Board of Directors

John Brewer

Therapy Arc Treasurer

Hello!
I have been with TARC since April of 2004 and am proud to say I am an original board member!
We look forward to getting back with the Pet Team visits.

Cathie Berbena Lloyd

Therapy Arc Secretary

I am forever amazed at the capacity of love that Shelby has for humans. For the first two years of her life she was left in a pen with seven other dogs, ignored and fed food that made her dangerously obese. Despite these odds she loves people. Trusts them. I knew I had to share this incredible creature and the immense love she has. Shelby and I started as a Pet Therapy Team in 2016 and how time has flown! We visit memory care facilities and Vanderbilt Children’s hospital along with special events where she so shines when she is the center of attention and affection. Joining Therapy ARC has been a wonderful experience of just what people and animals can do for others. Amazing, eye opening, heartbreaking, and joyful, being a Pet Therapy Team has been one of the more wonderful experiences I, we, have been most fortunate to be a part of.

Andy Garmezy

Therapy ARC Fundraising Committee ChairPerson

Cooper is a special dog with a huge soul, and I feel he was put on this earth to help people. As a Pet Therapy Team for the past 5 years we have visited Vanderbilt hospitals as well as Centennial and Maury Regional Hospital. From patients to nurses, to the people in the hallways, our enjoyable interaction has brought smiles to the faces of those that need it most.
We are also one of 350 teams of the National Crisis Response Canines. In times of tragedy, FEMA and the Red Cross will deploy us as needed, to grief-stricken areas across the country where Cooper, once again, helps people in the best of ways

Robin Harkins-Mahoney

Therapy Arc Director at Large

Intermountain Therapy Animals Licensed Evaluator and Instructor

Outreach and Education Coordinator Nashville Zoo

After graduating from Purdue University, I started my career at the Nashville Zoo. As the Ambassador Animal Encounters Supervisor, my responsibilities include managing Wildlife on Wheels, Nashville Zoo Stars and Backstage Pass Tours. As the Zoo’s Ambassador Animal Encounters Supervisor, I also train staff and volunteers to handle Ambassador Animals. Having been a member of Therapy ARC since 2000, I first started with Nike, my Cocker Spaniel, who excelled in the READing Paws program. With Nike now retired I started working with a Flemish Giant Rabbit by the name of Paddy O’Hara followed by Poison Ivy. Being the first rabbit to be registered this has enabled Therapy ARC and Intermountain Therapy to grow in the evaluation for rabbits and that has extended to include mini pigs and goats! I now have three rabbits, “The Villain Rabbits” Harley Quinn, Johnny Rotten and Luna Luvbunz.

Donna Henley

Therapy Arc Training Committee

Intermountain Therapy Animals Licensed Instructor

Steering Committee

Donna Henley has been a member of Therapy ARC with her dog Millie since 2014. Her younger dog Penny is now also part of their family Therapy ARC team! Millie and Donna enjoy visiting Centennial Children’s Hospital and Monroe Carell Children’s hospital. They also love to work other events such as visiting local schools during exams or other stressful situations and are also guest readers at elementary schools and participate at other events which involve schools. Donna is very involved in helping to spread the word about Therapy ARC and the wonderful affects pet therapy has with all different levels of life.

Nanette Musgrove

Therapy ARC Facilities Coordinator

Intermountain Therapy Animals Licensed Instructor and Evaluator

I joined Therapy ARC in 2011 and have had the pleasure of participating in therapy dog visits with my German Shepard, Jax. We have visited assisted living and memory care facilities, Alive Hospice inpatient along with their yearly summer children camps, TN Mental Health Facility, schools for stress relief during exams and we are part of the READ Program that helps with children who struggle to read. I also enjoy giving presentations to groups enlightening the public as to what our teams do to help our community. In 2014 I joined the Therapy ARC Board of Directors and currently hold licenses as an ITA Instructor and ITA Evaluator. In addition, I hold the position of Therapy ARC Facility Coordinator and have been lead organizer for our training classes since 2017. One of my favorite parts of being on the Therapy ARC training team is participating in our pre-screenings where we review handlers and animals who we feel may be a good fit for our training classes and evaluations. Outside of my passion for therapy dog visits, I am a mom to two adult children and two German Shepherds! I enjoy travelling to see my grandson, crafting nights with my friends and volunteering in my community that involves tending to the chickens in our neighborhood garden. I hope you enjoyed getting to know me and look forward to meeting you in person!

Susan Niles

Therapy ARC Evaluation Coordinator

Therapy ARC Events Committee

Susan joined Therapy ARC in 2004 with her first dog, River, at a time when TA was affiliated with Delta Society which evolved into Pet Partners. For the next 10 years they visited Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehab hospital until River retired in 2014.

Susan, with her seven-year-old Shetland Sheepdog Piper, continues to visit Stallworth and the Barton House, a memory care facility. In their off-time Piper loves keeping her human busy staying outdoors and playing ball.

Dorothy Thompson

Therapy ARC Event Chairperson

Dorothy and her teammate, Bella, a Lab/Boxer mix, joined Therapy ARC in November of 2016. She and Bella enjoy visiting facilities like Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital, Somerfield Health Care at The Heritage, and the Nashville Jail along with assisted living homes, schools, and colleges. Dorothy also works for the service dog non-profit, Retrieving Independence, and serves as their Recipient Director. With their free time Dorothy and Bella enjoy long hikes in Tennessee.

Birgit Cornelius

Facility Chairperson

Birgit and her teammate, Lily, a West Highland Terrier, joined Therapy ARC in August of 2015. Birgit was looking for a way to give back to the community while creating an activity for Lily. She and Lily have enjoyed visiting schools and colleges during exams or special events, different hospitals at Vanderbilt, and assisted living or memory care facilities. Because of her size, Lily can get comfortable on hospital beds or a patient’s lap where she shares her affection and patients enjoy the convenience of petting her.

Looking forward to being a member of the board and contributing to the continued success of Therapy ARC.