​STAR STAFF

​Lynn Klimas Petr
Lynn is STAR's founder and serves as full-time Executive Director. She holds a BS degree in Special Education, and a MS 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. 

Lisa Bell
Lisa serves as STAR's Volunteer Coordinator. 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, C.N.P.
Chandler serves as STAR's Operations Support. She has a BA 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 Staff Team!

Abby Dupont
Abby serves as STAR's Barn Manager. She has trained in various disciplines but her favorite is show jumping. Abby has a passion for horses and is happy to work with all the various horses we have at STAR! She currently owns an off the track thoroughbred that she has partnered with for many years. 

Brittany Ferrell
Brittany serves as STAR's Program Director and is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and a certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). She holds a BS degree in Exercise Science from TN Wesleyan College and a MS 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.

​Lloyd Hodge
Lloyd serves as STAR's Facility Assistant. He comes to STAR after retiring from working night shift at a local factory for years. He is happy to be doing what he loves, working outside. You will find Lloyd mostly working at our South Knoxville location. 

Samantha "Sam" Holyfield
Sam serves as STAR’s Program Support. Sam is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). Sam graduated from St. Andrews University with a B.A. in Therapeutic Horsemanship and minor in Psychology. She has been working with horses for 10 years and has ridden almost every discipline.

Kara Price
Kara serves as STAR's Program Coordinator. She is in charge of our Minis in Motion, Reflections, and Field Trip programs. Kara is a certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL) and is working on becoming a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor through PATH Intl. Kara graduated from the University of TN with a bachelors in Social Work. Kara grew up riding and working with horses.

Rick Price
Rick serves as STAR's Facility Director. He comes to STAR after working as a Facility Manager for a hotel chain for many years. He has some experience working on a dairy farm and is excited to put his skills to use on a horse farm. 

Kristen Sanders
Kristen serves as STAR's Director of Operations. She is an Advanced Level PATH Intl. Instructor and mentor. She has a BS 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.

Shawn Snyder
Shawn serves as STAR's Development Director. He holds a Bachelors degree from Western Carolina University. Shawn came to STAR after 16 years with the Boys and Girls Club where he was the Executive Director of the Loudon County Club for 3 years. Shawn didn't grow up around horses, but he is excited to learn more and help STAR continue in its mission of Healing Through Horses.

Stephanie Studer
​Stephanie serves as STAR’s Equine Manager. She holds an Associates 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.

Chelsea Taylor
​​Chelsea serves as STAR’s Director of Services.  She manages specialty programs like Heroes and Horses, Changing STRIDES, and Stable Friends.  Chelsea is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning through PATH Intl. and holds a BS from Florida State University in Art Education with an emphasis in Art Therapy.  Chelsea came to STAR with 3 years of experience as a PATH Intl instructor in Northern Michigan specializing in therapeutic horsemanship programs for at risk youth.  Additionally she has 13 years of experience working with children and adults with special needs in a variety of social service settings.  Horses have always had a special healing capacity for Chelsea personally and she enjoys using her creativity and her passions in life to spread the joy of horses to others through therapeutic riding and equine assisted learning.  

Hailey Rose Viars
Hailey Rose serves as STAR’s Communications Manager. She holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in Agricultural Communications and a Masters degree from Oklahoma State University in International Agriculture. Her love for horses was fostered at a young age as she grew up riding horses and competing in rodeo. With a passion for communicating, creating, and storytelling, Hailey Rose is excited to contribute to telling STAR's story of #HealingThroughHorses.

Part Time Staff

Megan Borges
Megan is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). ​She was a Preschool Teacher and Assistant Director for 8 years and studied Early Childhood Education and Development through East Tennessee State University.  She has been around horses since she was 5 and is happy to combine her love for horses with her passion for helping others here at STAR. When not at STAR she sells real estate.  

Robin Bowen
Robin is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI). She has been involved with STAR since 1989, is a parent of a rider and assists with various special events. She also had an important role in the start of our Heroes and Horses program. Robin was named Region 5 PATH Intl. Professional in 2016!

​Elizabeth "Ellie" Carr
Ellie is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and holds a BS Degree in Animal Science, concentration in Equine Science, with a minor in Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University. She has been volunteering and working with different therapeutic riding facilities for over six years, and has been around horses since she was little.

​Ansley Cate
Ansley is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI). She holds a BS 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. ​

Jenn Gerard
Jenn is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) through PATH Intl. She holds a BA in Sign Language Interpreting and a minor in Math. She is a nationally certified sign language interpreter and has a full time job outside of STAR. She also does triathlons in her spare time. 

Cathie Haviland
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 did a little barrel racing. Cathie's passion for therapeutic riding started when her niece, now an adult, was diagnosed with Autism at age 3. In order to make a difference in the world of Autism, Cathie graduated from the University of Tennessee with her masters in Recreational Therapy and became a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS).  

Betsey Knight
Betsey is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) through PATH Intl. She has a 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.

Kate McCormick
Kate is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). She graduated from UTK in 2007 with both a Bachelor's and Master's degrees 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 TR 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.

Megan Tessaro
​Megan is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) through PATH Intl. and holds a BA in Anthropology from Florida Atlantic University. Born and raised in south Florida, Megan has always had great respect for equine-assisted activities and their contribution to the community. She brings to the organization over a decade of experience in the equestrian industry working at major USEF AA-rated horse shows across the country. She also has experience in marketing, public relations, and brand management, while specializing in event management and community engagement. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors.

Back Row: Mike & Shawn Front Row: Stephanie, Abby, Brittany, Lynn, Kristen, Kaulalani, Lisa, Megan