Executive Board Members

PRESIDENT

ELI OLIND, LVT 
 
I am a born and raised resident of Whitehall, Mt.  I graduated from Eastern Wyoming College in December of 2010 with an A.A.S. degree in Veterinary Technology.  I have been certified through Montana and working at a mixed animal practices since 2011.  I currently work at a mixed animal practice in McAllister, Mt, and am a part-time instructor of Veterinary Technology at Pima Medical Institute’s Dillon Campus.  I also currently serve on the BSVTA’s legislative committee working alongside of the MVMA to put licensure in place for Veterinary Technicians.  In my free time you’ll find me competing at a rodeo, or out on a horse in the mountains.

PAST PRESIDENT

SHAWNI HANSEN, CVT
 
Shawni Hansen grew up in Twin Bridges, MT. She attended Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming where she graduated with an Associates in Animal Science. Upon graduation Shawni attended Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington, Wyoming obtaining her certificate and later certification as a Veterinary Technician. For pleasure, Shawni is an avid hunter, and enjoys spending time with her family and animals.

PRESIDENT ELECT

TRICIA STONE, CVT
 
 
Trisha was born and raised in Billings, Montana. She started in the field at a young age, volunteering at a local small animal veterinary hospital. Her passion was nurtured and ultimately urged her to continue in the field. Trish graduated from Bel-Rea in Denver, Colorado, with an Associates of Applied Science and passed the VTNE. She then moved back to Montana, became Certified, and worked in small animal orthopedics. Her passion in the field is surgical assisting, monitoring anesthesia, peri-operative care, sharing her knowledge and skills with Veterinary Assistants and Technicians. Trish applied and accepted a position at Pima Medical Institute as an Instructor and Clinical Director in 2015 and continues to teach there today. This will be Trisha’s first position in the Big Sky Veterinary Technicians Association. She loves to spend time with her husband, two children, two dogs, and three cats in her free time. She is an avid snowboarder and loves to camp, hike, and get outdoors.

TREASURER

DIXIE MACK, CVT
 
Dixie was a Director for the BSVTA Executive Board from 2014-2016 and has been the BSVTA treasurer since 2018.  Supporting the technician association as a Director broadened her knowledge of what being on a board entailed and made her aware of the background work that happens in an organization. Dixie grew up in White Sulphur Springs Montana on a cattle ranch.  Becoming a certified technician was not really in the plans for her life. She started working at Bear Paw Veterinary Service 22 years ago as a part time receptionist.  As life goes, Dixie started working more, became an assistant, then a technician and then obtained her veterinary technician certification.  Currently, Dixie is the office manager at Bear Paw Veterinary Service.  One thing is certain, she learns something new everyday about animals and humans. Dixie has been married to her husband, Doug for almost 31 years.  They have two adult daughters and one granddaughter and have lived in Montana their entire lives.

SECRETARY

LEAH ANDERSON, CVT
 
Leah began her veterinary career working at a Colorado clinic in high school. She was attending Colorado State University in pursuit of an equine science degree when a friend mentioned Bel-Rea Institute to her. After touring the school, Leah knew this was the correct career path so she transferred to Bel-Rea and returned to working at the clinic. While at Bel-Rea, Leah had the opportunity to do a two month internship at Littleton Equine among numerous other amazing opportunities. When she graduated in 2012, Leah and her husband moved to Montana where she started working at Pet Emergency and Trauma Services. After one year doing emergency medicine, she transitioned to Foothills Veterinary Hospital. Leah wanted to become more involved, which led her to the BSVTA. After attending a regional meeting, she began helping with the newsletter, which progressed to her becoming the secretary. In her free time Leah can be found reading, shooting her bow, quilting or scrapbooking.

CERTIFICATION COORDINATOR

MARCIA CANTRELL, LVT
 
Marcia is originally from Minnesota. She began working for a Veterinarian in High School and has since worked as a kennel assistant, Veterinary assistant, receptionist and finally as a Veterinary Technician.  She sat for the VTNE as an On the Job trained Technician, passed, and became a Licensed Veterinary Technician in 1995.  She moved to and became Certified in Montana in 2000.  She is currently the Inventory Manager at Sorensen Veterinary Hospital where she has worked for 15 years.  She is very active in the Big Sky Veterinary Technician Association and was an integral role in getting the licensure legislation for technicians passed. Her free time is spent with her husband raising and showing cutting horses.

DIRECTOR 1

ALEX JOHNSON, CVT
 
 
Alex is originally from a small town in Washington state, her love for the outdoors and sunshine led her away from the rainy state to the great state of Montana. Her career in Veterinary Medicine started in 2012 at her small town small animal clinic. She found her love for large animal medicine in 2014 in Three Forks, MT. After graduating from Pima Medical Institute in 2018, she was asked to be a veterinary technician instructor at Pima. She has been instructing veterinary assistant and technician students since. When she's not at work, you can find her in the gym, outside hunting and fishing, horseback, or spending quality time with her friends and family.

DIRECTOR 2

SHANDELL SANDO, CVT
 
Shandell was born and raised in Butte, MT.  She now lives in Big Sandy, MT on her boyfriend’s family farm and ranch.  Shandell started her veterinary technician career at a mixed animal practice in Rapid City, SD. She gained experience in both general practice and emergency medicine. In 2015, she graduated with her Veterinary Technician degree from Penn Foster College and obtained her Montana certification shortly after. She is currently working for the ASPCA. In her spare time she enjoys horseback riding, spending time with friends and family, exploring different areas of Montana, and spending quality time at home.

DIRECTOR 3

DANYALE WEST
 
Danyale’s veterinary career started in 2004 as a Kennel Attendant in a small animal hospital just outside of Portland Oregon.
She worked her way up to Veterinary Assistant, and in 2013 earned her Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) designation based on her abilities and on the job training.
In 2016 she relocated to Butte Montana with her significant other, grandmother, 4 cats and an aquatic turtle. Here she started working for VCA Amherst Animal Hospital as an AVA and then inventory manager.
Danyale takes pride in helping pave the way for future assistants and technicians. She plans to sit for the Veterinary Technician National  Examination (VTNE) after the 2021 legislation is passed.
In her free time, she loves reading,  dancing,  perfecting her quilting, and going camping.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CHAIR

ANNI O’HARA, CVT
 
Anni grew up on a small subsistence farm in rural south central Pennsylvania.  Which is what fostered her love for animals.  She earned a BS in Veterinary Technology at Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA in 1999.  In the same year, she took her first fulltime job at a vet hospital in Livingston, MT.  Now she is a full-time mom of four little ones. She also manages a small farm including goats, cows, horses, chickens, cats, a dog, and a few frogs.