Meet the Team

Born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, Justin graduated with a business degree from Auburn University Montgomery.  Husband to Dr. Siggi Farris, the couple has two boys, Finn and Nils.   Justin loves dogs and grew up with Boston Terriers.  He currently has one Boston named Nyah, along with a cat named Forrest.  Justin enjoys all of the excitement found within the animal hospital... from the variety of puppies and kittens to the surgeries performed to save the lives of the pets... there is always something to see and learn from! In addition to overseeing the business side of things at RRAH, Justin is an avid car fan and owns a car dealership in Alabama. When not at RRAH, you can find Justin with his boys exploring the outdoors. Since moving to NC, he has discovered the numerous disc golf trails scattered throughout the area and has the goal of playing them all!

Meet Jessica Plate, the Practice Manager at River Run Animal Hospital. With an impressive 21 years of experience Jessica's journey in animal care began in the charming small town of Corning, NY, before she relocated to South Carolina in 2003. Beyond her professional expertise, Jessica finds joy in dancing, embracing silliness, and sharing laughter with her loved ones. She is the proud wife of Frank and a loving mother to three children, Kaylanna, Giovanni, and Lincoln, a delightful deaf Great Pyrenees mix, who completes her family circle. Jessica's passion for veterinary care and her dedication to her family make her a valuable addition to the River Run team.

Lauren is a first-year Veterinary Technician student through Penn Foster College and works as a Vet Assistant at RRAH. She was born in Ohio and lived on a dairy farm for a few years before relocating to North Carolina. With her own furry friends at home including Jessie, her dog, and Mr. Pickles the cat, she understands the busy life of a pet parent. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, baking delicious desserts, and spending time with family and friends. Lauren has the drive to provide loving and compassionate care to our four-legged friends and their families.

Stephanie was born in Goldsboro, NC, and holds a degree from Central Carolina Community College, where she studied Veterinary Technology and became an RVT in 2010.  She also holds her Fear Free Certification, Feline Friendly Certification, and Recover CPR certification. Always a lover of animals, Stephanie first entered the world of the veterinary field while in high school in the early 2000s and “loves making a difference in pet’s lives and their owner’s lives”. When she’s not working, you can find Stephanie hiking and/or camping, spending time with her husband, or hanging out with her four cats, two dogs, seven chickens, one hamster, aquarium friends, and her goldfish pond! 

Jade is originally from Massachusetts, she decided to enter the field of Veterinary Medicine when she started volunteering her time at an animal shelter in 2019. She enrolled in the Penn Foster program to broaden her knowledge in the field. She has an interest in preventive medicines, geriatrics, and nutrition. New to the Charlotte area, Jade loves finding new coffee shops, the farmer’s market, and updating her new home. Jade has two fur babies of her own, a buff colored tabby named Bart and a Beagle/Basset Hound mix named Binx.

Jamie joined the River Run Family during the summer of 2023. Jamie, a Registered Veterinary Technician, has been in the veterinary industry for 25 years. Her and her husband, Will, are proud parents to 8 chickens (7 hens are named after Marvel and DC female characters, and 1 rooster named Leonard) as well as some honey bees! When she is not at work she enjoys hiking in the North Carolina mountains, mountain biking, sitting with her chickens and having Old Fashions with her husband! She looks forward to meeting new clients, their furry family members and establishing relationships with them for years to come! 

New to the veterinary field, Stephanie has always loved animals and decided she’d like to make her passion her career. Having the chance to meet and play with fur babies as a Kennel Assistant is a dream come true. Outside of her time at RRAH, Stephanie is a full-time nanny to two kiddos and loves finding time to hike and/or curl up with a good book. Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband, Dallas, and their two pittie reccues, Wylie & Luci! 

Taylor grew up in Florida and was around animals their whole life. Since joining the River Run Team. Taylor enjoys building client relationships to educate owners on the importance of regular grooming and preventative care. Taylor and their partner Lisa have multiple rescue pets at home including 2 dogs, 5 cats, and 4 tanks of various-sized fish! When Taylor is not working they spend their time painting, playing video games, and watching reality tv or horror movies.

Born and raised in South Carolina, Holly joined the River Run Family in 2023. She graduated from Winthrop University and is the proud pet mom to three kitties; Emelie, Cyrus and Dahlia. When she isn't at River Run, she enjoys cooking, drinking coffee, reading, writing and performing yoga! Holly is driven to provide support both for our clients and our medical team. A fun fact about Holly is she never follows a recipe, 100% to the letter! 

Taylor was born in Indian Train, NC and has worked in the veterinary field since 2021. She finds animal care interesting and rewarding and loves watching patients grow. When Taylor is not working, you can find her reading, watching Disney movies & visiting greenways throughout the area. Taylor and her boyfriend share two rescue kitties. 

Abe is originally from Greenville, SC and is currently pursuing an Associates Degree as a Veterinary Technician at Penn Foster. A member of the Veterinary Field since 2021, Abe is also Fear Free Certified and is passionate about this career choice because “combining both is a match made in heaven!” When not working, Abe can be found crocheting, hiking, baking, and spending time with fiancé, Cameron. 

MOriginally from Nashville, Tennessee, Sydney joined the River Run Family in 2023 as a veterinary assistant with an interest in exotic and marine veterinary medicine. She and her husband Grant are proud parents to Tucker, a Beagle/Bassett mix, Taco, a Chihuahua/Pug mix, and a Chihuahua named Macho! In her spare time she enjoys playing volleyball and hiking/camping with her family. A fun fact about Sydney is she is close friends with Ric Flair and his family! 

Jayden was born and raised in Miami and has loved animals since childhood. One thing he wishes all pet owners knew and understood is the importance of showing their pets attention and love! Jayden has two dogs at home and is as a holder of a 2nd degree Black belt, he is also passionate about Taekwondo.

Marcos was born in San Juan Puerto Rico and earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration. Prior to joining the RRAH team, Marcos worked at a pet store where he was able to take care of puppies and other animals. When he’s not working, he enjoys video games, Anime, and riding his bike. Marcos has one Dachshund, Noki, and says “he’s the cutest!”.  

Kelley joined the RRAH team as a Kennel Technician this fall. With past experience working with cows, horses, goats and other animals and as a 'doggy daycare' monitor, Kelley brings lots of love and care to our boarded guests. When not working, you can find Kelley reading, playing video games, watching movies and spending time with her pets, Maui (a Maltese), London (a Yorkie), Ziki (a tabby), and Ladybug (a Jack Russell Mix)!