President/Co-founder/Board Member

Married since 2004, Adam & Alecia have two children. Adam is an avid outdoorsman with a passion for hunting and duck dogs. This passion turned into a dog business where the couple have been breeding, boarding, and training gun dogs for over 19 years. Since 2006, they have owned & operated Hollow Wood Kennel located in Flintstone, GA, just eight miles south of Chattanooga, TN. Retriever training was replaced with service dog training once the couple discovered the world of PTS and how canines impact our warriors returning home from battle. In addition to owning the kennel, the couple own & operate two local ACE Hardware stores in the North Georgia area (Flintstone & Dalton).

Chair/Board Member

Susan Millican is a Christ follower dedicated to living according to God’s will and reflecting His love through service and leadership. She is a wife, stepmother, grandmother, and Service Dog mom. Alongside her husband, she co-owns Whippoorwill Retreat Treehouse and EVERAFTER Venue, providing meaningful spaces for celebrations.

Susan is a retired educator from the state of Georgia and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), having taught every grade level from kindergarten through post-secondary education. Her teaching career began in Health and Physical Education and coaching softball and tennis. She later taught Career Connections, Technology Education, and Engineering & Technology, concluding her career as a Technology Specialist and Adjunct Professor at UTC.

Since 2016, Susan has volunteered with Warrior Freedom Service Dogs, initially serving as Operations Director and Executive Assistant before joining the Board of Directors in 2023 as Chair. Her work focuses on supporting veterans with service-induced brain injuries and reducing veteran suicide rates. Additionally, she volunteers with the Calvary Chapel Women’s Renew program, teaching work ethics and hosting community events.

Susan enjoys traveling, graphic design, decorating, puzzles, problem-solving, and helping others. She is guided by 2 Corinthians 1:4, embodying the belief that God’s comfort enables her to comfort others.

Guided by 2 Corinthians 1:4, I believe God brings comfort not just for our healing — but so we can be a comfort to others.

Secretary/Board Member

Jayne Griffin is a life-long educator, having recently retired as the Vice President of Education at Creative Discovery Museum, after 25 years of service. Her responsibilities included leading a staff of 50 educators, ensuring the educational content of all exhibits and the development and administration of over 25 educational programs. Prior to that she was a classroom teacher for 20 years as in grades 3 through 8 in Walker County, Georgia schools where she was named teacher of the year. Her formal education includes a Bachelor’s degree from UTC in Elementary Education, a Masters degree from UTC in Educational Administration and Supervision and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from UTK.

She has been married to Reese for LOTS of years and they live on a farm in Rising Fawn, Georgia where her favorite activity is playing in the creek with her grandchildren and their dogs. Reese and Jayne have one son, Jamison, and a daughter in law, Brennan, who are leaders in non-profit ministries, and they have three perfect grandchildren, Mary Reese and Candler 11 year old twins and Hill their 14 year old brother.

Jayne is a life-long Methodist and has been a Sunday School teacher for adult classes for over 35 years. She also serves on the Dade County Board of Education.

Her professional interests include leadership, behavioral management, early childhood, brain development and play. Her personal pleasures include family time, reading novels, watching reruns of I Love Lucy, watching good movies and time spent with Elvis, the white lab she shares with Reese!

Board Member

Aricia Gallaher is an accomplished marketing and business development executive with more than 20 years of experience leading strategic marketing, communications, public relations, client engagement, and business development initiatives. Throughout her career, she has partnered with organizations ranging from local businesses to some of the nation’s largest health systems, helping them strengthen their brands, cultivate meaningful relationships, and identify opportunities for long-term growth.

Known for bringing people together, Aricia believes the strongest organizations are built on authentic relationships, trust, and a genuine commitment to serving others. Whether leading a strategic initiative, developing partnerships, or helping organizations tell their story, she is passionate about creating connections that make a lasting difference.

For Aricia, service has never ended at the office. It has always been about using her experience and relationships to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. That commitment is what led her to Warrior Freedom Service Dogs.

Aricia’s appreciation for military service was shaped by a family whose legacy of service spans generations. Her grandfather served as a Philippine Scout in the U.S. Army during World War II and was later recognized with the Congressional Gold Medal for his service. His example, along with the service of her father and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends who have proudly worn our nation’s uniform, instilled in her a lifelong respect for those who serve, and the sacrifices made by both our Veterans and their families.

Through her work with Warrior Freedom Service Dogs, Aricia has witnessed the extraordinary impact a Service Dog can have on a Veteran’s life. The partnership between a Veteran and a Service Dog represents far more than companionship — it restores confidence, independence, connection, and hope. She believes that while many Americans express gratitude for our Veterans’ service, one of the most meaningful ways to honor that service is by giving back to those who have given so much. She considers it a privilege to use her professional experience in marketing, communications, and business development to help advance an organization that changes lives every day.

As a member of the Board of Directors, Aricia is dedicated to expanding awareness of Warrior Freedom Service Dogs, strengthening community partnerships, and helping ensure the organization can continue providing highly trained Service Dogs to Veterans at no cost. She is honored to support a mission that restores independence, builds confidence, and reminds our nation’s heroes that they are never alone.

