2020 NSBA COACHES SUMMIT
FACILITATORS AND PRESENTERS

Ryan Cottingim - Facilitator
Ryan Cottingim Show Horses
Spring Hill, Tennessee

AQHA professional horseman Ryan Cottingim has been involved and competed in the American Quarter Horse industry for over 25 years. Cottingim is a graduate of the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio with a Bachelor’s degree in both western equestrian studies and equine business management. Following his graduation Ryan spent two additional years at the university as an instructor.

He then opened his own training and lesson program in southwestern Ohio. Ryan had an opportunity to advance his career in the show horse industry and took an assistant training position at Tommy Sheets show horses.
Ryan and his fiancée, Amanda Gately, opened the doors at their training program Ryan Cottingim Show Horses in Shelbyville, Tennessee in 2011. There, they have established a very successful program earning multiple world show and Congress championships. They specialize in the western and English all-around events as well as coaching amateur and youth riders.
Ryan also has worked with Equestrians with Disabilities and their coaches for the last several years. He has served as a lead clinician and mentor to many EWD participants. Cottingim serves as a Professional Horseman extensively with the NSBA Heroes on Horses program along side US military Veteran’s who have competed at the NSBA World Championship Show as well as the All American Quarter Horse Congress.

Diane Helgeland - Facilitator
Partners for Progress PFP
Waukanda, Illinois

As the Executive Director of Partners for Progress based in Wauconda, Illinois, Diane brings over 20 years of personal and professional experience to the 2020 Coaches Summit. Helgeland is a former Special Education teacher and graduate of Illinois State University. She also has a sibling of a very wonderful and much-loved brother with unique abilities.
Developing unique and goal driven programs has been Diane’s passion building the programs at Partners for Progress, NFP.

Being a horse owner all of her life, she realizes what an important uniqueness the horse brings to all programs she developed throughout the years. Partners for Progress’s Power Hour Program is one of the programs that is offered to their clients. This program offers Therapist intervention and goal setting overseen by program therapist thus offering an increase in quality of life. Job Skills and coaching also overseen by program therapist in now available to older clients.

As a not for profit, financial sustainability is of utmost importance. Diane and her staff spend a great deal of time on community outreach, awareness and fundraising for their efforts. They have developed & created multiple successful fundraising activities to serve their client base and incorporate traveling to competitions across the country. She is looking forward to sharing many of these ideas with the Coaches Summit participants.
When not working she loves to spend hours and days at the beach, reading books, cooking and of course going to the horse shows with her granddaughters.

Joan Cutler - Facilitator
Equest Inc.
Dallas, Texas

Joan Cutler, Dallas based Equest Operations Coordinator, has been involved with therapeutic horsemanship for more than 25 years. Joan began her journey with therapeutic horsemanship as a volunteer at Equest in the early 1990’s. Joan returned to Equest as the Program Director in the Fall of 2013 and transitioned to Operations Coordinator in 2018.
 
Joan is a PATH International Advanced Certified Instructor, Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning, Level 1 Carriage Driving Instructor, an Accreditation Site Visitor and an Instructor Certification Faculty/Evaluator. Joan has served on several PATH International Committees including PATH International Equine Services for Heroes task force and committee.

Joan’s journey has allowed her to work at several riding centers across the Midwest including Children’s TherAplay in Carmel, IN; R.O.C.K., Ride on Center for Kids in Georgetown, TX; Runnin’ WJ Ranch in Texarkana, TX and Braveheart’s in Illinois.

Growing up in East Central Illinois, Joan started riding horses nearly before she could walk. She was an active participant in 4-H Horse and Horsemanship Programs for 10 years.  A graduate of Oklahoma State University, Joan has a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science.   
Joan enjoys spending time outdoors and cooking with her husband, Greg and their family and friends.  

Patty Campbell

Patty Campbell and her husband Butch operate Campbell Show horses. Training horses and teaching youth and amateurs. Specializing in all round horses and ranch riding events. Patty has her AQHA ,NSBA judges card and has enjoyed Judging for 20 years. Patty has judged  the All American Quarter Horse Congress and World Championship Shows for AQHA, NSBA as well as every other major show in the country. She also is a Realtor specializing in farm and ranch.

Judy Smith
Utah State University
Logan, Utah

Judy Smith holds a MS in Leisure Studies with an emphasis in Therapeutic/Recreational Programing from Oklahoma State University.  

Currently, Judy is serving as the Director of Equine/Human Sciences at Utah State University and oversees the Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies Minor and the Community Service Program offering Adaptive Riding and Equine Assisted Learning activities. She has been instrumental in adding Veterans to the therapeutic riding program at Utah State collaborating with cross campus groups and community services.   

Judy is a certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International. 

Smith grew up on a farm in Central Washington state and participated in the Horse 4-H program for twelve years. She has also ridden and competed in hunter jumper events during her youth career. Currently, she rides dressage with a 17 hand Dutch Warmblood. She and her husband Roger have been married for 36 years and we have three grown children and 8 grandchildren.  

Jessica Harrod

Jessica Harrod hails from Oklahoma and is a graduate of Oklahoma State University. She has been around horses her whole life and has always had a passion for Equestrians with Disabilities.  

Harrod has worked at several North Texas therapeutic riding facilities for the past five 5 years, and also serves as the Show Manager of Chisholm Challenge, a three-day Equestrians with Disabilities event, held in conjunction with the the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.  Jessica also manages the Stars and Stripes Summer Spectacular at the American Paint Horse Association Youth and Appaloosa World Show also held in Ft Worth.

She is a quick collaborator with many organizations to offer opportunities for all riders and champions that cause

Jessica works as the Technical Director of the Animal Emergency Hospital of North Texas.  
She is also a founding member of The Deidra Fund, a 501-c3 non-profit for animals in need.  

She lives in Aurora, Texas and enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her three dogs, 1 cat and her American Quarter Horse.

Robert McKenzie

Bob McKenzie is a successful Entrepreneurial Business leader and Senior Retail Executive with over 25 years of growing businesses and leading Merchandising teams.   Bob served as Senior Vice President of Merchandising for GameStop Corporation, a Fortune 500 specialty videogame retailer.

Since leaving GameStop in 2013, Bob and his wife Doreen have been managing Bridlewood Stables and Equestrian Center a business they founded in 2007.   They started the business because of the many benefits associated with therapeutic riding for people with disabilities. While doing research to learn about Down Syndrome they became aware of the benefits of therapeutic riding and felt that it could help their son. When the property became available, they purchased it, and have not looked back since.

Bob was instrumental in helping throughout the process of securing the VA adaptive sports grant funding to expand the Veteran Riding and Competition Program at Stable Strides Farm.

Additionally, Bob serves on the board of a number of companies and organizations in and out of the horse business.  He was also recognized in 2013 by Worldwide Who’s Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in business management and operations.


Lynn Campbell
NSBA Foundation
Development Director

Stephanie Lynn
NSBA Executive Director
 Coaches Summit Facilitator

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