Meet the Team
Who We Are
Pennie Lightfoot
Director of Community Outreach & Administration
Pennie has been with Abilities Unlimited for 10 years now, where she previously served as a volunteer and board member. She is responsible for securing grants and leading fundraising events at AU so that they can continue doing what they do and helping others. In addition to these responsibilities, she also holds her Adaptive & Inclusive Training certification. She says that working for Abilities Unlimited affords her the opportunity to be a part of improving lives for those underserved in the community. She enjoys celebrating clients and athletes as personal goals are achieved, as encouragement is a powerful motivator.
Favorite Quote to Inspire Clients:
"Try to be a rainbow in someone else's cloud."
-Maya Angelou
Jim Chaplin
Director, Floor Operations
Head Trainer
Jim has been with Abilities Unlimited for about 17 years now and has his Bachelors in Civil Eng, Adaptive & Inclusive Trainer certification, and his CPR & First Aid certification. He says that he enjoys working with Abilities Unlimited because it gives him a chance to serve others and is blessed to work with clients that help him just as much as he helps them.
Favorite Quote to Inspire Clients:
"Be not weary in well-doing, for in due time, we'll reap if we faint not." Gelations 6:9
Catherine Holland Hodges
Senior Personal Trainer
Catherine (Catie) has been with Abilities Unlimited for almost 20 years. In 2004, she began volunteering with the Special Olympics and was then hired as a trainer in 2005. Catie has her Adaptive & Inclusive Training certification and her CPR & First Aid certifications. She says she likes working with Abilities Unlimited because she enjoys getting to see her clients get stronger and help them achieve their long-term goals.
Favorite Quote to Inspire Clients:
"You should always believe in yourself."
Steven Bowley Jr.
Special Olympics Coach, AU PEP Client
Steven (Stevie) is a seated athlete with his Adaptive & Inclusive Trainer certification who has been with the Abilities Unlimited team since the beginning of 2023, but has been a client since 2015. He says that he likes working at AU because he gets to teach clients to never give up on themselves and he gets to show them that they can reach their goals.
Favorite Quote to Inspire Clients:
"The body achieves what the mind believes."
Lauren Dotson
Special Olympics Coach, AU PEP Client
Lauren has been a coach with Abilities Unlimited for over 6 months now, but has been a client for over 18 years. She says that AU has helped her reclaim her balance and strength after the removal and treatment of a brain tumor. She says she really enjoys working with the Special Olympics team and loves seeing how excited everyone gets when they achieve new goals. She loves being a part of that moment when everyone cheers each other on.
Favorite Quote to Inspire Clients:
"It is often the smallest steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change."
-Queen Elizabeth II
John Chennault-Wright
Personal Trainer
John has been working with Abilities Unlimited for 5 years now and has a degree in Health Care Administration and Patient Care. He also holds his Adaptive & Inclusive Training certification, as well as a CPR and First Aid certification. John says that he likes working for Abilities Unlimited because it gives him a chance to help those who truly want to push harder and achieve not only their physical goals, but their mental goals as well.
Favorite Quote to Inspire Clients:
"Work hard or die trying." -Carly Simon
Junpei Eubanks
Personal Trainer
Junpei has been with Abilities Unlimited for just over a year and is a personal trainer certified through Expert Rating. He is currently enrolled at the Savannah College of Art & Design. He says he enjoys working at AU because he has been able to meet and help so many people and he likes knowing that there are jobs like that.
Favorite Quote to Inspire Clients:
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phillippians 4:13
Jaylien Duncan
Personal Trainer
Jaylien has been with Abilities Unlimited for 6 months and has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Savannah State. He was also a graduate of the Benedictine Military School. He says he enjoys working at AU because he has the opportunity to positively impact many people. It also gives him the opportunity to share God's love and grace with others, along with the ability to make someone's day better with something as simple as a smile.
Favorite Quote to Inspire Clients:
"If it were easy, everyone would do it."
