What is TARVT?
TARVT was originally formed as a professional association for Registered Veterinary Technicians in Texas, but membership has been opened up to anyone working as part of a veterinary healthcare team in Texas. This is because everyone invovled in providing veterinary care is an important part of the team and can benefit from learning more about veterinary medicine.
TARVT’s — About Usgoals are to promote communication between veterinary technicians and hospital staff working in the state of Texas. We strive to provide and inform our members of quality continuing education opportunities. To be a “voice” for our members in the Texas Veterinary Medical Association and the legislative bodies in Texas. To provide the public with education on the value of quality health care for pets. TARVT has been meeting these goals for more than 40 years -since the association’s formation in 1977 as the “Texas Association of Animal Technicians, Registered”.
In order to continue to meet the needs of all hospital staff in Texas, the association needs you. With more members, the association has a bigger ”voice” to get the views and requests of our members heard. Membership in TARVT is not limited to Registered Veterinary Technicians. All veterinary hospital personnel are encouraged to become members of the association. By joining TARVT you can play a part in continuing the progress of our profession.
How is your Executive Board for TARVT?
President
David Sessum, RVT
David is a 2000 graduate of Tomball College with his AAS in Veterinary Technology. He initially worked as a surgery technician at Gulf Coast Veterinary Hospital from 1998-2004. He later joined Texas A&M in January 2004, specifically in the small animal orthopedics department working in small animal rehabilitation. His duties included clinical instruction of veterinary students on the benefits and techniques of rehabilitation. In 2012 he resigned from Texas A&M to become the clinical coordinator of Blinn College’s Veterinary Technology Program. David has published articles in Veterinary Technician magazine in October and November 2003 and was the 2009 TVMA Technician of the Year.
President-Elect
Lori VanValkenburg, RVT
Lori is a 2006 graduate of Tomball College originally hailing from Michigan. She made her move to Texas in 1998 settling in Houston. At that time she was employed as a surgical assistant in human medicine, but made the move to veterinary medicine in 2004 when she enrolled at Tomball College. As a veterinary technology student at Tomball College, she held the position of VTSO president and briefly assisted as a student worker and as a supplemental instructor (SI) for the A & P of Domestic Animals course. She completed her externship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in the Large Animal Surgery department. Upon graduation, she took and passed her VTNE and Texas state board exam becoming an RVT in 2006. She later furthered her education and obtained her BAS in Veterinary Technology from St. Petersburg College online program. She has worked in many areas of veterinary medicine including; small animal general practice, relief technician work, training supervisor, and currently is a full-time RVT faculty instructor at Vet Tech Institute of Houston. Since becoming an instructor at VTI Houston, she has taken on becoming a VTNE item writer for the AVTE. Additionally, she has authored an instructor’s handbook in February 2012: An Instructor’s Guide to Writing Better Test Questions. Currently, Lori is enrolled as a graduate student at University of Phoenix, working toward earning a Masters degree in Education.
Outside of the veterinary world, Lori has a handsome young son named Nathan with whom she loves to spend time. They share their home with a Bengal named Beau, a Toyger named Meeah, and a Siberian cat named Simba.
Vice President
Cindy Dittmar, RVT
Received her AAS in Veterinary Technology from Cedar Valley College in 1993. Cindy has worked in the veterinary technical field since 1990, with duties ranging from client education to emergency and critical care. For ten years she worked in the small animal field at clinics in and around the DFW area. Eight of those years were spent at Beltline East Animal Hospital where she was lucky to work with veterinarians who expected her to make full use of her education and skills. In 2000, she moved to East Texas to marry and started a family before returning to work, but this time as a technician at an equine hospital where along with nursing duties she also served as the office and inventory manager. She is currently employed by San Juan College in New Mexico as an adjunct instructor for their distance education program.
Has served as Secretary, President-Elect, President and Board Advisor for TARVT.
Cindy is married to Tony Dittmar and has 2 young sons, Jacob and Pierce. She also shares her home with 4 horses, 2 dogs and 2 cats. Her hobbies include horseback riding, reading, live-action roleplaying games and Cub Scouts.
Secretary
Marisa Rhyne, RVT VTS (ECC & SAIM)
Marisa is a graduate from Cedar Valley College with her AAS in veterinary technology in May 1998. She later graduated from St. Petersburg College with her BAS in veterinary technology in December 2008. She furthered her education and training by obtaining her VTS in Emergency and Critical Care in 2006 and her VTS in Small Animal Internal Medicine in 2008. Marisa is the 2012-2014 Small Animal Director at Large for the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians. She also has published an article in Veterinary Technician magazine in December 2010. Currently she works at a specialty practice in the DFW area and teaches Certified Veterinary Assisting at UT-Arlington and Collin College.
She lives in Frisco, Tx with my husband, 2 kids (11yrs and 5yrs), 2 goldens, and 2 cats. In her minimal spare time she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends.
Treasurer
Melanie Hollis, RVT
melanieh@tarvt.org
Melanie began working in the veterinary field in 1985 in Los Angeles as receptionist, veterinary assistant and kennel technician. She began her formal education at Pierce College to pursue a degree in Animal Heath Technology in 1991, and chose to put it on hold to raise her son. After moving to Dallas, Melanie restarted her studies at Cedar Valley College and earned an Associates of Applied Science degree in Veterinary Technology in 2003. After taking and passing the VTNE and Texas State exams that same year, she earned the title of Registered Veterinary Technician. She has worked in companion animal, equine, large and exotic animal medicine. Melanie is also an instructor at The University of Texas at Arlington and Collin County Community College teaching Certified Veterinary Assisting. Melanie shares her home with 2 cats, 4 dogs and a wonderful and loving husband. In her spare time, she enjoys watching and attending sporting events, concerts, plays and loves spending time with friends and family.
Associate Representative
Sandy Nunn
sandyn@tarvt.org
Texas A&M Vet Tech IV, Large Animal Medicine Technical Supervisor
AAEVT Past President and Charter Member
Blinn Vet Tech Program Executive Board
Hobbies and Pets: Between me and my family we have: 5 dogs, 1 cat, 2 ferrets, 2 snakes, 1 cockatiel, a herd of donkeys, mules and horses. I serve on the PTO at the school of my boys ages 9 and 12. My husband and I own a mechanic shop in Hearne, TX. For fun we like to go camping, hiking, swimming and fishing.
Newsletter Editor
VACANT
Membership Coordinator
Celeste Putnam
celestep@tarvt.org
Celeste Putnam is a graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University with an undergraduate degree in Interior Design. After 11 years of designing and managing commercial interiors along with 7 years of part-time in the Veterinary work, she made the change to follow her true passion to work full time with small companion animals and their owners. For the past 5 years Celeste has been working in general practice with special interests in Internal Medicine and Surgery along with ICU/Critical. She is currently a student at San Juan College Veterinary Technology to earn accreditation to be Registered Veterinary Technician in the near future.
She is a native to and currently lives in Dallas. Celeste shares her home with two cats, Dovie an Ocicat and Juna a domestic short hair along with Miss Moneypenny a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She enjoys going to the movies, cooking, college football, trail biking, photography and spending time with her family.
Bylaws
You can view and save a copy of the association bylaws by clicking here: TARVT Bylaws
