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Meet the Humans

Meet the Humans

Kendall D. Paul
CEO

Hometown: Evansville, Indiana

Education:
FJ Reitz High School ‘89
B.S. Public Relations, Emphasis in Radio/Television, University of Southern Indiana ‘95
Certificate in Fundraising, Indiana University School of Philanthropy
Leadership Evansville graduate

@VHS: Kendall began her career with the VHS cleaning kennels in 1994. She has since served as the Operations Manager, the Public Relations & Events Manager, and now CEO since 2004. She celebrated 25 years of service to the VHS in 2019.

Pets: 1 dog, Eleven the Boxer (VHS alum); 1 cat, Goose (River Kitty Cat Cafe alum); 2 hens; and her VHS office pet, Severus Snake the ball python (VHS alum)

Fandoms: Harry Potter, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings

Favorite Sports Teams: Chicago Cubs & Pittsburgh Steelers

Cindy A. Nemer
Business Manager - Outgoing

Hometown: Evansville, Indiana (“West Side is the best side!”)

Education:
Mater Dei High School ‘71
B.S. Business Administration & Accounting, University of Southern Indiana

@VHS: Cindy began volunteering at the VHS in 1990. She was a Board Member from 1994-1996 and joined the staff in 1996. As of 2021, she is officially beginning to plan her retirement from the VHS after decades of faithful service.

Pets: 3 dogs, Luna the Shar Pei mix, Rylie Sue the Beagle mix, and Frankie the Australian Cattle Dog mix; and a house full of felines

Fandoms: Star Wars, Star Trek, Indiana Jones

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Um, frozen? :)

Allison Miller
Business Manager - Incoming

Hometown: Evansville, IN

Education:
Evansville Day School '99
Indiana Business College

@VHS: Allison joined the VHS Board of Directors in 2016 while working at Banterra Bank. She was a manager of the Evansville Pet Supplies Plus store for 3 years and then joined the VHS as the new Business Manager in March 2021.

Pets: Henry the dog; 2 cats, Oscar (VHS alumnus) and Mogwai; Jello the leopard gecko; a family of hissing cockroaches; and 4 aquariums full of fish

Favorite Music: bubblegum pop, classic rock, and the occasional hip hop

Favorite Movies: Pete's Dragon (original); Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (original); and Pet Sematary (original)

Wende McKinney
Operations Manager

Hometown: Evansville, IN

Education:
Harrison High School ’02
B.A. Psychology with Concentration in Animal Behavior, Purdue University ‘07

@VHS: Wende joined the VHS team as an Animal Care Technician in 2008. She has served as Medical/Intakes Supervisor, and was promoted to Assistant Operations Manager in 2009. She became Operations Manager in 2016.

Pets: 2 dogs, Boscoe & Sunny; 4 cats, Timmy, Olaf, Tilt, and Betty

Myers-Briggs personality type: ISFP-A

Favorite type of tea: Bubble tea

Amy Hairston
Assistant Operations Manager

Hometown: Evansville, IN

Education:
Reitz High School

@VHS: Amy rejoined the VHS staff in 2019 as the Assistant Operations Manager. Her total time working at VHS, previously + currently, is more than 12 years!

Pets: 2 dogs, Oscar & Lolli; 2 cats, Kittaly & Reggie; and Betty Bunny the rabbit

If you were a dog, what breed would you be? A mutt! :)

Favorite type of tea: Chai tea

Amanda D. Coburn
Development Coordinator

Hometown: Evansville, IN

Education:
North High School '08
B.S.B.A. Business Administration & Law, Western Carolina University ‘11
Leadership Everyone Graduate '19

@VHS: Amanda became a VHS volunteer in 2011. She joined the staff as a part-time public relations/events assistant in 2013, Adoption Counselor in 2014-2015, and now Development Coordinator since 2015.

Pets: 3 cats, Moon, Westley, and Falkor

Fandoms: Harry Potter, all things Disney, The Hunger Games, Lord of the Rings, Stranger Things

Myers-Briggs personality type: ENFP

Cyndi Hoon Donley
Humane Education & Volunteer Coordinator

Hometown: Bedford, IN

Education:
Bedford-North Lawrence High School ‘80
B.A. Telecommunications & Theater, Indiana University ‘84

@VHS: Cyndi began volunteering as a docent at VHS in 1995. She was asked to join the VHS team in 2003 and now splits her time between Humane Education and the Volunteer program.

Pets: Joey the Golden Retriever (VHS alum). (In loving memory of Fiona the Golden Retriever, pictured above, who was a beloved part of the VHS Humane Education team for more than 10 years and passed away August 1, 2020.)

Favorite Bands: The Beatles and Led Zeppelin

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Cherry Amaretto

Diane Whipkey
Inventory Manager & "Do Everything-er"

Hometown: Evansville, IN

Education:
Harrison High School ‘65
West Side Beauty College

@VHS: Diane has dedicated nearly her entire adult life to the VHS’ cause. Her mother was a long-time volunteer until her passing in 1997. Diane carries on her legacy today and has served as a volunteer, Board Member from 1982-2004, and staff member from 2004-present.

Pets: 2 cats, Bailey & Bengal (VHS alumni). (In loving memory of Ms. Wiggles Whipkey, the wiggly pit bull in the photo above who was the Happy Tails Resale Shop "canine CEO" and passed away in May 2021.)

Favorite Movie: Dances with Wolves

If you were a dog, what breed would you be? An American Staffordshire Terrier (“pit bull”) of course!

Vanessa Brown
Foster Care Coordinator

Hometown: Evansville, IN

Education: Reitz High School & Signature School

@VHS: Vanessa originally joined the VHS team in 2011. After a year away, she rejoined the organization in 2016. She has served in a variety of animal care roles, and most recently accepted the Foster Care Coordinator position in February 2021.

Pets: 3 dogs, Zoey the pit mix, Scotty the Chihuahua mix; and Roxy the Australian Cattle Dog mix; and 2 cats, Jack Action and Palley. All 5 are VHS alumni.

Favorite Music: Elle King, Kacey Musgraves, & 90's country

Favorite Books: Too many to choose! Lately, true crime books (and podcasts.)

Doug Sims
Facilities Technician

Operations Staff
with at least 1 year of service:

Adoptions Team: