EQUESTRIAN EVENTS - Key Persons
Alice Andrews has been involved with Eventing for over 22 years, primarily as a show organizer. She was introduced to FEI competitions organizing for The Fork in Norwood North Carolina and GMHA in Vermont. She currently runs Three Lakes Horse Trials in Florida and continues to run GMHA. She has competed through the CC2*-L, though is currently concentrating on dressage.
Alice is also passionate about preserving wildlife and their natural habitats, and helps fundraise for the International Elephant Foundation. She resides in Florida with her husband, one horse, two dogs and two cats.
Brack joined the EEI Board of Directors in 1989 and has served in various elected and volunteer roles since. A native of Williamstown in Northern Kentucky and graduate of Georgetown College and LSU, Marquette was asked, in addition to EEI, to serve on governing boards and in voluntary leadership positions in more than 40 local, state, and national civic and non-profit organizations in higher education, human services, history and historic preservation, literacy, economic development, government, and the arts. An ardent advocate for EEI and the Bluegrass Region's incomparable equine, agriculture, and cultural assets, he is the father of long-standing EEI volunteers Dr. Miles Marquette, DMD, and Brooks Marquette, American University Washington School of Law.
Burr joined the EEI Board of Directors in 1997 and briefly served Interim Executive Director. Born in Tucson, AZ, on an Air Force Base but was raised in Lexington, KY. Burr attended WKU and was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. After WKU, Burr took a year off and moved to Aspen, CO, for the Winter season and then to NYC and Newport, RI, for the Summer.
Carol is a native of Lexington, KY and is married to William H. Brooks, MD. She is a retired restaurant owner/manager for ten years. Carol joined the EEI Board of Directors in 1993 and served on the board through 2010. Among her many roles with the Three-Day Event, she served as chairman of the sponsorship committee, board development, long-range planning and served on the hospitality committee and advisory board.
Carol has volunteered with several other organizations including serving as the district commissioner of the Keeneland Pony Club and the United States Pony Clubs, Inc. where she served as vice president of activities, chairman of the USPC Combined Training Committee (Eventing,) and Mid-south regional supervisor.
Over her life she has worked as a recreation director, schoolteacher, administrative assistant in marketing, housewife and mother. She now serves in her best role ever - Grandmother!
Caroline grew up in Prospect, Oldham County, KY, where she attended high school at Louisville Collegiate School and studied at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. She finished her undergraduate degree in Spanish & Psychology and went on to get her master's degree in Spanish from the University of Louisville.
Cavan is a native of Madisonville, KY, and he attended Midway University, where he graduated with a BA in Sports Management. Cavan served in the US Navy as an Operations Specialist. He previously worked for the American Horse Show Association as the information resources coordinator, the United States Dressage Federation as competition coordinator, Lane's End Farm as foreman and the United States Equestrian Federation as international competition consultant.
Robin works with the Lexington Dream Factory, Centenary Methodist Church and is a Consultant to the VP of the Masterson Equestrian Trust board. Her current hobby is regrouping from downsizing their forever home.
Cheri is originally from Bardstown, KY and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BS in Accounting. She has lived in Lexington over 40 years. Cheri was the director of development for EEI from 1999 through 2011, but continued on with EEI in a volunteer capacity as co-chair for the sponsor pavilion. She was employed in the construction industry for Gray Construction for 12 years as a cost accountant and project coordinator and with the Webb Companies for three years as a cost accountant and project assistant.
With her husband, Keith M. Clark, Cheri is the co-owner of Grey Goose, LLSC, DBA and the Blue Heron Steakhouse in Lexington, as well as co-owner of West Second, LLC and Clark and Pulliam LLC real estate entities. She is a member of the Iroquois Hunt Club and the Thoroughbred Club of America.
Cheri is a life-long horse lover, enjoying many disciplines, including fox hunting, cross-country, eventing and trail riding. She serves on the Iroquois Hunt Club board for her second term and was previously the secretary for that board. She also enjoys spending time at their beautiful farm in Clark County.
Chris is a native of Cincinnati, OH and graduated from Georgetown College with a degree in Communication Arts. In his early career he worked to bring the Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp to Georgetown College. He later went on to work for ten years at an IT startup.
Chris joined EEI in January 2013 and currently serves as the director of ticketing. He brings customer service and ticket theory into this role. He enjoys watching the Bengals and the Reds. He lives in Versailles with his wife Kristen and two daughters, Rachel, 16 & Romie, 14 and his main hobby is taxi driver.
