Meet the Team
Design Consultants
Matt Lakenburger
Central Midwest Territory Manager
With over ten years of experience on the Classic team, Matt leads our regional sales efforts by building long-term customer relationships. He’s skilled at meeting their distinct needs because he shares their passion for horses and the equine industry. Matt grew up showing American Quarter Horses at the national level and is an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Champion, two-time AQHA Reserve World Champion, and All American Quarter Horse Congress Champion in the halter discipline. Matt is a family man who loves spending time playing sports, golfing, and riding side-by-sides with his wife and two children.
Dustin Royer
Southeast Territory Manager
Dustin prides himself on creating memorable buying experiences for Classic customers. He ensures project success by providing guidance and support before and after the sale. This end-to-end commitment is shaped by his nearly two decades of industry success. Dustin grew up around horses and knows the importance of equestrian facilities for all who depend on them. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, fishing, and traveling with his family.
Amy Hunter
Mid-Atlantic Territory Manager
Amy consults with clients to ensure their equestrian facility project stays on budget and aligns with their vision. With over thirteen years in the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing circuit, Amy brings deep knowledge, insight, and passion to our team. Amy holds a degree in Equine Science and is pursuing a degree in Equine Business at Midway University. She’s active in the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA), and the American Horse Council. Amy loves spending time with her horses and exploring coastal North Carolina.
Leah Roepke
Rocky Mountain Territory Manager
Leah brings professional communication skills, product expertise, and passion to help our clients at Classic realize their dream barns. Leah holds a degree in Equine Science with a minor in Agricultural Business. Her deep understanding of our products, exceptional commitment to customer service, and attention to detail ensure clients receive personalized horse-barn solutions. In her spare time, Leah enjoys hiking, fishing, and spending time outdoors with her dog.
Jamilee Bravard
Northeast Territory Manager
Jamilee attributes her success helping facility owners design their dream equestrian facilities to her background in the building trades. With extensive leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, Jamilee builds trust and lasting relationships with our clients at Classic. A lifelong rider and former equine veterinary technician, she combines deep knowledge with customer-service expertise to realize the potential of our clients’ horse facilities. Jamilee loves talking with fellow horse people and enjoys horseback riding, hiking, skiing, and spending time with her family.
Carol Sackett
Sales Coordinator
Carol plays a key role in receiving and processing quotes in support of our sales team. Known for her reliability and consistently positive attitude, Carol thrives in our team-centric environment and values the positive outcomes Classic provides. With a background in distribution, manufacturing, and service in the industrial sector, Carol has played critical roles in several departments at previous employers, including accounts payable, shipping and receiving, and parts administration. Prior to her role as sales coordinator here at Classic, Carol worked in customer service. Every day brings something new for Carol, which she finds very rewarding. Carol enjoys reading, riding side-by-sides, and spending time with grandkids.
Sarah Hesley
Business Development Associate
Sarah serves as the first point of contact for customer inquiries. Backed by twenty-four years as a service representative in telecommunications and three years as a registered veterinary technician, Sarah combines seasoned customer service with a deep love for horses. A recipient of AT&T’s Service Excellence Award and a member of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), she brings both professionalism and passion to every assignment. She owns four horses and enjoys riding the trails and attending local shows on weekends. Sarah loves spending time with her family, camping, and cheering for her daughter in barrel races.
Jamie Weekley
Sales Coordinator
With over a decade of experience at Classic, Jamie brings a sharp eye for detail and excellent multitasking skills to our sales team. Formerly a receptionist and now a vital part of the sales process, Jamie enjoys collaborating with our dedicated team to provide clients with the attention and support they need. Holding a degree in Business, Jamie is committed to delivering dependable support that keeps projects and operations running smoothly throughout the process. Outside of work, Jamie loves swimming, hiking, and spending quality time with grandkids and family.
Jess McMullan
Southwest Territory Manager
Jess guides clients through their dream-barn journey with a personable, approachable attitude and a passion for the equine lifestyle. He brings attentive precision and strong people skills to every project. A Texas A&M graduate, Jess has over a decade of experience as a quality-control engineer and manager in the oil and gas industry. He grew up in a ranching family in Texas and has been an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) member and horse rider since childhood. Jess enjoys meeting people across the country, being around horses, and spending time camping, fishing, hunting, or relaxing with family.
Leadership / Operations
Scott Lix
President
As President of Classic Equine Equipment, Scott has guided and empowered our team and company for over a decade. He excels in problem-solving, team motivation, and driving positive outcomes—using his experience to foster better service, better processes, and better products. Holding a degree in Business and Economics, Scott combines his professional expertise, personal equine experience, and strong connection to the agricultural lifestyle to forge a path forward for Classic Equine Equipment. Scott is committed to maintaining our reputation for quality and excellence in the equine industry. During his off time, Scott enjoys tending his cattle farm.
