MCKENNA FARMS THERAPY SERVICES - Key Persons
Amy Pitts is originally from Milford, Connecticut and has a background in Special Education and law enforcement. In her spare time, Amy enjoys gardening and spending time with her husband Linn and their two kids. She loves working at McKenna because of the ability to impact so many families who have found themselves "in Holland" like herself.
Ashley loves baking, cooking, gardening, and playing super nerdy board games like Dungeons and Dragons. Ashley and her husband have two cats with three eyes between them: Dobby (@sir_dobbers) and Sasha. She enjoys the interdisciplinary work environment and the array of treatment approaches and tools available at McKenna.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the Board
- Chief Risk Officer for North American Clearinghouses at Intercontinental Exchange, Inc
Ashwini Panse is the Chief Risk Officer for North American Clearinghouses at Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. In this role, Panse is responsible for oversight of the Enterprise Risk Management Program at the North American clearing houses. Prior to this role, Panse served in other leadership roles in risk, compliance and internal audit across ICE's global business units. Panse joined ICE in August 2010 with the internal audit department. In her internal audit role, she was responsible for executing the global audit program, which included ensuring compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act across ICE's global business units. In her compliance role, she served in the capacity of the Chief Compliance Officer of ICE Trade Vault U.S.
Panse began her career in public accounting at Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLC serving primarily financial services and manufacturing clients in Atlanta, Georgia. Panse holds a MBA in Finance from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is also a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Accountant.
Panse enjoys various social and adventure activities like traveling, motorcycle riding, hiking, running obstacle races and plans to take up flying lessons in the near future.
Belinda loves football, tennis, and sun! She enjoys going to the beach with her husband Randall and cheering on her favorite team the University of Alabama. Belinda loves the farm setting at McKenna and getting to know all of the wonderful staff.
Brooke, our newest member in the office at McKenna Farms, grew up right down the road here in Dallas, Georgia. She has a Human Services degree and has been working with individuals with special needs for the past 10 years. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, exploring new places, and volunteering. Brooke's favorite part about working at McKenna Farms has been getting to meet and interact with the amazing kids and their families!
Cassie is from Powder Springs and is a graduate of Kennesaw State University. She was excited to join the team at McKenna Farms because it has two of her favorite things: horses and kids! Cassie loves spending time with her family which includes her fiancé Erin, three children Olivia, Eli and Andrew, three dogs, two cats, and one horse. Her hobbies include woodworking, crafting, gardening, and yoga. Her hidden talent is maintaining her family's cars including changing oil and brakes!
Cathy is originally from Hampton, Georgia and moved to Douglasville in 2022. She worked as a medical secretary for 25 years before joining the team at McKenna Farms. She was drawn to McKenna for its family atmosphere and says, "the farm is beautiful and I enjoy working with special needs children in the community." In her spare time, Cathy loves traveling, music, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her family and her rescue Chihuahua mix Triton.
Stephanie was born in Fargo, North Dakota but spent most of her time growing up in Montana. She now lives in Adairsville with her husband Steve, her Appaloosa horse Cooper, her Silky Terriers Bodie and Piper, and cats Sam, Sushi, and Motley. Stephanie has been a Horse Riding Instructor for over two decades throughout north Atlanta, including working with Georgia Special Olympics equestrian teams and coaching Interscholastic Equestrian Teams. She is certified with the American Side Saddle Association as an instructor, clinician, and judge, and is the founder of GALA (Georgia Ladies Aside). Stephanie has extensive experience in sidesaddle riding, and was even a participant in a Presidential inaugural parade! She is now excited to work at McKenna Farms and "help the organization achieve its goals of positively impacting the lives of so many people."
Stephanie was born in Fargo, North Dakota but spent most of her time growing up in Montana. She now lives in Adairsville with her husband Steve, her Appaloosa horse Cooper, her Silky Terriers Bodie and Piper, and cats Sam, Sushi, and Motley. Stephanie has been a Horse Riding Instructor for over two decades throughout north Atlanta, including working with Georgia Special Olympics equestrian teams and coaching Interscholastic Equestrian Teams. She is certified with the American Side Saddle Association as an instructor, clinician, and judge, and is the founder of GALA (Georgia Ladies Aside). Stephanie has extensive experience in sidesaddle riding, and was even a participant in a Presidential inaugural parade! She is now excited to work at McKenna Farms and "help the organization achieve its goals of positively impacting the lives of so many people."
