Cheryl McCormick joined AAHS in August 2020 and has served as Executive and Interim Director of several California-based NGOs, including Lindsay Wildlife Experience (Walnut Creek), YWCA Monterey County (Salinas), and the American Cetacean Society (Los Angeles). She also served as Director of Conservation at the Santa Lucia Conservancy (Carmel). Dr. McCormick received a BA in Environmental Science from SUNY Plattsburgh, MA in GIS & Remote Sensing from the University of Georgia, and Ph.D. in Ecology from the Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia. In 2018, she received an appointment as Visiting Research
Scientist at the Center for Geospatial Research at UGA. In 2024, Dr. McCormick received her Certificate in Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential and is also certified as an executive coach through the International Coach Federation. Dr. McCormick is a co-author of Identification and Biology of Nonnative Plants on Florida’s Natural Areas (2nd Ed) and has published numerous literature reviews and statewide invasive species management plans. In her personal time, Dr. McCormick enjoys trail running and visiting botanical gardens.

Dr. Varner is a recent graduate (Class of 2021) of The University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Varner also received her Bachelor of Science, as well as her Master of Animal and Dairy Science, from the University of Georgia making her a “triple dawg.” Dr. Varner is from a small town near Savannah, Georgia but always had big dreams of becoming a veterinarian. She enjoys preventative care, dentistry, soft tissue surgery, and client communication and education. Dr. Varner is married to her husband, Brandon, and has 2 beautiful dogs named Chesney and Millie. When not at work, Dr. Varner enjoys Zumba and relaxing at home watching TV. She’s also an avid Disney fan and frequents Disney World multiple times a year.

Dr. Martindale has a diverse and global background—she was born in Argentina, has roots in South Africa, and was raised in Panama, where she became fluent in Spanish. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Louisiana State University in 2023. Prior to joining our team, Dr. Martindale served as an Associate Veterinarian at a mixed-animal practice in Washington, Georgia, where she gained valuable experience in both surgical and medical care, including high-volume TNR procedures and treating shelter pets. She is especially passionate about shelter medicine, where she can make a direct impact by improving the lives of vulnerable animals and helping them find forever loving homes. Outside of the clinic, Dr. Martindale enjoys spending time with her rescue dog, Mac, traveling, being outdoors, and making memories with family and friends.

Elizabeth is a Texan who moved to Athens for graduate school and never looked back. She has a Master' Degree in Nonprofit Management and Development and has been focused on fundraising ever since her first semester of graduate school when her mentor suggested it as a meaningful career. Elizabeth served in development at UGA for eleven years, most recently as Regional Director of Development for the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. Elizabeth is married to an Athens native (several generations back) and they have two boys. You'll find her cheering on the Dawgs at UGA baseball and football games, cheering on her boys at their athletic events, volunteering at school or relaxing at the lake.

Steven grew up locally here in Athens, GA. He attended Babson College in Massachusetts where he got a degree in Finance. Prior to working with AAHS, he worked in corporate finance in various cities across the country. Steven has always had a special love for animals, as he grew up with many dogs and even had two pet rats when he was a kid. Besides his passion for pets, Steven enjoys trying out cooking recipes, watching European football, and enjoying new movies.

From owning her own retail pet food business to serving as a manager at a private veterinary practice in Colorado Springs, CO, Kelly’s career spans an eclectic and interesting range. She currently owns Aspenleaf Shelties and devotes her spare time to working and training with her dogs and traveling to AKC dog shows. She enjoys gardening and spending time with her grandchildren in nature.

Lorah has always known she wanted to help animals, even as a young child wanting to become a veterinarian. Her childhood dream of helping pets grew and developed over time, leading her to embark on a lifelong journey in animal welfare as a volunteer for shelter animals in 2012 for the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter. Lorah then became a foster home, then part time employee, then Foster Coordinator, and eventually Shelter Manager. Lorah's experience helping animals includes roles acting as a vet assistant, kennel manager of Hart County Rescue, and shelter manager at the Humane Society of Walton County (where she helped pilot the position and program). She has a great passion for shelter animals and shelter medicine.
Lorah is originally from Barrow County, but moved to Oglethorpe County in 2007. She currently has four cats (all rescued: 3 from MOAS) and enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, Lexi (19) and Bradlee (6). She also enjoys UGA football, frogs, and is a huge fan of the show Supernatural.

