SAVT Board of Directors

Nadine Schueller, RVT: Office Administrator
savt@savt.ca

Home Province:  Saskatchewan
 

Education:  
Veterinary Technology program SIAST Kelsey Campus, class of 1991


Work Experience: 

• Saskatoon SPCA from 1990 – 1994
• All-West Veterinary Clinic 1990 – 1994
• U of S in various positions 1994 -
  • 1994-Small Animal Medicine-term
  • 1995-Reception-Permanent
  • 1996-Large Animal Surgery-term
  • 1997-Large Animal Medicine-term
  • 1998-Large Animal Surgery-permanent
  • 2000- to 2006 –Anesthesia-permanent
  • 2006 to present Biology Department

Previous Board / Committee Experience:

• Saskatoon SPCA Secretary on Board of Directors 1995-1996
• Wonderdog Agility Gang of Saskatoon Membership Director 1997-1998
• Saskatchewan Association of Veterinary Technologists
  Vice President 1994
  C.E. Director 1995-1998
  Conference Committee 2001-2004, 2008, 2010 
• Saskatoon Pet Loss Support Group - Founder & President 1995-2008
• Silverspring Community Association – Treasurer -2008-2011
• Mother Teresa Preschool Cooperative-President 2003-2004 & 2006-2007,Vice President 2005-2006,President 2011-2012 
• Poplar Beach Campground Owner’s Corp. – Co-Treasurer 2009-2010, Vice President -2010-2011, President 2011-2012

What do you hope to bring to the table or describe great things you are doing: I hope to continue to see the advancement and increased recognition of VT’s and promote pride in our profession.

Personal life including pets and hobbies: Personal life including pets and hobbies: Married to husband Cliff for 19 years and has two sons Owen (12), Carson (9) and a daughter Taylor (3). Current pets include Odie ( 8 year old terrier X),  barn cats, cat Shadow, Bearded Dragon ( who frequently changes names), garter snake (pretty sure he has a name too...)and various fish. Hobbies include camping, ball hockey, volunteering and many,many hours of kids activities.

Melanie Weiss, BSc. RVT: President
president@savt.ca

Home Province:  Manitoba 

Education:  Bachelors of Science from the University of Winnipeg
Diploma of Veterinary Technology from SIAST Kelsey Campus

Work Experience:

• Winnipeg Humane Society Behaviour Department (3 years)
• Critter's Grooming Den (2 years)
• Western College of Veterinary Medicine VTH Anesthesia (6 months)
• Western College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Care Unit (Current)

Previous Board / Committee Experience: Pres-Elect 2010-2011

What do you hope to bring to the table or describe great things you are doing:
I hope to bring an open mind to the board in hopes of hearing good idea for changes. I also hope to encourage techs to be proud of and support their profession.

Personal life including pets and hobbies: I live in Saskatoon with my boyfriend Geoff and our house full of pets which include: 2 rescued Jack Russell Terriers, a cockatiel, a budgie, 2 guinea pigs, a turtle and a gecko. We have fostered dogs for New Hope Dog Rescue for over 2 years now and have helped 9 dogs so far. I am writing the Registered Laboratory Animal Technician Exam this spring. I have a great interest in animal behaviour and learning theory

Tamara McLoughlin, RVT: Past-President/CAAHTT Director Home Province: Saskatchewan Education: Graduated from the Vet Tech program at Kelsey in Saskatoon 2002 Work Experience: Worked 3 months as a summer student at Prairie Swine Centre 1.5 years at the mixed practice in North Battleford Took 6 months off to travel around Australia Worked for 1 year at the Tisdale Animal Clinic Worked for 5 years at Big Sky Farms head office in Humboldt as the CQA Coordinator and Herd Health Technologist Currently on maternity leave from Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan, where I work as the Poultry Analyst, specializing in Food Safety and Animal Welfare

Previous Board / Committee Experience: I have been on the SAVT board as one of the Canadian Animal Health Technologists and Technicians board members for 5 years. I have also done one year as President Elect and two years as President. . What do you hope to bring to the table or describe great things you are doing: As the “oldest” board member I hope to be a mentor to the other board members and use my experience on this board to implement new ideas with the goal of increasing recognition of our profession and improving the services we provide to the SAVT members. Personal life including pets and hobbies: I live in Warman with my husband Phil, my son Finn, and we have 1 cat, Buckshot, that used to rule our lives for us until baby came along!  Mom and Dad have a farm south of Bjorkdale where they raise 120 head of cattle that I enjoy helping out with when I can. I love to travel, I’m an avid scuba diver, I’m a consultant for Epicure spices and I’m working towards becoming fluent in French

Cindy Toy, RVT: President-Elect

Home Province:  Saskatchewan

Education:  
Kelsey – Biological Sciences – diploma 1984-1986
Animal Health Technology – diploma 1986-1988

Work Experience:

• 1988-1994 – VIDO Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization-research technician
• 1994-1999 – WCVM Western College of Veterinary Medicine – surgery/anesthesia/radiology/medicine (large and small animal)
• 1999-2000 – Feedlot Health Management , Okotoks, AB (quality control study)
• 2000-2005 – Calgary North Associates – Surgery Technician
• 2005-2010 – Heartland Veterinary Clinic , Airdrie, AB-technician
• 2010- present – WCVM Western College of Veterinary Medicine – lab technician

Previous Board / Committee Experience: none

What do you hope to bring to the table or describe great things you are doing:  
 Experience in the work field – having worked a variety of different jobs. Help out as much as possible

Personal life including pets and hobbies:  One pet – Cricket – jack russel terrorist!
Hobbies – camping, fishing and training my dog.

