​STAR STAFF

​Lynn Klimas Petr
Lynn is STAR's founder and 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. Lynn is also very involved with PATH Intl. and currently sits on their Board of Trustees. 

Lisa Bell
Lisa is STAR's Volunteer Coordinator. She has a lifetime of experience riding and working with horses in various disciplines. She is currently barrel racing with her horse Hollywood. Lisa enjoys working with people and horses, and is thrilled to combine both of those passions here at STAR! 

Megan Borges
Megan is STAR's Program Coordinator and is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. She is working toward become a Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. ​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.

Brittany Ferrell
Brittany is STAR's Program Director and is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and a certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. 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.

Kaulalani Holloway
Kaulalani is STAR's Administrative Assistant. Born and raised on Oahu, Kaulalani moved to Tennessee over 35 years ago and calls Maryville home where she lives with her daughter. She brings with her office skills, a love for animals and the outdoors, and a heart to help. Paniolo is the Hawaiian word for cowboy and that is what she would like to be. 

Abbie Phelps
Abbie is STAR's Barn Manager. ​She holds a Bachelor's of Science in Agriculture and Natural Resources with a double minor in Forestry Resource Management; and Sustainability and Environmental Sciences from Berea College.  During her work study program at Berea, she worked with Suffolk Punch draft horses in both reproduction, and as a practitioner of  “restoration forestry” through low impact horse logging. She was born in Kentucky but was raised here in Knoxville, where she volunteered at STAR from 2010 up until she took the Barn Manager position. Abbie has a passion for all different kinds of animals, but horses particularly. She has been involved in the equine industry since she was young and plans to continue her education in riding, training, and breeding. Abbie is a dog mom of an adorable but massive black lab mix and is currently looking for her first horse!

Kristen Sanders
Kristen is 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.

Michael Smyre
​Michael is STAR’s Director of Facilities. He is a Florida native who spent 30 years in the marine industry, he retired as an Operations and Engineering Manager in 2016. He and his wife moved to Tennessee to be near family and friends.  Michael has always been an outdoorsman therefore STAR’s two locations, Lenoir City and South Knoxville, give him the opportunity to do what he enjoys which is maintaining and protecting the natural beauty of STAR.

Shawn Snyder
Shawn is 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 is 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 is 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 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.  

Part Time Staff

Robin Bowen
Robin teaches Heroes & Horses and is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. She has been involved with STAR since 1989, is a parent of a rider and assists with various special events. Robin is also the Area Director for Special Olympics in Loudon County. Robin was named Region 5 PATH Intl. Professional in 2016!

Ansley Cate
Ansley is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. She holds a BS degree in Exercise Science from East Tennessee State University. She started out as a vol 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 Registered Level PATH Intl. Instructor. She holds a BA in Sign Language Interpreting and a minor in Math. She is a nationally certified sign language interpreter and currently works as a therapy assistant at Hosenfeld Chiropractic/Apple Healthcare.

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 Registered Level PATH Intl. Instructor. 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 schoolers with mental health and behavioral challenges, and children of all ages of Autism. For the past 5 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.

Jan McElroy
Jan holds a BS degree in Animal Science and has shown horses on the "A" circuit for many years. She holds a PATH Intl. Advanced Level Instructor certification and is the owner/operator of Hunter Hollow Farm, a private boarding/lesson stable. Jan was also the Hunt Seat Coach of the University of Tennessee's Intercollegiate team from 1999-2008.