THE CAROLINA HORSE PARK - Key Persons
Annie competed through upper-levels of eventing before an illness abruptly ended her riding career. She has spent her winters in Southern Pines since 1985. Today she owns and operates Setters' Run Farm (SRF) in Vass, NC. SRF is a very high-end competitive eventing facility and breeding operation producing young horses and high perfromance eventing horses including great results and success at the world's most presitgeous competitions. Annie volunteers faithfully at the Carolina Horse Park and has been an active supporter of the Park's many activities since its inception in 1998. Annie is a major advocate for land preservation and conservation of wildlife and open space, which makes the Park a cause near and dear her heart.
Audrey grew up riding and training horses in the sport of Eventing in Ocala, FL. She moved permanently to Moore County after graduating with a BS degree in Sports Medicine from St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, NC. Audrey currently competes her event horse, Spook Hill At Last, aka 'Oliver'. She is a graduate HA pony clubber and has also worked with the US Eventing Association's Area II Young Rider program as the Junior/Yound Rider Coordinator. For the last 15 years Audrey has held her Real Estate Broker license and is currently serving the Moore County and surrounding areas as a Residential Home, Farm and Land Specialist with DeSell & Co Realty Group in downtown Southern Pines. In addidition to her Realtor duties, she is also a licensed Residential Contractor and a Water lines and Sewer Contractor serving as the contractor of record for Peabody Contracting Inc which specializes in grading, clearing , site prep, water lines and sewer installations and barn/farm construction projects.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the CHP Board of Directors
- VP of IT for First American Title Insurance Company
Bryan is VP of IT for First American Title Insurance Company, the nation's second largest title insurance company and a Fortune 500 company, currently working on operational readiness related to new compliance rules for all technology platforms at First American. Before joining First American in July, 2005, Bryan was North Carolina State Manager for Fidelity National Title Insurance Company. Prior to joining the title industry, Bryan was an attorney in private practice in the area of mergers and acquisitions, tax and estate planning. He graduated from Norman A. Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University in 1993 and was admitted to practice in the same year. He is a member of the North Carolina State Bar. He is also a member of the North Carolina Bar Association where he served a three year term on the Real Property Council. He is past president of the North Carolina Land Title Association where he received the Sam Mann award to recognize a new generation of leaders in the title industry. Bryan is a frequent speaker at industry meetings and teaches continuing education for both attorneys and title professionals all across the country. Bryan has ridden horses since he was 8 years old. As a junior, he rode in Big Eq. and Large Junior Working Hunter. As a young amateur he rode both hunters and jumpers and then took a 25 year break. He came back to riding as an Amateur show hunter and lives on a horse farm in Southern Pines with his wife Kim. They enjoy traveling, hiking and gardening (both flower gardening and vegetables).
Job Titles:
- Social Media and Marketing Specialist
Caroline began her journey with horses when she was just 3 years old and began riding on a 2 year old pony that her grandmother bought her. Growing up in Julian, North Carolina, her family supported her riding dreams by building a barn and pastures at their home! Growing up she rode hunters, equitation, western pleasure, and some rodeo but her heart lies in the hunters and equitation. Caroline attended North Carolina State University and graduated with 2 degrees, Agribusiness Management with a minor in Livestock Management and Sociology. Throughout her time at NCSU she continued to ride in the hunters, jumpers, and equitation and groom at horse shows. Throughout Caroline's life, the horses have always traveled and moved with her. She now resides in Columbus County on her husband's family farm where she has built a facility of her own for her horses that she has lovingly named, Distant Pines Stable, after her mare "Distance." Caroline is excited to combine her passion for horses with her background in marketing working to support her favorite equestrian facility in the state!
Cheryl grew up in Acton, MA. She was active in the Groton Pony Club and graduated in 1979 from Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, NY. After college Cheryl worked for Emerson, Bruce and Leslie Burr at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in CT. She spent the next nine years caring for Leslie's string of top hunters, Mystic Emperor, Master of the Game, Rule the Blues and Mirror Image, eventually accepting the position of Head Groom/Stable Manager. Cheryl traveled on the road with Leslie and her jumpers; Albany, Nightwork, Boing, and Sedac, and had wins in the American Gold Cup and American International. She was selected to accompany the USET as support staff during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1985 European World Cup Finals in Berlin, Germany. Later, Cheryl worked as a Vet Technician for Dr. Richard Mitchell DVM at Fairfield Equine. There, Cheryl had the opportunity to leg up many wonderful horses returning to work after lay-up including, her favorite, The Natural. In 1995 Cheryl moved to Southern Pines and opened her own Morning Glory Farm, a lay-up retirement facility in Aberdeen. In 2013 she started organizing the schooling days and building jump courses at the Carolina Horse Park before joining the staff in 2020.
Ms. Reid has recently retired from the Oracle Corporation as a Senior Vice President, where she was responsible for all due diligence sales performance projections and delivery analysis during Oracle's very acquisitive 7 year period, which included the acquisition of Sun Microsystems. She was recruited by the Oracle Corporation in 1998 to run their Public Sector consulting services in North America. Ms. Reid has an MS in Management Science and Engineering and an MA in Mathematics and began her career as a programmer before joining Bearing Point (Peat, Marwick, Mitchell) where she became a partner in their consulting division. In 1988 Ms. Reid founded a Technology firm, which was eventually sold to a technology investment firm. Ms. Reid is active with the Brandywine Museum and Conservancy, the American Driving Society, Moore County Driving Club, Young Drivers Camp and the National Sporting Museum and Library. Claire lives in Southern Pines where she drives Welsh Ponies and competes at the CDE Intermediate Level with a pair or a four-in-hand. She is a member of the Ladies Coaching Club, the Four-in-hand Club, the Moore County Driving Club and the Aiken Driving Club. She is responsible for an annual Young Drivers Camp which is sponsored by the ADS and includes Advanced Drivers who are sponsored by the USEF. She is co-organizer of the Pine Tree CDE in the Fall and the Southern Pines CDE in the Spring. She also plays golf and enjoys traveling.
Dana is a Birmingham, AL native who fell in love with the Sandhills in 1996 while traveling with her dressage horses. Dana attended Auburn University and has served on the Board of the Auburn University Rural Studio. A Hanoverian sport horse breeder, Dana stood the stallion, Galaxy, delivered foals, and competed her homebreds in eventing and dressage for many years in the southeast. During this time, she also served on The American Hanoverian Board. As a volunteer, she helped organize the Cahaba Horse Trials and Birmingham Dressage Competitions. After purchasing a farm here in 1996, she was introduced to Combined Driving so her dressage horses then became her FEI driving horses and her passion. An active wildlife protector and birder, she also has served on the Alabama Wildlife Center board. Her farm in Birmingham is a "Martin Landlord" location offering 90 plus housing opportunities for the migrating Purple Martins. Her other passions are Australian Shepherds, gardening, guinea fowl and watercolor. She currently divides her time between Ripridge Farm in Birmingham and Pinehurst.
Dee began volunteering at CHP in 2016, as soon as she arrived in the Sandhills. As an "Army Brat" she traveled extensively growing up. The promise of a horse from her dad, when she could get to a barn by herself, happened her sophomore year in high school at Carlisle Barracks, PA. Heather, the wiry 15'2 hand buckskin of unknown breeding, handled everything a teenager with no lessons or sense could throw at the two of them. It was a glorious way to learn how to stay on. Formal riding training has been elusive for Dee. Colonel Alfred R. Kitts in Carlisle, Barbara Hatcher at Sullins College, and decades later Bobby Meyerhoff in California as Dee had a reintroduction to eventing after a 40 year hiatus. Dee has a BFA in Performing Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University. Years of performances in the theatre and commercials were followed by becoming a professional casting agent and location scout, and then producer as Dee and her future husband Rip opened Zuzu Films, Inc., their own film and video company in Richmond. Dee became the Communications Director for a 3000 member Presbyterian church in northern California after she and Rip moved there with their 3 young children in 1997. Dee worked on major fundraising projects for her children's public schools, and eventually became the Registrar/Counselor Tech for a large and diverse middle school. In 2017 Dee and Rip built their home in The Fields community in Cameron where Dee currently rides Nala, an OTTB, and Smoochie, her Friesian sport horse who is her partner in Working Equitation. Her husband Rip also owns and rides 2 equines, Fancy 017, a Quarter Pony and Lady May, a Standardbred pacer.
Job Titles:
- Programs and Logistics Manager
Gay grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland horse showing and fox hunting but also trying almost any other horsey endeavor that came her way including pony club, 4-H, and a little bit of barrel racing. After attending college in NC she has worked as a news producer, in the financial industry and in real estate… all the while remaining involved with horses. She has three kids, two dogs, horses of course! These days she just rides for fun and most of her horse time is spent grooming for her daughter who shows hunters.
