Janet Testerman is a Knoxville native, and before joining Young-Williams Animal Center as CEO, she spent nearly a decade in internal communications with Scripps Networks Interactive and earlier with E.W. Scripps’ as executive editor of custom publications, Knoxville Magazine and skirt! Magazine.
Janet has served on numerous boards including Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation (now Visit Knoxville), Bijou Theatre, Leadership Knoxville and Young-Williams for five years prior to joining the organization full time. She is also immediate past board president of Dogwood Arts.
She earned her BA in Communication from Southern Methodist University and MA in Strategic Communication from American University. Janet resides in Knoxville with her husband, Joey Creswell, and 17- and 19-year-old stepdaughters, Georgie and Elie. And when she’s not catering to the needs of her Golden Retriever/Corgi mix, Buddy, and rescue Dachshund, Lollie, you can find her enjoying Knoxville’s great arts and food culture as well as bringing her passion to many of the community’s great causes.
Shaver earned an MBA in business management from Strayer University. She joined Young-Williams Animal Center with more than 25 years of experience in finance and business administration.
Holly Jackson-Sullivan is a Knoxville native, and before joining Young-Williams Animal Center in January 2024 as Vice President of Development, she spent nearly two decades in non-profit fundraising in higher education with Pellissippi State, Maryville College and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and an additional decade in business development and banking.
Holly has been awarded UTK Student Organization Advisor Appreciation Award for Campus and Community Engagement for her work with the UTK Speech and Debate team, was the Maryville College, Martha Hess Staff Member of the Year Award Winner and was awarded two Best Practices Awards by the Tennessee State Department of Education.
She earned her BA in Interpersonal and Public Communication from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Holly resides in Oak Ridge with her husband, David Sullivan and granddaughter Annabelle Ludlow - 9, Holly also has two adult children Tyler Ludlow - 30 and Paige Gregory – 26. She is also a grandmother to 6 grandchildren ranging in age from 9 to newborn. When she is not helping spoil her grandkids or her three cats Emmie, Winston and Lodi, she enjoys crafting and making paw print jewelry.
Brandy Ellison’s passion for working at Young-Williams Animal Center started on her first day as an employee in 2005. Since that time she learned the ins and outs of what is involved in animal welfare. In 2008 she temporarily left to raise her four sons, but she came back in 2013 to continue her important role in the animal welfare of our community and has since stepped into her role as Director of Inbound Operations. Brandy can be found cheering on her boys at their various sports games, reading a book or educating herself even further on animal welfare. She shares her home with a Chihuahua/Boston Terrier mix named Eleanor that she and her family adopted from YWAC, and a Cockatiel named Thunder Chicken who is always whistling, singing or talking.
Jessie started out at Young-Williams Animal Center in 2004 as an animal care attendant. Since then he has been involved with the organization through a few different roles. He was an animal control officer, Intake Specialist, Animal Care Manager and has recently taken on the role of Director of Outbound Operations. His passion in life has always been to help lost and homeless animals. All of his animals have been rescued. He has a Chihuahua/Boston terrier mix named Ellie who is an alum of YWAC. Jessie and his family have seven horses, a Green Cheek Conure and three aquariums. In his spare time Jessie spends time with his wife and three children, rides his motorcycle and enjoys the beauty of the East Tennessee mountains.
Dr. Lisa Chassy is originally from the Washington DC area, and is a 1994 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She moved to the Knoxville area in 1995, and quickly became involved in animal welfare. She has worked for YWAC since 2005.
Chastedy is a Memphis native who moved to Knoxville in 2015. She holds a Bachelor’s in Journalism and Digital Mass Media and a Master’s in Ethics and Public Leadership from Johnson University. Making an impact on the community is the foundation of what drives her work and fuels her creativity. She has a passion for empowering nonprofits through advocacy, intentional community and storytelling.
In her free time, you can find her at any local coffee shop, spending time with her husband Joe or on fun adventures with her Miniature Aussie, Journey (pictured).
Wyatt Baggett is the Marketing Associate at Young-Williams Animal Center. As a Knoxville native and lifelong pet lover, he enjoys creating content to improve the lives of animals and their owners in the community. His passion for animal welfare began in 2014 when he joined YWAC as a volunteer, transitioning to Animal Care and then Marketing, combining his hands-on experience with creative know-how. When not working, you may find Wyatt walking his three rescue dogs, savoring local eateries, or shopping at thrift stores.
Amy has been with YWAC since August 2019. In her current role, she is responsible for the organization’s Adoptions, Animal Care, Behavior, Transport, and Volunteers. She was previously with the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley for 8 years as a Director and two years on the Board of Directors where she served as Treasurer. Amy started volunteering with shelters in Nashville in her twenties and was involved in the rally to close animal “drop boxes” at the Rutherford Co shelter. In 2005, Amy volunteered with HSUS in New Orleans for the Hurricane Katrina animal rescue. That experience inspired a career change from finance to animal welfare. Amy is working with her colleagues towards making East Tennessee a no-kill region. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga and helping her husband remodel houses. In reality, their lives revolve around their 4 shelter dogs: Zoe, Tigger, Abbey Rose, and Ricky Bobby.
Having started her journey as a volunteer, Carmen has always been passionate about the welfare of animals in our community. Prior to joining our team full-time in 2021, she worked as a middle school teacher with Knox County for almost a decade. During this time, she found volunteering at the shelter to be a fulfilling way to "refill her bucket."