Chelsea is a Georgia native who has always had a big interest in animals. She even worked at the Saint Louis Zoo for 8+ years! Chelsea has been an active equestrian since she was little, including training and riding in dressage competitions. Now, she rides purely for enjoyment, especially with her beloved horse Rowan. Chelsea has a passion for training horses and dogs, and loves teaching them to do silly, unexpected tricks such as teaching horses how to hug, bow and "shake", and dogs how to play hide ‘n seek and unload the dryer!
Cheryl is originally from suburban Chicago, and has been working at McKenna Farms since 2003. She is married with two sons, one of whom has autism. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, sewing, and baking. Cheryl loves the cozy atmosphere at McKenna Farms and is happy to be part of a work family that is helping special needs individuals.
Chloe grew up in North Georgia and now lives in downtown Dallas with her boyfriend and their two "neurotic, senior citizen" dogs, Bandit and Tinkerbell. She interned at McKenna before graduating with her Masters from the University of West GA and says she learned more here than all other settings combined! Chloe began horseback riding at six years old, and is now excited to learn more about hippotherapy. She specializes in trauma informed play therapy and believes that "communication is all about building trusting and joyful relationships where my clients never feel pressured or judged by me." In her free time, Chloe is most often reading true crime or historical fiction, putting together puzzles, or cuddling on the couch with her dogs and weighted blanket watching Rupaul's Drag Race or Law and Order.
Danielle is originally from New Lenox, Illinois and is a graduate of Lewis University. She first learned of McKenna Farms through social media and says, "I could tell it was a close knit community and it was definitely something that I wanted to be a part of. Seeing how much the families are involved in the farm made it easy for me to decide this was where I wanted to work. Having all the outdoor space for treatment is such a unique aspect that McKenna Farms can offer!" In her free time, Danielle enjoys hiking, being outdoors, and traveling to explore new places. As a former dancer and dance teacher, she is excited to be part of McKenna's Twinkle Toes adaptive dance program!
Debra is originally from Huntsville, Alabama. She has been with McKenna Farms since 2007 where she loves all the different treatment options and the ability to work both indoors and outdoors. In her free time, Debra enjoys gardening and going to the beach with her family.
Denise is originally from Vancouver, Washington. She enjoys planning family vacations, especially to Disney! In her free time, Denise volunteers with the Cherokee County Humane Society and the cat adoption center at PetSmart.
Megan is a graduate of Brenau University. She enjoys watching Atlanta United, UGA, and Atlanta Falcons games, playing soccer, working out, and going on walks with her dog Brodee.
Dr.Poe received both his Bachelor's degree and his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Georgia. He and his wife purchased East Paulding Animal Hospital in 1998 and relocated it to its current location in 2000. For 12 years, Dr. Poe predominantly practiced equine medicine, but now focuses his work on small animal practice. When not at work, he enjoys shooting sports and fishing, but primarily spending a lot of time with his wife and two daughters. Dr. Poe has been both a donor and active volunteer with McKenna Farms since its inception.
Emily is from Newnan, Georgia. She has her bachelor's degree from Georgia State University, and her Masters from the University of St. Augustine. Emily first fell in love with hippotherapy during a clinical rotation in college. Her favorite thing about McKenna Farms is the ability to be creative with treatment sessions and the flexibility to work outside of a traditional treatment room. In her free time, Emily enjoys being outdoors, spending time with her friends and family, and playing with her 5-year-old Corgi named Cooper.
Franz has been involved with McKenna Farms for more than 16 years. He is the resident "fix it" guy for everything from electronic equipment to any type of machinery! Franz lives with his wife Michi, his daughter Michaela, and their two dogs Remi and Zack. He is admittedly stubborn, but he has a soft spot for the kids at McKenna. His future goal is to live in a castle.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Venture Partner at Kubera Venture Capital
Greg is Venture Partner at Kubera Venture Capital, Sector Expert at PeakSpan Capital, and Strategic Advisor to Verusen, Flourish Software and Clarity Capital Advisors. As principal and host at Supply Chain Now, Greg helps guide the company's strategic direction, hosts industry leader discussions & livestreams, in addition to creating original content and hosting his original supply chain tech-focused podcast and YouTube channel, TECHquila Sunrise.
Greg was introduced to McKenna by his daughter Delaney who volunteered here from middle school until college. He explains, "McKenna Farms has been part of our family's life for over a decade. The uplifting care, purpose, knowledge and achievement the team delivers to the neurodiverse community is the kind of love and giving that we want to see grow in the world."
