2023 Executive Board

President - Bonnie Miller, CVT, VTS (ECC)

Bonnie Miller shares her passion for veterinary technology as an associate professor at Great Bay Community College. She has worked in emergency and critical care, cardiology, surgery, and neurology. Bonnie is the acting New Hampshire state NAVTA representative and an advisor for the GBCC SCNAVTA Chapter. Bonnie enjoys spending time with her daughter Lilianna and her cat the amazing Meatball. 

Past President - Patty Pate, CVT, VTS (ECC), CFE 

Patty Pate, CVT, VTS (ECC), CFE has nearly 20 years’ experience in the veterinary field with 17 years focused on emergency and critical care, working in many of the emergency rooms in Ethos Veterinary Health. Patty is a Certified Veterinary Technician in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and in 2012, Patty earned her Veterinary Technician Specialty in the discipline of Emergency and Critical Care. As Technician Learning and Development Manager for Ethos Veterinary Health, Patty supports the educational opportunities for over 400 veterinary technicians. She was instrumental in the development of the Ethos AVA Program and is a primary instructor for the program.  Patty is a certified Compassion Fatigue Educator and lectures regularly on emergency, critical care, and compassion fatigue.  Patty serves as the President of the New Hampshire Veterinary Technician Association and as a mentor for technicians interested in advancing towards their VTS(ECC).

President-Elect - Carrie Finke, BS, CVT

Carrie has a passion for life-long learning in the veterinary field. She sees value in both formal education and work experience. In 1998, she graduated cum laude from UMass Amherst with a degree in Animal Science, and in 2006 she sat for the VTNE and became a credentialed veterinary technician in NH. Carrie recently accepted a position as Lecturer and the PAWS Veterinary Clinic Manager at the University of New Hampshire’s Veterinary Technology Program after 9 years of teaching as an adjunct faculty. Prior to her teaching career, she had 14 years of experience in companion animal private practices, including 6 years of management experience. Carrie and her family live on a small NH farm that is run by two adopted Thoroughbred racehorses and two hound dogs.

Secretary - Mary Wiley, CVT, VTS (Clinical Practice) - [email protected]

Mary has been actively involved in the field of veterinary medicine for over twenty years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology from Mount Ida College in 2005 and passed the VTNE to become a CVT in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire.  In 2012 she passed the rigorous application and examination process to become certified by the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice (AVTCP) as a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS). After seventeen years in emergency and critical care, she accepted a full time-teaching position in the veterinary technology department at the University of New Hampshire and went on to earn the University’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 2018 and graduate from an M.Ed. program in 2019. Mary is actively involved with the NHVTA and serves on the examination committee for the AVTCP as well as acts as a mentor for potential VTS applicants.   She is also a member of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS), and the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators (AVTE). In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Mary works per-diem for the Veterinary Emergency Center of Manchester and continues to promote the field of veterinary technology by providing continuing education lectures to fellow staff and the community. She serves as faculty advisor for UNH’s SCNAVTA chapter and is also Scholarship Committee Chair for the NHVTA.

Treasurer - Ed Carlson, CVT, VTS (Nutrition) - [email protected]

Ed Carlson is the Director of Technician Learning and Development for Ethos Veterinary Health and VetBloom. In addition to serving as the Treasurer of the New Hampshire Veterinary Technician Association, he serves as the President of the Massachusetts Veterinary Technician Association, has served on multiple NAVTA committees, and is the 2020 NAVTA President-Elect. Ed was also the recipient of the NAVTA 2019 Technician of the Year award. He obtained a VTS (Nutrition) in 2014 and lectures frequently at local, regional, and national veterinary conferences on a variety of nutrition topics. Ed grew up in and lived in NH for most of his life until moving to Haverhill, MA where he and his husband Walter raise Dexter Cattle on their small hobby farm.

Member at Large - Meghan Dakin, CVT, VTS (ECC)

Member at Large - Becky Gallant, BS, CVT 

Becky is a 2010 graduate of the Veterinary Technology program at Great Bay Community College. She also holds a B.S. in Animal Science from the University of New Hampshire. Becky shares her 5 acres with her husband Bill, her two dogs Tessie & Lucy, cats Madeline & Lumpy, Kali a 30+-year-old sassy chestnut mare, and 11 of the sweetest goats on the planet. 

CE Committee Chair - Ashlyn McGrade, CVT

Ashlyn is the Veterinary Technician Director at Veterinary Emergency Center of Manchester. She has been working in General Practice and Emergency in the veterinary field for 17 years and passed the VTNE in 2017 obtaining her CVT. Over the years Ashlyn has focused on leadership, hospital culture, and helping veterinary technicians new and old grow in our field. She has been a supervisor in a large general practice for 10 years and is currently enjoying her passion for veterinary emergency in her role in one of the largest emergency critical care hospitals in NH. Ashlyn was also awarded CVT of the Year in 2021 by the NHVTA.