Our Administrative Team

Danielle T. Russ
LVT, Hospital Administrator
Animals have always been an important part of Danielle’s life. Her formal education began at North Carolina State University where she obtained bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and biochemistry. She went on to earn an associate in science degree in veterinary technology from St. Petersburg College.
With over two decades of experience as a veterinary technician, Danielle has a unique understanding of referral medicine and the needs of primary care veterinarians, clients and team members. She has honed her skills as both a licensed veterinary technician and practice manager, becoming adept in all aspects of running a busy practice with a 24/7 caseload.
Respected in her profession, Danielle has served as a Veterinary Support Personnel Network (VSPN) board moderator and course assistant, and is a sought-after speaker for national professional conferences. Additionally, she is an advisory committee member of the TCC Veterinary Science Program and serves on the Board of Directors of Veterinary Specialty Practice Alliance (VSPA)since October 2017, as President-elect, President, Immediate Past President and current role, Member at Large. Outside of work, outside of work, you will find her with her dog , Philip and at the gym training for bodybuilding competitions.

Jennifer L. Meads
Office Manager
Jennifer graduated from Kempsville High School with plans to pursue a degree in music, but a summer job as kennel help at a local veterinary hospital changed her mind. She eventually rose through the ranks, from receptionist to veterinary assistant to management.
During this time, Jennifer was a founding member of the Great Dane Rescue of the Commonwealth and has remained an active member, serving on the board. She joined The COVE in 2012 as part of the inaugural client liaison team, and became part of the administrative team the next year. When Jennifer isn’t working, you can find her playing the bassoon, piano or clarinet surrounded by her furry family.

Julie L. Meyer
LVT, Operations Manager
Julie developed a passion for animals as she grew up in the countryside of Northern Virginia surrounded by dogs, cats and horses. After high school, she worked as a veterinary assistant in a general veterinary practice, and enrolled in Blue Ridge Community College’s distance veterinary technology program, earning her associate’s degree in applied science of veterinary technology and becoming a licensed veterinary technician.
Julie served as an LVT at a veterinary emergency clinic, honing her skills as a leader among her co-workers, an advocate for patients, and a source of comfort and confidence for their owners. Julie also spearheaded a local animal blood banking program.
In 2012, Julie joined the inaugural veterinary technical team at The Center of Veterinary Expertise and helped facilitate our successful opening. In early 2013, she became operations co-manager, and divides her time between working as an ICU LVT and developing protocols & procedures, training and scheduling.
When Julie isn’t at The COVE, you can find her with her feet in the sand of the beaches of Hatteras, NC, and spending time with her friends, family and pets.

Rhiannon Ward
Hospital Relations Coordinator
Rhiannon serves an essential role here at The Cove as our Hospital Relations Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities are to foster positive relations within our hospital as well as with other veterinary hospitals in our community via communication, visits, and events.
Rhiannon is originally from Texas, but as a proud military wife, she has lived throughout the United States from San Diego to Norfolk. Before joining The Cove in 2015, she worked in primary veterinarian hospitals, spay/neuter clinics, veterinary reception and was a Service Dog trainer in San Diego. In 2016 she transitioned from Client Liaison to Referral Coordinator and in 2022 she transitioned to Hospital Relations Coordinator.
Her furry family includes a ten-year-old Lab/Golden Retriever Mix named Troubadour. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time traveling to new places, going to concerts and sailing on the water.

Melody Beshel
Administrative Assistant
Melody was born and raised in Gloucester and grew up on a 25-acre farm, so her earliest memories involve animals. She has worked in the veterinary field for more than 15 years, most of which were spent in smaller general practices. She’s excited to be a part of The Cove and see the expanded services and care we provide to our patients.
Melody currently lives in Chesapeake with her husband, son, and a Pit Bull named Brogan. In her spare time, she enjoys anything involving water—pools, beaches, rivers, boating, and fishing. She also loves reading and snacking on popcorn.

Tyler Bailey
LVT Team Resources Manager
Tyler developed a passion for animals at a young age. She grew up around horses, saving the baby birds that fell from their nests and bringing home the barn cats. Tyler was determined to be a voice for the unspoken, which led her to consider careers in veterinary medicine or pediatric medicine. She began work as a veterinary assistant in a primary care veterinary practice while pursuing a degree in business/marketing. Quickly, she realized her passion was in veterinary medicine and enrolled in Blue Ridge Community College. Tyler completed her associate degree in applied science of veterinary technology, and shortly after, she passed her board exam to become a Licensed Veterinary Technician.
Tyler began her LVT career in a small family practice. Yearning for more, she came across a brochure for the opening of The COVE in 2012 and promptly applied shortly after The COVE opened its doors. Initially, Tyler worked in the emergency service, then transitioned to cardiology and ended up finding her niche in surgery. Tyler led the surgery department for 6+ years before transitioning to Team Resources Manager. During her years of leadership, Tyler developed a strong passion for establishing and strengthening internal team relations to in turn continue to provide the utmost care for all the surgical clients and patients.
When she is not at The COVE, you can find her at the barn with her beloved equine companion, spending time with her fur babies or on an outdoor adventure with her kids and husband.
Our Referral Coordinators