Heather studied accounting at Lanier Technical College; her background is in banking and construction accounting. She grew up in Flowery Branch, GA, and lives on a small farm in Carnesville with her husband, four children, two dogs (Birdie and Bug), two cats (Pinky and Fatty), eight goats, and 20+ chickens. She enjoys gardening, beekeeping, and DIY projects around the farm. Heather’s love of animals began at age 5 when her brother gave her a kitten named Bandit, who was her best friend for 12 wonderful years.

Kelsey was born in Atlanta and graduated from the University of Georgia in 2013. Before joining the staff at AAHS, Kelsey had a career singing opera and writing fiction. It was through these fields that she discovered her love for story-telling. Finding the words and ways to connect and communicate our unconditional love for animals is the best “happy tale” she can ever think of telling. Being an animal lover and advocate since childhood, her pets have kept her grounded as she traveled internationally for work. When Kelsey and her husband bought their house in Athens, they discovered a colony of feral cats living on the property. She has fallen in love with community cats and the TNR programs that keep them healthy and safe. When she’s not busy cuddling her indoor cat, her cat-like chihuahua, and her 8 feral cats, Kelsey’s hobbies include figure skating, mixed martial arts, and creating hilarious calendars and memorabilia of her cat, Cookie.

Sallie was born and raised in Athens, Georgia, and graduated from the University of Georgia in 2022. While still a student, she interned at the Athens Area Humane Society for a year and quickly fell in love with the work, the mission, and the meaningful impact animal welfare has on both people and pets. Sallie has always been drawn to creativity and storytelling, growing up with a love for movies, television, video games, and all the little details that make a good story unforgettable. At AAHS, she brings that same creative energy to sharing the stories of shelter pets, events, and community impact in ways that connect people to the animals who need them most. Outside of work, Sallie enjoys traveling, exploring niche creative hobbies, and finding new ways to channel her creativity.

Alex began her journey with AAHS as the guest experience coordinator, where she worked at the front desk for a year before being promoted to team Lead. Just a month later, Alex stepped into the role of Foster Coordinator, where she now helps connect animals with compassionate foster families who share the heart and mission of AAHS. Originally from Sugar Hill, Georgia, Alex recently moved to the Athens area and is currently a full-time student at the University of Arizona Global Campus. A lifelong animal lover, Alex grew up with seven dogs, a ferret, and two birds. Her deep-rooted passion for animal welfare continues to drive her commitment to the Athens community and the animals they serve.

Abby Borland was born and raised in Georgia. After graduating high school in 2020, she enrolled at the University of Georgia, where she studied wildlife science and earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry and Natural Resources in May 2025.

Throughout her life, Abby has demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership and service. Music played a significant role in her upbringing, and during her time at UGA she served as Properties Crew Chief for the Redcoat Marching Band. In this role, she oversaw the coordination of equipment and managed more than 400 individuals, ensuring smooth operations for one of the university’s most visible organizations. She also served as Vice President of Membership for Sigma Alpha Iota, a professional development fraternity for women in music.

Abby’s lifelong passion for animals has been a guiding force in her career path. She gained hands-on experience working in multiple veterinary clinics before joining the Athens Area Humane Society. There, she served as a Pet Care Specialist for one year, during which she developed a strong interest in animal welfare, shelter operations, and educating pet owners on responsible care.

Jordan Shirah was raised less than 20 minutes from AAHS in Colbert, Georgia. He was first introduced to veterinary medicine at the age of 17, when he began working as a kennel technician at Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter. Over time, he advanced to the role of Intake Coordinator, gaining valuable hands-on experience in shelter operations. Jordan graduated from Madison County High School in 2020 and went on to earn his Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology from Athens Technical College in 2024. Since then, he has worked in general veterinary practices in both Jefferson and Athens, and is excited to return to shelter medicine. In his free time, Jordan enjoys hanging out with his rescue dog, a pitbull mix named Brewster, and his fianceé, Sierra. You can often find the three of them taking walks around Normaltown, or spending weekend mornings at Sandy Creek Park. Jordan enjoys traveling, attending concerts, supporting National Parks, exploring local business in downtown Athens, and cheering on the Rock Lobsters hockey team. He is excited to be a part of the important work that the Humane Society's spay/neuter team provides!

