Meet our Friendly Staff and Board of Directors
Project R.I.D.E.’s staff consists of an Executive Director, an Office Manager, a Community Outreach Manager and Outreach Coordinators, PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors, and a Ranch Caretaker. Our beloved and hard-working four-legged employees include our amazing team of therapy horses and eight official therapy cats and mousers: Hobbs, Mowgli, Nilly Puddin’, Trip Hazard, Marshall, iLean, Thelma & Louise. All other duties are handled by our dedicated army of volunteers! To find out how you can help, click here.
Meet the Board. Project RIDE is run by an all-volunteer group of extremely dedicated individuals who oversee all of our program operations and finances and work hard to make sure we have the funds we need to run this program. Monthly board meetings are open to the public and occur every second Thursday in the Project RIDE arena at 5:30.
Staff
Tina Calanchini
Executive Director
Tina began working with Project R.I.D.E. in 2002 as a volunteer. She was intrigued that anyone would be crazy enough to place a child with special needs atop an animal period, let alone a 1200 pound horse. On her first day as a volunteer, all of the reasons to do so became clear as she heard the laughter of these amazing students echoing through the barn.
Emily Calanchini
Outreach Manager
Since early high school, I have wanted to be a teacher! I graduated from Elk Grove High School and immediately began taking classes in Early Childhood Education. I began volunteering at Project R.I.D.E. in 2014 and quickly discovered how much I love being around kids. I was hired in 2016 to perform data entry, volunteer coordination, social media management, and teaching the “18 and UP Club.”
Lauren Hieb
PATH Intl Advanced Therapeutic Riding Instructor; Equine Manager; Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning
Lauren fell in love with horses early on in her life competing in Gymkhanas and Barrel Racing events. It wasn’t until she volunteered at a therapeutic riding center in Fresno, that she knew she was going to make a long term career out out of teaching. She went on to attend Centenary College in NJ, and in 2007 graduated with a B.S. in Equine Studies. Throughout college she competed in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Assocation in both English & Western riding disciplines. Right after graduation, she flew back to CA, and immediately started working at Project R.I.D.E. Inc. She has been there ever since.
Tamara Lipanovich
PATH International Certified Riding Instructor; Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning
Tamara Lipanovich is a wife, mother to five, and grandmother to a small herd. She has ridden horses most of her life and enjoys riding a variety of disciplines ranging from Western trail riding to English jumping. She loves trail trials and obstacle challenges and is currently pursuing Cowboy Dressage. She calls herself a “jack of all disciplines, master of none” when it comes to riding because she enjoys exploring the various fields.
Rise Grover
PATH International Certified Riding Instructor
Rise’s career at Project R.I.D.E. began in 2015 and like many staffers, she also started as a volunteer. In 2017, she became a PATH Int’l Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Rise is a retired educator, who with her family lived overseas for many years returning to the U.S. in 2001 and moved back to California in 2014. Rise has been a horse owner and rider for many years and currently competes with her horse, Cuervo III, in Dressage which earned Bronze and Silver medals from the United States Dressage Federation.
Genell Csik
PATH International Certified Riding Instructor
Genell fell in love with horses and riding at an early age and never outgrew it. She started taking lessons at 7 and convinced her parents she was serious enough to get her first horse at 8. She spent most of her childhood and teenage years riding and competing in Hunter / Jumper classes, but also enjoyed the freedom of riding on the nearby trails for fun. Nowadays, she enjoys pleasure riding and caring for her 3 retired Arabian horses.
Gayle Stowell
PATH International Certified Riding Instructor
In 2016, Gayle came to Project R.I.D.E. specifically to receive training needed to become a Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Once she began training, she fell in love with the program and was determined to work at this site after certification. In 2017, Gayle was certified by PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) and officially joined the staff in 2018
Rachel Prettyman
PATH International Certified Instructor, Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning
Project RIDE feels like a second home to me, and is the reason for my horse addiction! My brother is disabled and grew up taking lessons at RIDE. I loved tagging along for his lessons and quickly fell in love with the barn and horses. I often dreamed of one day becoming a RIDE instructor. As soon as I was old enough, I became a volunteer and spent as much time as I could around the barn. I took a break from volunteering to attend college, where I received my California Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential.
Marnie Nessen
PATH International Certified Riding Instructor
Bio coming soon!!!
Suzi Lawton
Community Outreach Specialist
Suzi joined Project R.I.D.E. as a volunteer in August 2008 and now works in our offices as an Outreach Coordinator, ensuring we have the volunteers we need for our program. With a past career in finance, Suzi has a passion for following up and ensuring things run smoothly. Suzi is an avid animal lover and currently has a flock of doves, finches, and quail, as well as a hairless rat, 5 cats and 2 rabbits. One of her more unusual pets was a possum raised from a baby.
