Meet Our Staff in Suffolk, VA
The COVE’s veterinary specialists are supported by an incredible team of veterinary technicians, managers, and support staff. Meet key members of our team below, and be sure to call us at (757) 935-9111 if you have any questions.
Our Administrative Team
Julie Meyer
LVT, Operations Manager
Julie developed a passion for all animals at an early age, and started working at a horse barn by the age of 13 in Northern Virginia. Following her dream to work with animals, she acquired her associate’s degree in Applied Science of Veterinary Technology from Blue Ridge Community College’s Distance Program in 2006.
After graduation, Julie transitioned from primary care medicine to emergency medicine and worked as an LVT at a local 24/7 veterinary emergency hospital, honing her advanced technical skills, growing as a leader among her coworkers, and advocating for patients.
In 2012, Julie joined the inaugural veterinary technical and management team at The Center of Veterinary Expertise and helped facilitate our successful opening. As Operations Manager of The Cove, Julie manages and oversees all emergency and speciality services day to day operations, overall productivity and maximizes efficiency. When Julie isn’t at The Cove, you can find her gardening with Cacti and succulents, running lots of races, or with her feet in the sand of the beaches of OBX! Julie also has a passion for travel and exploring new areas and cuisine!
Allison Rye
Practice Manager
Bio Coming Soon
Tawny Humphrey
LVT, ER Manager
Tawny has had a love for animals and their care since childhood and has devoted herself to the veterinary profession for 20+ years. She graduated from the Blue Ridge Community College Veterinary Technology Program with honors in 2015 and then joined Team COVE. Tawny’s passion resides in emergency medicine and being able to provide care for patients and their owners in a true time of need. She has expanded her skills to include leadership and being an advocate for the ER team. Most of her time outside of work is spent with her 2 children, her beloved pups Molly and Sam, and her horse, Buddy. Tawny also enjoys fishing, being out on the boat, hiking, horseback riding, and rock painting. She is also an avid supporter for rescue and has been doing volunteer work with Chesapeake Bay Retriever Relief and Rescue for the past 10 years.
Marie Moore
LVT, Patient Care and Quality Control Supervisor
Marie is a Hampton Roads native and obtained her AS in Veterinary Technology from Blue Ridge Community College in 2012. She has been a member of Team COVE since our opening in May of 2012 working in the ER/ICU, quickly transitioning over full time to the Cardiology service and taking on the role of Team Lead in 2018. In July of 2023 Marie accepted her current administrative role. Marie’s speaking accomplishments include; Seaside CE Series in 2018 and she was selected to present at the Technician Case Report Track at ACVIM Forum in 2019. In her free time, Marie enjoys camping in the mountains and spending time with her family, friends and 2 animals- a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and orange tabby cat.
Kristen Buchanan
Administrative Assistant
Kristen was born in Hollywood, FL and raised in Jacksonville, FL. She has always had a passion for the medical field and started her career in 2004 at a primary veterinary clinic as a non licensed vet tech, this is where she knew this was the path for her. Kristen married her high school sweetheart in 2005 and has bounced around to other states due to being a proud Navy wife. She has traveled, lived and worked in Florida, Virginia, and Mississippi. In 2021 she moved back to Virginia and started working at The Cove as a Client Liaison. In 2023 she transitioned to Admin Assistant. In her spare time she loves spending family time with her husband, son and 2 dogs. Trooper, a Chocolate Lab and Cadillac “Cadi” a Pom mix. As a family we have named all our animals after cars. A few interesting facts about her is that she has a black belt in Taekwondo and was a cheerleader for almost 11 years.
Deanna Clay
Facilities Manager
Deanna grew up in the Hampton Roads area and always had a love for animals – especially cats! Before joining Team COVE in June of 2022, Deanna had some veterinary experience under her belt, however, she sought a position that was more “behind the scenes”. As our Facilities Manager she ensures that our facility is running smoothly and that we have all the needed supplies to provide top-notch care for our patients! Outside of work, Deanna enjoys spending time with her husband and fur babies!