Job Titles:
- Vice - Chair of the CHP Board of Directors
Heidi, originally from Rochester, NY is a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel who served on active duty for over 20 years in a variety of positions to include Deputy Commander, 5th Personnel Group at Fort Lewis, Washington; senior Strength Manager in 2nd Infantry Division, South Korea; and Associate Professor and Instructor in the Department of Physical Education at the United States Military Academy at West Point and the United States Air Force Academy. She was also part of the US Army's World Class Athlete Program as professional triathlete competing all around the globe and serving as an ambassador for the US Army while winning several National and Military World championship titles. After retiring from the US Army Heidi worked for the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, CO for three years as a program manager in the Paralympic Division overseeing a collaborative effort between the USOC and the Department of Defense creating adaptive sports programs for wounded warriors returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Heidi holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Siena College, a Masters in Physical Education from the University of Georgia, and a Masters of International Relations from Troy State University. Heidi started riding horse with her mom at 5 years old and enjoyed fox hunting, pony club, trail riding, and competing in hunters, jumpers and eventing all throughout her young life. She continues to ride and compete her two American Thoroughbreds in eventing, and spends time volunteering at CHP and other local agencies. Heidi and her husband, Dr. Doug Powell, a critical care physician, enjoy living in downtown Southern Pines.
Job Titles:
- Chief Administrative Officer
Irina Shklyar is originally from the Eastern European city of Minsk, Belarus. She immigrated to United States at the age of 19 with her family and landed in Long Island, NY where she has lived for the last 20 years. Irina recently moved to Pinehurst, NC and is enjoying a peaceful lifestyle with her husband, two children and a new dog. Irina brings Risk Management/Finance/Banking experience to the Park as she had spent most of her career at Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, and General Electric. Irina is a great team player with excellent communication skills. She is very excited to join the Carolina Horse Park family and is looking forward to making a difference for the Park by leveraging her skillsets in the financial and management arenas.
Joan started riding in the Chicago area, at age 6, and then moved with her family to their cattle ranch in Arkansas. After graduating from high school in La Jolla,CA and college at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA, Joan moved to Marblehead, MA and embarked on a 40 yr teaching career, teaching vet tech, zoology, env. sci, and biology. Married for 35 yrs., Joan and her husband, Gil, who works in the oil business, have enjoyed living in many wonderful and varied locations around the planet. They continue to travel extensively & own a farm near the CHP, where Joan keeps her competition horses.
John has served as chief investment officer since joining Cone Health in 2011. He has senior administrative responsibility for capital market activities, including investments, debt and general banking services. Miller earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Virginia. Miller is a certified treasury professional of the Association for Finance Professionals and is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association. He also serves on the board of Proficient Health, Inc. and is a board member and vice president of the North Carolina Treasury Management Association. John and his wife, Amy, are avid volunteers at the Carolina Horse Park and are currently building a home in Vass, NC.
Kelly began her equestrian career in Cheshire, Pennsylvania fox hunting and eventing. She worked for Frolic Weymouth in Chadds Ford, PA in 1974 and that's where she traded in the riding saddle for a set of driving harness. In the late 70's she helped to organize the Chesterland and Radnor Driving Events. In the 80's, Kelly was introduced to the international driving scene as navigator for Deidre Pirie competing at the Windsor Horse Show and at the 1982 four in hand world championships in Appledorn, Holland. Kelly began her own business named Driving Disciplines, teaching horse and rider how to be safe and competitive. In 1989 Kelly was privileged to drive a pair of Dutch warm bloods, sponsored by Peter Wetherill, to the world championships held in Lake Balaton, Hungry. Kelly was the USET national single champion in 1996 and 1997 and the 1998 silver medalist at the singles world championship in Ebbs, Austria. Kelly moved to Southern Pines in 2000 to manage Clair Reid's Big Sky Farm and help with her welsh ponies. Kelly helps to organize the Pine Tree and Southern Pines Combined Driving Events. She is currently chairman of young drives for the American Driving Society and also runs the young drivers camp at Big Sky farm held every summer.
Maggie grew up on a farm in western Pennsylvania and spent her early days riding and showing in the hunter/jumper world. In college, she earned her BA in Equine Management and found her love of Eventing. Since graduating in 2012, she has worked in many aspects of the horse world, from hands on in the barn to behind the scenes at veterinary clinics. In 2017, she flipped a coin, moved to North Carolina and has called it "home" ever since. After a few more moves, she and her husband settled down at a small farm in Aberdeen, where they live with their daughter, two dogs, and one chestnut thoroughbred mare. She's excited to explore her passions in the horse world as she joins the CHP team in September of 2021.
