AVTA Executive Board

2024-2025

Hayley Pritchard, BS, LVT

Hayley Pritchard, BS, LVT

President

Hayley Pritchard was born and raised in Florida. She attended Auburn University where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Sciences (Production and Management option). Upon achieving her degree at Auburn, she completed an Associate in Applied Science in Veterinary Technology at Jefferson State Community College. She is the Program Director for the Veterinary Technology Program (Vet Tech program) at Southern Union State Community College. Previous to her current position, she worked at Auburn University for many years, including holding positions as an Animal Care Unit Manager/Vivarium Manager, the Licensed Veterinary Technician within the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economics directly under Auburn’s Institutional Veterinarian (Attending/University Veterinarian), and also the General Surgery technician for Auburn University’s small animal teaching hospital. Additionally, Pritchard has well over a decade of experience in various veterinary settings including research, laboratory, and multi-species practice (farm and companion animal, rodents, poultry, avian and equine). She enjoys many aspects of veterinary medicine across the profession and has provided care to animals internationally as part of a mission group team. An active member in the veterinary community, Mrs. Pritchard is a member of numerous committees and professional groups and has played a key role in starting programs for technician advancement, training and continuing education. She is a published author and established lecturer. Pritchard holds an active membership with the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), and is passionate about professional growth and excellence in clinical medicine. She excels in clinical/technical veterinary nursing, teaching, and leadership roles and strives to build successful team-based and interpersonal relationships. She became Vice President of the Alabama Veterinary Technician Association (AVTA) in 2020, and AVTA’s President Elect in 2022. She is also AVTA’s liaison to the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association (ALVMA) and is a committee member of the Alabama Veterinary Professional Wellness Program (AVPWP). Pritchard maintains involvement with the Academy of Veterinary Technician Educators (AVTE) and the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC)- specifically the Academy of Veterinary Medical Educators Community (AVMEC). Hayley is excited to serve the technicians of Alabama in these capacities and strives to better the profession of veterinary nursing for the future.

Elena Graves, BS, LVT

Elena Graves, BS, LVT

President Elect

Elena is a licensed veterinary technician and the internal medicine lead technician at Huntsville Veterinary Specialists and Emergency, a leading referral and emergency center in north Alabama. She graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Equine Science in 2013, and from Jefferson State Community College with an Associate of Science degree in Veterinary Technology in 2016. She became active in the local veterinary community, serving as an executive member of the Alabama Veterinary Technician Association since 2017 and an LVT representative to the Madison County Veterinary Medical Association since 2021. Elena is passionate about the Veterinary Nurse Initiative, mental health awareness within the veterinary community, and advancing her skills and knowledge in emergency and critical care, and internal medicine. Outside of veterinary medicine, Elena is a competitive equestrian, an avid reader, and enjoys traveling with her husband and son. She also has two furbabies: a Lab/Pointer mix named Grizzly and a Thoroughbred gelding named Colonel.
Maureen Donohue, LVT

Maureen Donohue, LVT

Vice President

Maureen began her career in veterinary medicine by volunteering at a local veterinary clinic in 2005 and was quickly hired on as a full-time veterinary assistant. She completed a veterinary assistant program in 2005 and a pet grooming program in 2006. When she moved in 2008, the new clinic she worked at encouraged her to pursue her degree in Veterinary Technology. She graduated with honors from Jefferson Sate Community College in 2011 with an Associate in Applied Science in Veterinary Technology. Maureen has been working at Auburn University’s small animal teaching hospital since 2012. She has been a member of multiple committees while at Auburn University. In 2015 she began working with the Small Animal Theriogenology service and quickly found a passion for it. She is devoted to advancing the opportunities for veterinary technicians. She played a pinnacle roll in the process to allow veterinary technicians to join the Society for Theriogenology and was the first veterinary technician member. She has experience in management, research, speaking at CE events, and publications. She holds an active membership with the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) and the Alabama Veterinary Technicians Association (AVTA). In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, crocheting and reading.

