2024 Executive Board and Committee Chairs

President - Becky Gallant, BS, CVT 

A 2010 Great Bay Community College graduate, Becky also holds a B.S. in Animal Science from UNH. With 15 years in clinical and product-management roles—now Senior Product Manager Veterinary at SunTech Medical, she is passionate about maximizing veterinary-technician utilization and strengthening New Hampshire’s technician community through education, mentorship, and advocacy. Off duty, Becky and her husband Bill enjoy five acres with dog Lucy, cats Madeline & Lumpy, and a lively herd of goats.


 Past President - 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 teaches at the University of New Hampshire’s Veterinary Technology Program as a Lecturer and also serves as the UNH PAWS Veterinary Clinic Manager. Prior to her teaching career, she had 14 years of experience in companion animal private practices, including 6 years of management experience. Carrie lives in New Hampshire with her family which includes two rescued dogs Rigatoni and Fozzie Bear.


President-Elect - Tiffany Pitcher, CVT

Tiffany Pitcher, CVT is a Certified Veterinary Technician in New Hampshire with over 25 years of experience in general practice. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Mount Saint Mary College in 2008, followed by an Associate of Science in Veterinary Technology from Penn Foster College in 2017. In her current role as Veterinary Technician Manager, Tiffany leads and mentors a team of veterinary technicians, collaborates with veterinarians to establish and maintain high standards of clinical care, and organizes community outreach events. She also plays a key role in guiding students through their externship programs, fostering the next generation of veterinary professionals.
Tiffany is actively involved in the professional community and currently serves as President-Elect of the New Hampshire Veterinary Technician Association (NHVTA). Her areas of professional interest include education, dentistry, anesthesia and analgesia, and surgery. Outside of work, Tiffany enjoys spending time with her husband, Gene, as well as their three tabby cats and two hound dogs.


Secretary - Mary Wiley, CVT, VTS (Clinical Practice)

Mary has worked in veterinary medicine for over 20 years. She earned her B.S. in Veterinary Technology from Mount Ida College in 2005 and is a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) in New Hampshire. In 2012, she became a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Clinical Practice through the AVTCP. After 17 years in emergency and critical care, Mary joined the University of New Hampshire as a full-time faculty member, where she now serves as Program Director for the Veterinary Technology program. She received UNH’s Excellence in Teaching Award in both 2018 and 2025, and completed her M.Ed. in 2019. Mary is active in the profession through her roles with AVTCP, NAVTA, VECCS, and AVTE. She also chairs the NHVTA Scholarship Committee, advises the UNH SCNAVTA chapter, and continues to work per diem at the Veterinary Emergency Center of Manchester.


Treasurer - Ed Carlson, CVT, VTS (Nutrition)

Ed Carlson is the Director of Veterinary Nursing for VetBloom. In addition to serving as the Treasurer of the New Hampshire Veterinary Technician Association, he is active in the Massachusetts Veterinary Technician Association, is a past president of NAVTA, and has served on multiple NAVTA committees. 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 various 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 enjoy "glamping" in their RV.


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

Meghan studied pre-veterinary medicine at the University of New Hampshire and has worked in the veterinary medical field for the past 16 years. She has been a CVT with the NHVTA since 2008 and became a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) in 2017. Since then she has enjoyed speaking both nationally and internationally at symposia and conferences in addition to working in the ER, ICU, and surgery. Meghan has also served as an adjunct instructor for the veterinary technology program at Great Bay Community College. She is a Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) Ambassador and is a certified instructor of basic and advanced life support through the RECOVER Initiative. She is also passionate about small animal anesthesia and is a member of the North American Veterinary Anesthesia Society (NAVAS).


Member at Large -  Aurora Sochan, CVT, VTS (Equine)

Aurora is a life-long equestrian with a career focus in equine veterinary medicine. As a certified veterinary technician (CVT), Aurora has over 20 years of experience working in the referral hospital setting with both small and large animals. After a decade of working exclusively in equine practice, she obtained her veterinary technician specialty (VTS) in equine veterinary nursing (EVN) in 2021. In 2023, with a growing interest in equine sports medicine and rehabilitation, she completed the equine rehabilitation certificate program (CERP) through the University of Tennessee. In Gait Equine was created in 2023, providing equine rehabilitation and physiotherapy services throughout New England. Aurora enjoys providing continuing education lectures for veterinary technicians through the AAEVT (American Academy of Equine Veterinary Technicians) and AEVNT (Academy of Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians). She also serves as an adjunct instructor for UNH’s Veterinary Technology program. She is a current board member of the AEVNT as well as the NHVTA. When Aurora is not treating horses, she can be found competing in show jumping with her two wonderful mares, running, or hiking with her husband and two Great Danes.


CE Committee Chair - Ashlyn McGrade, CVT

Ashlyn is a Certified Veterinary Technician with two decades of experience in both general practice and emergency/critical care medicine. Since 2010, she has been a dedicated team member at the Veterinary Emergency Center of Manchester, where she has served as Nurse Manager since 2019. In this role, she leads with a focus on clinical excellence, team development, and advancing standards of care in a high-acuity environment.
Ashlyn is also the President of NH OpK9 Med, a nonprofit organization she helped establish to advocate for and implement Max’s Law (SB268)—a landmark piece of legislation that allows New Hampshire’s first responders to administer life-saving pre-hospital care to operational K9s. Through NH OpK9 Med, she coordinates statewide training programs for EMS providers and first responders, bridging the gap between veterinary and human emergency care. Ashlyn serves as the Continuing Education Committee Chair for NHVTA, is a member of the National Association of Veterinary Emergency Medical Services (NAVEMS), and contributes her expertise as a board member for the University of New Hampshire’s Veterinary Technology Advisory Board. Her passion lies in clinical education, animal advocacy, and strengthening the collaboration between veterinary professionals and public safety personnel.


 Legislative-Advocacy Committee Chair - Erin Spencer, CVT, VTS (ECC)

Erin is a CVT in both NH and MA. She is also a VTS(ECC). After finding a passion for education and training of future veterinary professionals, she earned her Master’s in Adult Education. Erin’s career has brought a variety of opportunities and roles from management, to teaching in a veterinary technology program, to running field clinics in under-served communities on Native American reservations and starting her own business which provides training to veterinary practices on a variety of topics and consultation on team utilization. Erin is currently the Director of Veterinary Nursing Learning & Development for VEG, The ER for Pets.  Erin is highly involved in the Veterinary Technology community serving on several boards and committees.