Marc came on board at the Carolina Horse Park in 2013 as organizer and originator of the highly sucessful Cabin Branch Event Series (now, War Horse Event Series). He took over the role of organizer of the recognized events in the fall of that year and is the Event Director of the Carolina International and Horse Trial. In 2016 he became Program Director of the Carolina Horse Park. Early in his riding career he showed Pony Hunters and competed in the Equitation divisions. Marc was a member of the Meadow Brook Hounds Pony Club, in NY, and received his "A" rating. After graduating from Emerson College, in Boston, he continued eventing to the CCI2* (currently CCI3*) level. Now a USEF "R" rated show jumping course designer, he brings multiple skills to his job at the Park. Marc has and continues to design show jumping courses for all competitions at the Carolina Horse Park, the AEC's, multiple FEI events, World Cup Qualifiers as well as horse shows and grand prix in the US and Canada. Marc's assisted Richard Jeffery at the National Horse Show and Richard and Conrad Homfeld at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. He has also designed the show jumping courses for the Gatcomb Park Horse Trials in the UK. In 2016, Marc was named to the USPC Academy of Achievement and the Professional Riders Organization honored him, at the USEA Annual Convention, as an "extraodinary individual that positively impacted the sport of eventing through dedicated service and support of horses, riders, and events". Having first come to Southern Pines in 1989, Marc now resides in Whispering Pines, NC.
Pamela is a native of Cooperstown NY and received her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College in 1987. She then moved to North Carolina to attend Duke University School of Medicine, graduating in 1991. She completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency at the University of Louisville and then University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. After being on staff as a clinical assistant professor at UNC for three years, she moved to Pinehurst and has been practicing at the Southern Pines Women's Health Center since 1999. Pam has held many physician leadership positions and currently is the Board Chair for the Surgery Center of Pinehurst as well as the Board Chair for First Carolina Care Insurance. She was also selected to participate in the FirstHealth Physician Leadership Academy in 2014 through to the present where she has learned much about leadership styles, effective team building, governance and the changing landscape of healthcare finance. Pam lives here with her husband, Michael, who works for the Moore County Sheriff Department, and her two daughters. Pam became involved with the equestrian community in the Southern Pines area once her older daughter started riding at age 6. The prospect of just having a pony to ride around the backyard quickly grew to a farm of four horses. She became an avid supporter of the Carolina Horse Park, both while volunteering and watching her girls compete over the years. Her older daughter, Mikaela, has competed in Eventing through the 1* level and has continued to ride while attending college at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Her younger daughter, Maia, attends The O'Neal School and has also taken up the sport of Eventing and aspires to reach the NAJYRCs someday.
Ricky McMillan is from Aberdeen, North Carolina and joined the Carolina Horse Park team as its Facilities Coordinator in May of 2021. He was raised in the Five Points area and lives there now. Rick recently retired from his position at an electric company in April 2021, after 18 years repairing and installing overhead and underground electric lines on the frontline. His previous employer enjoyed his loyalty for over 20 years and Rick is ecstatic to extend that loyalty to Carolina Horse Park! Growing up as a member of a large family, he became educated in what it takes to raise livestock and cultivate the soil of the sandhills; all of which gave him the practical skills necessary to support the horse park and its events. He enjoys fishing, horseback riding and participating in other outdoor sports. Now that he has transitioned into a position with a more relaxed pace of living, he looks forward to spending more time at home spoiling his wife and their granddaughter.
Robin grew up on Cape Cod where she started riding at age 6. She began showing on the A circuit at 16 as a student of Ronnie Mutch at Nimrod Farm. After graduation from Smith College, Robin relocated to Weston Ct and took up showing full time. In 1976 she won USEF National Amateur Owner Horse of the Year with her horse Twentieth Century Ltd. Turning Professional shortly after, Robin has been a trainer for almost 40 years and she has specialized in both kids and adults. Bringing youngsters like Georgina Bloomberg, Ashley Baker, Caroline Passarelli and currently Erica Felder to the top of the Junior ranks has been the goal of her program. Her students have been Champion at Devon, Washington, Harrisburg and Pony Finals and have won USEF Pony Medal Finals and WIHS Pony Medal Finals. Along with training, Robin has had a large pony breeding business which is well known for producing National level winners. Robin lives and trains at her farm in Southern Pines.
Job Titles:
- Director of Development and Communications at Shannon