Elaine Adair (1950-2019)
Founder

Elaine Adair was the founder and President of Mississippi Spay and Neuter (MS SPAN) and Vice President of Operations for MS SPAN's delivery systems: Big Fix Clinic, transport and targeted voucher programs as well as the statewide referral program to other clinics and voucher programs.

She had in-depth knowledge about the intricacies of running high-volume spay/neuter clinics as well as first-hand experience in coalition-building with Mississippi SPAN. She was a consultant for establishing non-profit animal organizations and for administrative processes and services. In 2016, she with two other animal welfare advocates founded a 501(C)(6) non-profit group called AAIM. The Board of Directors was involved in promoting animal-related initiatives that engage in educational activities, advancing laws, ordinances, and policies in support of political subdivisions and non-profit organizations involved in animal welfare and protection emphasizing the welfare of dogs and cats in Mississippi.

Ms. Adair also had a background in the administrative support necessary for needs assessment, organizational development, and strategic planning that has extended over a 20-year profession starting with the United States Air Force and ending with an early retirement from Lockheed Martin Corporation and the Air National Guard.

She graduated with Distinction from University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Distributive Studies: Communication, Theatre, English and Psychology and from Southern College of Technology in Georgia with a Master’s Degree in Technical and Professional Communication. In 2012, she and her husband and their precious pets- including 4 feral cats who all survived the wrath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005- moved back to Gulfport after living in Vicksburg for 4 years.

Elaine passed away in 2019 due to complications from MDS, a rare blood cancer.

Sharon Garner
Executive Director
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Sharon is a native of Jefferson Davis County and currently lives in Perkinston, MS. Sharon found herself in a 7-year career that she discovered was not for her. She remembered something that her Home Economics high school teacher, Ms. Powell, told her students- Ms. Powell said that when they started in the working world they needed to be in a place where they enjoyed going, and didn't wake up in the morning thinking of reasons to not go into work.

Sharon searched within and remembered what she truly loved in this world and that passion was dogs and cats as well as all other living creatures. She applied to the Humane Society of South Mississippi (HSSM) in 2003 and started her animal welfare career shortly thereafter. Sharon began in the surrender department where animals first entered the shelter. Before she left HSSM in 2007, Sharon also worked as an administrative assistant, clinic supervisor, adoptions supervisor and adoptions manager. She then worked for a private veterinarian in Gulfport for 1 year.

In order to feel that she was making a bigger impact in the lives of animals, Sharon decided she needed to re-enter the non-profit sector. In 2009, she found herself working at Mississippi Spay & Neuter as the Clinic Manager. Sharon became the Executive Director in 2019.

Dr. Megan Craven, DVM
Lead Veterinarian
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Dr. Megan B. Craven is a rural Mississippi native. She identified early with the suffering of companion animals due to overpopulation and unwanted litters. She began volunteering with Spay/ Neuter organizations during veterinary school. A 2008 graduate of Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine,
Dr. Craven implemented her honed skill for High Quality High Volume Spay/ Neuter at various organizations before finding her home at MS SPAN's Big Fix Clinic in 2017. Her passion for animal welfare combined with her determination to end the needless suffering fuels her daily commute from Biloxi to Richland. Hers is a labor of love.

Tamara Roubique  

Clinic Manager
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Tamara is a graduate of Western Career College Vet Tech Program and has been a veterinary technician since 2004. She moved to Mississippi in 2008 and began working with Mississippi Spay and Neuter in 2011. 

Gina Winstead
Veterinary Assistant Lead
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Gina is a mom, pet mom and foster parent for wayward creatures. She worked for a private practice veterinarian before joining MS SPAN in 2018, where she began as a veterinary office assistant. 

Ashlynn Brashier
Communications Coordinator
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Ashlynn was born and raised in California and moved to Mississippi in 2019. She previously volunteered with Animal Outreach doing cat adoptions through Petsmart. She joined MS SPAN as a veterinary office assistant in 2021.

Edward Carr
Big Thrift Lead Donation Coordinator
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Edward was born and raised in Mississippi, and left the state upon joining the army after high school. He spent decades living in Milwaukee, WI. He retired and moved back to Mississippi in to care for family. He began volunteering at the Big Thrift once a week, and soon was volunteering every day! He joined the team in 2017. 

Priscila Lang
Veterinary Assistant

Priscila is from Mendenhall, MS. Before working at MS SPAN, she worked with animals as a kennel tech and grew a deeper passion for them while working alongside vet techs. She has a strong passion for advocating for animals and their health. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her beloved feline "son”, Pancake, friends, & family. 

Paula Dixon

Lead Veterinary Office Assistant

Paula is a wife, mother, and grandmother native to Hinds County. She has had a lifelong love of animals, even going as far as to foster pet monkeys for an organization that places them with disabled individuals as helpers. She is currently an independent rescuer and licensed wildlife rehabilitator. She enjoys spending time with her family and house full of rescued pets, and loves meeting and talking to new people. She joined MS SPAN in 2023 as a Veterinary Office Assistant.

Deborah Boteler

Lead Retail Sales Associate

Deborah lives in Richland, Ms with her husband and four dogs. She enjoys spending her time with her friends, family, and four legged babies. She joined the Big Thrift in 2023.

Isabell Spratley

Veterinary Assistant

Isabell was born & raised in Mississippi and has always had a passion for animals. She is currently a Senior in high school and after graduation plans on following her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She joined MS SPAN in 2023 as a Veterinary Assistant and is going to use all that she's learning at the Big Fix Clinic to give her a leg up in vet school!

Grayson Gregg

Retail Sales Associate

Grayson is from Brandon, MS and is a Sophomore at BHS. He joined the Big Thrift team in 2023.

Pamela Broussard

Bookkeeper