Jane Rathgeber, RVT: Financial Officer

Home Province:  Saskatchewan

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the U of S in 1995.
RVT Diploma from SIAST Kelsey Campus in Saskatoon in 2002

Work Experience:

• Worked at the Lakeview Veterinary Clinic for 1 year after graduation.
• Worked casual at the VTH for 6 months then worked 1.5 years as an after hours emergency tech at the VTH.
• Currently working in the anesthesia department for the last 6 years at the VTH

Previous Board / Committee Experience: Was on the conference committee for the 2008 and 2009 SAVT conference in charge of organizing the wet labs/lunch on Sunday and the A/V for the conference.  Second year on the Board of Directors.

What do you hope to bring to the table or describe great things you are doing: I hope to gain some personal experience by being on the Board and to learn more about what my association is all about. I bring a fresh mind to the table and will hopefully provide some new ideas to make this association even better.

Personal life including pets and hobbies: Married for 6 years to my husband Kevin and live in Saskatoon with our 3 furry kitty "kids" and 1 dog "kid". There's polydactyl Eddie (3 years and 24 toes), spunky Tyra (4 years), the old girl Jasper (12 years) and our newest addition, Panda, the blood donor dog (2 years). My husband and I enjoy travelling, skiing, camping, hiking and playing slo-pitch. I belong to a women's organization called Beta Sigma Phi where I have held a number of positions on the executive and we participate in cultural, social and service type activities. I hope to someday renew my love of competitive horse jumping, just as soon as I win the lottery!

Kristen Neufeld, RVT: Member-at-large

Home Province:  Saskatchewan

Education: 

Kristen is a 2002 SAIST Kelsey Campus Veterinary Technology graduate. She is also a 2000 SBC Veterinary Office Assistant.

Work Experience:  Kristen has worked in several clinics in and around Saskatoon, including V.I.D.O. For the last year, she has worked at Frontier Spay and Neuter.

Previous Board / Committee Experience: This will be her second year as Member at Large, and her third year on the Conference Planning Committee

What do you hope to bring to the table or describe great things you are doing: Kristen will be very busy on the BOD this year as it is a Vetavision year. She is very excited to see what our new logo will look like.
 

Personal life including pets and hobbies:  Her life is filled with building a house on Blackstrap Lake and helping her fiance start new company. When Kristen has a few spare moments she enjoys reading a good book with her kids. Cooter is a 2 year old Red Tabby DSH and Cleveland is a 1 year old Smoke Black Tabby DSH, both of which are full of life and energy.

Nicole Wood, RVT: Member-At-Large Home Province: Saskatchewan Education: 09’ Graduate of Veterinary Technology at SIAST Kelsey Campus   Work Experience: Summer 06’ & 07’- Red Coat Cattle Feeders Co. November 2010- November 2011 VT at AACD Veterinary Hospital July 2009-present- Anatomy Technician at WCVM Previous Board / Committee Experience: none

What do you hope to bring to the table or describe great things you are doing: I am very excited to be more involved in our association this year. I am looking forward to promoting our profession at our events and contributing new ideas in hopes of creating a brighter future for technicians. Personal life including pets and hobbies: Well I like to keep busy! Go, go, go.. I enjoy playing volleyball, drawing, going to the gym, horseback riding, listening to music, and spending as much time as I can with friends and family. Every other spare minute is spent loving my ‘kids’. I have a kitty, ‘The Boss’, a horse ‘Malibu’, a hamster ‘Winston’ and a fish ‘Dually’

Chrissie Engel, RVT: CAAHTT Director

Home Province:  Saskatchewan

Education:  Animal Health Technology graduate from Lakeland College in Vermilion Alberta in 2000

Work Experience:

• 3 months at the Coronation Animal Clinic in Coronation Alberta in 2000.
• I have been working with the Norsask Veterinary Group for 11+ years, first at the Warman Veterinary Clinic and now the Rosthern Veterinary Clinic.

   

Previous Board / Committee Experience:  I was first a Member At Large, then Secretary on the SAVT board. Currently on 3rd year as SAVT CAAHTT Director and loving every minute of it!

What do you hope to bring to the table or describe great things you are doing: I hope to bring new ideas to the SAVT board and to represent techs working at mixed animal practices.

Personal life including pets and hobbies:  In my personal time I enjoy cross country skiing, camping, and traveling with Scott. We have 2 cats, 1 snake and, at various times, other people's dogs.