Hallie joined the McKenna Farms team in 2015, and she feels lucky to be part of all the families' lives that she works with. She loves soccer, and even played for her college team at Carson Newman University. Hallie lives with her husband Erik and their two kids, Evan and Ella. In her spare time, Hallie likes to spend time with her family, watch her children play sports, work out, and decorate her house.
Jenna grew up on Long Island, New York. Since graduating from high school, she has lived on her own in seven different states and has traveled to more than fifteen countries! She was drawn to McKenna Farms "for the opportunity to work with horses through hippotherapy and the calming environment with heavy emphasis on the outdoors." In her free time, Jenna enjoys reading, hiking, swimming, traveling, and exploring new cultures and foods.
Jesse Evans grew up in Cobb County. He received his BA in Political Science/Criminal Justice from Mercer University, and his JD from Mercer Law. Jesse has worked with the Cobb County District Attorney's Office since 2001, most of which was spent serving as the Major Crimes/Homicide Prosecutor. He currently lives in Cobb County with his wife and three children and is active in his community through involvement with the Rotary Club of Marietta, Leadership Cobb, and NorthStar Church. Jesse joined the McKenna Farms Board in 2019 after being a supporter of the organization and its mission for years.
Jessica graduated from the University of West Georgia. Her favorite things about working at McKenna are "the incredible atmosphere and great kids". In her free time, Jessica enjoys riding horses, hiking, and being outdoors. She and her husband have four dogs, three horses, and one cow!
Jessica Moore is originally from Livingston, New Jersey, but has called Paulding County home for more than 20 years. As a Physical Therapist Assistant, she founded our organization in 2000 with the help of her horse McKenna. She has loved watching the growth of the organization that combines her passion for horses and helping children. She loves spending time with her two sons, Jackson and Aidan, being outdoors, and traveling.
Kara is a former collegiate majorette from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and can still do a few baton tricks! In her free time, she loves shopping for great bargains at Goodwill and yard sales, doing home décor projects, and watching Hallmark/Disney movies. She lives with her husband Adam and their children Merritt and Everly.
Lauren is originally from Moultire, Georgia, and graduated from the University of St. Augustine. In her spare time, she loves cooking, going to the beach, fishing, and playing with her puppy. Lauren enjoys the amount of creative space available at McKenna Farms, working with amazing kids, and being surrounded by an awesome community of therapists.
Leah adores the kids she works with at McKenna Farms. She says they make her day every day! Leah lives with her husband Evans and her three-legged dog named Marlie. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially to go bowling! Leah has future plans to get her doctorate degree.
Mary Kate is a native Georgian. She loves working at McKenna Farms because the staff is "fantastic"! Mary Kate lives with her husband Kyle and their two children Brice and Emma.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Secretary of the Board
- Vice - Chair of the Board
- Board Member / Senior Project Manager, Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC
Zach is a native of Paulding County where he currently resides with his wife and two daughters. He has a degree in Construction Management from Southern Polytechnic State University, and has been with Brasfield & Gorrie since 2010. In his free time, Zach enjoys spending time outdoors hunting and fishing.
Meagan grew up in Kennesaw where she was a competitive cheerleader from kindergarten to her sophomore year in high school. She joined the McKenna Farms team in 2020 to pursue her passion of working with children with special needs. In her free time, Meagan loves to decorate and organize! She also enjoys playing with her 3-year-old Boxer mix and spending time with her niece and nephew on the weekends. Meagan also LOVES animals (she won't even kill a fly!) and is excited to learn more about hippotherapy so she can offer it to her kiddos for speech.
Special skill: Meagan knows American Sign Language
Job Titles:
- Analyst
- Vice - Chair of the Board
Meaghan Timko is a behavior analyst and global consultant. She is originally from Florida but
has called Georgia home since 2005. Meaghan is an experienced entrepreneur with a
background in therapy and business development. She currently works in support ecosystems,
workforce development projects, and post-secondary program development. Meaghan is an
active member of the Cobb and Atlanta community. She is an alumna of Leadership Cobb and
sits on their Alumni Association Board of Directors. Meaghan is an Assistant Scout Master for
Merrill is a UGA grad who has been working in nonprofit development for 10+ years. She lives with her husband Ronnie and their two kids, Bridget and Sawyer, in Marietta. Merrill loves working in the beautiful, relaxed farm environment, and getting to know the amazing families at McKenna. She enjoys going on walks with her family, trying new restaurants, yoga, and traveling.