Lisa Johnson
LVT, Referral Coordinator
Lisa spent most of her childhood in the Hampton Roads area, and has had a love of animals for as long as she can remember. While attending college, she became a veterinary assistant and realized her love of veterinary medicine. She attended Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology in Denver, Colorado, and graduated in 2005. Once she moved back home, she worked in both general practice and emergency and specialty hospitals in the area. She received her Bachelors in Veterinary Technology from St. Petersburg College in 2012 and went on to receive her Masters of Science from Kansas State University in 2019.
In her spare time, Lisa enjoys gardening, dancing ballet, traveling, playing trivia with friends, and spending time with her family, which includes her Golden Retriever, Daisy, and her mischievous cat, Ollivander. Lisa joined the COVE team in January of 2022 and loves being able to make a difference in the lives of our patients and their parents!

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

Danielle Owens
LVT, VTS (Dentistry), Dentistry Team Lead
Danielle became a licensed veterinary technician after graduating from North Virginia Community College in 2014 with an AS in Veterinary Technology. She has been with the COVE since 2016. In 2020 she obtained her veterinary technician specialty certification in dentistry as a member of the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians. Danielle is especially interested in endodontics and orthodontics and enjoys teaching about her passion. She and her husband have two dogs at home (a Yorkie-Poo and a Husky). Outside of work she enjoys tending to her succulents and all things outdoors including hiking, skiing, diving, camping, and kayaking.

Marie Moore
LVT, Cardiology Team Lead
Marie is a Hampton Roads native and graduated from Poquoson High School. In 2012, she obtained her AS in Veterinary Technology from Blue Ridge Community College. She has been a member of Team COVE since our opening in May of 2012. 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 or at the beach and spending time with her Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Hank.

Meg Carrasco
LVT, Critical Care Team Lead
Meg was raised in Chesapeake and went to Old Dominion University where she graduated with a degree in biology. She knew from a very young age that she wanted a career in veterinary medicine. When she started working in a clinic in college, it was there she learned how hands-on LVTs were and what advocates they were for their patients. It was then she knew she wanted to be a Licensed Veterinary Technician. Meg obtained her AS in veterinary technology from Blue Ridge Community College and has been a member of Team COVE since 2014.
Meg has spent most of her veterinary career in emergency medicine, and critical care became her passion through the years. Meg loves helping the most critical patients recover and return home (even the ones people may have given up on). She has shared her knowledge and expertise with various presentations to local primary care practices, and has also presented at the Seaside CE Series in 2018. Outside of work, Meg enjoys trivia nights, concerts, being a foodie (AKA general hipster things) and traveling with her husband.

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.

Tawny Humphrey
LVT, Day ER Team Lead
Tawny 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. Her passion within the field is emergency medicine and specifically the triage of emergency cases, and she shares this with the local veterinary community through Lunch & Learn presentations. Most of her time outside of work is spent with her 2 children, her 3 dogs Molly, Sam, and Carolina, and her horse, Buddy. Tawny also enjoys fishing, being out on the boat, hiking, horseback riding, and rock painting. She is an advocate for rescue and has been doing volunteer work with Chesapeake Bay Retriever Relief and Rescue for the past 9 years.

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.

Michelle Pearson
Evening Client Liaison Team Lead
Michelle was born and raised locally. She graduated from ODU and spent time teaching before changing careers and finding a home at The COVE in 2015. Michelle originally visited The COVE as a client, after her dog had been hit by a car. Michele was super impressed by the collaborative care from the surgery and ER service, and that was when she knew she wanted to join the team. Ultimately, Michelle fell in love with the fast pace of ER medicine, which is why she is an anchor for the evening team at the front desk. Her spare time is spent visiting with her family and friends, traveling to the Outer Banks, hanging out poolside, and loving on her Pit mix, Rel. She also enjoys digging in the dirt and loves spring time, when she can freshen up the yard and flower beds.

Kylie Schneider
Anesthesia Team Lead
Bio coming soon.
Our Facilities Management Team

Deanna Clay
Inventory & Equipment 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 Inventory and Equipment Manager she ensures that all of our equipment is running smoothly and that we have all the supplies needed to provide top-notch care for our patients! Outside of work, Deanna enjoys spending time with her husband and 9 cats, and trying out new recipes!