Katie North LaMonica

Ms. Katie LaMonica, a Lexington native, has been involved in the Thoroughbred business for the last nine years.  Since 2003, she has worked for Darley as the Client and Marketing Coordinator and is responsible for the coordination of client entertainment, special events, race sponsorships, marketing merchandise and charitable donations.

Upon graduation from the University of Alabama she worked in the marketing department at Hialeah Race Track. Following the close of racing at Hialeah, she returned to Lexington and worked for the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association as Membership Manager. While at TOBA, Ms. LaMonica was in charge of new member recruitment and the coordination of New Owner Clinics at racetracks across the country.

Ms. LaMonica is also on the Advisory Board for the Kentucky Equine Humane Center and just finished serving her term on the Central Kentucky Riding for Hope Board.

Shannon Arvin, Esq.

Ms. Shannon Arvin is a Member in the firm's Lexington office where she practices in the areas of Equine Law, Corporate Law, Real Estate and Estate Planning.

Ms. Arvin graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1997, High Honors, with a B.A. in International Studies. While there, she was President of Chi Omega Sorority and was a Co-founder of the Agape Habitat for Humanity Partnership.

Ms. Arvin received her J.D. degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2002, where she served as an associate editor of the Kentucky Law Journal and a member of the Honor Council. Ms. Arvin was the author of, "And They're Off: The Legality of Interstate Pari- Mutuel Wagering and Its Impact on the Thoroughbred Horse Industry," published in KLJ, Col. 89, No.3, 2000-2001. She received the Miller Writing Club, "Best Brief" and "Best Oral Argument" Awards, and served as Research Assistant to Professor Rutherford B. Campbell. Ms. Arvin was admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 2002. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Kentucky Bar Association and the Fayette County Bar Association.

Dianne Eppers

Ms. Dianne Eppers is currently the Executive Director of the National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA), a position she has held since 2008. 
Three years prior to this, she worked in a part-time capacity for NSBA until the national offices were transferred from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Gurnee, Illinois.

Prior to her position at NSBA, Ms. Eppers trained and coached top- level all around western discipline competitors from throughout the United States from 1969-2008. She continues to own the boarding and training facility in Illinois.

Ms. Eppers has extensive experience serving on equine related boards. 
She is a member of and has served on the Board of Directors for the National Snaffle Bit Association (Past President & NSBA International Committee), the American Quarter Horse Association (Professional Horseman Committee and the Judges Committee), Illinois Quarter Horse Association Board of Directors, and the Land of Lincoln Quarter Horse Association (Executive Committee member). Other equine affiliations include the Big Z Riding Club (Show Committee Regional Experience).

In addition, Ms. Eppers has judged at horse shows throughout the world. She also speaks and teaches clinics, including Equine Affair’s Midwest Horse Fair.

Michelle Crevier-Gerukos

Ms. Michelle Crevier-Gerukos is the President and Founder of Saddle Candy, an upscale equestrian apparel brand launching in 2010. She is an entrepreneur with over 20 years experience in sales, marketing, public relations, event planning and management.

Ms. Crevier-Gerukos brings experience in the start-up of non-profit foundations. She is the Founder and Executive Director for the Make It Happen Now Foundation, dedicated to bringing projects to life that inspire people to be active, compassionate and make a positive difference to society.

She also created and operates Bring Inspiration On, Inc. which produces documentaries, music and other media that inspire people to contribute to changing the lives of those in need.

She is a graduate of Texas Christian University and a tireless advocate for people and animals who are suffering. Ms. Crevier-Gerukos developed her love for horses as a child and is currently active in Dressage. Horse Aid Live blends her two passions, philanthropy and horses.

Cyndi Greathouse

Ms. Cyndi Greathouse is the Executive Director and Founder of Horse Aid Live. She has more than 20 years experience in event promotions, public relations, marketing, and advertising. Ms. Greathouse has been a partner at Greathouse and Hardwick, LLC since 1987 and clients include national, regional, and local companies encompassing a varied scope of industries such as sensor manufacturing, bioremediation, chemical coating, retail, jewelry, cosmetics, automotive, and restaurant industries.

