Our Staff

Julie Breitigan

Executive Director

Julie, our Executive Director, holds a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and brings 20 years of experience working with trauma-affected populations, including her recent role as Regional Director of Substance Use Services at New Vista. She is a dedicated advocate for the transformative impact of trauma-informed outdoor adventure programming as a tool for growth and healing.
In 2014, Julie made Kentucky her home after living in Pennsylvania and Germany with her husband and three daughters. Outside of her professional commitments, she values time outdoors with her friends and family, travel, and signing up for races slightly beyond her physical ability.

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Aaron Wainscott

Financial Controller

Aaron is our Financial Controller. He has a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Kentucky. Prior to joining the team here at The Life Adventure Center, Aaron was the Director of Accounting at Market Management Services in Lexington, KY, where he had worked and supported the business for 20 plus years in various roles.

Aaron was born and raised in Central Kentucky and has spent all his life here. He currently lives in his hometown with his wife and daughter, plus his pets a dog and a cat. He stays busy taking his daughter to and from dance practices and performances. Aaron is an avid sports fan. His favorite teams are UK (Football and Basketball) and the 49ers. Aaron likes to spend time with his family and looks forward to their travels and vacations together. He also enjoys camping, tailgating at UK Football games, hiking, and mowing.

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Paige Crause

Operations Coordinator & Registrar

Paige Crause is the Operations Coordinator and Registrar at Life Adventure Center. She ensures families can register for camps smoothly while supporting the day-to-day kitchen and office operations that keep everything running efficiently. Paige is excited to be at LAC because it allows her to combine her love of the outdoors with her passion for organization and service, all while supporting a mission that transforms lives through adventure. With four years of experience as a private chef, Paige brings strong organizational skills and a deep understanding of nutrition to her role. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics with a minor in Biomedical Science, as well as a Master’s Certificate in Horticulture, blending her background in food service, health, and operations to help Life Adventure Center thrive. When she’s not at work, Paige loves hosting large dinner parties to test new recipes, traveling the world to explore local cuisine, and hiking or kayaking wherever her adventures take her.

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Megan Bentley

Program Director

Megan Bentley is our Program Director and is excited to be working in a space that integrates mental health support, the outdoors, and adventure all into one. Working as a summer intern in 2017, she has enjoyed being connected to Life Adventure Centers’ growth and healing for nearly a decade. Megan graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a Bachelor's degree in Parks & Recreation and completed her Master's in Clinical Social Work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In addition to Life Adventure Center, Megan has worked within school systems and with substance abuse treatment. These roles have provided her with an increased passion for people and shown her the power of resilience-building work. When Megan is not working, she loves to travel and explore with her husband Henry. She loves any chance to spend time in nature, especially via paddling and hiking all across Kentucky as well as internationally.

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Lauren Burke

Equine Director

Lauren Burke is the Equine Director at Life Adventure Center, where she designs and facilitates our unique programming offerings, supports staff and volunteers, and manages high quality care for our facilities and herd of horses. She is both an experienced EAGALA Certified Equine Specialist and CHA Riding Instructor, with a gift for helping people from all backgrounds make memorable connections with horses. With a background in equine management and experience across multiple equestrian disciplines, she is passionate about creating an empowering environment where every individual can have an impactful equine experience while honoring ethical, horse-centered practices in equine-assisted programming. Originally from North Carolina, Lauren spends her free time fox hunting with her Thoroughbreds, growing flowers, and enjoying the outdoors.

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Taylor Schultz

Program Coordinator

Taylor Schultz returned to the bluegrass after spending time in North Carolina, Hawaii, and Colorado, working in diverse roles including for the Air Force, TSA, and in horticultural therapy. He joined the LAC team in 2023 as a part-time facilitator and now serves as a program coordinator. His favorite bird is the American kestrel, he enjoys a good beer, and tends to go all out for Halloween with his partner and daughter.

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Ben Milliken

Program Facilitator

Ben is a Program Coordinator at Life Adventure Center. He crafts the activities and leads the programs that help foster creative, fun, and meaningful experiences for everyone in our community. He grew up in Maine, far into the north with snow peaked mountains and lobster filled oceans. His childhood summers took place at a sports camp, where he fell in love with the spirit of camp. He had the chance to become a counselor later and carry that energy forward in teaching a whole suite of waterfront sports. His college years were spent at Brown University, where he studied the fascinating biology and geology of our planet. A German shepherd – Rottweiler mix named Maya is his day-to-day sidekick, and sometimes she even gets to come check out LAC. Ben enjoys dabbling on the piano, listening to music in the car, and taking any chance to check out Red River Gorge for some hiking, climbing, and cliff-jumping!