Lori Candelaria
Office Manager
Lori manages the office and makes sure our operations run smoothly. She moved from the Bay Area in 2010 and soon after came to Project R.I.D.E. “Ever since my move, I dreamed of working with a facility that treasured children & valued the rural horse lifestyle within city limits. I have been so fortunate to find all that @ R.I.D.E.” From outreach to in-house support, Lori’s role is to represent R.I.D.E. in program fundraising support and business office administration. With her experience in Business and Marketing, Lori works cooperatively with Staff to make a difference for all our clients & volunteers. At the end of the day, I enjoy going home to “be” with my husband, three beautiful kids, a 30 year old quarter horse gelding “Dually”, 2 goats, & 7 chickens.
Doug Hebbard
Ranch Caretaker/Manager
Doug started his volunteer journey with Project RIDE in 2017 advanceing to joining our staff in 2020. Doug is a proud Army Desert Storm veteran that served 6 ½ years through Iraq and Kuwait. After picking up medical skills as a combat medic, Doug continued to pursue a career in emergency healthcare as a paramedic. Doug spent 15 years in fire and emergency medical services. Sadly, he had to medically retire early in his career. Doug served ten dutiful years with the Fairfield Fire Department and retired in 2011.
On the search for healing, horsemanship peaked Doug’s interest. Doug found a horsemanship retreat, Warhorses for Veterans, in Stilwell, Kansas and soon after found his newfound passion for training and working with horses.
Now, Doug and his beloved wife, Brandi, live at the Project RIDE ranch full time,
giving great care to the land and Project Ride’s trusty herd of horses.
Board of Directors
Kim Hettrick
President
Born and raised in South Sacramento and an Elk Grove resident since 2000. I am happily married with 3 beautiful children. My first career spanned 12 years in banking. My second career and current employment is with the State of California. I have proudly served on the Board of Directors for Project R.I.D.E., Inc. starting in 2002. My roles have included Treasurer, VP and President. There is no greater joy than seeing the happiness our program continues to bring to our riders!
Duane Tadlock
Secretary
Duane works at Cal Expo surrounded by horses and spends his free time raising funds for a perpetual scholarship in memory of his daughter Baylee Rose, by selling Baylee bracelets (you can buy one right here). So far, 5 students receive all their therapeutic riding services for free in perpetuity thanks to the tireless efforts of him and his wife Sonda.
Leon Vanderspek
Vice President
For the past 16 years, I have taught in the Elk Grove Unified School District. I have been married for 12 years and the proud father of two daughters Sophia 10 years old and Paige 7 years old.
Amy Souza
Director
I am a grandmother of two small children and love,love,love kids. I will use whatever I have at my disposal to help make our kids smile and laugh. Since joining Project RIDE I have had the experience to grow and learn from the kids we help every day. They give and love unconditionally which makes my heart happy. Choosing to dedicate my time and energy as a volunteer, leader, and mentor gives me the opportunity to help these kids achieve their full potential physically and mentally while having fun. Making a difference in a child’s life is my reward at the end of the day and I look forward to it every day.
Jeff Alley
Director
Bio Coming Soon!!!
Syd Highley
Treasurer
Bio Coming Soon!!!
Gretchen Brink
Director
Gretchen has a long history of volunteering with Project RIDE, as well as involvement in several other local organizations including Rotary and Strauss Festival. Stay tuned for her bio!
Sandy Hastie
Director
My husband & I have lived in Elk Grove for over 50 years. I worked for the Elk Grove Unified School District for 25+ years in the Special Education field. When I retired, I wanted to do something that would make a difference. That is when I found Project R.I.D.E.! From the very first day, I fell in love with this magical place and knew I had found a purpose!
Eric McDonald
Director
I began volunteering at Project Ride in 2009 after a 30 year career at United Parcel Service. Initially just looking for a productive opportunity to give back to the community and within a few months I was hooked!
By far, this is the most rewarding thing I have ever done. The staff are always very professional and truly appreciate their volunteers. Seeing the smiles and joy we bring to our riders is priceless.
Karin Ramirez
Director
I have been married for 40 years to the love of my life. We have two daughters and four granddaughters ranging in age from five to fifteen years old. Three years ago, I was searching for volunteer opportunities involving horses. When I found Project RIDE, I knew this is where I was meant to be. I grew up with horses and have worked with children for over 36 years. So having both my loves in one place was perfect!!! I joined the board of directors in June of 2021 and have enjoyed every minute of being a part of this magical place.
Jack Dalton
Director
Bio coming Soon!!!
