OVTAA 2026 Award Recipients

Veterinary Technician of the Year:
Caitlin Clissold CVT, CCRP, CSAMP
DoveLewis

Nominated by Sara Andersen, MS, CVT and Leah Kennon, CVT. – “We are proud to nominate Caitlin Clissold, CVT, CCRP, CSAMP for OVTAA Veterinary Technician of the Year. Over her 26-year career as a CVT, she has built a diverse and impactful background including general practice, emergency medicine, and nonprofit work with the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon. In 2013, she earned her Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner certification, further expanding her expertise and ability to care for patients. She now serves as the Rehabilitation Coordinator at DoveLewis, where she supports patient recovery and quality of life with skill and compassion. Caitlin exemplifies what certified veterinary technicians can achieve and highlights the vital role CVTs play in advancing veterinary medicine.”

Veterinary Assistant of the Year:
Samantha Nordmeyer
VCA Battle Ground Animal Hospital

Nominated by Geoffrey Michaelis LVT, CVT, VTS– “Samantha has been an incredible asset to the hospital since the day she joined the team. Starting with minimal experience, she quickly built her skills and confidence, and within a year stepped into the role of lead assistant—a reflection of her dedication and growth.

In my role as her supervisor, I’ve come to rely heavily on Samantha as both a leader and an advocate for the assistant team. Her support has made me a more effective leader, and her influence has had a meaningful impact on the team as a whole. One of her standout contributions has been developing an “area of responsibility” system, which empowers team members to take ownership of specific aspects of the hospital and fosters both ownership and pride in the hospital. She has also helped maintain a positive and toxic free environment for the team.

Samantha has continued to excel while completing the Penn Foster program. She approached her first externship with impressive motivation and efficiency, demonstrating both drive and enthusiasm for her professional development. I’m confident that Samantha has a bright future in this field and will continue to be a valued and impactful member of any team she’s part of.”

Outstanding Service of the Year Award:
Eleanor Mayne
OHS Community Veterinary Hospital

Nominated by Stephanie Kittrell

“For the past two years, Eleanor has served as the lead behind Oregon Humane’s high-impact, one-day spay and neuter events at the Community Veterinary Hospital. These single-day clinics are no small undertaking. They bring together both community and shelter medicine teams to provide spay and neuter procedures for over 200 pets in one day. At the center of this complex operation is Eleanor, whose leadership transforms what could be an overwhelming logistical challenge into a seamless, highly effective effort.

At the most recent event on April 15, 2026, Eleanor coordinated a team of more than 75 staff members, volunteers, and students. Their approach goes far beyond simple organization. Eleanor carefully designs and assigns teams to ensure that each area of the clinic functions with precision and cohesion. From initial examinations to induction, surgery, recovery, and post-operative monitoring, every step is intentionally structured. The result is a workflow that feels less like a temporary clinic and more like a finely tuned, well-oiled machine. Even behind the scenes, Eleanor empowers volunteers to play essential roles, supporting exam room turnover, record documentation, and managing never ending laundry throughout the day, ensuring that clinical teams can remain focused on patient care.

Eleanor’s leadership not only makes these events possible but elevates them. Their thoughtful planning, ability to unite diverse teams, and commitment to both excellence and compassion embody the very essence of outstanding service.”