​STAR STAFF

Emily Justus
Emily serves as STAR's Executive Director. She holds a bachelor's in Business Marketing and an MBA from Elon University where she also played Division I soccer. She brings extensive experience in leadership, fundraising, and marketing, with a career that includes fundraising for a $3 billion capital campaign at the University of Virginia and overseeing high-profile marketing initiatives, including NASCAR sponsorships and major campaigns at Tombras in Knoxville. Read more HERE.

​Lynn Klimas Petr
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Lynn is STAR's Founder and Executive Director Emeritus. She holds a bachelor's degree in special education, and a master's degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Tennessee. She is an Advanced Level PATH Intl. Instructor and mentor and an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). Lynn is also very involved with PATH Intl. and currently sits on their Board of Trustees. 

Angela Bartlett
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Angela serves as STAR’s Development Director, bringing nearly a decade of experience in nonprofit fundraising and community engagement. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from the University of North Georgia, a Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Kentucky, and earned her Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) credential in 2025. Before joining STAR, Angela served as Senior Director of Development and Marketing at Positively Living & Choice Health Network, where she expanded fundraising initiatives, launched new donor programs, and led major events. Prior to that, she spent over seven years at the Knoxville-Knox County CAC Office on Aging, where she secured millions in grants and philanthropic support. Angela grew up attending horse camps and has always loved being around horses. She lives in Rocky Hill with her husband, their basset hound, and their cats. Angela is passionate about strengthening community partnerships and advancing STAR’s mission through strategic development and marketing efforts.

Kristen Sanders, CTRI
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Kristen serves as STAR's Director of Operations. She is a Certified Advanced Level PATH Intl. Instructor and mentor. She holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and a MBA degree from Tennessee Technological University. Kristen has been working in nonprofit administration for most of her career.  She is also very involved with PATH Intl.

Brittany Ferrell, CTRI/ESMHL
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Brittany serves as STAR's Director of Programs and is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and a certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). She holds a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from Tennessee Wesleyan College and a master's degree in Recreational Therapy from the University of Tennessee. She is a Certified Therapeutic Recreational Specialist (CTRS) and has experience working with children with Autism. She has a lifetime of experience riding and working with horses.

Lisa Bell
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Lisa serves as STAR's Volunteer Manager. She has a lifetime of experience riding and working with horses in various disciplines but currently spends her weekends at barrel races and rodeos. Lisa enjoys working with people and horses, and is thrilled to combine both of those passions here at STAR! 

Chandler Rhea Blankenship
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Chandler serves as STAR's Minis in Motion Manager. She has a bachelor's in English literature from Maryville College along with a certification in Non-Profit Management through the Non-Profit Leadership Alliance (NLA). Chandler's hobbies include reading, writing, and spending her free time with horses. She has been volunteering with STAR since 2010 and is excited to join the STAR Team!

Liz Burns
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Liz serves as STAR's Equine Manager. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and an associate of arts in English Equestrian Studies from the University of Findlay. Liz is a lifelong horse person who has explored all disciplines from polo to western pleasure. She is excited to join the STAR Family!

Chris Cannon
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Chris serves as STAR's Communications Manager. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Writing & Communications from Maryville College, and he has a passion for writing and sharing stories of individuals and organizations. Chris enjoys camping with his wife and two children, and he's passionate about nature photography and the outdoors. He looks forward to sharing STAR's story!

Julie Johnston, CTRI
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Julie serves as STAR's Equine Assistant, and she is Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI). As an avid horseman her entire life in both English and Western riding, Julie brings a wealth of knowledge to STAR! Julie has a bachelor's degree in Business Management from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and an Associate's degree in Business & Equine Studies from Hiwassee College. She is looking forward to enriching the lives of both horses and humans through the STAR experience.

Kayli Martin
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Kayli serves as STAR's Administrative Assistant. She earned a bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Tennessee. Kayli has a deep love for all animals, and she enjoys reading, writing, and hiking with her friends. Although she doesn't have much experience with horses, she is excited to learn and be part of the STAR team!

Kara Price, CTRI/ESMHL
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Kara serves as STAR’s Programs Manager, responsible for coordinating and supporting STAR’s Therapeutic Riding, Heroes & Horses, and STRIDES programs. She is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). Kara has a lifelong background with horses and earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Tennessee.​

Whitney Seymore
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Whitney serves as STAR’s Facilities Manager. He comes to STAR with years of experience in construction, framing, plumbing, and electrical work. Though he doesn’t have much horse experience, he is a regular jack of all trades and is a great addition to the STAR Family.

