAVT Executive Board

The Executive Board oversees all activities of the Association and manages its business and financial affairs.

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President: Kim Lewis, RVT

Kim graduated from Central Community College in 1997 and became a registered technician that same year. She began her career in private practice in Wilmington, NC. While in private practice, she began working part-time with Wilmington Animal Emergency Clinic and soon developed a larger interest in specialty medicine and turned her obligations to emergency medicine. In 2004, Kim began working for Eastern Carolina Veterinary Referral (a surgical practice) which soon after bought Wilmington Animal Emergency Clinic. She helped both practices grow in management, quality control, education, and training. In 2017, Kim followed her passion for teaching and began helping establish Cape Fear Community College’s veterinary medical technology program. She is currently a full-time instructor with CFCC encouraging and strengthening the growth of our profession.

As for her personal life, Kim has a small farm of horses, chickens, goats, dogs, cats, an angry goose, a duck, a large sulcata tortoise, a bearded dragon, a hedgehog, and a green cheek conure. On the days the farm animals are NOT plotting her demise, she enjoys the farm life with her partner and her two teenage children.

Kim has been an active member of the NCAVT in many positions over the past 10+ years. She is an excited advocate for the growth NCAVT is undertaking and the positive leadership this organization is pursuing for the RVT’s of NC!

Vice President: Nicolette McNeely, RVT

Nicolette McNeely graduated from Central Carolina Community College with an Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Medical Technology in 2001 and later earned a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from NCSU.

She began her career as a RVT in exotic animal medicine, then worked for many years in small animal emergency and specialty medicine. This lead to a teaching opportunity in a veterinary technology program where she eventually became the program director. Currently, she is the Training and Operations Specialist for Emergency and Referral Services at Vets Pets.

Nicolette has been working with the NCAVT Board since 2018 and enjoys contributing to the advancement of the profession and to the growth of fellow veterinary technicians. Nicolette was born in Montreal, Canada and is married to a Raleigh native. She has 2 children, 1 beagle, 1 special needs Quaker Parrot, and 6 chickens. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and spending time with her family and pets.

Secretary: Shannon Nowak, BS, LVT, RVT

Shannon is a native of Michigan who calls North Carolina home. Since becoming credentialed over 19 years ago, she has worked exclusively in specialty practices in services such as: emergency, critical care, internal medicine, surgery, and anesthesia (among others). Shannon thrives on learning and teaching others, and she has held several positions professionally which have allowed her to do so.

Shannon is a Fear Free Certified Veterinary Professional, as well as a member of many veterinary organizations. She is currently the VP of Education for The Bridge Club. Shannon graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Veterinary Technology from Michigan State University, and is currently credentialed in both Michigan (LVT) and North Carolina (RVT).

In her spare time she can be found volunteering for several pet rescue organizations, hiking with her dog, reading, crafting, or practicing yoga. She lives in High Point with her husband and all their fur- and scaly-kids.

Treasurer: Maureen Susi, RVT

Maureen earned her Associates Degree in Veterinary Medical Technology from Central Carolina Community College in 2014. She is currently working a small animal practice in Greensboro. Prior to a career change in 2011, Maureen used her financial background to hold various positions within Volvo Financial Services. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, husband Chris and daughter Emma, while kayaking, golfing and hiking.

Her four-legged family members include; Sophie, an 15-year-old Malti-poo, Jiffy, an 6 year-old orange tabby, Qtip and Mel 4 year-old Siamese mixes, and finally the queen of the household, Casserole, a 2 year-old New Zealand White free roam rabbit.

Public Relations Coordinator: Krystina Phillips, RVT, VTS (Ophthalmology)

Krystina graduated with her Associate in Applied Science in Veterinary Medical Technology from Central Carolina Community College in 2012 and became an RVT that same year. After 2 years in general practice, she moved to Animal Eye Care, where she found her love for veterinary ophthalmology. In 2022, she obtained her VTS in Ophthalmology and now works as Lead RVT. She is also the President-Elect for the Academy of Veterinary Ophthalmic Technicians and a certified RECOVER Rescuer. Outside of ophthalmology, she also enjoys learning about clinical pathology, anesthesia, dentistry, and emergency medicine, as well as teaching and training others. She is currently in school at Appalachian State University for her bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology and expects to graduate in December of 2024.

In her free time, Krystina enjoys working and relaxing on her farm with her many animals, including 4 dogs (Puddles, Pickles, Chloe, and Penelope), 2 cats (Purrito and Nacho), 5 goats (Duncan, Delilah, Gizmo, Dani and Daphne), and a very special sheep (Rudy). She is also known as the chicken lady and has too many chickens to possibly name them all here. Krystina also enjoys gardening, crafting, snowboarding, and trips to the beach.

NCVMB Representative: Robin Lazaro, RVT, VTS (ECC)

Robin is a 1987 graduate from SUNY Delhi, she then completed an externship at Cornell University where her love of ICU developed. She and her husband made the big jump to move south when she accepted a position at NCSU as an ICU Technician in 1990. She has been with ICU ever since, over 20 years as a tech and currently supervising the ICU for the past 6 years. She obtained her VTS in ECC in 2006 and speaks nationally at veterinary conferences.

She is married with one daughter in grad school and engaged to be wed later this year. In her spare time, she is also a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and enjoys the challenge of raising free range chickens and maintaining a functional garden in the same space. She also has a cat, Dinah, a dog Sadie and a koi pond and yes the fish and chickens all have names.

Education Coordinator: Nathan Moyer, RVT

Nathan completed his Associates Degree in Veterinary Medical Technology from Cape Fear Community College in 2019, and became a registered technician that same year. He gained experience working in a variety of small animal practices, where he was exposed to many veterinary subfields, including rehabilitation and integrative medicine. He is currently working for a mobile practice serving Brunswick County in southeastern NC. His interests include dentistry, surgical assisting and client education. Nathan is continuing his education and is currently enrolled in Appalachian State University to complete his Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Medical Technology.

