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Our Board of Directors

pole dance fitness Betsy Myers

Betsy Myers

Founder & president

For more than 20 years, Dr. Betsy Myers has been a physician, starting her military service in 1998 as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. She received her Medical Degree from Oklahoma State University in 2002 and was promoted to Captain. Dr. Myers completed her general surgery internship at Fort Bliss and joined the 4th Infantry Division Surgeon Section shortly after.

In 2004, she was deployed to Tikrit, Iraq as a field surgeon for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dr. Myers later returned to the States and integrated into civilian life but she never stopped serving our country. After completion of her psychiatry residency, Dr. Myers worked at the Veteran’s hospital in Arizona, supporting our service members’ mental health as they transitioned from military service to civilian life. She even created the “Lioness Program,” a support group for female veterans who deployed. The Lioness Program provided female veterans with the space to meet, bond, and share combat experiences. 

 

In 2021, Dr. Myers launched her own private psychiatry practice focusing on PTSD, anxiety, and depression.  

 

Dr. Myers founded Pole Impact with the vision that pole can heal. She has found immense strength and confidence from the sport and knows that it can aid in anyone’s – especially service members’ – journey towards improved mental and physical health. 

pole dance fitness Lou Durant

Lou Durant

Vice President

Lou Durant is a born optimist with a passion for serving Arizona families and military veterans. She spent five years in the United States Air Force, earning Senior Airman Below the Zone and shortly thereafter, the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt). When she transitioned back into civilian life, she earned a bachelor's degree in Business Management and a master's degree in Education - Curriculum and Instruction; along with teaching credentials in CA, FL, and AZ.

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Lou’s dedication to helping others is evident in all aspects of her life. She worked as a classroom teacher for 16 years and currently

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serves on various boards and committees dedicated to child and family support , teacher education, and workplace diversity. Lou is employed full-time at another non-profit agency directed towards improving services for Arizona children and families.

 

Lou knows first-hand how sports can bring purpose and passion to one’s life. That knowledge along with her military background and strong sense of community drives Pole Impact’s mission – to serve Tucson’s veterans and other underrepresented populations. 

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amy Barnett

Secretary

Amy Barnett has over 12 years of entrepreneurial experience. She created, owns, and currently operates a business that designs and manufactures patches for the uniforms of our United States Airmen. It is her passion to serve those who serve us, and she has translated this mission into Pole Impact.  

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Amy’s managerial expertise guides our nonprofit’s dedication to empowering individuals through pole, especially those who served our country. 

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Stacey Bert

Treasurer

Stacey Bert has worked for over 10 years in finance and risk management and, most recently, in entrepreneurship and the investments industry.  

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Stacey found pole fitness in June 2019 and completely fell in love with not only the sport, but her new pole family. She loves how pole is a fun workout that celebrates the body’s strength, grace, and beauty. Pole has also introduced Stacey to many amazing talented athletes who have much to share. 

Stacey is determined to grow Pole Impact into a safe, creative space that supports the local community - especially Tucson’s veteran community. Stacey comes from a family with a long military history and is dedicated to giving back to our Armed Forces. As Pole Impact's treasurer, Stacey is poised to make smart money decisions that will help Pole Impact flourish so it can serve its community for years to come. 

 

Stacey has two amazing daughters, a wonderful husband and is a lover of dachshunds. In her free time, she fosters rescue dogs until they find their forever homes.   

our coordinators

pole dance fitness Katerina Frye

Katerina Frye

Marketing Coordinator

Katerina graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a BA in English and Psychology and a minor in Marketing & Communications. She is currently pursuing an MS in Professional Writing from New York University, and is looking to write her thesis on the origins of pole.

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Katerina discovered pole during the pandemic and has been an avid poler ever since! She took second in USPSF Nationals in 2023 and went to Worlds that same year.

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Katerina supports Pole Impact, Inc. by managing the website, designing marketing materials, and all the random stuff in between.

pole dance fitness Laura Gudenkauf

Laura Gudenkauf

Volunteer Coordinator

Dr. Laura Gudenkauf grew up in Tucson, and has always been passionate about serving her community. She chose to pursue a career in healthcare in order to continue being of service to others. Dr. Gudenkauf received her bachelor's degree in Physiology from the University of Arizona, followed by her Doctorate of Optometry from the Ohio State University. She joined a private practice upon returning here to her hometown, and continues striving to provide excellent and compassionate eye care to all her patients.

Dr. Gudenkauf has come to understand how important it is for one's health to nurture one's physical and mental wellbeing. She realized she missed taking dance classes, which had previously been a source of joy and movement. Determined to return to dance, she was thrilled to discover pole fitness in 2020. Pole quickly became a passion of hers, and she was amazed at how much it helped build strength, flexibility, and confidence. Dr. Gudenkauf is passionate about Pole Impact's goal to share pole fitness and its benefits with the Tucson community. As Volunteer Coordinator, she manages those interested in volunteering their time to support Pole Impact's mission.

Outside of pole fitness and working in healthcare, Dr. Gudenkauf enjoys reading fantasy novels as well as spending time with her husband, daughter, and dogs.

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