Leadership & Administrative Staff

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: 2 dogs, Eleven the Boxer and Dude the Boston Terrier (both VHS alumni); 2 cat, Goose & Samwise (River Kitty Cat Cafe/VHS alumni); 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

Allison Miller
Business Manager

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: Gus the dog (VHS alum, pictured above); 3 cats, Oscar (VHS alum), Mogwai, & Eva (VHS alum); Jello the leopard gecko; 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)

Amanda Coburn
Director of Advancement

Hometown: Evansville, IN

Education: 
North High School
B.S.B.A. Business Administration & Law, Western Carolina University '11
Leadership Everyone graduate '19
Welborn Baptist Foundation Next Generation Leadership Academy graduate '22

@VHS: Amanda started volunteering with the VHS in 2011 and joined the staff as a part-time events assistant in March 2013. She worked as an Adoption Counselor in 2014 before becoming Development Coordinator in 2015. After a brief departure working at Junior Achievement in 2021, she rejoined the staff in February 2022 as the brand new Director of Advancement.

Pets: 3 cats: Moon, Westley, & Falkor. She also shares her office with Severus Snake the ball python.

Myers-Briggs Personality Type: ENFP

Fandoms: Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, LOST, Taylor Swift, The Hunger Games

Mackenzee McKittrick
Events & Outreach Coordinator

Hometown: Bowling Green, Indiana

Education:
Clay City High School ‘13
Indiana State University ‘18

@VHS: Mackenzee started volunteering with VHS in 2019. She has spent a total of 8 years fostering and is particularly passionate about neonate and special needs kittens. She joined the team as Events & Volunteer Coordinator in July 2021. In 2023, after the Volunteer Coordinator position became full-time, she took over the VHS' pilot community cat program based on her years of experience with cats/kittens and TNR. She is now the Events & Outreach Coordinator.

Pets: 4 dogs: Raider, Roxy, & Rudy (VHS alumni) and Mortimer; 7 cats (2 with Cerebellar Hypoplasia): Doodle Bob, Tav, Stanky Leg Steve, Huey, Chloe, Jake, & Megamind (6 of 7 are VHS alumni); 2 death feigning beetles, Craig & Larry; and several office pets

Hobbies: Hiking, volleyball, fostering, organizing and decorating

Wende McKinney
Director of Operations

Hometown: Evansville, IN

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

@VHS: Wende has been with the VHS since 2008. She has served as Animal Care Technician, Medical/Intakes Supervisor, and was promoted to Assistant Operations Manager in 2009. She became Operations Manager (now titled Director of Operations) in 2016.  

Pets: 2 dogs, Sunny & Gidget (VHS alumni); 4 cats, Timmy, Betty, Olaf, & Tilt; and her office pet Leroy the bearded dragon

Favorite type of tea: Bubble tea!

Favorite sports team: Chicago Cubs

Amy Hairston
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; 4 cats, Kittaly, Eddie, Luna, & Jimmy; 1 gerbil, Creature; and many office fish

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

Favorite type of tea: Chai tea 

Diane Whipkey
Thrift Store Coordinator

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, Hazel the Happy Tails Resale Shop mascot (VHS alum) 1 cat, Bengal (VHS alum.) 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/intakes roles, and most recently accepted the Foster Care Coordinator position in February 2021.

Pets: 3 dogs, Zoey the pit mix, Taffy the Puggle mix, & Scotty the Chihuahua mix; and 2 cats, Jack Action and Palley. All are VHS alumni.

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

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

Alana Fligor
Humane Education & Volunteer Coordinator

Hometown: Murphysboro, IL

Education: 
BS Elementary Education with Science Concentration from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale ‘97 (Go, Salukis!)

@VHS: Alana joined the VHS team in October 2021 working in Adoptions & Animal Care. She was promoted to Volunteer Coordinator in February 2023. Her role became Volunteer & Humane Education Coordinator upon the retirement of longtime employee Cyndi Donley in September 2024.

Pets: Loving home to Pirate Cat, Righty Tighty-Lefty Loosy the Grand Champion Hermit Crab, Waiola Jane & Valerie May the Appenzeller Spitzhauben Chickens, plus a loving space for VHS foster or fospice pets.

Favorite Things to Listen To: Ologies podcast, Bird Note podcast, rain soundscapes, classical music for cats, playlists made by my husband and daughters, purring cats

Hobbies: Exploring the outdoors, hiking, learning new things, spending time with family, creating arts & crafts

Doug Sims
Facilities Technician

Hometown: Indianapolis, IN

Education: 
GED

@VHS: Doug joined the VHS team in early 2020 as Facilities Technician!

Pets: 3 cats: Mew, Tink, Allie

Favorite band: Sevendust

Hobbies: Billiards, darts

Operations Staff
with at least 1 year of service:

Adoptions Team

Kellsie Phillips
Adoption Counselor

Mary Jackson
Adoption Counselor

Sheridan Baker
Adoption Counselor & Foster Care Assistant

Jamie Burnett
Adoption Counselor

Intakes & Medical Team

Helena Brendel-Niles
Medical Supervisor

Ashley Turner
Intake Counselor

Sam Bailey
Intake Counselor

Animal Care Team
with at least 1 year of service:

Nickea Rosignol
Alyx Noble
Dan Ruschmeier
Sarah Tobin
Nikki O'Daniel

Clinic Staff

Dr. Laura Molinet
Lead Veterinarian

Dr. Caroline Christmas
Part-Time Veterinarian

Austyn Stock
Clinic Manager

Cameron Benke
Clinic Receptionist

Vet Assistants with at least 1 year of service:
Maddi Hargett
Lauren Stuckey

Get to know the Clinic staff more here!

Administrative Staff
with at least 1 year of service:

Megan Baggett
Marketing & Communications Specialist

River Kitty Cat Cafe Staff
with at least 1 year of service:

Tyler Archibald
Cafe Manager

Baristas & Lounge Attendants:
Jacob Tate
Benjamin Smith
Darien Adam