Our Staff

Administration & Development

Joe Wappelhorst
Executive Director
281-356-7588
joe@sire-htec.org

Shayna Bolton
Director of Operations
346-261-1411
shayna@sire-htec.org

Beth Burroway
Director of Development
281-356-7588
281-414-4830
beth@sire-htec.org

Kailey Tepera
Grant Writer
281-356-7588
346-249-3849
kailey@sire-htec.org

Gloria Flores
Administrative Assistant
281-356-7588
gloria@sire-htec.org

Etta Harris-Vincent
Client Relations Manager
281-356-7588
etta@sire-htec.org

FORT BEND

Randa Poor
Program Manager
936-262-0413
randa@sire-htec.org

Brooke Wrzyszczynski
Volunteer Coordinator
346-261-1442
brooke@sire-htec.org

Helen Evans
CTRI Instructor
helen@sire-htec.org

Diana Poor
Facilities Manager
281-620-2544
diana@sire-htec.org

Tynea Riggleman
Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning
346-249-3850
tynea@sire-htec.org

Sarah Medjaouri
CTRI Instructor
sarah@sire-htec.org

Martin Colmenares
Barn Manager

Jose Sanchez
Barn Assistant

SPRING

Stephanie Twellman
Site Manager, CTRI Instructor
346-261-1412
stephanie@sire-htec.org

Julia Stephan
Volunteer Coordinator
832-535-2209
julia@sire-htec.org

Daniel Narvaez
Facility Manager/ Equine Assistant
281-356-7588

Johanna Descallar
CTRI Instructor
johanna@sire-htec.org

Wandy Hughes
CTRI Instructor
wandy@sire-htec.org

Christine Starkweather
CTRI Instructor
christine@sire-htec.org

Mayra Narvaez
Barn Assistant
mayra@sire-htec.org

Lisa Skinner
CTRI Instructor, SLP
lisa@sire-htec.org

SIRE Partners

Debbie Blackmon, MA, LPA-IP

Debbie Blackmon, MA, LPA-IP of Discovery Counseling to provide Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning services. Discovery Counseling is a private practice that provides therapy services to individuals, couples and groups. This practice provides both equine-assisted and non-equine services on both SIRE sites and specializes in working with individuals who have experienced challenging and overwhelming life events.

Discovery Counseling is owned and operated by Debbie Blackmon, MA, LPA-IP. She is licensed by the state of Texas as a Psychological Associate with Independent Practice. Mrs. Blackmon has been a mental health practitioner for over 30 years and has extensive training and experience in trauma-informed and trauma-focused care. Discovery Counseling provides both equine-assisted and non-equine services on both SIRE sites and specializes in working with individuals who have experienced challenging and overwhelming life events.

For more information about services offered by Discovery Counseling Texas Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy, please visit: www.discoverycounselingtx.com

Lisa Skinner

Lisa Skinner is a bilingual Speech Pathologist licensed in the state of Texas and certified by the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She has over 10 years of experience working in local school districts and private clinics to provide therapy and evaluation services to children ages 2 years and up.

Lisa specializes in incorporating the movement of the horse into her clients’ treatment plans. She is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and is certified by the American Hippotherapy Certification Board in order to effectively incorporate equine movement into speech therapy treatment. Lisa is also pursuing certification in PROMPT and is currently trained to treat speech motor-planning disorders using the PROMPT approach. Lisa strives to effectively elicit functional change in individuals with communication disorders due to various conditions such as:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Cerebral Palsy
• Developmental/Global Delay
• Down’s Syndrome
• Apraxia of Speech/Motor Planning
• Stuttering

For more information about services offered by High Strides Therapy please visit: www.highstridestherapy.com

RIDE

Maximum of 4 riders.
Minimum age required 3 years old.

DONATE

Provide scholarships for riders
and equine care for SIRE horses.

VOLUNTEER

Sign up to volunteer inside or outside
the arena today.