Job Titles:
- Certified Public Accountant
- Board Member since 2023
Christy is a native of Lexington, KY and currently lives in Versailles. She received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Villanova University and her Master of Science in Taxation from Bentley College.
Christy is certified public accountant currently working for Dean Dorton Allen & Ford PLLC as an associate director in their tax department. She has over 20 years of experience in public accounting as well as eight years of experience in private industry in various financial roles, including Chief Financial Officer. Christy is a member of Dean Dorton's equine industry team and consults with clients in racing, breeding and multiple sporthorse disciplines.
Cindy is a long-term board member of EEI, having worked diligently to help create a highly successful Trade Fair. She and her husband, Steve, own Hunterton Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. Hunterton now breeds over 200 mares each year and sells approximately 150 yearlings each fall at the auctions in Lexington, KY, Sudbury, OH, and Harrisburg, PA. The success Hunterton's horses have enjoyed on the racetrack has translated to the sales ring, as Hunterton Sales Agency has become one of harness racing's leading yearling consignors year after year.
Job Titles:
- Board Member since 2014
- Vice President of Eventing for the Mid - South Eventing
Courtney grew up in North Carolina. She attended the University of Kentucky and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Equine Science and Management. Every year as a child she would attend the Kentucky Three-Day event with her mother and grandmother. Her love of all things "horsey" led her to a gap year in Lexington to work at the Kentucky Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center.
Courtney serves as the vice president of eventing for the Mid-South Eventing and Dressage Association. Fun fact about Courtney, she competes a 14.1hh pony in both eventing and dressage. The pair was second overall and won the best conditioned award at the long format three-day event in 2022.
Dr. Chris Newton is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation from veterinary school in 1997, Dr. Newton began practicing in North Carolina, but returned home to his native Lexington in 2000 when he joined Rood & Riddle. He is a general practitioner with primary interests in equine sports medicine, physical therapy, alternative medicine and reproduction.
As a sport horse practitioner, Dr. Newton has served as the team veterinarian for the North American Junior Young Rider Championship for 10 years, the treating veterinarian for the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event for 12 years, and served as Rood & Riddle's veterinary coordinator during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Dr. Newton is also an avid equestrian who graduated from Pony Club and competes regularly in eventing.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Chairman of the University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Foundation
- Executive Committee Member / Board Member since 2014
Dr. Brown completed his undergraduate work at Transylvania University and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University. He spent nearly 30 years with Lexington's Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, specializing in equine reproduction and ambulatory medicine.
Dr. Stuart E. Brown II serves as Keeneland's Vice President of Equine Safety and joined Keeneland in June 2020. Dr. Brown leads Keeneland's effort to develop, communicate and enforce safety and integrity policies for both racing and sales operations; reviews all racing-related accidents with the goal of prevention; assesses relevant equine health and safety research and proactively communicates best practices to the racing community and public. His duties encompass Keeneland and The Thoroughbred Center, the training center in Lexington that Keeneland owns.
Chairman of the University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Foundation, Dr. Brown serves on many philanthropic and equestrian organizations. He previously served as a Commissioner for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and Chairman of the KHRC's Equine Drug Research Council.
Job Titles:
- Board Member since 2022
- Chief of Staff & General Counsel at Wrigley Media Group
Elizabeth is a native of Pikeville, KY. She has a Juris Doctorate, MBA, Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and a BA in Psychology,
Elizabeth is the chief of staff & general counsel at Wrigley Media Group. She has a wide-ranging background and notable experience, having previously worked as a litigation attorney in Lexington. Serving in her key role on the Wrigley Media team, she uses the combination of her degrees and experience to help fuel the growth of the company in all aspects of the organization.
Eloise grew up in Charlotte, NC, riding saddlebreds. She attended college in Virginia and NC. Her love for horses brought her to KY for a "brief" stay, and she's still here after 45 years! She began a career in banking that lasted 40 years, having recently retired from Central Bank and Trust. She held numerous banking positions before moving into the Trust Dept. For many years she was the only female Personal Trust Officer in Lexington.
Eric is a native of Simpsonville, KY. He graduated from the University of Kentucky. Eric's career focuses on lead strategy and execution around serving hospitals all over the US, focusing on hospital administration, operations and shared services; build/invest to scale companies in healthcare or technology related industries. His expertise is in healthcare, technology, innovation and partnerships. Eric is currently a partner with Onecore Ventures.
Eric is involved with the Boy Scouts of America, Family Scholar House, Bernheim Arboretum and the US Pony Club. His personal interests are the outdoors, backpacking, spending time with his family, and he is a horse show dad.