Stephanie Studer
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Stephanie serves as STAR’s Barn Manager. She holds an associate's degree in liberal arts & sciences from Pellissippi State Community College. She has always been involved in the equine world and currently owns a horse, pony, donkey, and two goats. Stephanie is a certified Chris Irwin Trainer with a silver level standing in both groundwork and riding.

Part Time Staff

​Ansley Cate, CTRI
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Ansley is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI). She holds a bachelor's degree in exercise science from East Tennessee State University. She started out as a volunteer at STAR and worked her way up to becoming an instructor. Ansley continues to improve her knowledge and horsemanship skills by riding and working with horses in her spare time. ​

​Marc Churchwell
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Marc serves as STAR's Facilities Assistant.​ He is a retired Navy Master Chief with 28 years in the submarine force. He holds a BA in Elementary and Special Education from University of West Florida (UWF), also a M.Ed. in Instructional Technology from UWF. Marc retired from UWF in 2018 as the Founding Director of the Veterans Center. During his tenure at UWF, he served on several Advisory Boards in support of the Veteran community. His primary job now is playing with his granddaughter. He has volunteered at STAR for a couple of years and very much enjoys working with the horses and supporting the Veterans in the Heroes and Horses program.

Cathie Haviland, CTRI
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Cathie is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI). She grew up on a farm in upstate New York where she showed western pleasure and competed in barrel racing. Cathie's passion for therapeutic riding started when her niece, now an adult, was diagnosed with Autism at age 3. To make a difference in the world of Autism, Cathie graduated from the University of Tennessee with a master's degree in Recreational Therapy and became a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS).  

Samantha "Sam" Holyfield, CTRI/ESMHL
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Sam is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). She graduated from St. Andrews University with a bachelor's in Therapeutic Horsemanship and minor in Psychology. She has been working with horses for more than 10 years and has ridden almost every discipline.

Betsey Knight, CTRI
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Betsey is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) through PATH Intl. She has a bachelor's degree in Recreation Administration with a minor in Child Development from California State University at Chico. She is a certified CHA instructor and owner/operator of Shadow Mountain Farm, a horse camp for girls.

Kim Lynch, CTRI/ESMHL
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Kim is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and has been involved with horses almost all her life and has been teaching and volunteering with Therapeutic Riding part time on and off for more than 20 years, including time spent volunteering and receiving her CTRI training with STAR. She is excited to join the STAR team after working more than 23 years in construction and engineering as a Support Tech. 

Sandy Manns, CTRI
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Sandy is a PATH Int’l Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and has with a lifelong passion for horses. She loves to learn and takes every opportunity to improve her knowledge and skills; whether that is further developing her horsemanship or mastering a new Excel formula. Sandy works full time as an accountant, and when not working, she enjoys spending time with her grandkids or getting in a good gym workout.

Kate McCormick, CTRI/ESMHL
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Kate is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). She graduated from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 2007 with both a bachelor's and master's degree in special education. She taught Special Education in school systems primarily in NYC and CT for a decade, focusing generally on high school students with mental health and behavioral challenges, and children of all ages of Autism. For the past five years, she has been teaching mounted therapeutic riding lessons and unmounted equine learning lessons, as well as serving as an education consultant to various therapeutic riding facilities in the northeast. Kate recently moved to TN with her three kids.

Gary Patty
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Gary serves as STAR's Facilities Assistant.​ He is an East Tennessee native and graduate of Karns High School in Knoxville. Gary spent three years in the Navy as a flight deck crewman on an aircraft carrier before spending 47 years as a truck driver. He was raised on a farm, having extensive experience baling hay across East Tennessee. Upon retirement, Gary became a volunteer at STAR, serving a key role in facilities as a volunteer. He's heavily involved in the Heroes & Horses program, and he looks forward to continuing his work around STAR's 64-acre property.

Megan Storm, CTRI
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Megan is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) with years of hands-on experience working with horses. She holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology from Florida Atlantic University. She has a background on the show circuit including working at major USEF AA-rated horse shows across the country, and she brings a well-rounded understanding of both performance and therapeutic horsemanship. Before moving to Tennessee, Megan served as the Volunteer Coordinator at an equine-assisted services center in Florida.