Ben Mosier
Executive Director
As the executive director of the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit, Ben Mosier oversees the implementation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program.
Our Team
Individuals with extensive experience in anti-doping programs, veterinary science, investigations, compliance, education, and the Thoroughbred industry.
Our team
Meet our world-class team, which brings together individuals with extensive experience in anti-doping programs, veterinary science, investigations, compliance and policy, education and training, and the Thoroughbred industry.
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Leadership
Kate Mittelstadt
Chief of Operations
As the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit’s (HIWU) chief of operations, Kate Mittelstadt ensures operational compliance with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control program.
Michelle Pujals, Esq.
General Counsel
Michelle Pujals serves as general counsel of the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), a division of Drug Free Sport International. From 2018 through 2022, she was the owner and principal of Tautemo Consulting, LLC, a legal and sports consulting firm. Prior to forming Tautemo Consulting, Pujals was a member of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Legal Department for more than 20 years, most recently serving as vice president & assistant general counsel.
Mary Scollay, DVM
Chief of Science
Dr. Mary Scollay joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) as chief of science in October 2022. In this role, Dr. Scollay oversees HIWU’s Science Department, including the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Equine Analytical Laboratory accreditation program, and education efforts surrounding the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program.
Communications & Education
Stephanie Jenson
Director of Education
After 10 years at the Minnesota Racing Commission, Stephanie Jenson joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit as director of education in January 2023. She has established and executed an educational strategy regarding the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program to support engagement, understanding, and compliance among stakeholders in the Thoroughbred industry who are affected by the ADMC Program.
Alexa Ravit
Director of Communications & Outreach
Alexa Ravit has been the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit’s (HIWU) director of communications & outreach since September 2022. This follows five years as communications coordinator for The Jockey Club.
Kayla Austin
Communications Design Manager
Kayla Austin joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) as the communications design manager in 2023. With her background in communications and administrative support across the fields of sport, healthcare, nonprofits, and manufacturing, Austin brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to her role.
Legal & Investigations
Michelle Pujals, Esq.
General Counsel
Michelle Pujals serves as general counsel of the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), a division of Drug Free Sport International. From 2018 through 2022, she was the owner and principal of Tautemo Consulting, LLC, a legal and sports consulting firm. Prior to forming Tautemo Consulting, Pujals was a member of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Legal Department for more than 20 years, most recently serving as vice president & assistant general counsel.
Kyle Kremers, Esq.
Assistant General Counsel
Kyle Kremers was named assistant general counsel for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) in October 2022.
Allison J. Farrell, Esq.
Senior Litigation Counsel
Allison J. Farrell has served as senior litigation counsel for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) since November 2022. She is charged with prosecuting and litigating violations of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program.
Geneva N. Gnam, Esq.
Litigation Counsel
Geneva Gnam serves as litigation counsel for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), where her key responsibility is to prosecute violations of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program. Outside of her professional commitments to HIWU, she is an equestrian and avid horse lover.
Christy Heath, Esq.
Litigation Counsel
Christy Heath serves as litigation counsel for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU). As litigation counsel, she prosecutes and litigates violations of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program.
Zachary Ceriani
Investigations Counsel
Zachary Ceriani has served as investigations counsel for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) since March 2023. His main role is to assist and advise on investigative matters and operations while providing litigation support as needed.
Kathryn Crouse
Legal Specialist
Kathryn Crouse has been the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit’s (HIWU) legal specialist since October 2022. She provides support within HIWU’s legal group, including managing contracts and agreements, identifying and monitoring compliance, and assisting with the prosecution of cases as well as the administration of HIWU’s results management program.
Monica Pilarski
Legal Specialist
Monica Pilarski joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) in September 2023 as a legal specialist. As a legal specialist at HIWU, Pilarski is responsible for managing and updating HIWU’s master case spreadsheet for all cases, formatting legal letters (notice, charge, notice of sanctions, withdrawals) and serving those letters onto all necessary parties.
Kitten Montgomery
Results Manager
Kitten Montgomery joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) in November 2022 as testing results manager. This role follows three years as the executive assistant to the chief of Sport and Athlete Services at the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and 16 years at the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), for which her most recent role was results lead.
Gabrielle Krysiewicz
Results Coordinator
Gabrielle Krysiewicz has been the results coordinator at the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) since May 2023. Her experience as the owner and operator of GK Performance, where she owned, managed and trained performance horses fuels her passion for the horse industry and her work at HIWU.
Shawn Loehr
Director of Investigative Operations
Shawn Loehr joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) as director of investigative operations in October 2022. In this role, he will oversee the HIWU team responsible for the investigation of Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Rule violations as part of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program.