In addition to her volunteer work, Carmen became an Adoption Ambassador and foster parent to several animals. Her love for senior dogs led her to showcase them in media appearances and take them on special field trips. As a foster parent, she has provided a loving home to many animals, ultimately adopting two of them permanently.
As our Volunteer Coordinator, Carmen is dedicated to expanding our programs and works tirelessly to ensure that every volunteer has an awesome experience!
Frances is an enthusiastic professional with over 20 years of experience in Accounting and Customer Service. Since joining YWAC as the Team Experience Manager in 2023, she has been instrumental in creating a welcoming and enjoyable workplace! Frances is responsible for onboarding and leading new employees through the orientation process, ensuring they feel valued and prepared from the very start. She excels in organizing engaging, morale-boosting activities that foster camaraderie and enhance employee retention.
Outside of work, Frances cherishes spending quality time with her grandchildren, Oliver, Madeline, and Gigi. She also loves going on cruises with her husband and pampering their adorable dog, Marley. Her unique blend of professional expertise and her commitment to maintaining a lively and inclusive environment makes her an invaluable part of the YWAC team!
Dr. Tim is a 2017 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, and he has been involved with spay/neuter and shelter medicine in both Virginia and Georgia since then. After the birth of their son, he and his wife, Jenn, decided that it was time to move back home to Tennessee. They and their four cats, Paiamwahu, Herman, Cadette, and Pumpkindoodle, are enjoying being back in Knoxville!
Kat is a Knoxville native and somewhat of an YWAC child prodigy. She first started as an after school volunteer at the age of sixteen and discovered a passion for animal welfare. She volunteered for two years and was hired onto the adoptions team on her eighteenth birthday. She spent four years on the adoption team striving towards the goal of finding a home for every pet. Since then, she has tackled the role of Adoptions Manager and continues to work towards that same goal. In her free time you might find her taking care of her gerbils, trapping community cats, or listening to KPOP.
Chelcie’s animal welfare experience dates back to nearly birth! Her mother is a vet tech, groomer, trainer, wildlife rehabilitator, and runs a rescue/sanctuary in Meigs County where Chelcie spent most of her younger years assisting with all the rescue animals. Growing up, she was primarily a big dog person, but is now claiming the “crazy cat lady” title.
Prior to coming to Young-Williams in August 2021 as the Foster and Rescue Placement Manager, Chelcie worked at the Humane Society, Tennessee Valley for seven years starting as a kennel tech and adoption counselor, moving up to team lead, and becoming the Foster Manager where she grew their foster program to amazing heights.
Chelcie has two cats, Grizabella and Persimmon, who are her whole heart. They were both previously feral momma cats; Grizz was Chelcie’s “gateway cat” into becoming the crazy cat lady and Persimmon was her office cat for a year and a half before moving in with Chelcie and Grizz permanently.
Chelcie also volunteers at Zoo Knoxville in the Carnivore Department (big cats and primates are her loves.) In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her mom in the Smoky Mountains or local state parks, doing yoga, dying her hair fun new colors, and hanging out with her cats.
Penny joined the Young-Williams team in 2018 and has been an asset to the organization with over twenty years’ experience handling all different types of animals. She started in the Intake Department and then transitioned to the Behavior Department in 2020. Soon thereafter, she became the Behavior Manager. She has used her experience managing a local pet store and working in a veterinary clinic as their Kennel Manager and Veterinary Technician to grow the behavior program at Young-Williams. She is a certified dog trainer and a dog groomer.
When she’s not teaching old dogs new tricks at the shelter, she enjoys spending time with her three kids and fostering puppies for Young-Williams.
Amanda has been a part of the Young-Williams team since 2012. She manages the Pet Resource Center Program, which provides resources for pet owners experiencing difficulties with the aim of removing barriers to pet ownership and providing the highest quality of life for pets and people in our community. Amanda has always had a passion for helping others, animals and human alike, and this has made her a great fit for the Pet Resource Center.
When she is not at work, you may find her at home with her family, including three children, two dogs (Dom and Kye) and two cats (Drako and Sirius) or taking a trip to the mountains to clear her mind.
Lora, our Community Cat Manager, embarked on her journey with us over thirteen years ago as an Intake Specialist. She has witnessed the shelter's positive transformation firsthand. Having also served as our Intake Manager, Lora now leads our community cat program with compassion and an unwavering commitment to animal welfare.
Her dedication extends beyond her professional life; when not at work, Lora spends quality time with her family and provides loving care to her many "foster-fails".
Barry Rivers began working for Young-Williams Animal Center in 2008 after a 12 year career in Hospitality Management. He is a dedicated animal lover and an advocate for Type 1 Diabetes. Barry lives in Strawberry Plains with his wife Amber, 2 children, 3 dogs and 3 cats.
Tammy Carden began her journey with Young-Williams Spay/Neuter Solutions in 2012. After over 25 years of owning a business, she decided that she wanted to do something more for her community. Growing up on a farm and caring for many animals large and small she always knew the importance of caring for them and being a responsible owner. Spay and neuter was part of that responsibility and when she saw that opportunity was available she jumped right as a way she could fill three of her passions, community, spay/neuter and pets. Tammy has a beloved dog Lilly (Golden Retriever). She enjoys many things with Lilly being her most enjoyable. She is also an avid Vol fan and can’t wait until football Saturdays and tailgating with other Vol fans. Some of her other pastimes which she also enjoys are music and reading about history.