Mike was raised in the Pacific Northwest and is blessed with an awesome family which includes his wife Tracey, daughter Taylor, and amazing grandson Kadenwho enjoys life everyday with autism. His work experience is very diverse and includes time spent in retail, ten years as a Criminal Deputy Sheriff in Umatilla,and is currently the Safety Manager for Cascade Natural Gas since 2018. He spent years working with United Way and also spent four years on the Umatilla County United Way Board. He also spent many years as a D.A.R.E. instructor and raised over $50,000 for the program. All of these adventures have given him great life experiences. He is excited to use his knowledge of 30+ years of non-profit work at TROT and is looking forward to a long relationship with the TROT board. In his non-existent spare time, he enjoys spending time on the Oregon coast with his family, golfing, and learning more about autism. He also loves to cheer on his grandson Kaden during his adaptive riding lessons.

Lindsay is an archaeologist with Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. She began taking lessons and volunteering at Monterey Bay Horsemanship and Therapeutic Center (MBHTC) in California in 2002, and she has remained passionate about therapeutic horseback riding ever since. She has ridden hunter/jumper since her start at MBHTC and played polo on the University of Idaho women’s varsity polo team in grad school. She has an Irish Thorough bred named Dub and an orange tabby cat named Tubby. Lindsay has been a part of the TROT Board since 2017.

Jessica is a native of Southeastern Washington, born and educated in the tight-knit communities of Walla Walla and Waitsburg. Her background includes a BS in Accounting, sixteen years in finance, and different Treasurer roles on various boards in Walla Walla and Richland, WA. Family is important to her, so when her husband was offered a dream job opportunity “down the road” in the Tri-Cities area, she knew that change was inevitable for her family of four, (six if you count their dogs). She’s always enjoyed volunteering on boards and committees,especially if it involved her two sons. As her boys got older, she found that she had more time on her hands to seek out her own interests. A lucky opportunity arose for Jessica to volunteer at TROT as a side walker and she’s been addicted ever since! She is eager to help TROT succeed and is looking forward to learn more about horses.

Cynthia grew up in Chicago but moved to Tri-Cities in 2000. Cynthia has been a Speech/Language pathologist for over 40 years. She has worked with all ages,in all settings, across all levels of care to help people with communication disorders. Her love of animals and therapeutic skills prompted her to start the first therapeutic riding facility in Tri-Cities, WA! With the help of her benefactor,Dr. Lawrence Dubose, and the support of her husband and daughter, TROT launched in 2014. For 13 years, she utilized her beloved therapy dog, Camry in her services in the Tri-Cities community and at TROT. So many people have volunteered their time, talents, and resources to make this dream a reality and are held with deep gratitude for being a part of the tapestry of TROT. Watching her dream up fold and grow to help change lives and bring joy to those in volvedin this organization is her biggest reward. In her free time, she enjoys making memories with family, hiking, walks on the beach, and spending time with her beloved therapy horses, Cocoa and Cowboy. Cynthia is a Level 1 CHA certified instructor, Level 1 AHA certified instructor, and is a member of PATH Intl.

Maria grew up in the Tri-Cities, but was educated in the Bible Belt of Oklahoma as a registered nurse. Maria has been married for twenty-eight years and has a twenty-seven, twenty-six, and thirteen year old. She returned to the mightyPacific Northwest with her family in 2006, with a horse in tow, to be closer to her family. Fun fact: that horse is TROT’s beloved Cowboy. She decided to purse an advanced degree in family practice at WSU and now can happily identify as a Mighty WSU Cougar. She loves exploring the Columbia River with her family,camping outdoors, and various sports. She is currently a provider of preventative health care in Tri-Cities as a nurse practitioner. She has also maintained a registered nurse license for thirty years in advocating for best health care in hospitals across the country. She is honored to be a part of TROT because she will never forget the influence of the miraculous therapy horses that she met in Oklahoma and Texas. She loves horses and helping those that may require specialized care or are in need of any individualized mental or physical health services. Maria ultimately looks forward to serving the community through TROT as an advocate for anyone in need.