Naushaun Richards
Director of Intelligence & Strategy
Naushaun “Shaun” Richards joins the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) after 23 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). As HIWU’s director of intelligence & strategy, Richards focuses on long-range investigations, which rely heavily on real-time intelligence, strategy, sophisticated investigative techniques, and data analysis to identify and prosecute potential significant violations of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program. He may also liaise with federal, state, and local law enforcement as it relates to possible criminal violations.
EJ Lauter
Investigative Analyst
EJ Lauter joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) in July 2023 as an investigative analyst. Prior to HIWU, Lauter was an intern with the Readiness, Operations, Special Event Security (ROSES) department at Churchill Downs Racetrack and a research assistant in the University of Louisville Criminal Justice and Sociology Departments.
Melissa Stormer
Investigative Analyst
Melissa Stormer joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) team as an investigative analyst in April 2023. In this role, she will perform research, analysis, and review of information to support and assist investigations as part of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program. This includes receiving reported tips concerning potential ADMC Program violations.
Ed Arriola
HIWU Investigator
Ed Arriola joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) in April 2023. He is responsible for managing the recruitment and training of HIWU’s team of independent investigative contractors located across the country as well as assisting in investigations.
Brian Bennett
HIWU Investigator
Brian Bennett joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) team as an investigator in February 2023. In this role, he will conduct investigations as part of enforcement of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program. This includes collaborating with relevant constituencies and HIWU staff to ensure thorough, timely, and unbiased investigations are conducted on suspected and alleged violations of the Program.
Matthew Meyer
HIWU Investigator
Matthew Meyer joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) as an investigator in April 2024, where he conducts investigations as part of the enforcement of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program. This includes collaborating with relevant constituencies and HIWU staff to ensure thorough, timely, and unbiased investigations are conducted on suspected and alleged violations of the Program.
Robert Michaelis
HIWU Investigator
Robert Michaelis brings more than three decades of investigative experience to his role as an investigator at the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), where he focuses on enforcing the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. Michaelis has been with HIWU since April 2024, after serving as a contract investigator for the same organization since May 2023.
Gregory T. Pennock, Sr.
HIWU Investigator
Gregory T. Pennock Sr. joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) as an investigator in June 2023. Pennock helps conduct investigations as part of the enforcement of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program. This includes collaborating with relevant constituencies and HIWU staff to ensure thorough, timely, and unbiased investigations are conducted on suspected and alleged violations of the Program.
Richard Thomas
HIWU Investigator
Richard Thomas, an investigator for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit, has an extensive background in law enforcement, having served in both Colorado and Minnesota for over 31 years. His background includes time as a lieutenant in charge of narcotics, where he worked closely with the US Attorney’s Office for federally prosecuted drug/gang cases. Thomas also worked as a partner with the Department of Justice for grants to address violent crime issues. Furthermore, he was a command post supervisor for the Emergency Response Unit and supervisor for the High Risk Entry Team.
Human Resources/Administration
Andrayana Estes, MA, SHRM-CP, CMP
Director of Human Resources
For more than 17 years, Andrayana Estes has been an integral part of Drug Free Sport International and IDTM (DFSI-IDTM). A seasoned human resources professional with a passion for connecting people and processes, she manages a full range of human resource programs, services and functions including recruiting, onboarding, compliance, employee relations, performance management, training and development, workers compensation, benefits, and safety.
Kelly Gilbane
Administrative Assistant
Kelly Gilbane joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), a division of Drug Free Sport International (DFSI), in May 2023. As an administrative assistant for HIWU, she provides administrative support for HIWU as well as additional support for DFSI’s Human Resources department. Gilbane brings more than 20 years of experience in various executive assistant roles.
Operations
Kate Mittelstadt
Chief of Operations
As the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit’s (HIWU) chief of operations, Kate Mittelstadt ensures operational compliance with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control program.
Wally Fairchild
Senior Director of Testing Operations
Wally Fairchild is currently the senior director of testing operations for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit.
Michael Beissenherz
Director of Testing Strategies
Michael Beissenherz has been with Drug Free Sport International (DFSI) for nearly a decade, and he transitioned to its Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) division in June 2022. Beissenherz oversees the development and implementation of the strategic and operational components of the HIWU testing program, including the Anti-Doping and Medication Control test distribution plan.
Stephanie Isley
Director of Compliance & Policy
In August 2022, Stephanie Isley joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit as the director of compliance & policy, bringing over 20 years of experience in the Olympic Movement, 11 of which were in anti-doping.
