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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Megan Patrick

Program Director

Megan Patrick is our incredible Program Director here at Life Adventure Center!

Megan graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a Bachelor's degree in Parks & Recreation. She also recently completed her Master's in Social Work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Megan has worked in the Fayette County Public School system as a para/behavior coach, and most recently at a 28-day substance use treatment facility as the Program Supervisor. These roles have provided her with an increased passion for people and shown her the power of resilience-building work.

Megan is a familiar face to most people around here though as she was previously a member of our program team! Megan originally found her way to Life Adventure Center as a summer intern, returning later as a Program Coordinator, Operations Manager, and eventually Assistant Program Director. We are thrilled to have her back in this capacity and Megan shares that she is excited to be back with this amazing organization!

When Megan is not working, she loves to travel and explore with her partner 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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T.J. Phillips

Operations Director

TJ grew up as an army brat and was able to move around growing up. He landed in Lexington, Kentucky in 2008 and considers it home. He graduated with a Recreation and Parks Management degree from Eastern Kentucky University and has been working to make a difference in the lives he has touched since. TJ worked as a Program Coordinator for us 2017-2019 then moved to Louisville. He is now back as the Operations Director and is excited to continue to make a difference. When TJ is not at work, he loves anything to do with soccer, hiking/camping and spending time with his wife and his two boys who he plans to bring to camp at LAC in the future.

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Lauren Burke

Equine Director

Rain or shine, any time of the year, you can find Lauren making sure the horses are fully taken care of. Lauren is an EAGALA Certified Equine Specialist and CHA Instructor with a gift for making people from any background comfortable around horses. She is also from North Carolina, but we try not to hold that against her.

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Bethany Ore

Registrar and Office Manager

Bethany is a graduate of the Master of Arts in Education program in Student Affairs at Western Kentucky University. Bethany previously worked primarily with Interational Students and lived overseas in Lima Peru for 9.5 years where she Chaired the Overseas Committee for USA Girl Scouts Overseas and served on the Board of the American Womens Literary Club. She is originally from Lexington Kentucky and spends her time volunteering as Scoutmaster for a linked BSA Troop for girls - Troop 43G and Assistant Cubmaster to Cub Scout Pack 32 in Versailles Kentucky.

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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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Emma Ingalls

Program Coordinator

Born into a military family, Emma has lived and worked in a variety of places. She has worked as a wrangler in the mountains of Colorado and a draft horse carriage driver on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Emma has spent the most time in our commonwealth though, earning her degree from Asbury University, double majoring in Psychology and Equine Studies.

Emma’s passion for and experience in equine facilitated counseling and therapeutic riding provides her with an ideal background for LAC. When you run into Emma, be sure to ask about her love of the outdoors, her past as a collegiate volleyball player, and if you want to see some real enthusiasm, her Norwegian ancestry.

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Elizabeth Hughes

Program Facilitator

Elizabeth is a Program Facilitator here at LAC. They graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor's in Recreation and Park Administration with a concentration in Natural Resources Management. They have experience as an outdoor trip leader, rock climbing facilitator, challenge course facilitator, and fish and wildlife technician. They have a passion for making the healing benefits from outdoor recreation accessible and inclusive, while also encouraging environmental stewardship in participants. Outside of work, Elizabeth usually spends their time playing guitar, camping, rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, or going to local events with friends.

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Ben Miliken

Program Facilitator

Ben was born and raised in Maine, the state of pine trees and lobsters. He spent his childhood summers at a sports camp, later becoming a counselor and waterfront instructor there. A recent graduate of Brown University, he spent a sizable chunk of his college time climbing with friends both indoors and out. An explorer at heart, Ben has had a passion for the outdoors since he was young. Whether it be on the mountain biking trail, the climbing wall, or even cliff-jumping into a river, adrenaline is no stranger. Ben also enjoys being musical with the piano, playing card games with friends, and spending time with animals

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Cash Capenter

Farm Tech

Cash is a native to Versailles Kentucky and has lived here his whole life. He recently graduated from Woodford County High School. He enjoys spending time outdoors and you can find him riding his motorcycle all over Kentucky, fishing, rock climbing, or tearing up the skatepark on the weekends.

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Alex Huellemeier

Program Facilitator

  Born in raised in the Bluegrass, Alex is happy to be a part of the team here at LAC. Although he's lived and traveled in numerous places, he takes a piece of Kentucky with him wherever he goes. Since moving back from Atlanta to pursue his passion for acting in 2020, Alex has spent his time both working and volunteering within numerous fields of youth mentorship and development. Working in the educational, coaching, and non-profit spaces for nearly 10 years, Alex is grateful for his opportunities to work with youth of all backgrounds and experiences. In his spare time, Alex loves to travel to new places with his partner, Sharon, pursue an active lifestyle, and be an active member of Lexington's acting community. Feel free to ask him about various method acting techniques, Mongolian wrestling, or his most recommended taco trucks in Lexington.

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