CHALET ICE RINKS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- ASSISTANT SKATING DIRECTOR
Amanda Merritt performed as a professional figure skater for 15 years, touring worldwide with shows such as Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Feld Entertainment, among others. She was a cast member of a popular Dutch television program similar to Britain's "Dancing On Ice." Amanda taught at the Ice Den in Scottsdale, Arizona for several years before starting her show skating career. She taught at the Ice Chalet previously and recently returned to our teaching staff as Assistant Skating Director.
Arianna McElyea has been a member of the Ice Chalet family since she was three years old. She started apprenticing when she was 14 and began teaching in 2010. She teaches Tots through Delta. She has competed in many ISI competitions both locally and out of state and has appeared in the annual Nutcracker On Ice production for several years.
Arianna has passed Freestyle 4 and Dance 6. She is also an ISI Gold-level and Synchro-certified judge. Arianna is also certified as a skating instructor at both the Core (Tots through Delta) and Intermediate (Freestyle 1-5) levels in the Ice Skating Institute's Instructor Training Program. She earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.
Gina Alexander began skating at the Ice Chalet at age 10. As a member of the Robert Unger School, she participated in several Ice Chalet performances and ISI competitions. She has successfully passed tests in Freestyle, Couples, and Dance. She holds a B.A. from The University of Tennessee in Political Science. She is an ISI Bronze-level judge. Gina is also certified as a skating instructor at both the Core (Tots through Delta) and Intermediate (Freestyle 1-5) levels in the Ice Skating Institute's Instructor Training Program. Gina is excited to return to the Ice Chalet after introducing her young daughter to the fun of ice skating.
Gregory Fuller, a native of Ontario, Canada, started skating at age six, and has played hockey and figure skated most of his life. He managed four skating rinks, teaching ISI lessons and directing the skating schools. He has also passed the Fourteenstep in Dance. Gregory earned a B.S. degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and is also certified in K-3 education.
He has been with the Ice Chalet since 1984. Gregory is also an ISI Gold-level judge and is a certified skating instructor at the Core level (Tots through Delta) in the Ice Skating Institute's Instructor Training Program.
Jennifer Roberts Bradley has been skating for over 20 years, beginning as a tot at the Ice Chalet. She has been teaching for several years while continuing to take Freestyle lessons. Jennifer has participated in many ISI competitions and has enjoyed performing in the Nutcracker on Ice since its beginning at the Ice Chalet. She has also toured with the Ice Capades and skated with Rosstyn Ice Shows. Jennifer has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee, and she is a Bronze-level certified judge in the ISI program. Jennifer is also certified as a skating instructor at the Intermediate (Freestyle 1-5) levels in the Ice Skating Institute's Instructor Training Program. She and husband Stephen have a daughter, Rebecca Addison, who is just now learning to skate.
Jessi Goble Buchko skated competitively for 10 years and performed annually in the Owens Center Ice Show in Peoria, Illinois. She started teaching skills classes in 2012 and has taught skaters of all ages and skill levels.
She is an ISI Gold-level judge and has passed ISI Freestyle 9 and Dance 9. Jessi is also a USFS Moves-in-the-Field Gold Medalist, Freeskate Gold Medalist, and Ice Dance Gold Medalist. She has been a professional figure skating coach since 2016, and she was head coach of the Synchro Skills 2 team as well as secondary coach for other synchro teams. Jessi graduated from Bradley University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Science - Dietetics.
Jill Brehmer has been skating since she was 8 years old. She skated and competed in the United States Figure Skating Association system, achieving triple gold medalist status by passing her Senior Moves-in-the-Field, Senior Freestyle, and Gold Dance tests. Jill previously taught skating in the Cleveland, Ohio area, teaching both group and private lessons. Jill also has experience teaching off-ice dance classes to skaters and non-skaters alike.
Jill holds the Gold-level Judging certification from ISI. She has a BA degree in Psychology with a Dance minor from Kent State University. She also earned a M.Ed. in Counselor Education -- Student Affairs from Clemson University. Jill has previously worked in the higher education setting, specializing in learning support and working with students with disabilities.
Job Titles:
- Skating Director
- Skating School DIrector
Julia Hardin was among Robert Unger's first students at the Ice Chalet. She earned her law degree and served as associate dean at UT College of Law and later as director of a national citizenship education program at Wake Forest University. Julia taught skating in Winston-Salem NC before returning to Knoxville and her home rink in 1999.
She is an ISI Gold-level judge, Synchro-certified judge, certified Referee, and certified Skating Director. Julia is also certified as a skating instructor at both the Core (Tots through Delta) and Intermediate (Freestyle 1-5) levels in the Ice Sports Industry's Instructor Training Program. She is a member of both United States Figure Skating (USFS) and the Ice Sports Industry (ISI). She has also passed the USFS Core Coach Certification, is a member of Coach I.C.E., and is a certified Group Class Instructor in ISI. In addition to being an attorney, Julia owns a graphics design and consulting business, and a flexible schedule allows her to pursue her passion for skating.