Equine organizations Ms. Greathouse has worked with include Thoroughbred Charities of America, the Kentucky Equine Humane Center, National Snaffle Bit Association, Thoroughbred Club of America, High Hope Steeplechase, and the Shoemaker Foundation.

Other non-profit organizations she has been involved with include the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, Kentucky Educational Television (KET), The Annual Ending Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Conference, the American Heart Association, and Ashland-The Henry Clay Estate.

Ms. Greathouse graduated from the University of Kentucky and attended Denison University. She volunteers annually at the Rolex Kentucky 3- Day Event, the United States Eventing Association sanctioned Jump Start Horse Trials where she serves as Hospitality Chair, and numerous other eventing and dressage shows. She is an officer of Keeneland Pony Club and is a member of the United States Eventing Association and the Mid-South Eventing and Dressage Association.

Donna Sturgeon

Ms. Donna Sturgeon has been a Senior Marketing Consultant with the Lexington, Kentucky ABC affiliate stations, ABC 36, MyNetwork TVQ2 and
24/7 weather, for the past seven years.

Prior to entering into television sales & marketing, Donna worked on the advertising agency side of marketing for 11 years as a Media Buyer/ Planner and most recently as Media Director, directing the purchase and placement of all television, radio, outdoor and print buys for agency clients. She also spent seven years at a Lexington, Kentucky racetrack as the Group Sales Director, a position she created and developed which included fostering relationships with the National Tour Association and GLAMER conventions from Atlantic City to Seattle, securing national touring group contracts with bus companies and tour associations, and planning on-site dinners, concerts, and special events.

Born and raised in Lexington, Ms. Sturgeon is a graduate of the University of Kentucky. Her passion for horses has been in full swing since she witnessed Affimed winning the Triple Crown.  She also serves on the Boards and committees of the Woodford Humane Society and the Kentucky Equine Humane Center. An active philanthropist, she is an advocate for the betterment of all domesticated animals.

Shannon White

Ms. Shannon White, General Manager of Fares Farms, has been involved in the horse industry for over twenty years, initially as a quarter horse owner/exhibitor and as an open show judge. Since 1990 she has been involved with various enterprises in the Thoroughbred industry including breaking & training, foaling and sales preparation.

Prior to her involvement with Fares Farms, Shannon was employed by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital for eight years, working as the Hospital Supervisor from 1993 to 1996 and in nuclear scintigraphy from 1996 to 1998.

Shannon is a graduate of the University of Kentucky. She authored the Lexington Community College Equine Business Management curriculum and served as an adjunct faculty member until 2002. She is currently a director for the Kentucky Equine Management Internship based in Lexington, Kentucky and serves on the Midway College Equine Advisory Board.

Matthew Wills

Mr. Matthew Wills has been involved in business in Lexington, Kentucky since 1990. He was the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress for Kentucky's 6th Congressional District in 1994. Mr. Wills is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and was born and raised in Virginia.

His enthusiasm for horses started from his many family members involved in the horse industry, including his uncle Sam E. Wilson, Jr, whose horses "Royal Mustang" placed second in the 1951 Kentucky Derby and "Gushing Oil" winning the Bluegrass Stakes in 1952.

Mr. Wills co-founded and is President of The Dot Horse Project, an initiative to promote the acceptance and implementation of the internet top-level domain ".horse". The ".horse" namespace will provide a safe, reliable internet community for companies and individuals involved with horses can communicate and share news, information, and ideas.

J.D. McHargue

Mr. J.D. McHargue has been in the entertainment business for 30 years.

He brings extensive experience in event promotions and operations as well as owning and operating numerous nightclubs and bars. He has been envisioning, creating, building, and opening clubs since his graduation from the University of Kentucky in 1979.

In addition, Mr. McHargue has also owned and managed multiple entertainment promotions, booking and consulting companies.