Board of Directors:
Autumn Zick
Autumn is a Speech Pathologist at Blossomland Learning Center, a school for students with moderate to severe cognitive abilities. She has been involved in the world of Equine Assisted Activities since 1980 when she became a NARHA Certified Riding Instructor. She has owned horses all of her life, having shown Hunters, Dressage and Evented. For many years Autumn has been a "horse show mom" for her two daughters competing with their Arabian horses at the national level. She is a founding member of TEC and is married to an extremely understanding husband, Russ.
Barbara Lenhardt
Barbara Lenhardt is a Paraprofessional Accountant for Haslett & Gaynor, P.C. in Niles, MI as well as a parent and sister of an adult with a disability. She began working with therapeutic riding programs about 20 years ago when her son joined the 4-H We Can Ride 4-H Club, and has been on their Board, as treasurer for the last ten years. She was involved with TEC from its inception, but didn’t join the Board until 2007, as the treasurer. With six grandchildren life is never dull.
Margie Hojara-Hadsell
Margie has been a NARHA instructor since 1991 and has instructed in 3 programs, has worked on the Proud Equestrian Program new instructor training and evaluation team, and has served on the instructor update committee. She began riding hunters and jumpers at age 9, qualifying for the Alfred B Maclay ASPCA equitation finals, and also for the AHSA medal finals as a junior rider. She was coached by legendary horseman, Robert Egan, who was her stepfather. Margie was among TEC's first instructors and helped in initial program development.
Margie graduated from University of Notre Dame and then earned a graduate degree in counseling from Andrews University. She is currently the director of the Workforce Improvement Division of Michigan Rehabilitation Services in Lansing, MI, where her responsibilities are for staff development, recruitment,retention, succession planning, and services to persons with disabilities in Central and Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
Margie is married to Ron Hojara, and they have five dogs.
Judy Buck
Judy is a graduate of the University of Colorado, retired after 44 years in retail management. She is a past member Michiana Foxhounds, Member American Quarter Horse Association, National Reining Horse Association, and the Palomino Horse Breeders of America. She has been involved with horses since 1969 and is a student of Natural Horsemanship.
Barry Kalenevitch
Gil Migala
Gil Migala was born in Chicago and raised in St. Joseph Michigan and has seven siblings. He graduated from St. Joseph High School, attended DeVry Technical Institute, and graduated from Air University in Montgomery, Alabama. Gil also served in the United States Air Force.
Gil was employed by Whirlpool Corporation in Quality Control, was union steward and union vice president at Whirlpool. He worked at Continental Can and General Dynamics, Aeronautics Division. He is a retired local small business owner of Migala Rug & Tile Company of St. Joseph.
Gil is a life member and Treasurer for many years of the Knights of Columbus, a fraternal organization whose primary mission is to serve God and community through charitable endeavors. He has been involved in many fundraisers which have benefited individuals with special needs and other church related events.
Gill is married and living in Berrien Springs, Michigan. He has seven children and twelve grandchildren.
Development and Operations Director: Jennifer Scally,
-Jennifer is the niece and sister of an adult with a disability. She graduated from Western Michigan University with her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. She began formally working with adults with disabilities in an AFC home providing direct care while completing her degree. She managed apartments for individuals with disabilities in Kalamazoo before moving back to the Niles area where she managed several housing programs providing case management and housing assistance to individual who were disabled and homeless in Berrien County. When not working she enjoys spending time with her two young children and her husband, Joshua. The family is completed with two dogs, two cats and two gold fish. Jennifer can be contact by email at: jscally@tecfarm.org
Instructors:
Gidge Dunn
Danielle Countryman (not pictured)
Samie Ledyard
Kari Snyder- I have always had a love of horses and joined TEC as a horse leader in June 2007 and was certified as an instructor in April 2009. I became an instructor because I saw the positive impact riding had on the riders, including my oldest daughter. I am certified in adult & child CPR and First aid and have a master's degree in health administration (MHA).
Mara Vergon
Rob Widman
Autumn Zick- Training TEC volunteers.
Instructor In Training:
Janeen Pasquill
Facility and Building Maintenance Manager:
Larry Biesboer
Volunteer Managers: Please email azicktec@gmail.com if you are interested in becoming our volunteer manager
Public Relations Coordinator: January Immer
Pony Express Editor: Alexis Revera
Volunteers Coordinator: Beth Drollinger email volunteer@tecfarm.org
Beth has her Associates Degree and Bachelors of Science in Nursing, from Lake Superior State University, and her Masters of Science, Adult Health Nursing, from Purdue Calumet. She was in the United States Air Force (1985-1988) Nurse, 1st Lieutenant. She worked in a school district in WI with autistic and cognitively disabled children before moving to the St. Joseph area in August 2010. She reside with her husband and two teenage boys in Stevensville.
Exercise Rider Coordinator: Dana Siewert