Advisory Board
Advisory Board
Industry leaders, executives, and equine professionals guiding Horse Nations Racing Group.
Advisory Board Member
Melissa Moore
Trainer. Breeder. Educator. Industry Leader.
A Lifelong Ambassador for the American Saddlebred
Melissa Moore is one of the most respected professionals in the American Saddlebred industry, combining decades of success as a trainer, breeder, educator, judge, and industry leader. As owner and manager of Sunrise Stables, a 250-acre equestrian facility in Versailles, Kentucky, she has developed one of the nation's premier training and breeding operations, producing numerous World and National Champion horses while managing a breeding program that includes multiple stallions and approximately 45 broodmares.
Born into one of the sport's most accomplished families as the daughter of Hall of Fame trainers Tom and Donna Moore and sister of another World Champion trainer, Melissa has dedicated her life to excellence in horsemanship — earning more than 70 World or Reserve World Championship titles throughout her career.
Select Achievements
A Record of Results
World & National Championships
Earned more than 70 World or Reserve World Championship titles and trained horses for clients who have won approximately 40 additional World and National Championships across the American Saddlebred and Roadster disciplines.
Sunrise Stables — Premier Training & Breeding Operation
Owner and manager of Sunrise Stables, a 250-acre equestrian facility in Versailles, Kentucky, operating a breeding program with multiple stallions and approximately 45 broodmares and producing champions at the national level.
Industry Innovation — Select Series & Hunter Horse Challenge
Created the Select Series and the Sunrise Hunter Horse Challenge, and conducted educational clinics throughout the United States, Canada, and England, broadening the appeal and participation of the American Saddlebred.
Scholarship Establishment — ASHBA & KASPHA
In 2023, established the ASHBA Passion for the Breed Scholarship and the KASPHA Passion for the Breed Scholarship to support students pursuing careers in the horse industry. In 2026, helped establish the United Equine Professional Women's Group.
International Judging — Major Championships
Officiates at approximately five major horse shows annually, including the Kentucky State Fair World Championships, Lexington Junior League Horse Show, UPHA American Royal, Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, and the South African National Championships.
Areas of Expertise
- American Saddlebred Training & Breeding
- Roadster Horse & Hackney Pony
- Equine Education & Youth Development
- International Judging & Competition
- Industry Leadership & Governance
- Breed Promotion & Versatility Programs
- Scholarship & Professional Development
- Media, Modeling & Brand Representation
Board & Committee Service
Organizations Served
Advisory Board Member
Dennis Wells
Turnaround Expert. Change Agent. Senior Business Executive.
A Versatile Executive Who Adjusts the Sails
Dennis Wells is a versatile CEO and Senior Business Executive with a proven record of taking companies to new and profitable directions. His expertise spans operations, process reengineering, mergers and acquisitions, new product introduction, distribution networks, and voice-of-the-customer analysis — turning mediocre organizations into star performers. He builds high-performance teams that exceed aggressive financial and customer expectations.
Dennis and his wife Terri have been involved in the Thoroughbred racing industry for a couple of decades — bringing firsthand knowledge of the sport, its culture, and its business landscape directly to the Horse Nations Racing Group advisory board.
Select Achievements
A Record of Results
Turnaround Success — LSI Industries
Aggressively improved gross margins at LSI Industries through internal business platform and Lean methodologies. Navigated the acquisition of Atlas Lighting, expanding LSI's market and product reach nationwide.
Top Performance — Digital Signage Startup
Initiated the full startup process for a Digital Signage unit at Gantz, achieving Tier 1 distributor status with Samsung and generating $10 million in new revenue.
Multiple Acquisitions — Schneider Electric
Piloted 15 successful acquisitions over an eight-year period at Schneider Electric, demonstrating sustained M&A execution capability across diverse business environments.
Emerging Technology — IoT & LED at LSI
Deployed IoT solutions to enable LED lighting fixtures at LSI Industries, integrating sensors into lighting fixtures connecting with smartphone applications. Installed several Beta tests across convenience store and gas station locations, with forecasted potential to generate $20 million in new sales.
Investment Banking — Corporate Finance Associations
Served as Managing Director of the Louisville, KY office with Corporate Finance Associations, an investment banking firm. Involved in due diligence, opportunity evaluation, and execution of multiple deals.
Areas of Expertise
- Operations & Process Reengineering
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Turnaround & Change Management
- New Product Introduction
- Distribution Networks
- Emerging Technology Deployment
- Investment Banking & Due Diligence
- High-Performance Team Building
Career Highlights