Nathan enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and 4 dogs. He enjoys fishing, bird watching, disc golf and pickleball.

With Nathan's passion for client education, and the education of the next generation of registered veterinary technicians, he is excited to become an integral part of the NCAVT.

Fundraising Coordinator: Susan Bray, RVT

Susan had a long career in corporate life with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations from the University of a Florida and a Master’s Degree in Communications Management and challenging work with consumer and biotech companies. In her mid-life years, she sought a change to follow her passion and enrolled in tech school becoming “the world’s oldest new tech.”

She has found a fantastic team with Mobile Laser Veterinary Services, doing dentals and surgeries and the gamut of wellness and sick animal visits. She is particularly interested in client education. In her spare time she fosters for the Wake County Animal Shelter, volunteers with Operation Catnip surgeries each month, and answers her neighbor’s endless questions about their pets.

NAVTA Representative: Erin Clark, RVT

Erin earned her Associates Degree in Veterinary Medical Technology from Bel-Rea Institute in Colorado and became a Registered Veterinary Technician in 1999. She has experience in General Practice, Emergency Medicine and Critical Care, and has also served in leadership roles within the Veterinary field. She is currently an anesthesia machine service technician for Vetamac, as well as a relief technician for Action Vet Tech Services.

As an RVT, Erin’s passions include all things anesthesia machine related, Emergency and Critical Care, educating and developing newer technicians, and using her knowledge and education to volunteer in her community and on Veterinary missions trips to help low-income families receive care for their animals.

When she is not working as an RVT, Erin enjoys spending time with her family, and working on her family farm taking care of a garden, chickens, goats, and horses.

Members At Large

The Members at Large serve as a liaison between the members and the Board of Directors. They are our eyes and ears throughout the state, keeping us informed on our member's overall issues, needs, and interests.

Member at Large Eastern Region: Stefanie LaJuett, RVT

Stefanie earned her AAS in veterinary technology from Medaille College in 2006 and has been employed at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine for over 15 years where she has served in the intensive care unit. Affectionately known around the hospital as “Bubbles”, she has been the lead ICU technician since 2012 and has served as an interim supervisor and is currently serving as the hospitals’ small animal technician trainer.

She earned her veterinary technician specialist in emergency and critical care in 2013. She has served as the co-chair of the North Carolina Veterinary Conference technician program since 2016. Stefanie became a certified RECOVER instructor in 2018 for both basic and advanced life support. She has also been a supporter and instructor for K9 Down for over 8 years, a hands-on course teaching military personnel and first responders how to treat working canine emergencies in the field. She has continued to pursue Human Animal Bond Certification and fear free certification in an effort to always connect to her patients and their owners. She is also the co-host of Vet Tech-tastic, a podcast for veterinary technicians. She has been nominated for the NC State Awards for excellence in 2015 and more recently awarded best small animal wards technician by the class of 2021. She has spoken at several conferences and loves sharing her knowledge and love of veterinary medicine through lectures, labs, and publications.

Stefanie’s particular interests include technician training and education, wildlife rehabilitation, ventilator patient management, and advanced catheterization. She has several dogs, a Goffin cockatoo, and a crazy palomino Tennessee walking horse. On weekends you can find her herding sheep with her border collie ‘Roo’ or singing karaoke.

Member at Large Western Region: Holly Swanger, RVT

Holly is a WNC native that graduated from Asheville-Buncombe Community College with a degree in Veterinary Technology and obtained her RVT in 2008. While attending college, she worked as a kennel assistant and for animal control to begin building her skills and learning the ins-and-outs of animal care. She has spent her career in small animal general practice and is currently serving as hospital manager.

She lives in the mountains where she enjoys beer, rafting, stand up paddling, and travelling to new and interesting places. She has an elderly dog she found in the street and enjoys showing him what the world can be for his remaining years.

Member at Large Central Region: Lauren Poston, RVT

Lauren Poston graduated from Central Carolina Community College in 2000 with her Associates Degree in Veterinary Medical Technology, and became a Registered Veterinary Technician that same year. She began her career in private practices and emergency medicine in Greensboro and Winston-Salem. After a few years as a stay at home mom, she returned to private practice in Salisbury and has been at the same practice for 12 years. During that time she has earned certification in her two favorite subjects, Abdominal Ultrasound and Cat Friendly. In 2022 she returned to the world of academia and began working on her Bachelor of Science degree at Appalachian State University.

She is looking forward to this next chapter, serving as a board member at large, for the future of credentialed technicians in North Carolina.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, and son. They love North Carolina and all it has to offer whether it is taking in the sun at the coast, venturing to the mountains for fresh mountain air, or exploring small towns and shopping local. They are also the private staff for 3 cats in the home, Skippyjon, Juju Bee and Jezebel.

Member at Large Central Region: Lexi Hansen, BS, LVT, RVT, VTS(ECC)

Lexi Hansen BS, LVT, RVT, VTS (ECC) started her career in the veterinary industry at Morrisville State College where she received her Bachelors in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. She then went on to attend SUNY Delhi to obtain her Associates in Veterinary Technology. After becoming an LVT in New York in 2016, she moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and obtained her RVT while pursuing her dream of working in emergency medicine. In 2020 she relocated to the Raleigh-Durham area to join the emergency and critical care department at BluePearl in Cary, NC. She was able to obtain her VTS(ECC) in 2021. She currently works at BluePearl as a technician trainer as well as managing their blood banking program.

When she is not busy at work, she is spending time with chickens, volunteering with DEGA a nonprofit veterinary group, baking, or gardening.