Meet Our Staff!

Executive Director

For more than 40 years, Dana has been involved in managing large and small for-profit and nonprofit organizations; leading and motivating people with diverse backgrounds, skills, and experience; advancing innovative programs and services; raising funds to acquire, start and support new business ventures and managing their growth from commencement to full formation. Dana has spent most of his career in entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship roles primarily in business management; business/corporate development; business consulting and executive leadership/coaching. Dana is known as an outspoken advocate of disadvantaged or marginalized populations and is recognized by his peers as a visionary; motivator; business builder and leader. Dana’s diverse business experience includes building a digital communications business; CEO of his own consulting practice; CEO of an Equine Assisted Therapy Facility, President of an NGO and COO for the fifth largest Habitat for Humanity. 

Dana has served as a member of the Board of Advisors for the UC Davis School of Education and the MIND Institute. Dana is a Board member for Stroke Survival, past Board member for HOPE North Carolina and Volunteer Alexandria. Dana is currently a member of a collation of residents of the City of Alexandria tasked with developing a new 5-year Community Health Improvement Plan with a focus on Mental Wellness.

dana.johnston@liftmeup.org

• Program Director
• PATH-Certified Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning (ESMHL)

Jackie’s love of horses began as a small child and her formal lessons began at the age of 10 on a Welsh Mountain pony named Candy. Riding for most of her life, Jackie eventually bought the horse of her dreams – Wisteria. Jackie and Wisteria trained with a well-respected FEI (Fédération Équestre Internationale) dressage rider in Maryland. Although Wisteria had the potential to become a competitive dressage horse, Jackie preferred to use dressage as a tool to foster and build a partnership with her beautiful mare.

Jackie began volunteering with LiftMeUp! in 2015 and became a PATH-certified instructor in 2016. Her dressage background and additional training as a yoga instructor allow Jackie to teach with a holistic approach, providing her students with physical riding instruction, mindfulness, and relationship building skills.

Jackie was tapped to be Volunteer Coordinator in 2017, and then took over the role of Program Director since 2019.   

Jackie.Collins@liftmeup.org

Volunteer Coordinator

Newsletter Editor

PATH-Certified Instructor (CTRI & ESMHL)

Velvie has always had a love of horses and helping people. In 2016, Velvie found Lift Me Up! Therapeutic

Riding and started volunteering. Being at Lift Me Up! has enabled her to fulfill her desire to help people

and work closely with horses.

In 2022, she completed the Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor certification process through PATH

International. She felt getting this certification to be able to teach therapeutic riding was the next

logical step in improving her ability to provide support/assistance to people.

Velvie.Cunningham@liftmeup.org

PATH-Certified Instructor (CTRI)

Kastlee began her journey at Lift Me Up! as a volunteer and later became an instructor to play a larger role in fostering the bonds between riders, volunteers, and the LMU equines. One of her most memorable experiences was helping a rider who was initially terrified of horses build confidence and trust with herd member Tina. After weeks of groundwork, the rider now enjoys full 30-minute lessons with Tina, a testament to the powerful connection they’ve formed.

Kastlee’s advice to aspiring instructors is to seek a mentor to help guide them through the process, while for volunteers, she emphasizes the importance of building your own confidence and bond with the horses. Her favorite part of barn life, outside of teaching, is helping the barn managers with big projects, as she loves contributing to the care of the horses alongside friends and colleagues.

Kastlee.Ashton@liftmeup.org

PATH-Certified Instructor (CTRI)

Catie has been an equestrian since the age of 10, and her passion for horseback riding led her to become an instructor in equine-assisted services. She finds great joy in sharing the therapeutic benefits of horseback riding with others. One of her most memorable moments was helping a rider with limited mobility get on a horse for the first time, a process that took weeks but was incredibly rewarding. Catie’s advice to those interested in equine-assisted services is that even the smallest act of kindness can make a significant difference in someone's day. She loves ending lessons with trail rides, a treat for both horses and riders when the weather is nice.

Catie.pennington@liftmeup.org