Contact CHA
Executive Office & Staff
The Certified Horsemanship Association Headquarters
1795 Alysheba Way, Suite 7102
Lexington, KY 40509
859-259-3399
859-255-0726 fax
Julie Goodnight
CHA
Spokesperson
Speaker at trade shows & conferences, contributor to The Instructor magazine
2025 CHA Executive Committee
Jennifer Eaton, President
Interscholastic Equestrian Association
Groveland, MA
President Elect
Vice President
Jessica Mullins, Secretary
YMCA Camp Kern
Franklin, OH
Treasurer
Kristin Jaworski, Past President
Fort Worth Herd
Fort Worth, TX
Robert Coleman, Parliamentarian
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
2025 CHA Board of Directors
Stephanie Bazile
Girl Scouts of San Jacinto
Conroe, TX
Susan Berger
Horse Connections
Mechanicsburg, PA
Bob Byrns
BB Byrns Interests LLC
College Station, TX
Aimee Edwards
McLennan Community College
Waco, TX
Kelly Hall
Ohio University
Grayson, KY
Rebecca Halvorson
AQHA
Guthrie, OK
Katrina Lechlitner
Spring Hills Camp
Reed City, MI
Deanna Mancuso
LOHR
Dover Plains, NY
Debra Powell
PECTS
Nelsonville, OH
Katie Reynolds
AQHA
Amarillo, TX
2025 CHA Provincial and State Representatives
Region 6
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Brunswick
- New Hampshire
- Newfoundland
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
Certified Horsemanship Association Committees
The Standing Committees Job Descriptions
Committee:
Research & Development
The Research and Development Committee researches opportunities, activities, or projects as identified by the board of directors which may enhance and further the overall mission of the organization. This may include the development of new educational materials, updating existing educational materials, identifying and addressing the needs of members and the organization, and researching and development of any other opportunities that are beneficial to the organization. This committee works closely with staff and in collaboration with the other committees.
Committee:
Education & Training
The Education and Training Committee is responsible for the quality management of existing CHA program materials. This committee reviews CHA publications and materials. The purpose of this committee is to develop, implement, and maintain certification and educational materials, activities, and programs for instructors and members. This committee works in collaboration with staff and other committees.
Committee:
Membership & Marketing
This committee combines marketing and membership. The Membership and Marketing Committee is responsible for recruitment and retention of the current membership of the organization. This committee is also responsible for the marketing of the products and services of the organization to the horse industry. This committee develops marketing strategies devised to increase visibility, promote a positive public image, and increase membership and sales. This committee works collaboratively with the staff and other committees.
How to Become a Board Member
Nominations to the CHA Board of Directors:
Be on the Board. No way! . . . But wait, maybe . . . just maybe there might be some benefits you get from being on the board besides getting a chance to help CHA grow and guide the direction that CHA takes in it’s long range planning.
“Fun, educational, opportunity to travel and see other parts of the country as well as other facilities, learn how a board works and be a part of one, learn the ins and outs of a well managed non-profit business, learn about parliamentary procedures, meet many other quality people all with a common goal for CHA. Being on the board is not a hard thing to do. You need to be able to commit the time to be at the meetings and do some work in between meetings.” Quote from our CHA Past President Bo Winslow, when asked about his experience of being on the board.
So you decide that you want to get involved with CHA and be a board member or you know that special dedicated person that would bring experience and ideas to the board. What do you do now? How do you let someone know? Actually it’s very simple. You contact the Nominations Committee Chair, who is the current Vice President of New Initiatives and you can find them in the link above. His/her main role is to recruit new board members and to ensure that each board member is equipped with the proper tools and motivation to carry out his/her responsibilities.
Some of the things that the nominating committee looks for are special skills or expertise such as: fundraising, finances, business, PR, technology, legal, horse industry, or mission specific, professional background, other professional affiliations, other board service, special interests or hobbies. The objective of board recruitment is to find willing, able, and committed board members.
How do you know if a candidate is going to be the right person for your board?
These are the questions to ask yourself:
Why are you interested in our organization?
Why are you specifically interested in serving on a board?
Do you have any previous board service, leadership, or volunteer experience? Are you presently serving on other boards?
What kinds of skills or expertise can you offer? How will the organization benefit from your participation? How do you think we could best take advantage of your expertise?
What do you expect us to do for you so that your experience turns out to be satisfying?
What kind of time and financial commitment will you be able to make?
Are you willing to serve on committees and task forces?
Can we expect you to come to board meetings regularly? (The CHA Board meets twice a year, in the fall before the conference and in the spring. All board members are expected to be at both meetings if possible. Then they meet by phone in January and July.)
Would you be able to make a personal contribution? (Board members pay their own travel expenses and cost)
Some of the personal characteristics the nominating committee needs to consider:
Ability to: listen, analyze, think clearly and creatively, and work well with people individually and in a group. Willing to: prepare for and attend board and committee meetings, ask questions, take responsibility and follow through on a given assignment, contribute personal and financial resources in a generous way according to circumstances, open doors in the community, evaluate oneself.
Develop certain skills if you do not already possess them, such as to: cultivate and solicit funds, cultivate and recruit board members and other volunteers, read and understand financial statements, learn more about the substantive program area of the organization.
Possess: honesty, sensitivity to and tolerance of differing views, a friendly, responsive, and patient approach, community-building skills, personal integrity, a developed sense of values, concern for CHA’s development, a sense of humor.
Responsibilities of the individual board members include: to attend all board and committee meetings, be informed about the organization’s mission, services, policies, and programs, review agenda and supporting materials prior to board and committee meetings, serve on committees and offer to take on special assignments, keep up-to-date on developments in the organization’s field, follow conflict of interest and confidentiality policies and assist the board in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities, such as reviewing the organization’s annual financial statements.
Being a CHA Board Member can be a very worthwhile experience.
Hope to see you on the ballot!
CHA Why Statement
“CHA changes lives through safe experiences with horses.”
Certified Horsemanship Association
1795 Alysheba Way, Suite 7102
Lexington, KY 40509