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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: 1 dog, Ms. Wiggles the pit bull; 2 cats, Bailey & Bengal (VHS alumni); and her VHS office pet, Sam the hermit crab (VHS alum)

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: