Jeffrey Applegate, DVM, DACZM
Owner
Dr. Applegate was born and raised on the coast of New Jersey where he still enjoys being near the beach. He attended Virginia Tech for undergraduate studies in animal science and biology and Kansas State University for his veterinary education. Following a small animal rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City, he worked for almost 6 years as an exotic animal clinician at the Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey. He then served as faculty at North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine in the Exotic Animal Medicine Service for five and a half years where he remains involved as adjunct faculty. He very much enjoys teaching and has continued teaching within the confines of private practice.
Dr. Applegate is a founding officer of the Honey Bee Veterinary Consortium
(HBVC), in which he served various leadership roles and serves as the
Education manager for the Exotics section of the Western Veterinary Conference. Dr. Applegate shares his time at home with two African grey parrots, Harley and Echo, and Marlin, a large mix-breed dog.
When not at work or home, you might find Dr. Applegate responding to local emergencies – he is an officer in the Bay Head Fire Department, as well as the veterinarian on record for the Ocean County Community Emergency Response Team. When he is not serving his community, Dr. Applegate enjoys the outdoors, backpacking, SCUBA diving, and physical challenge races.
Alison “Paige” Savo, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Savo began her journey into the veterinary medicine world at a young age, spending her childhood on a farm in North Carolina. After the completion of her degree at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine she joined the NAEVS team in 2021.
At home, Dr. Savo and her family have several pets including a dog, cat, rabbit, cockatiel, dove and tortoises. In her spare time you can find Dr. Savo in her garden or tending to the many plants that surround her.
Nikki Harley, BVetMed, MRCVS
While she has always loved all types of animals, Dr. Harley fell in love with wildlife and exotic veterinary medicine while volunteering at the Mercer County Wildlife Center. Following the completion of her degrees at the University of Connecticut and Royal Veterinary College, Dr. Harley joined the NAEVS team in June 2025.
Dr. Harley shares her home with a small zoo including: a chinchilla, a kingsnake, a hognose snake and a cat. She enjoys dancing, baking, traveling, practicing yoga and birdwatching.
Kimberly Goldman
Practice Manager
Kimberly has been a member of the Nautilus team for five years, initially joining as a Client Service Representative before being promoted to Practice Manager three years ago.
With a strong commitment to the hospital’s success, she oversees daily operations, provides leadership and support to her team, and works to ensure the hospital runs smoothly while maintaining a welcoming and compassionate environment for clients and their pets.
A native of North Jesey, Kimberly now enjoys life down the shore with her son. She is a proud mother of three and grandmother of two with a passion for fitness and enjoys spending time at the gym. An animal lover of all kinds, Kimberly has a special place in her heart for bearded dragons, especially her four beardies: Waffles, Salsa, Princess and Corduroy.
Samantha Clayton
Customer Service Representative
Growing up in the Pine Barrens, Sam is a true “Piney,” through and through. She has always had a deep love for animals, having many pets through the years and always dreaming of working in veterinary medicine. Currently, Sam has a 12 year old tangerine Honduran milksnake named Ginger, an albino gerbil named Sugar, as well as two Syrian hamsters, Gus and Stinkerbelle.
In her spare time she enjoys crafting, fostering, gardening, trying new things and going to concerts and renaissance fairs. Sam has been a vegetarian for 10 years.
Tiayna Torres
Customer Service Representative
Tiayna’s love for animals began as a child – she has always had a passion for caring for all living creatures. Tiayna is currently enrolled in Penn Fosters Veterinary Assistant Certification program, fostering her childhood dream of working in veterinary medicine.
Tiayna’s favorite way to wind down is by relaxing with her 2 cats and 5 dogs.
Over the years, she has also owned a ball python, a hamster and a chameleon. Tiayna also likes to spend her free time reading – murder mysteries, true crime novels & psychological thrillers – as well as dancing. Tiayna dreams of one day becoming a zoologist and owning her own farm.
Bethany Lynch, CVT, LVT, ALAT
Beth has been in the veterinary field for 10 years and counting, with a wide variety of experience in different disciplines within the veterinary industry such as general practice, emergency and critical care, research and exotics. Her love of animals and medicine began early on. Growing up on a farm in upstate New York gave her grit, patience, humor, and a deep love for hard work and animals of all shapes and sizes.