Kate Webb Campbell started apprenticing when she was 14 and began teaching when she was 16. She teaches Tots through Freestyle. Kate has passed Freestyle 4 and Dance 5. She has competed in many ISI competitions both locally and out of state and has appeared in the annual Nutcracker On Ice production for several years. Kate holds associate degrees in both Business Management and Marketing from Pellissippi State and is an ISI Gold-level and Synchro-certified judge. Kate is also certified as a skating instructor at both the Core (Tots through Delta) and Intermediate (Freestyle 1-5) levels in the Ice Skating Institute's Instructor Training Program.
Job Titles:
- MANAGER
- OWNER
- Founder of Our Skating School
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Larry LaBorde has been with the Ice Chalet since 1967. He moved to Knoxville when his father accepted a position in The University of Tennessee College of Education.
When he started skating, Larry planned to become a professional hockey player. However, after experiencing a taste of professional junior hockey in Canada, he changed his focus to figure skating under the tutelage of Robert Unger. Mr. Unger trained all of the skaters at the Ice Chalet to become well-rounded skaters by learning all skating disciplines, not just freestyle or dance.
Larry spent five years touring with Holiday On Ice, the U.S. tour that is now called Disney On Ice. He holds Master ratings in Group Instruction and Program Director, as well as Senior ratings in Dance and Free Skating and Certified ratings in Pairs -- all part of the system established by the Professional Skaters Association (PSA). He holds the Registered rating in "Moves in the Field," and he is also rated in Hockey I and II. Larry is a Gold Medalist in Ice Dance in the United States Figure Skating Association (USFS) system.
Manager of the Ice Chalet since 1988 and owner since 2013, Larry was named Man of the Year by the Ice Skating Institute (ISI) in 1996. He has also served on the Board of Directors of ISI.
Margy Bennett was born and raised in Knoxville, is a UT graduate, and taught at the Ice Chalet. She has served as skating director for a number of high-profile skating rinks in cities such as Chicago, Illinois and Columbus, Ohio. She also skated professionally with "Holiday On Ice." Margy has taught skating in Columbus since 1984. She earned her PSA Master rating in 1980 in Group Instruction and Program Direction, and she recently became certified in Arena Management through ISI AIM.
Margy frequently returns to Knoxville, and she enjoys teaching all levels.
Michele Sheppard grew up skating at the Ice Chalet. She passed ISI tests in Freestyle 6 & Couple 6 as well as Dance and Figures. She skated eight seasons with Disney On Ice. Michele is an architect by profession and Mom to two great sons.
Rachil McAllister learned to skate at the Ice Chalet. She has participated in many ISI shows and competitions over the years, and is an enthusiastic performer with a passion for teaching amd music. Rachil is an ISI Bronze-level certified judge. She is studying Criminal Justice at Pellissippi State Community College.
Robert Unger, a native of Nuernberg, Germany, was a highly acclaimed skater who won titles in ice and roller skating championships in Europe. He was a featured performer in worldwide productions of Holiday On Ice and in European Ice Shows for 18 years before deciding to make his home in Knoxville in 1963, where he founded the Robert Unger School of Ice Skating.
He pioneered recreational ISI competitions by initiating the annual Mississippi Valley District Invitational Team Competition (MVDC) in 1969. In 1977, this competition became the first international ISI skating competition.
Mr. Unger earned his Masters Degree as a Figure, Freestyle, and Group Instructor, as well as Administrator, from the Professional Skaters Guild of America (PSGA). Twice named "Man of the Year" by the Ice Skating Institute, Mr. Unger was elected to membership in the Ice Skating Hall of Fame in 1983 for his contribution to the sport, and in the year 2000 he was presented with the ISI's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Job Titles:
- Competition Director
- Test Chair
Sarah Brown Bauguess began skating at the age of six at the Ice Chalet. She has passed ISI Freestyle 6 and Dance 10 as well as USFSA Juvenile Free, Bronze Dance, and Novice Moves-in-the-Field. Sarah majored in Figure Skating Science at the University of Delaware and has a Masters Degree in Sport Psychology from the University of Tennessee. She is also an ISI Gold-level judge. She has been coaching since 1999, and is a member of the Professional Skaters Association.
Shawnda Ernst served as the Ice Chalet's Skating School Director and Competition Director for many years and has been teaching at the Ice Chalet since 1990. She began skating and working at the rink after enrolling in UT skating classes. At UT, Shawnda earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education. As a skater, she enjoyed participating in many ISI competitions, including the ISI College Challenge. She also passed ISI tests in Figures, Freestyle, and Dance before becoming a teacher. Shawnda is an ISI Gold-level judge.
Shawnda spent many years as a first grade teacher, teacher coach, and assistant principal at Pond Gap, and she is now the principal at Ritta Elementary. Her husband Donnie, and their two children, Emily and Nicholas, also skate.