Greg Nielsen
Director of Operations
With over twenty years of experience at Classic, Greg began his career as a welder/fabricator and then steadily advanced his way into leadership. As Director of Operations, he now manages and supports daily operations across all departments to drive company success. He is known for his strong leadership, problem-solving abilities, and commitment to clear communication. Passionate about investing in our people, Greg supports both personal and professional growth within the Classic Equine Equipment team. In his spare time, he enjoys volunteer work, family time, shooting, and outdoor activities. Greg’s wife and daughter are both avid equestrians, and he takes pride in supporting and sharing their passion.
Kurt Johnston
National Sales Manager
Kurt recently joined the leadership team at Classic Equine Equipment, bringing with him over 24 years of experience in construction sales and project management for equestrian facilities. With an MBA from the University of Tennessee and an undergraduate degree from Iowa State, he excels in customer-focused consulting, team leadership, and business development. Known for building strong relationships and earning numerous top-producer awards in his career, Kurt thrives on helping clients bring their dream barns to life. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, road tripping with his wife Amanda and their dog Steel in their van, and cheering on Iowa State football and basketball.
Molly Freund
Marketing Supervisor
For nearly a decade, Molly has been an integral part of the marketing management team here at Classic Equine Equipment. Through her background in the oil and gas sector, Molly combines an organized work approach with creativity to lead all our marketing initiatives. Molly holds an MBA and is known for her strong time-management skills, attention to detail, and collaborative spirit. She thrives on the ever-changing nature of her position and is ready to face any and all challenges. Married into a horse-loving family, she lives the equestrian lifestyle, owning multiple rodeo horses and cattle. On the weekends, Molly enjoys spending time outdoors with family, riding side-by-sides, camping, and jet boating.
Engineering / Production
Ethan Jones
Design and Production Engineer
Ethan brings an agile skillset to his role at Classic, allowing him to understand and solve complex design problems. Day to day, he focuses on improving production processes, managing safety, and driving quality across our design operations. Ethan holds degrees in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and has prior experience as a designer at Cohen Architectural Woodworking. His collected demeanor and problem-solving mindset enable him to thrive when presented with a challenge. Outside of work, Ethan enjoys cabin design, vintage cars, and outdoor exploration.
Gerald Patterson (Skeeter)
Production Manager
With nearly a quarter century of experience in metal fabrication and welding on the factory floor at Classic, Skeeter holds a deep knowledge of our product line. His hands-on experience with our manufacturing processes plays a critical role in keeping our customers and their horses safe. Skeeter keeps our shop running efficiently, while ensuring our stabling equipment meets the highest quality of craftsmanship. He holds multiple welding certifications and is passionate about turning raw materials into fully finished products. A lifelong horseman, Skeeter enjoys team roping, trail riding, and spending time outdoors.
Garrett Sanders
Design Engineer
As Design Engineer, Garrett maintains our CAD models and streamlines our drafting-to-manufacturing process. With a background in process design and manufacturing, he brings 3D-CAD modeling, idea-generation, and problem-solving skills to our design team. Garrett thrives in our collaborative work environment, where he develops optimal, customized solutions for our customers. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and is passionate about learning and improving his skills. Outside of work, Garrett enjoys 3D printing, crafting projects, and family time.
David Combs
Designer/Drafter
Whether he’s presented a napkin sketch or a to-scale drawing, David specializes in turning customers’ conceptual ideas into 3D realities. David aligns the needs, wants, and dreams of our customers with the products of Classic Equine Equipment. With a degree in Engineering Technology, David has worked in industrial and consumer positions, designing everything from custom sawmill layouts to specialty liquor bottles for brands like Jefferson, Blanton, and Bacardi. David also runs a small media company focused on band photo/video production and enjoys hunting, fishing, and hanging out with his wife and two dogs by the river.
Heather Carey
Materials Buyer
With over two years of experience as Accounting Administrator at Classic, Heather is our point of contact for material purchasing. Leading our vendor relations and assisting in financial operations, she is a key contributor to our accounting and production teams. Heather grew up with a passion for horses and enjoys being with her family, fishing, landscaping, and woodworking in her free time.
Administrative
Brandon Gonzalez
Accounting Manager
Brandon manages our accounting operations at Classic with his strong work ethic and business acumen. With an MBA, his education and experience provide him with a depth of business and accounting knowledge that creates a positive impact on our team. Brandon is adaptable and enjoys tackling the challenges that arise in the role. Outside the office, he likes pursuing and researching subjects like macroeconomics and Artificial Intelligence.
Janet Nicholson
Accounting Clerk
Janet focuses on accounts payable and receivable as Accounting Clerk at Classic. From inputting orders to answering phones and greeting customers, Janet enjoys the variety each day brings to our office. Having previously worked as an accounting assistant and bookkeeper, Janet is always ready to help our team and company provide the highest-quality service and equine equipment for our customers. On the weekends, she loves horseback riding, reading, spending time with family, and embracing the outdoors.
Get the Inspiration Guide
Your dream barn is an attainable goal. The first step is to see what is possible. You will begin to identify potential solutions that will protect your horses, align with your preferences, and distinguish your barn as a safe haven. Whether you are building from the ground up or renovating an existing barn, our 65-page portfolio of projects will immerse you in the world of beautiful horse stalls designed for safety.
