Overland Park, KS (October 3, 2024) – The American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) is pleased to announce its new President and members of the 2024-2025 Board of Directors. Elections were held at the 2024 AAVSB Annual Meeting & Conference in San Diego, California on Saturday, September 28, 2024.

Dr. Frank Richardson moved into the position of President which he will serve for the next year. “It is a very humbling experience to be your newly minted AAVSB President,” said Dr. Richardson. “To my knowledge, I am the first AAVSB President that is both a Veterinarian and a Veterinary Regulator, as well as the first AAVSB President from Canada. I believe that this unique combination can benefit AAVSB in a positive way. I realize that it will take more than luck to lead/direct this organization over the next year [and] will be relying on a different set of navigational aids to ensure a successful year.”

AAVSB Board of Director Election Results

Dr. Timothy Kolb, was elected to the position of President-Elect after recently serving on the Board of Directors as Treasurer. After serving as President-Elect, he shall succeed to the office of President and Immediate Past President. Dr. Kolb serves on the Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board.

Ms. Amy Haywood, LVT, was elected to the position of Treasurer after recently serving on the Board of Directors as a Director. She currently serves on the District of Columbia Board of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Mark Chmielewicz was elected to the position of Director. Dr. Chmielewicz served on the AAVSB Conference Committee from 2019 to 2022 and was an Annual Meeting Speaker in 2021. He currently serves on the New York State Board for Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Holly Lunsford was elected to the position of Director. Dr. Lunsford currently serves on the Oklahoma State Veterinary Board as of 2022.

Ms. Jennifer Pedigo, EMBA, was elected to the position of Director. Ms. Pedigo served on the AAVSB Regulatory Policy Committee as a Member this year, the North American Essential Competencies Task Force, and the Conference Committee since 2023. Ms. Pedigo currently serves as the Executive Director of the Nevada State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

The AAVSB is pleased to recognize the 2024 –2025 Board of Directors.

Officers and Executive Committee

• Kim Gemeinhardt, DVM (North Carolina), Immediate Past President
• Frank Richardson, DVM (Nova Scotia), President
• Timothy Kolb, DVM (Ohio), President-Elect
• Amy Haywood, LVT (District of Columbia), Treasurer

Directors

• Mark Chmielewicz, DVM (New York)
• Sheila Dodson, DVM (Kansas)
• Holly Lunsford, DVM (Oklahoma)
• Mark Nunez, DVM (California)
• Greg Parks, DVM (Saskatchewan)
• Jennifer Pedigo, EMBA (Nevada)
• James T. Penrod, CAE, FASLA, AAVSB Chief Executive Officer serves as the Secretary (non-voting).

Additional Election Results

The AAVSB also elected three additional leadership positions at the 2024 Annual Meeting & Conference.

Ms. Brittany Sharkey, JD and Executive Director of the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, was elected to the Nominating Committee.

Dr. Winifred Krogman was elected as an AAVSB Representative to the ICVA (Veterinarian). Dr. Krogman is a member of the New Hampshire Board of Veterinary Medicine.

Ms. Trina Ralph was elected as the AAVSB Representative to the ICVA (Public Member). Ms. Ralph serves as the Public Board Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador College of Veterinarians.

Contact: [email protected]

About the AAVSB: The American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas. We are an association of veterinary medicine regulatory boards whose membership includes licensing bodies in 63 jurisdictions, including all of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and ten Canadian provinces.