Michelle joined the McKenna Farms team 13 years ago after family members introduced her to the organization. She lives with her husband of 25 years Franz, her beautiful teenage daughter, and their two dogs. In her free time, Michelle enjoys watching movies and going shopping!
Olivia is the smiling face you see at check in! She loves being around all the animals on the farm and getting to know all of the amazing kids and parents. In her free time, Olivia enjoys going on hikes and is always down for a cup of coffee! She was born and raised in Marietta and graduated from Hillgrove High School in 2013. Olivia's hidden talent is that she can walk backwards in heels! She hopes one day to visit every country in the world!
Sarah attended the University of Georgia for undergrad and then Georgia State for grad school. She lives with her husband Josh, their bulldog-dachshund Roscoe, and their two cats Louie and Finn. In her free time, Sarah loves to go thrifting and work on DIY projects, and she's a sucker for reality TV! Sarah loves the feeling of community at McKenna and the opportunity to interact with nature, and she's excited to get trained in hippotherapy!
Shari Szalwinski is a "Navy brat' originally from Pensacola, FL. She earned her B.A. from Auburn University in International Business, and her M.A. from the University of West Florida in Communications. After a 20-year corporate career, Shari began teaching college communications classes, and is currently a full-time instructor at Chattahoochee Technical College. In 2015, Shari was selected as Chattahoochee Tech's Instructor of the Year. She also created and led the highly successful study abroad program at CTC, and is currently a co-advisor for the National Society of Leadership and Success club. In her free time she enjoys traveling, horseback riding, weekly volunteering at McKenna Farms, and spending time with her family.
Steven Dennis served in the United States Navy 2007-2012, he sustained an injury that caused him to lose his ability to walk and use the right side of his body. During treatment at the Shepherd Center, he was first introduced to PATH Intl. and did Therapeutic Riding at a center in Atlanta, GA. He attended St. Andrews University, an equestrian college in Laurinburg, NC. He learned a lot about horses and competed in IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association), receiving his degree in Visual Arts and Therapeutic Horsemanship.
Currently, Steven's working towards becoming a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor so he can deepen his impact in the Equine Assisted Services industry. He is excited to continue and expand working with these wonderful animals and provide the best opportunities and experiences for all who are a part of the therapeutic riding program.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Member of the Board
Teresa Janiga started with Visiting Angels as a Managing Partner in 2003, and now manages three locations in the Georgia market. She has been a member of the Dallas-Paulding Rotary Club since 2010, and has served two terms as Club President. Teresa has also served on the Paulding Chamber Board of Directors and Executive Board, as well as the Boys and Girls Club of Paulding County Board. She has four children ranging in age from 10-21, and they are all very involved in the community and with extracurricular activities.
Thomas Sherrer, Jr. is a graduate of the Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy. He is a Pharmacist and owner of Poole's Pharmacy Marietta. Thomas was a member of the Leadership Cobb 2018 Class, and has held multiple positions with the National Community Pharmacy Association and the Georgia Pharmacy Association. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Marietta, and serves as their Director of Public Relations and Golf Tournament Coordinator.
Tina is a native of Maine where she graduated from the University of Maine. She now lives in Dallas with her husband of 2 years, Stephen. Between the two of them, she and Stephen have two sons, one daughter, and a dog named Disney. Tina has spent most of her adult career working alongside individuals and families impacted by intellectual and developmental disabilities. She and her husband also work through their nonprofit to help equip and educate churches on how to be more inclusive and aware of the needs of those with disabilities.
Tina joined the McKenna Farms team because she wanted to continue working alongside the special needs community in a new and fresh environment. She explains, "I grew up riding horses and so McKenna seemed like a great chance to combine two things near and dear to my heart." While she has primarily worked with special needs adults in the past, she is excited for the opportunity to now learn from individuals at a different life stage.
Yessenia is an Acworth native and a graduate of Georgia State University. Her favorite thing about McKenna Farms is "the fact that all the staff, therapists and clients feel like one big family." Outside of work, she enjoys singing, watching movies, and spending time with her husband who is also her high school sweetheart! Yessenia is bilingual and is a great resource for our Spanish-speaking families
Job Titles:
- Board Member / Senior Project Manager, Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC
Zach is a native of Paulding County where he currently resides with his wife and two daughters. He has a degree in Construction Management from Southern Polytechnic State University, and has been with Brasfield & Gorrie since 2010. In his free time, Zach enjoys spending time outdoors hunting and fishing.