Beth is a Certified Veterinary Technician who joined Nautilus in 2023. Beth graduated from SUNY Delhi in 2016 with an Associates in Veterinary Technology, with a concentration in Laboratory and Exotic Animal Care. During her time at SUNY Delhi, she spent her time working with small mammals such as rats, mice, and rabbits as well as caring for Delhi’s retired research primates, a troupe of cynomolgus macaques.
In addition to working in practice, Beth educates the next generation of aspiring veterinary technicians as an adjunct professor at Bergen County Community College, teaching the anatomy and physiology and laboratory animal technique classes.
In her spare time Beth enjoys painting, wildlife photography, hiking, skiing, gaming (both tabletop and computer), and spending time with her toddler, husband and three-legged cat named Pogo.
Madeline Makstan
Credentialed Veterinary Technician
Madeline’s experience with animals started as a volunteer at the local SPCA. There, she was involved with animal treatment in the medical suite. She fell in love with veterinary nursing and pursued her Bachelor’s degree in Small Animal Science from Delaware Valley College.
Madeline’s passion for exotic animals moved her to start her own rescue focused on exotic companion animals. In addition to the ever changing foster animals that Madeline cares for, she also has four cats, a panther chameleon, leopard gecko, gargoyle gecko, crested gecko, two leachianus geckos, betta fish, five rats and a hedgehog at home.
When she is not caring for exotic animals – at home, work or her rescue – Madeline enjoys knitting. She is also passionate about educating others on the best practices for their pets.
Samantha Warren
Veterinary Technician
Since a young age, Samantha has loved animals and been interested in learning everything she can about all species. From being involved in 4H as a child, to working at the local drive through safari, Sam followed her passion and attended Veterinary Assistant School and is now a Certified Veterinary Assistant. She has been with NAEVS since July of 2021.
In her spare time, Sam enjoys hiking and wildlife photography, especially birds. She currently has 2 cats and 1 dog, but has had a menagerie of exotic animals, including a leopard gecko, a hamster and ducks.
Isabel Ricardo
Veterinary Technician
Isabel is passionate about advocating for all animals. She was drawn to the veterinary medicine field and thrives in the fast paced work environment.
When it is time to slow down at home, Isabel enjoys digital collaging/moshing, watching anime and listening to music. She also enjoys fashion design and styling, as well as urban exploring. Isabel currently has a Basenji named Charlie as well as two cats, Cillian and Arthur.
Amanda Antpin
Veterinary Technician
Since grade school, Amanda has been drawn to veterinary care. Amanda obtained her Animal Business Management Certification and Veterinary Assistant Certification from Middlesex County College in 2013, and officially started working in veterinary medicine at a small cat & dog general practice the following year. Through the years, Amanda has gained experience through ER/ICU care, high quality high volume spay and neuter clinics, shelter medicine, and has finally landed in her dream subspecialty of avian and exotic care.
Amanda lives in Central Jersey with her family and their multitude of pets, including a French Bulldog, 3 cats, 2 ball pythons, a bearded dragon, a leopard gecko, a golden gecko and an african lungfish.
Amanda’s love of animals extends into her spare time – volunteering and fostering for a local cat rescue. She also enjoys going to concerts, antiquing and urban exploration.
Rose Lytle
Veterinary Assistant
Rose’s career in animal medicine began at 18 volunteering at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine. She is currently enrolled in online classes with Penn Foster to expand her veterinary technician credentials.
She lives in Ocean County with her dog, two cats, two leopard geckos, and a dwarf hamster.
Rose spends her free time listening to her collection of vinyl records and playing Dungeons and Dragons with her friends. For a few years, Rose did special effects makeup in the film industry and has travelled internationally to participate in competitions for monster/creature makeup.
Cat Clayton
Certified Veterinary Technician
Growing up in a “no animal” home, Cat knew that as an adult she would surround herself with animals. Pursuing her dream to surround herself with animals, she earned her Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology.
At home Cat has a dog, a cat, a rabbit, 3 guinea pigs, a skinny pig and a leopard gecko. Cat’s favorite hobby is to sing – she will even grace us with her gift of song while working. She enjoys reading and can read at a rate of more than 6 pages per minute!