Being a small office, we get to do a little bit of everything, including membership processing, conference preparations, Journal advertising, website maintenance, referral directory updates, and Association email. Every day offers new and exciting challenges and learning experiences. We enjoy working with all of you, and we will be ready and willing to help in any way.
Executive Director: Heather Vaughn
Heather is the owner of Vaughn Management Company, LLC. (VMC), where she and her staff manage several other veterinary associations. Heather started working as the Assistant Executive Director for DG & Co, Inc. in 2017, and then in 2020, she purchased the assets of that company to form her own.
She is no stranger to holistic organized veterinary medicine, having worked with the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture (AAVA) since 2017, where she was instrumental in pivoting their in-person conference to a virtual conference in March of 2020 in just a few short months. In addition to her experience in association management, she has over ten years of experience in event management and over twenty years of experience in marketing and graphic design.
Heather holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from Middle Tennessee State University. She is also an active member of the Veterinary Medical Association Executives, the American Society of Association Executives, the AMC Institute, the Tennessee Society of Association Executives, and the Alabama Council of Association Executives.
Heather currently lives on her family’s 63-acre farm in Petersburg, Tennessee with her husband, Mike, and their ten-year-old daughter, Natalie. They share the farm with their three dogs, two cats, and a multitude of cattle, chickens, goats, and wildlife. When she is not working, she is busy leading her daughter’s Girl Scout troop, which is very active in her local community.
Operations Director: Melissa Kellagher
Melissa has a bachelors degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. She has spent the last 6 years working in a veterinary clinic as a receptionist and in an administrative role. She was born and raised in Maryland, by her parents with her 4 brothers and sisters.
Melissa enjoys spending her free time with her husband and son, as well as her two dogs, Watson and Holmes. She also enjoys doing puzzles, going on walks, and spending time with her large extended family.
Administrative Coordinator: Wendy Ribbans
Wendy previously worked 3 years in a veterinary clinic and has many years of administrative experience in both the public and private sector.
Wendy enjoys gardening and pet sitting in her spare time. She lives with her three very adored rescue cats, Milo, Parker, and Snookie.
Wendy enjoys working with all the AHVMA members.
