FLORIDA EQUINE ATHLETE

Melissa L. Greer, Ph.D. holds a Master's in Business Administration and a Doctorate in Organization & Management specializing in Information Technology. She has taught college level classes in business, computers, and office technology.

She has ridden all her life and started barrel racing at the age of nine and it is her passion for horses and the barrel racing industry that led her to utilize her education in the promotion and business awareness of barrel racing competition and productions. She currently owns and produces Florida Equine Athlete, a magazine for the barrel racers in the state of Florida, which provides informational and educational articles, calendar of events, and statistical information such as results, standings, and money winnings of many of the organizations held within the state. She has branched the business out to produce her own polebending and barrel racing 4organization called the Florida Equine Polebender’s Circuit (FEPC). One can find Melissa also videotaping and photographing other competitor’s runs for their training observations or keepsakes.

Dr. Greer is currently working on additional books and is in the process of organizing seminars for women athletes to educate them on how to treat their sport as a business and utilize sponsorships.

Melissa was raised and continues to live in Florida with her husband, daughter, horses, and other animals. She had to take a three year break from competition so she could complete her Ph.D. studies and get the business established. In the meantime, she had to retire her horse that she competed on for many years due to a leg injury and is currently training another to return to barrel racing competition.

Past Memberships and accomplishments: 

4-H member (holding office); rode on drill teams for 4 years; Florida High School Rodeo; winner of jackpot monies; NBHA (since first started);  winner of NBHA 1D AND 3D & 4D MONIES; NBHA 6 2001 3D Top 5; 2002 NBHA World Qualifier (placed in the top 300 out of 978 entries); Florida Barrel Racers Association; FBRA Open Polebending Top 10 in 2001.  As you can tell, I did not run for points too much.  Concentration of doing this was in 2000 - 2001. 

Non Barrel Racing organization's member:  on Clogging team for 5 years; Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)  in high school.

Current Memberships and Accomplishments:

President of the Sunshine Barrel Racers Association; SunCoast Barrel Racers Association; Women's Professional Rodeo Association; Florida Barrel Racers Association (currently holding top ten in Open 4D - starting new horse); Who's Who of Professionals, and NBHA 00.  2009 Open 4D champion for the Sunshine Barrel Racers Association.