Executive BoardPresident Maggie Monza, BS, CVT
Maggie has a Bachelor of Science degree from Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry and is a Licensed Veterinary Technician. Maggie is a true advocate for the veterinary technician field. She created mentorships for high school seniors and externships for several Veterinary Technology Programs. Maggie is a member of AVTE (Association of Veterinary Technician Educators), NJVTA (NewJersey Veterinary Technician Association) on Education Committee, NAVTA (NationalAssociation of Veterinary Technicians of America), and is certified in Mental Health First Aid. Maggie is also co-chair of the NJVTC (North Jersey Veterinary Technician Conference)developed to help further the continuing education resources for veterinary technicians. She works at Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, NJ and is also an adjunct professor for the Veterinary Technology Program at Bergen Community College.
Immediate Past President Janet McConnell, AS, CVT
Janet graduated from the Veterinary Technician Program at Harcum College in 1981 and has worked as a CVT in NJ in clinical, management, and educational roles ever since. She started her career at small general practices in NJ, followed by 10 years in general/specialty medicine at Oradell Animal Hospital, then 24 years at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in clinical management, education, and student development. Janet is currently the Director of Veterinary Nursing Development for Compassion-First Pet Hospitals and assists over 40 hospitals across the country with developing their veterinary assistants and technicians to their highest potential. Janet has a strong passion for education and empowering veterinary assistants and technicians. She co-developed the NAVTA Approved Veterinary Assistant Program at Brookdale Community College in 2010 and continues to fill the role of Program Director. She is also a member of the BI Tech Champion Team, a select group of technicians that speak at major conferences and tech fests around the country on behalf of BI to empower attendees to be a champion for preventative care in their practice. Janet is also a strong advocate for the veterinary profession and has served in multiple roles with NJVTA for many years. These roles include Vice President, PR Committee, and Education Committee. She also serves on the national level as the NJ State Representative to NAVTA and is a member of the VNI Advisory Board. Janet is also a member of the AVTE, NJVMHA, AAHA, a Fear Free Certified Professional, and was named NAVTA’s Technician of the Year in 2015.
Vice President Kelly Coleman, BA, AS, CVT
Kelly's first job at the age of 15 was as a Veterinary Assistant in her hometown of Metuchen, NJ. After a few exploding fecal incidents, Kelly acquired a BA in Communications from Fordham University and worked for ABC Television and MTV Networks. In 2002 Kelly opened an Irish Imports business which she successfully operated for 10 years. After her beloved Jack Russell, Seamus, needed spinal surgery, Kelly decided to return to her passion of helping animals. With the belief that no animal should have to live with pain, she pursued a degree in Veterinary Technician from Penn Foster College. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and passed the VTNE. Kelly has an interest in both Eastern and Western Veterinary medicine and completed the Veterinary Technician Program with the Chi Institute. She loves to travel with her husband Mark and her two Jack Russell Terriers, Olive and Munson. Due to a career path injury, Kelly is no longer able to tech in practice but continues to use her CVT credentialing as a Territory Partner Associate for Trupanion, medical insurance for pets. It is her passion to educate pet parents all over New Jersey about the value of pet insurance and ending the heartache of economic euthanasia. Treasurer Michael Azzarello - MBA, BS, LVT
Michael is a licensed and certified veterinary technician that has been working in the
Recording Secretary Rachel Arena, B.S., CVT Rachel graduated from Becker College in Worcester, MA in 2011, earning an Associate of Science degree in Veterinary Technology and Bachelor of Science degree in Veterinary Science. She began her career working at an AHAA-accredited small animal general practice in southwest Florida before moving back to New Jersey in 2013 to pursue more specialized positions in the field. Rachel has been a Certified Veterinary Technician for 8 years and is employed at Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, NJ as an Oncology Technician and holds the title of Coordinator of Clinical Education. She has worked in several other disciplines of veterinary medicine including, physical rehabilitation and internal medicine. Rachel’s main passion is teaching veterinary assistants and technicians in both academic and clinical settings. She has been an adjunct faculty member at Bergen Community College since 2014, teaching Anatomy & Physiology lecture, Clinical Laboratory Procedures and Veterinary Nursing Labs. Rachel is an active member on the Educational Committee for NJVTA (since 2018) and has lectured at the annual NJVTA conference in 2015, 2016 and 2019 on various topics. In addition, she is a member of NAVTA, VCS, AVTE, certified in Mental Health First Aid and a Fear Free Certified Professional. When Rachel is not working, she enjoys hiking, going to the beach, all sporting events and spending time with her family, friends and fur-babies. Alternate Secretary Meghan Carlucci, CVT
Meghan has been working in the veterinary industry in New Jersey for close to 25 years. What began as a summer job has turned into her lifelong passion. Over the years, she has worked in a variety of settings. From her beginnings in general practice, to the last 20 years spent in specialty medicine, Meghan has spent time working as a technician, supervisor, and even practice manager. While having dabbled in just about every specialty, she will tell you that dermatology and anesthesia are her favorites! In the spring of 2016 Meghan was offered a position as the Director of Nursing at NorthStar VETS, one of the country's largest privately owned Emergency and Specialty Hospitals. For Meghan and her beach loving family, relocating from North Jersey to the Jersey Shore was an easy decision! It is at NorthStar that Meghan has been able to focus on an area that has become her passion in this next phase of her career. Meghan has always been bothered by the short career lifespan in the field of veterinary technology. She is extremely passionate about creating career opportunities to help keep technicians in the field they love. Over the past several years she has spearheaded programs to support CVT's through their Veterinary Technician Specialty journeys, and fostered partnerships with Veterinary Technician Programs to support assistants through their AVA or A.A.S. programs to sit for their VTNEs.
In addition to the NJVTA, Meghan is also a member of the NJVHMA and NAVTA. When not at work, Meghan can be found playing soccer, frisbee, or just about anything in the yard with her husband, two young children, and their hound mix Lucci.... unless of course it's beach season and then you know where they'll be!
Communications Secretary Nicole Humphreys, MBA, CVT
Nicole is a 1999 graduate of SUNY Delhi and a 2004 graduate of St. Petersburg Veterinary Technologist Program as well as earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Florida in 2010. Currently, Nicole is the veterinary Clinical Education Coordinator for Bergen Community College as well as a full-time professor. Being certified for over 20 years, Nicole has worked in many different aspects of veterinary medicine such as emergency and critical care at Oradell Animal Hospital, internal medicine at Florida Veterinary Specialists (now Blue Pearl Tampa), Sales and Marketing for Midmark, Sales for Animal Health International and National Sales Manager and certified blood analyst for The Pet Blood Bank Intl. Nicole has been a lecturer at many veterinary conventions speaking on anesthesia, blood pressure monitoring, as well as blood banking and blood analyzing. Nicole has been a featured author in “Nursing the Feline Patient” published by Wiley & Sons (2012), and holds certifications for Fear Free, RECOVER, and Mental Health First Aid. Nicole also belongs to NAVTA, ATVE, AVHTM and also is an NJVTA educational board active member. Along with president Maggie Monza, Nicole co-chairs the VNI Grassroots Committee. |
