Mazur, Richards, Kinnarney receive AVMA President's Awards

Dr. Sandra Faeh, 2024-25 AVMA president, gave her three President’s Awards during the President’s Reception on July 18 at AVMA Convention 2025 and the 40th World Veterinary Congress in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes individuals or groups for making a positive impact on health, veterinary organizations, or the profession.

This year’s recipients are Joanne Mazur, a staff assistant in the AVMA’s Office of the Executive Vice President; Dr. George Richards, an Illinois veterinarian active in organized veterinary medicine; and Dr. Joe Kinnarney, a former AVMA president and AVMA Trust board member.

Joanne Mazur

Mazur began working at the AVMA in 1998, first in the Finance Division, then the Convention and Meeting Planning Division. She managed AVMA Convention registration, housing, shuttles, and other logistics, which allowed her to travel and meet AVMA members in person.

In 2012, she moved to the Office of the Executive Vice President (OEVP) where she organized the meeting travel calendar for the CEO and officers, coordinated Board of Directors’ meetings, and other OEVP events and projects. She enjoyed welcoming and interacting with visitors to the AVMA.

Outside of the AVMA, Mazur has shown Himalayan cats and Shih Tzu dogs. Presently, she enjoys owning two Exotic Shorthair Persians. She also has been a certified yoga teacher for over 20 years.

Dr. George E. Richards

Dr. Richards (Illinois ’67), co-owner of three American Animal Hospital Association–accredited small animal hospitals in Danville, Illinois, retired after 41 years of practice.

He represented Illinois as alternate and delegate in the AVMA House of Delegates from 1997-2016. He served on the AVMA Political Action Committee from 2004-10 and as chair for one year. He also was a member of the AVMA Taskforce on the Legal Status of Animals.

Dr. Richards served on the Illinois State Veterinary Association (ISVMA) board of directors for 19 years. He chaired the ISVMA Legislative Committee and its Political Action Committee for over 30 years along with three committees for the renewal of the Illinois Veterinary Practice Act. In 2016, he received the ISVMA President’s Award.

In addition to leadership roles in veterinary medicine, he served on various boards in his community, including Danville Area Community College for 23 years, with 17 years as chair. Board memberships included those of the local hospital, bank, economic development group and others. He was also a member of the State of Illinois Civil Service Commission for 11 years and chair for eight years.

Dr. Joe Kinnarney

Dr. Kinnarney (Cornell ’80) has volunteered in many capacities over the years for the AVMA and the profession.

In 1990, he joined the AVMA House of Delegates as an alternate delegate for North Carolina, serving until 1999, when he was elected vice president of the AVMA. Upon completing his term as vice president in 2001, he rejoined the AVMA HOD as a delegate through 2007, while also serving as president of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association from 2001-07. He next served on the AVMA Board of Directors from 2007-13. He was voted president-elect of the AVMA in 2014, serving his term as president in 2015-16.

He served as director of the American Veterinary Medical Foundation from 2008-18, and then from 2018-24, he chaired the AVMA Trust, where he successfully led the merger of AVMA LIFE and AVMA PLIT.

In addition to his service within the AVMA and the veterinary profession, Dr. Kinnarney served as president of the Reidsville Veterinary Hospital (where he worked as a mixed-animal practitioner since 1980), Bel-Aire Veterinary Hospital, Mebane Veterinary Hospital, The Animal Hospital at Lake Brandt and Carolina Equine Hospital.

Dr. Kinnarney was previously recognized for his service to the profession with the AVMA President’s Award in 2019 and The AVMA Award in 2023.