Wooton, Kentucky (Leslie County) is Jan's hometown, and she is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with a degree in business administration. She and her husband met at EKU and actually got married on campus.
Jan worked at the University of Kentucky in the Career Planning and Placement office. She is currently the owner of Accuprint, Inc, a printing company that she and her husband started in 1983. Since 1999, she has also owned and operated an equine boarding facility. Her involvement with horses has lead her to be secretary for two USEA horse trials held at Kentucky Horse Park.
She is on the Board of Governors of the United States Pony Clubs and currently serve as the Vice-President of Activities. She has been a board member of USPC for 14 years and has served on a variety of committees during her terms. She is also a Vice Regional Supervisor for the Midsouth Region of USPC and has been in that role for several years.
Other than work, horses and volunteering, she enjoys spending time with her granddaughters, mostly running after them as they are high energy.
Jane has been a resident of Lexington, Kentucky, for most of her life. She is a graduate of Henry Clay High School and the University of Kentucky. She and her husband Steve, former Governor of Kentucky, live on a small farm outside of Lexington. The Beshear's have two sons. Jeff, who is an equine veterinarian in Virginia, and Andy, who is the current Governor of Kentucky.
Janie was born and raised in Anderson, IN. She loved horses from the get-go, around age 3. She saved her money and acquired her first horse when she was 16. A four-year-old American Saddlebred mare that she trained as a Five-Gated pleasure and show horse.
Janie Graduated from the University of Kentucky with Bachelor of Science degree in animal science, and her horse went to college with her. Her horsemanship instructor was a retired cavalry officer and taught Dressage and Eventing. The mare was retrained for each of those sports. Janie went on to graduate from Rutgers University with a master's degree in animal science.
Janie started her career as a lab tech with the University of Kentucky Veterinary Science department in March of 1969. She moved from Lexington in 1970 to accept a position as industry liaison with the newly formed American Horse Council, equine industry trade association, in Washington, DC. She returned to Lexington in May of 1972 to work for The Blood-Horse, a weekly Thoroughbred racing and breeding magazine. In September of 1974, Janie was appointed and accepted the position of executive director of the newly formed Kentucky Horse Council, a state government agency created by the Kentucky legislature to promote, preserve and strengthen the equine industry in Kentucky. Additionally she was appointed to serve as primary industry liaison to the Kentucky Department of Parks relative to the creation of a Master Plan for and development of the Kentucky Horse Park.
Janie was instrumental in encouraging the Kentucky Horse Council members to approach the Governor and convinced the state to bid on the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships, the US having earned the right to host those based on the Gold Medal Individual Champion, American Bruce Davidson. Kentucky received acceptance of the state's bid in April 1975. When EEI was formed in 1975, Janie was a member of their first board of directors and Janie served as volunteer chief Dressage steward from the first horse trials held at the Kentucky Horse Park in 1976 through the 1984 Rolex Kentucky Event.
Janie accepted the position as executive vice president of Equestrian Events, Inc. and event director of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in December of 1984. She was appointed eventing discipline director in September 2007 for the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games held at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Janie retired from EEI in October of 2010.
Jeff Lamb was born and raised in Lexington and has lived here all his life. He has a 31-year-old daughter, Jessica Lamb, that has helped out at the event off and on for the last 10 years. After graduation from Tates Creek High School in 1977, Jeff attended the University of Kentucky for 3 years, and yes, he does Bleed Blue! He then worked in family businesses until they closed before starting a career in construction. Work included both residential and commercial, working for Atchison Construction, NPC Card Services, and Thomas & King. Currently he is self-employed, doing carpentry, plumbing, and electrical, and has been doing this for 25+ years.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Business Development
Karla is a native of Branson, MO and is the daughter of a retired Missouri game warden and buffalo rancher and a famous romance novelist. She graduated from the University of Missouri. Karla's career includes serving as the marketing and sales director for Roy Clark Celebrity Theater in Branson, followed by The Carolina Opry in Myrtle Beach and the Charleston Music Hall in downtown Charleston, SC. Karla relocated to Lexington, KY, in 1999, where she served as the vice president for sales for Host Communications. Through several ownership changes, including sponsorship giant IMG, Karla served as one of the few female executives in global sponsorship sales and was eventually promoted to president of the for-profit division of the National Tour Association. Karla joined EEI in 2017 and serves as the senior director of business development & sponsorship sales.
Job Titles:
- President / Board Member since 2017
Laura is from Meaford, Ontario, Canada and graduated from the University of Guelph (BSc) York University (MBA) and the University of Kentucky (JD.) She has practiced law privately most of her career and also worked for a few years as in-house counsel for the Stronach Group (racetracks.) Currently she is a partner with Dinsmore & Shohl - Equine and Gaming Law.
