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LSTEN Board ChairMelissa Flowers
I can’t imagine my life without horses! I began riding at the age of ten at a small therapeutic riding center outside of Houston, later it became the largest therapeutic riding provider for the Houston area. After high school she started volunteering & helping teach classes. Since then, I have worked at another therapeutic riding center in Magnolia, Tx., serving there for ten years in the roles of riding instructor and teaching in their pre-vocational program based on the grounds of the riding center. Currently she is using her talents & knowledge working at a pediatric therapy company. She had the pleasure of partnering with a beautiful quarter horse mare Duchess, for seven years. Vice-ChairKimberly McDonell
I began riding while living in Scotland, and competed in show-jumping (indoor and outdoor), working hunters/show ponies, hunter trials, as well as joining pony club, foxhunted and participated in gymkhanas. In 1988 I moved to Houston, where I stayed involved with pony club, aging out with my H-A certification. I competed throughout Area V (eventing) through the preliminary level, and through first level dressage within region 9. While in pony club we volunteered at SIRE (Hockley) to clean tack, where my parents later donated my brothers pony "Zippy" where he lived and worked until his retirement. In 2009 I began volunteering at SIRE's Hockley site, then going through PATH certification in the spring of 2011 I began working part time with SIRE shortly after certification, I also have my ESMHL. I am still involved with pony club as a chief horse management judge, and have held a number of leadership positions at the local and regional level. I graduated in 2006 from Sam Houston State University with a degree in History, and currently teach world history and government/economics at the high school level just west of Houston. |
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TreasurerJulie Jones has a background and education in non-profit management that gives her a different perspective on what it takes to run a successful, sustainable center and she looks forward to sharing the knowledge with others throughout the industry. After raising five amazing adults, God directed Julie to move to a little area of Oklahoma called Shamrock. He promised her a blessing if she went and the blessings just continued to roll in. One of the best things to come into her Oklahoma life during the 2020 COVID-19 shutdown was an introduction to EAS. She has fallen in love with the 'business" of offering healing and empowerment through horsemanship. When she isn't helping nonprofits plan for their future, she serves as a Region 8 Ambassador for PATH Intl., works on improving her own horsemanship skills, goes on "Grandma Dates" with her nine grandchildren, and builds relationships with the people of Shamrock."
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OfficerBrittany Rogers is the Program Director at Runnin' WJ Ranch which is a PATH Intl. premier accredited center in Texarkana, Texas. I have been at Runnin’ WJ Ranch since the beginning; handing my dad nails when this place was built and volunteering in class and in the barn, to now acting as Instructor and Program Director. I absolutely LOVE my job and all the students and volunteers that I get to come in contact with every day. I am truly blessed to be a part of this wonderful organization and thank God every day! I am a PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. I was recently chosen to be in Four State Living Magazine Fabulous 40 and Under. I am married to Jason and have two boys, Jaxon and Jase, that keep me busy. I am on the board of Texarkana Down Syndrome Society and Maud Youth Football Association.
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OfficerMG Tindall serves as President/CEO and Board Member of Inspiration Ranch and has been on staff there since 2010. With more than 25 years in non-profit, her focus is increasing benefits to our community by creating lasting partnerships with key community stakeholders. Her strengths are strategic planning, leadership, and problem-solving.
Before joining the ranch, she was the Director of the Children's Ministry for Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, IL. While at Willow Creek, MG was a member of the Top 50 Leaders. She is a native Houston and studied Special Education at Texas Tech University. MG is married to John Tindall and has two children, Kali and Cole. |
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Officer
Becke Williams is a PATH Intl CTRI® and one of the AR PATH Intl./LSTEN Ambassadors. Becke manages her herd of 7 horses at her facility, Arkansas Heart & Sole, a PATH Intl. Center in Monticello, AR. She is a K-12 educator with a lifetime certification in education and school counseling and has 28 years of experience in behavior counseling and trauma counseling. She is also trained with the National Organization of Victim's Assistance (NOVA) and was deployed to the Mississippi gulf coast after Katrina. |
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Officer
Michaela McKinney currently serves as a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equipment Coordinator at Equest in Dallas, Texas. Her early career has been characterized by a dedicated involvement in therapeutic riding programs both in California and Texas, where she began forging her path in equine-assisted services.
From a tender age, Michaela's life has been deeply intertwined with her love for God, her passion for horses, and a desire to make a difference. A legacy inspired by her Aunt Rae Ann and her Grandmother Sheryl. Her aunt's teachings on the importance of proper horse care, and her Grandmothers work as a special needs educator left a lasting impression, fueling Michaela's commitment and passion. Her childhood memories are anchored by the joyous milestone of receiving her first horse at the age of 10, which undoubtedly set the course for her lifelong passion for equine welfare and therapy. In 2022, Michaela's potential was recognized and nurtured through Equest's PATH Int'l Instructor Training Course, which equipped her with the essential foundations of therapeutic riding. After the course, Michaela became a CTRI and is diligently working towards becoming a Certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist and a Certified Kinesiology Taping Practitioner. These qualifications are a testament to her dedication to equine welfare and her desire to deepen her expertise within the therapeutic riding industry. Michaela McKinney's story is not just one of professional ascension but is also a heartening narrative of personal devotion to making a meaningful impact on people's lives through her deep-seated love for horses and therapeutic riding. |
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Officer
Connie Holt has been a horse lover her entire life, she grew up breaking, training and then barrel racing. She was a Head Start Center Director for 20 years before becoming a volunteer at Equestrian Zone. In 2017 she became Equestrian Zone’s Executive Director, Barn Manager, volunteer coordinator and grant writer. Equestrian Zone is a PATH Center that provides therapy using OT, PT and Speech along with Therapeutic Riding. A Veterans program- 2 Hearts 2 One will be started in 2024.
Connie is a Path International Certified Riding Instructor (CTRI), Equine Specialist Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL), Mentor and Co-Chair for Arkansas. She is also certified in the Masterson Method Equine Specialist (MMES) through Jim Masterson. Connie enjoys life by sharing her passion of horses with people of all abilities. Connie enjoys learning new training and teaching techniques from others. She loves hauling her grandson to rodeos, she is an avid bow hunter and enjoys kayaking, fishing and farming. Connie loves her God, her family, and her church. |
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Officer
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