Kellye Berkley, LVT, CCFP

Kellye Berkley, LVT, CCFP

Secretary

Kellye Berkley is originally from West Tennessee and moved to Auburn, Alabama in 2016. She attended the University of Tennessee at Martin where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Health Technology through the 4-year tech program. While enrolled in this program, Kellye was able to attend Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine as a 6-week veterinary technician extern. After the completion of her 6-week externship, she was hired as a Floater Technician, a technician that is cross trained and able to cover/assist multiple specialty services throughout the teaching hospital. In 2020, she transferred to the General Surgery service and continues to be the service’s lead technician to date.

Kellye maintains active involvement in the veterinary community by holding memberships in NAVTA and AVTA (now serving as the AVTA secretary). Additionally, she is passionate about further growth in various studies of medicine such as General Surgery and Cardiology.

She was the recipient of the AVTA’s Outstanding Member Award/Scholarship in 2021 and received Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Janice Saidla Award/Scholarship that same year. Additionally, Kellye has completed additional training in veterinary mental health and is a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional (CCFP). Since then she has completed a newly piloted program (MentorVet Tech) and is pursuing a mentorship with that program.

Berkley is passionate about the growth of current and future veterinary technicians, and veterinary mental health.

Kellye is excited to continue furthering her career as a veterinary technician and is enthusiastic about the veterinary field as a whole. In her free time, Kellye enjoys spending time with her loving husband and 2 dogs, Jase (a Beagle) and Baxter (a Labrador Retriever).

Bethany Trucks, BS, LVT

Bethany Trucks, BS, LVT

Treasurer

Bethany is a Licensed Veterinary Technician who has been working in the Birmingham area for over a decade in various settings, recently being promoted to a Practice Manager. She has been in small animal medicine for the majority of her career, newly adding large animal medicine and emergency critical care to her skill set. She is Fear Free Certified (Level-3), Recover Advanced Life Support Certified, and is a Purina and Royal Canine Certified Nutrition Specialist. Bethany is active at local and state levels and serving as a past president of the Alabama Veterinary Technician Association and currently as the Association’s Treasurer. She graduated from Penn Foster with a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology. Teaching and advocating for Licensed Veterinary Technicians are two of her passions. Bethany has been nominated for Alabama Veterinary Technician of the Year twice in her career through the Alabama Veterinary Technician Association (2020; 2023) and was awarded Veterinary Technician of the Year by Banfield Pet Hospital in 2021. After becoming licensed in 2015, Bethany welcomed the first of two boys into the world. Along with her children (Logan and Parker), she enjoys fun filled days with four fantastic felines (Church, Persephone, Mahees, and Skully), two talkative Siberian Huskies (Iris and Korra), and a wild child doodle (Lenore). When Bethany is not working and spending time with family, she enjoys drawing, photography, painting, and running her business (DeadlyCollectables).
Bethany has worked closely with AVTA for years and is dedicated to all of the LVTs in our state- from rural private practice to corporate, universities, and everything in between! Her goal is to continue to support our LVTs in any way she can.

Representatives and Liaisons to the AVTA Committee

  • North Alabama District Representative(s): 
    • Elena Graves, BS, AAS, LVT
    • Susanna Burgett, LVT
  • Central Alabama District Representative(s):
    • Madison Foreman, LVT
  • South Alabama District Representative(s):
    • Vacant/position open 
  • National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America (NAVTA) State Representative:
    • Madison Foreman, LVT
  • Alabama Veterinary Medical Association (ALVMA) Liaison:
    • Hayley Pritchard, BS, AAS, LVT
  • Alabama Veterinary Medical Foundation (ALVMF) Liaison:
    • Cindy Pearson, LVT
  • Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (ASBVME) Liaison:
    • Lisa Hethcox, LVT
  • Veterinary Technology Program Liaisons:
    • Kristi Healy, LVT (Jefferson State Community College)
    • Barbara Robinson, LVT (Coastal Alabama Community College)
    • Hayley Pritchard, BS, AAS, LVT (Southern Union State Community College)
  • ​Student Representatives:
    • Vacant/positions open