Laura is a business attorney who focuses her practice in the equine and gaming areas. She teaches Equine Law at the University of Kentucky College of Law and is a frequent speaker on equine and gaming topics nationally. She is active in her community, previously serving on the boards of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Commerce Lexington, LexArts and the Lexington Junior League. She is involved with the Ed Brown Society and New Vocations.
Laura's hobbies include Travel, Wine, Cooking, Show Jumping and all horse sports! Laura is mom to Lilly, who is presently applying to colleges for Fall of 2023.
Laura is a native of Evansville, IN but grew up mostly in Neenah, WI. She got her BA from the University of Iowa and her MA in Audiology from the University of Wisconsin and earned her MBA from Northern Illinois University.
After just a few years in Audiology, Laura went into the hearing industry in the role of Technical Support, Product Development and Marketing. From there, she went into consulting and eventually started her own business and marketing consulting practice, Galloping Lane Marketing. Laura has been working with EEI in the role of Volunteer Coordinator since 2018.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer / Board Member since 2016
Laura is a native of Saginaw, Michigan and is an Honors college graduate of Michigan State University. She has served as the director of human resources and director, worldwide government and community affairs at Lexmark International from 2000 to 2005. Prior to that she was executive vice president of the greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce (now Commerce Lexington.)
Lynn is a native of Louisville, KY. She graduated from the University of Kentucky. Lynn has worked in the thoroughbred industry in many roles, including - sales catalog page writer, assistant in a bloodstock agency, sales director for a thoroughbred farm etc. She now does work for two churches as well as being an equine insurance agent and volunteer for several local horse events.
Lynn received his Master of Arts (M.A.) in English and Journalism from the University of Kentucky. He served as the director of member services at AAA Bluegrass from 1997 - 1980 and the public relations director of Central Baptist Hospital from 1981 - 1999. Since 1999 he has been the owner of printLEX.
Lynn served on the EEI board from 1997 through 2020.
Job Titles:
- Secretary / Board Member since 2007
Mary holds a Master's Degree in Education from Murray State University. She was the Director of Human Resources at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky, from 2003 to 2019. She also served as the Vice-President of Human Resources for Fidelity National Credit Services, as an organizational development training specialist with the University of Kentucky's Lexington Community College in the Center for Community Partnerships, and worked in the Training and Development Department of Toyota Motor Manufacturing located in Georgetown, Kentucky developing and delivering training. She has provided consulting and training through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, as well as consulting with various businesses and organizations.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Executive Committee Member / Board Member since 2013
Mary Quinn is from Danville, KY and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Centre College, and in 2008, she received the Distinguished Young Alumna Award from the College. She currently serves as president of VisitLEX, where she oversees all administrative, marketing and convention activities for the destination organization. Mary Quinn brings 20 years of tourism, marketing communications, and event planning experience to VisitLEX. Prior to becoming president, Mary Quinn spent seven years as the vice president of marketing at the organization.
In addition, to her role with VisitLex, Mary Quinn is active with numerous tourism-related organizations, including membership on the Kentucky Horse Park Commission and the boards of the Kentucky Travel Industry Association, Rural Land Management Board, Sister Cities, Equestrian Events Inc., and McDowell House Museum. Mary Quinn is an active member of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Lexington.
Mary Quinn has been fortunate to be involved in many award-winning projects over the years. She is a proud recipient of the Public Relations Society of America's top honor, the Silver Anvil, as well as the numerous marketing awards from the Kentucky Travel Industry Association, and in 2021, she was named the Association's Member of the Year. In 2015, Mary Quinn received the Lois Mateus Networking Award from the Kentucky Distillers Association and the Bourbon Women organization.
Mary Quinn lives in downtown Lexington with her family and enjoys traveling across the globe and to interesting spots in her beloved Commonwealth, trying out new restaurants, spending time with her precious nieces and nephews, and savoring every last bite of a gingerbread man from Burke's Bakery in her hometown Danville.
Mary was born in Chicago, IL and raised in Lexington, KY. She attended Lexington Catholic High School and the University of Kentucky.