Marcy Parker
Director of Results Administration and Operations
Marcy Parker is the director of results administration and operations for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU).
Mike Thompson
Director of Testing & Certification
Mike Thompson brings more than a decade of anti-doping operations leadership experience to the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) team, where he serves as director of testing & certification. Thompson oversees HIWU’s sample collection personnel network and is responsible for the development and execution of HIWU’s sample collection personnel recruitment, training, and onboarding. He has an extensive background implementing innovative testing strategies, designing anti-doping technology platforms, and managing anti-doping shipping and logistic initiatives.
Lorena Martinez
Assistant Director of Compliance and Support
Lorena Martinez is the assistant director of compliance and support for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU). She brings more than 20 years of doping control experience to the HIWU team.
Terese Cabanting
Testing & Certification Manager
After nearly eight years at the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Terese Cabanting joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) in October 2022.
Shannon Le
Testing Operations Manager
Shannon Le serves as the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit’s (HIWU) testing operations manager. Le started at HIWU as a testing operations coordinator in May 2023.
Jared Shafer
Testing Strategies Manager
Jared Shafer is currently the testing strategies manager for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), a division of Drug Free Sport International (DFSI). He was previously the director of U.S. network for DFSI.
Peyton Horton
Testing Operations Coordinator
Peyton Horton is a testing operations coordinator at the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU)
Britt Newby
Testing Operations Coordinator
Britt Newby joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) in May 2023 as a testing operations coordinator. Prior to HIWU, Newby was the veterinary manager for five years at the Minnesota Racing Commission.
IT
Josh Mittlestadt
Vice President of Information Technology
Josh Mittlestadt’s work as vice president of information technology (IT) ties heavily into two of Drug Free Sport International’s key advantages: innovation and confidentiality. He reviews the company’s IT resources and is involved with technology policy development and operating procedures for efficiency and security.
Chelsea Scroggins
IT Support Specialist
Chelsea Scroggins is the IT support specialist for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), a division of Drug Free Sport International (DFSI). She joined the team in June 2023 after serving as the information security administrator for UMB Bank.
Science
Mary Scollay, DVM
Chief of Science
Dr. Mary Scollay joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) as chief of science in October 2022. In this role, Dr. Scollay oversees HIWU’s Science Department, including the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Equine Analytical Laboratory accreditation program, and education efforts surrounding the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program.
Dirk Hunt
Director of Laboratory Accreditation
Dirk Hunt joins the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) as the director of laboratory accreditation after previously serving as the associate director of the University of Florida Racing Laboratory. He was also the laboratory’s technical manager.
Patricia A. Marquis, DVM
Director of Equine Medical Resources
Dr. Patricia A. Marquis was named the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit’s (HIWU) director of equine medical resources in December 2022.
Susan Megee
Laboratory Accreditation Manager
Susan Megee joined the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) as the laboratory accreditation manager after eight years as the forensic project manager for equine drug testing at the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory (PETRL) at the University of Pennsylvania.
Advisory Council
Jonathan Taylor, KC
Advisory Council Chairman
A London-based partner and leader of the Sports Group at the international law firm Bird & Bird, Jonathan Taylor has a deep and extensive background in anti-doping issues in international sports.
Larry Bowers
Advisory Council Member
Dr. Larry Bowers is the former chief science officer at the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
Larry Bramlage, DVM, MS, DACVS
Advisory Council Member
A world-renowned equine orthopedic surgeon at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Dr. Larry Bramlage has received numerous awards for his contributions to equine health and welfare.
Sonja Keating, Esq.
Advisory Council Member
Sonja Keating is general counsel for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).
Günter Younger
Advisory Council Member
Günter Younger is the director of intelligence and investigations at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Laboratory Experts
Anthony William Butch, Ph.D.
Laboratory Expert Member
In his most recent position, Dr. Anthony William Butch was the CLIA-accredited Laboratory Director at the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, where he was responsible for COVID-19 testing for professional sports.
Dr. David Tiffany
Laboratory Expert Member
With 32 years of experience in animal drug testing, David Tiffany is internationally recognized for his expertise in analytical data analysis and quality assurance systems. He currently serves as an Accreditation Auditor, External Quality Assessment Program Coordinator and consultant for the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium.
Dr. Eric R. Welsh
Laboratory Expert Member
Dr. Welsh is a commissioned officer in the Medical Service Corps of the US Navy. He currently serves as Commanding Officer of the Naval Health Research Center, where he oversees the mission of conducting leading-edge research to enable and maximize warfighter health and readiness.