Lindsay Lucas McConnell, Vice President for Phil Hughes Automotive Group. She graduated from UGA’s Terry College of Business in 2012 with a BBA in Marketing and never left Athens! Lindsay and her husband, Chuck, live in the Five Points community with their two cats. Tibi and Lucy are bonded pair of shorthair tabby sisters, rescued from an apartment complex dumpster with their littermates in 2015.

Laura Green is the founder of Ovation Funding Solution and is a veteran grant writer whose life’s work is to guide nonprofits through the complicated grant writing process. Laura and her husband, Jim, are the proud parents of adopted lab/pit mix, Maggie, (adopted from the Gwinnett County Humane Society) and Willie, a Chihuahua Jack Russell mix (adopted from Best Friends Animal Rescue).

Dana Skelton, the Director of Operations & Advocacy for Georgia River Network. She has served many roles within Georgia River Network since joining in 2002. She is a lover of nature and wildlife and takes walks in the woods almost every day. She has volunteered at Bear Hollow, recording animal behavior observations, and worked for ZooAtlanta in the education department. Dana has adopted three cats from AAHS since she moved to Athens in 2000 and currently enjoys sharing her home with Mystic and Rider.

Chris is originally from Valdosta and graduated from Valdosta State University with a degree in accounting. He currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for the Clarke County School District. With 33 years of experience in accounting, his background spans public accounting, banking, and education finance.In July 2023, Chris moved back to Athens with his wife, who serves as Corporate Donor Relations Manager for the Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia.Chris’s family proudly embraces their love of cats, dogs, and the “Dawgs.” His twin sons currently attend the University of Georgia, and his stepson is a recent UGA graduate who now lives in Denver. His stepdaughter works as an internal auditor for Truist Bank in the Atlanta office.

I relocated to Athens in 1996 from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and It was love at first sight! It was hard to not become a Bull Dawg fan, even if football isn't my sport of choice. In September 2011, I joined Keller Williams Realty Greater Athens, where I found my niche and have been an enthusiastic and productive member within the Keller Williams family. I have become known for my energetic and straightforward approach in working with valued clients, many of whom have become friends. My team and I are passionate in giving of ourselves to our local community. We enjoy introducing our clients to charities that help children, seniors, animals, and special needs groups. My husband, Bill Caputi, and I enjoy living close to downtown Athens, where we spend our leisure time exploring the wonderful venues that the City affords – arts and entertainment, wonderful dining, and other adventures.

Marshall is a first-year MBA Candidate at the University of Georgia concentrating in finance and business analytics. He is excited to join such a great organization that helps animals across the region and makes such a huge impact within the community.

Marshall has a background in operations and supply chain management. He graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management and went on to work for Amazon as an Operational Area Manager at a sortation center in Dallas, TX. He will intern with Bank of America this summer as part of the Global Operations Development Summer Associate Program in Dallas, TX.

Marshall grew up in a military family, living in nine different states before his family settled in Senoia, GA. He played baseball, basketball, and tennis in high school and is now an avid pickleball player. Marshall has always been an animal lover and has had pets his whole life. His family currently has an orange tabby cat named Tiger, along with two dogs—a Boxer named Lizzy and a Pit Bull/Staffordshire mix named Jackie.

Lori Crawford is a seasoned Global Event Marketing Leader with over two decades of experience driving strategic event initiatives across a wide range of industries. In her current role at IDEXX, a global leader in animal health diagnostics and software, Lori leads a high-performing team responsible for the planning and execution of internal and customer-facing events. Her work directly supports the advancement of animal health by promoting education, engagement, and innovation within the veterinary community.

Lori’s passion for animal welfare is deeply personal. She is a proud pet parent to two rescue dogs. Her commitment to improving the lives of animals is reflected both in her professional work and her personal advocacy.

Known for her creativity, collaboration, and results-driven approach, Lori brings energy and insight to every initiative!

Chelsea is an MBA Candidate at the University of Georgia, concentrating in strategy, business analytics and operations. She is thrilled to be serving such a meaningful organization and as an avid animal lover, couldn't think of a better mission to support.

Chelsea has a background in nonprofit and higher education development. Most recently, she served on the Major Gifts team at The Trevor Project where she directed their planned giving program and partnered closely with external stakeholders to strengthen their involvement and support of Trevor's mission. Prior to that, she worked at Villanova University as Assistant Director of Annual Giving.

Chelsea is proud to call Athens, Georgia her home and currently resides here with her partner and their two orange tabbies, Bubblegum and Big Rig. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing yoga, spending time outdoors, and being in community with friends and family.