Barb was born in Pendleton, OR which is where she believes her lifelong love of horses came from. She love hearing the “clip-clip” of their hooves hitting the street or listening to them neigh as they passed by. Even before she owned a horse, she always managed to find somebody else who was happy to let her visit or ride. At the age of 27, her dreams finally came true and she got her own horse. Her first horse was a three year old mare. When she was four, she gave birth to a beautiful filly. Her mare lived to the ripe old age of thirty-two and her daughter until the age of thirty-six. Barb says she was blessed to have them in her life and brought much comfort and healing in my life’s journey. A year or so before her last horse passed, she heard about TROT at a presentation. The mission of TROT resonated in her heart and she knew this was an organization she wanted to support, especially in retirement. Barb says TROT has filled a hole in my heart and brings her great joy to participate in helping to bring horse and rider together in such healing ways.

Vicki grew up in California and has worked with TROT in a supportive role since its inception. Their therapy successes inspired her to become a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs of the Dessert. She currently works with Ruby, her registered therapy dog through Therapy Dogs International. In the non-profit sector, she was Vice President on the founding board of the Community Foundation in Grand Terrace. She served as 1st and 3rd Vice President and Treasurer for the Grand Terrace Woman’s Club. Her business consultant career started in the1980’s, when she combined her computer science degree with an MBA. She was part of the Claremont Graduate University and Cornell team in her graduate research in remote work environments. She has been adjunct faculty in the Cal Poly and Cal State system. She volunteers with her Captain’s license at the Antique Boat Museum in the Thousand Islands region where her and her husband summer with their family.

Michelle Whitney has been a part of the Pasco School District for more than 20years, starting out as a kindergarten teacher before moving on to serve as assistant principal and then principal at McLoughlin Middle School. She’s also served as the District’s Director of Human Resources, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, and Deputy Superintendent. In July 2016, she was sworn in as Pasco School District’s new superintendent and hit the ground running. She’s been running ever since, overseeing a school district with more than 2,000 employees that serves more than 18,000 students in our community.Mrs. Whitney is a proud product of Columbia Basin College, where she received her associate’s degree before moving on to Washington State University to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education. She also received her Principal’s certification and Superintendent’s credential from WSU.

Tanya has been a proud supporter since TROT was only a twinkle in Cynthia’s eye. She was on the original board and is constantly delighted by how this dream has become a reality and continues to expand and serve. Tanya is at home in Genesee, Idaho after working in various locations throughout Europe and the US. She claims a diversity of occupations and especially enjoys working with startup businesses. In addition to other ventures, she co-founded Agriculture Development Group/Schreiber & Sons in Tri-Cities and continues to invest her time and resources in new endeavors.

Andrea graduated in 1998 from Washington State University, receiving a Bachelors’s degree in Social Sciences with a minor concentration in Communications. Andrea is a Real Estate agent/broker at Windermere Group One in the Greater Tri-Cities. She has been with them since 2015. Her business/sales employment history has afforded her to work in technology and pharmaceutical sales markets for 16 years prior to entering Real Estate. Andrea is one of the founding members of Modern Living Services. Her MLS passion starts with working together with dedicated volunteers who have a like mind in wanting to provide and facilitate long term affordable housing and special services that help go to support independent living options for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Andrea is married to Tom Mallonee, and together they have two children. Her eldest child, Lindsey, has intellectual disabilities and is now 27 years old and lives in her home with a roommate, but as independently as possible with the help of support staff. Her son Sean 21, is currently attending Waldorf University in Forest City North Iowa. Andrea and Tom became Grandparents in May of 2020 to a beautiful little boy, Sullivan Mallonee, son to Sean & Cade. Andrea enjoys her Real Estate career and helping families find homes, and in her leisure time, she enjoys playing ball with her two dogs Cooper & Camry, and being on the golf course with good friends!