Meredith is a native of Lexington, KY and graduated from Transylvania University with a BA in History. She started her career in the hotel business and worked for the Winegardner & Hammons Hotel Group in Lexington and Northern Kentucky. Her hotel journey took her to Memphis, TN, with the Peabody Hotel and to, Lexington, KY, Alexandria, VA and Miami, FL, with Radisson Hotels. After several years on the road, Lexington called her home for a position with the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau, where she eventually became the Vice President of Research and Marketing. Most recently, Meredith completed a fifteen-year stint with the Sazerac Company developing and managing their Homeplace tourism destinations at six locations in three different countries. These included the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY and locations in Bardstown, KY Fredericksburg, VA, New Orleans, LA, Montreal, Canada and Cognac, France. In October of 2022 Meredith joined Equestrian Events, Inc. as the director of marketing.
Meredith has served on boards with the Southeast Tourism Society, the Travel & Tourism Research Association, the Bardstown-Nelson County Tourist & Convention Commission and the Bluegrass Trust for Historic Preservation, where she is a past president.
She serves on the Parish Council of St Peter's Catholic Church and was named as one of the Top Women in Business by The Lane Report in spring of 2022.
Meredith lives in Lexington and has one grown son, Alex.
Mike is a native of Cynthiana, KY, less than 20 miles from the Kentucky Horse Park and grew up in Carrollton. He is a graduate of Georgetown College with a degree in Business Administration and Communication Arts. Mike began his career in tourism, working for the Kentucky Departments of Parks and Tourism immediately after college. He has been involved in the administrations of Kentucky's last nine governors, most recently serving as Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism.
Natosha Barnett is a native of Lincoln County, KY. She owns Barnett Enterprises, which is what she's called her job for the past 17 years and jokingly referred to when speaking about her life as a Stay at Home Mom. She quips that it may not have been the best pay but has been the most rewarding!
Job Titles:
- President - Elect / Board Member since 2011
Resa is a native of Cynthiana, KY and a graduate of the University of Kentucky. She holds a Master's Degree in sports and event management from the University of Georgia. She is owner/operator of Seeds & Saplings, a children's specialty store in Georgetown's historic downtown. She also teaches event planning as an adjunct professor at Georgetown College.
Resa is active in the community as a volunteer for Scott County Schools, as a commissioner on the Georgetown/Scott County Tourism Commission and the board of directors at the Lexington Children's Theatre. In addition, she is a member of Georgetown/Scott County Chamber of Commerce, the Scott County Woman's Club and Grace Christian Church. She and her husband, Brian, have two children, Hannah and Clark.
Robin is a native of Kansas City, MO and graduated from the University of Kentucky. She worked in corporate America in the telecommunications industry before moving to Kentucky. She was based in Kansas City, MO and held the position of project manager/consultant for GTE/Spring, head sales estimator/sales project manager with Andres Corporation and construction scheduler with Burns & McDonnell Engineers/Architects.
Job Titles:
- Board Member since 2010
- Member of the American Bar Association
Shannon is a native of Lexington, Kentucky. She went to school at Cassidy Elementary and Morton Junior High and graduated from Henry Clay High School. She was able to take time off from school to pursue her passion of competing horses in Three Day Eventing, Dressage, and Show Jumping. She lived in New England and Northern Virginia and trained with Olympic Coaches and riders as she pursued her dream of going to the Olympics.
Shannon graduated from the University of Virginia, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies and a Minor in Bioethics. She received a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies, focusing on Eastern Religion. Deciding to pursue a career in law, she then went to the St. Louis University School of Law, where she received a Juris Doctor and specialized in Criminal Litigation.
She was hired by the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy in 2008 to work in the Lexington Public Defender Office. She served as a Directing Attorney of the Lexington South Office for seven years and is currently a staff attorney with the Capital Trials Branch - East.
Shannon is a member of the American Bar Association, the Kentucky Bar Association, the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is a Board Member of the Fayette County Bar Association. Shannon is the mother of two children, who attend Morton Middle School and Glendover Elementary, and they have a dog and two cats.
Sharon was born in Tucson, AZ and lived in several cities, including Flint, MI, Whittier, CA and eventually settled in Rancho Cacamonga, CA. She retired from the City of Rancho Cucamonga in December, 2002 after 25 years of service in the Finance Department. Her last position was as Senior Accountant, where she was responsible for overseeing all the financial records, balancing the bank statement, managing state and federal grants and working with the team of auditors to prepare the annual financial statements. In December of 2022, she and her family moved to Nicholasville, KY.
Job Titles:
- Immediate past President / Board Member since 1993
R. Stewart Perry grew up in Lexington, graduating from Tates Creek High School and attended the University of Kentucky. Since 1982 he has been the co-owner of Perry and Perry State Farm Insurance. He is also a very successful Diabetes Advocate and Consultant on Diabetes Government Relations and affairs, working primarily in states affairs.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Competition