Our Referral Coordinators
Shannon Smith
LVT, Referral Coordinator
Shannon was born in Arkansas and raised in Mississippi. Since childhood, she has always had an affection for, and morbid curiosity about, animals; in fact, her mom used to fuss at her for bringing home injured animals so she could fix them. Shannon started working at a local vet clinic her senior year of high school, and was hooked after that. She went to Vet Tech School in 2001 at Hinds Community College and Mississippi State University and graduated in 2003 as a Licensed Veterinary Technician. Her husband’s military career brought them to Virginia Beach, where she first discovered emergency medicine at Tidewater Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2004.
Shannon and her husband spent some time in Charlottesville, where she was a clinic supervisor for 4 years prior to returning to the Hampton Roads area. Upon her return, Shannon began working for Dr. Stallings, and during that time found her love for anesthesia and surgery. She helped get the surgery service up and running when The COVE opened in 2012.
Shannon currently resides in Virginia Beach with her husband and 2 children, along with Schmelly Cat, a tortoiseshell calico, Angus the red bone coon hound, Han So Low, a mini-Dachshund, and various freshwater fish. Shannon’s current hobbies include watching and carting her children to various sporting events, cooking, road biking, aquascaping freshwater aquariums, grooming, music, and finding homes for less fortunate pets.
Our Team Leads
Kimmie Callahan
LVT, Cardio Team Lead
Kimmie has been in the veterinary field since 2006. She obtained her AS in Veterinary Technology from Manor College in Jenkintown, PA in 2008 and became licensed shortly after. Kimmie has a background in clinical pathology, general practice, emergency, internal medicine, surgery, and neurology but her heart and passion belongs in cardiology. Kimmie is an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional. She is originally from Philadelphia, PA and enjoys traveling back to visit family and engorge in local delicacies (cheesesteaks and soft pretzels). In her free time, she plays Dungeon and Dragons with friends and spends time with her husband, coonhound Annie, and a clowder of cats.
Taylor Dismukes
Evening Team Lead
Taylor was born and raised in northern Virginia, she moved to Alabama in 2010 where she met her husband and they started their family. Taylor’s family moved back to Virginia in 2022. She has been in the veterinary field for over 10 years. She graduated in 2018 with an Associates degree in veterinary technology from Jefferson State Community College and went on to pass her VTNE later that year. Taylor has worked in general practice and ophthalmology as well as emergency medicine, and is a member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, the Alabama Veterinary Technician Association as well as the Virginia Association of Licensed Veterinary Technicians. After spending time in various veterinarian departments Taylor realized that she thrived in emergency medicine and the fast-paced ever-changing environment. Her true passion is stabilizing and nursing critical trauma patients back to their happy healthy selves! When Taylor isn’t busy saving lives she thoroughly enjoys spending time with her toes in sand at the beach with her husband, daughter, and their lab, Leyla.
Alison Eavey
Day Client Liaison Team Lead
Alison grew up around animals and during middle school, she volunteered with the SPCA, where her love for animals blossomed. She graduated from Radford University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in communications, minoring in psychology. After graduation, Alison joined Team COVE as a Client Liaison. Her canine companion is an Australian Shepard named Dusty. In her spare time, Alison enjoys TV marathons, hanging out with friends, and sipping on iced coffee.
Rachel Griffin
LVT, Training Supervisor
Rachel obtained her AS in veterinary technology from Blue Ridge Community College in May 2008, and became a Licensed Veterinary Technician in VA shortly thereafter. Rachel quickly advanced her knowledge and skills in the practice setting, and began doing relief work at an emergency hospital. After 2 years, she transitioned to surgical specialty medicine. It was during her time as a surgical technician that anesthesia sparked her interest, and that has remained her career-long passion.
For the last 10 years, Rachel has focused on expanding and honing her anesthesia/analgesia knowledge and skills in specialty practice (ophthalmology, surgery and dentistry), and has been an honored member of Team COVE since early 2012. During her time here, Rachel has conducted many Lunch & Learn presentations to share her knowledge with team members at local primary care veterinary practices. She also was a speaker at Seaside CE Series 2018 and at Blue Ridge Community College Technician’s Conference in 2018. When Rachel isn’t working, she enjoys time at the beach, traveling with her husband and spending time with her beloved dogs, Todd, Maggie and Buddy.