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Bryanne Mcdermott

Program Facilitator

Bryanne is excited to join the Life Adventure Center team as a program facilitator. Graduating from Asbury University with a degree in Psychology and Equine-Assisted Services, Bryanne has experience incorporating horses into human services and facilitating experiential services for diverse populations, including in Cincinnati, Central KY, and Columbia! In her spare time, she enjoys reading with a cup of tea, exploring hiking trails in local and national parks, and playing around with her horse, Phoenix.

Morgan Thorpe

Program Facilitator

Morgan is a Program Facilitator at LAC who assists in creating programs focused on connection, confidence, and personal growth. She enjoys helping participants step outside their comfort zones, build community, and have meaningful experiences outdoors. She is excited to be part of LAC’s mission and the positive impact it creates. Morgan holds a degree in Recreation and Park Administration with a minor in Psychology. She previously worked with the U.S. Forest Service in recreation, where she gained experience in visitor engagement, programming support, and stewardship. Outside of work, she has trained in dance for 15 years and volunteers with Dance Theatre at Eastern Kentucky University. She also enjoys hiking and spending time with her two cats.

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Alex Huellemeier

Program Facilitator

Alex is a proud Kentucky native and a dedicated member of the LAC team. In his current role, he supports youth through mentorship, development, and creative engagement, and he’s excited to bring his passion for community-building and the arts to LAC’s mission. With nearly a decade of experience across educational, coaching, and nonprofit spaces, Alex has worked closely with young people from a wide range of backgrounds. After returning from Atlanta in 2020 to pursue acting, he has continued to blend his love for performance with meaningful youth-focused work. His professional journey reflects a commitment to growth, service, and creating opportunities for others. Outside of work, Alex enjoys traveling, staying active, and participating in Lexington’s acting community. He’s always happy to chat about method acting techniques, Mongolian wrestling, or where to find the best taco trucks in town.

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Kara Robinson 

Part Time Program Facilitator

Kara Robinson is a lifelong horse lover. She graduated from Asbury college after studying experiential, education, and equipment management. She has worked with Horses most her life, but also loves camping, hiking and all things outdoors. She’s happy to return to Life Adventure Center after a little time away with her horse Finnick and dog Buck.

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Emma Ingalls

Program Coordinator

Emma started working at LAC full time in 2023 and recently transitioned to a new role as Part-time Program Coordinator and Riding Instructor. She is excited to support the organization’s mission through her passion for equine-assisted work and using the outdoors to build resilience in others. Emma was born into a military family and has lived and worked in a variety of places, including time as a wrangler in the mountains of Colorado and as a draft horse carriage driver on Mackinac Island, Michigan. She earned her degree from Asbury University with a double major in Psychology and Equine Studies. Her experience in equine-facilitated counseling and therapeutic riding has given her a strong foundation for the work she does at LAC. Outside of work Emma enjoys traveling around the world, spending time outdoors, and playing volleyball. She is always happy to share about my Norwegian heritage!

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Mvuyekule Maombi

Spring Intern

My name is Mvuyekule Maombi, I am an Intern at Life Adventure Center. I am a senior at the University of Northern Colorado, majoring in Health Science with a concentration in Public Health, with a Minor in Africana Studies. My favorite hobbies are spending time with family, exploring the outdoors during the summertime, supporting my favorite soccer team Arsenal F.C., and meeting new people. I also enjoy doing volunteer work to help support the community. Something unique about me is that I speak three languages (Kirundi, Kinyarwanda, and English).

Terry Cosby

Farm and Facilities Manager

Terry is a Kentucky native, born and raised in Adair Co, describing his childhood as living wherever his father was working.  With time spent working maintenance on a thousand-acre horse farm and construction, Terry is ideal for the demands of the LAC facilities and grounds. When not working with LAC, Terry is fond of hunting, fishing and repairing automobiles.  While LAC has been a new experience, Terry has enjoyed getting to know the staff and property, while also learning more about the mission of the organization. Terry lives along the river in Clifton with his significant other, Michele, and a large family consisting of three sons, two stepsons, and one stepdaughter.

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Stephen Bohanon

Farm Maintenance

Stephen is born and raised in Kentucky. Went to art school and a very creative driven individual. He enjoys drawing, painting, and generale design. He is a very active person. Enjoys working out, hiking, or anything physically demanding. Automotive enthusiast and part time auto detailer. He really takes pride in maintaining things in his life whether it be the property of LAC, or cars. He is a big fan of combat sports boxing, mma, and muay thai. He hopes to bring his creativity and passion to LAC with new attractions or activities from all visitors.