The Bright Star Ranch Team
Bright Star Ranch has an amazing team devoted to changing lives through equine-assisted activities and therapies. We work tirelessly to help fulfill Bright Star Ranch’s mission every day.
Debbie Bright Chunn
Executive Director
President
PATH and CHA Certified Riding Instructor
PATH Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning
Debbie Bright-Chunn earned her Master's in Health Informatics from Louisiana Tech University and worked for 30 years in the hospital field, serving as Health Information Director for 20 years. Her love for horses and therapeutic riding caused her to open a facility in 2018 after she became certified through PATH and CHA. She states, "This job is by far the most rewarding I have ever had and has been my vision for many years."
Ronnie Chunn
Vice-President
​Barn and Facility Manager
Ronnie is the Barn and Facility Manager as well as the Vice-President on the Board for Bright Star Ranch. He works tirelessly to keep the grounds mowed, animals fed, and the arena and barn areas kept clean. He and his wife, Debbie, have committed themselves to providing equine therapy to individuals in order to improve their quality of life.
Nikki Murphy
CHA Certified Riding Instructor
Volunteer Coordinator & Marketing Director
​
Nikki graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor’s degree in Family & Child Services & a minor in Psychology in 2003. In 2004, she graduated from ULM in Monroe, Louisiana, with a Master’s in Special Education and later added a certification in Early Childhood Education. As a former special education teacher of over 12 years, she has worked with individuals and a wide variety of disabilities. She brings that knowledge and love for helping others to our team. She says that, “Combining my love of horses & working with individuals with special needs makes this my absolute dream job.”
Dr. Florencetta Gibson
Board Member
Dr. Florencetta Gibson serves as a board member of Bright Star Ranch. She is the retired Director of the Kitty DeGree School of Nursing at ULM, and currently serves in a Professor Emeritus role. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Education, and Ph. D. from ULM, and Master of Science in Nursing from University of Mississippi. She currently works as a mental health professional in
a local private practice. Dr. Gibson is a past member of the Living Well Foundation Board, and a current
member of the United Way Board of Directors, while serving as a founding member and Co-Director of the Witness Project of Northeast Louisiana, a breast cancer support group. Dr. Gibson is active in her church and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. In her spare time, she serves as a volunteer in the community, and enjoys reading, gardening and sewing.
Ricky Hester
Board Member
Ricky is retired from the telecommunications industry as a project manager. He started his career with S & H Associates in Alexandria, LA and completed it while working for Byers Engineering in Monroe, LA. He is married with two sons and three grandchildren and enjoys having more time to spend with the family. His wife, Tammy, is a retired elementary education teacher.
They are actively involved at their church in West Monroe where he is currently serving on the administrative board. As of this year, he is also serving on the board of a non-profit called Mercy in Action International that works with missionaries to serve and help the people and children of Kenya, Serbia, Pakistan and the Philippines as well as ministries here in the United States.