Board Member

Dr. Callie B. Lance, DC, MS, CCSP, is an outdoor enthusiast, endurance athlete, and owner of Chattanooga Sports Chiropractic Institute, where she is dedicated to helping individuals reach their highest potential physically, mentally, and spiritually. Originally from Ohio and a Chattanooga resident for the past eight years, she shares her adventures with her Golden Husky mix, Daisy, and is passionate about empowering others to achieve their goals through health, movement, and purpose. Dr. Lance also serves as the team chiropractor for the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, and has previously served as Tennessee Delegate for the American Chiropractic Association while remaining active in the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce and Business Networking International. In early 2025, she partnered with Warrior Freedom Service Dogs through the annual Furry Scurry Fun Run, a community 1-mile and 5K event that encourages people to get outdoors with their dogs while raising funds for the organization’s mission. The event raised more than $1,000 for Warrior Freedom Service Dogs in 2025, and in 2026, Dr. Lance was elected to the Board of Directors, serving in the Human Resources Oversight role. She is honored to support Veterans by helping connect them with life-changing service dogs, having witnessed both personally and professionally the profound healing and partnership that animals provide. Outside of her professional and volunteer work, Dr. Lance is training for the Chief Ladiga 100, a 100-mile endurance race, and enjoys traveling, paddleboarding and boating with Daisy, exploring Chattanooga’s restaurants, and spending time in nature to refresh her mind, body, and soul. She lives by the belief, “A healer does not heal you. A healer is someone who holds space for you while you awaken your inner healer, so that you may heal yourself.”

Member

Wade Priddy spent the majority of his 20+ year Marine Corps career building and training small teams and leading them as they conducted dynamic operations in a wide variety of environments. He served with units in Hawaii, California, North Carolina and at the Pentagon and was an assistant professor with the Naval ROTC program at Texas A&M. In addition to peacetime deployments to Okinawa and with a Marine Expeditionary Unit, he deployed twice to Iraq and three times to Afghanistan. Since retiring Wade has worked as a defense contractor, leadership consultant, and with several companies in the Chattanooga area. As a Veteran and dog-lover, he was drawn to OFD by its mission and the positive impact the program has had on Veterans and their families.

Board Member

Amy Rutherford is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 10 years of experience working with nonprofits in the Chattanooga Area. She received her Master’s degree in Education with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling focus from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Mrs. Rutherford is the Associate Director of the Mosaic Program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and works part time for the Chattanooga Autism Center as a mental health therapist. She is a co-creator of the Mosaic program and a co-author of a four-book series for young adults with Autism. Mrs. Rutherford specializes in consulting with educators and facilitating staff trainings and workshops. Amy has a passion for working with individuals to assist in the formation of a strengths-based identity and development of self-advocacy skills as well as educating others on acceptance and inclusion of individuals through the celebration of neurodiversity. In the past few years she has found a passion for serving Veterans as they transition back to civilian life. When she is not at work she enjoys spending time at the lake with her husband Zach and their dog Roxy.

Board Member

Drew Lancaster is a husband, father, entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of Holly Hill Construction & Real Estate. For more than 25 years, he has built and led businesses across the construction and real estate industries, focusing on developing leaders, building healthy teams, and creating organizations that serve people and their communities well.

Before expanding his businesses, Drew spent 15 years serving his community as a volunteer and full-time paramedic and firefighter. That experience strengthened his ability to lead under pressure and instilled the people-first approach that continues to guide his leadership today.

Drew believes business can be a powerful vehicle for creating opportunity, investing in people, and making a lasting difference in families and communities. That belief drew him to Warrior Freedom Service Dogs.

Drew joined the board to support an organization that gives back to those who have sacrificed so much for our country. He is passionate about Warrior Freedom’s work helping Veterans reconnect with their families and communities while reclaiming hope, purpose, and freedom. He is honored to contribute his leadership experience, relationships, and resources to help strengthen the organization and expand its impact.

Board Member

Board Member

Advisory Board Member

Rick Yount has served in the field of social services for 30 years. He has involved Animal Assisted Therapy in his practice for the past 22 of those years. Rick holds a B.A. degree from West Virginia University and a M.S. degree in Assistance Dog Education. He combined his social work knowledge and experience with his service dog training background to develop a novel intervention to help Service Members with Post Traumatic Stress (PTS). Rick pioneered the first therapeutic service dog training program at the Palo Alto, CA Veterans Hospital in 2008. Rick’s new program concept, involving Veterans with PTS in the training of mobility service dogs for fellow Veterans, has yielded very positive results. He has presented the program concept at forums including the VA National Mental Health Conference and the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies.

Advisory Board Member/Legal Advisor

Brad maintains a diverse practice focused on helping businesses get their products and services out to the marketplace. He advises clients on regulatory compliance matters and risk management issues, represents clients in the courtroom, and also assists clients with a variety of business and transactional matters. Brad is experienced in representing clients of all sizes, from established household names to budding startups that hope to one day become household names. These clients span numerous industries, some of which include equipment and food manufacturing, financial technology, and telecommunications. Brad also works with cannabis clients on licensing, compliance, transactions, and other matters specific to this emerging industry.

Before joining Chambliss, Brad practiced law for several years in Atlanta at a multi-national AmLaw 100 firm where he represented numerous Fortune 500 companies and other clients in high-stakes litigation and regulatory matters

Executive Director

Monica Piper is a seasoned nonprofit leader and U.S. Army Veteran with a passion for purpose-driven work. As Executive Director of Warrior Freedom Service Dogs, she brings a unique blend of lived experience, strategic vision, and deep compassion to her role.

With more than a decade of executive leadership across multiple organizations, Monica has dedicated her career to serving others — especially those who’ve sacrificed for our country. Since joining Warrior Freedom in 2025, she has led the organization through a period of growth and transformation, strengthening its operations, expanding outreach, and helping more Veterans rediscover freedom through the healing power of Service Dogs.