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Our Team

Centaur Stride Board of Directors

President & Co-Founder: Claudia Monroe
Physical Therapist/ American Hippotherapy Association

A resident of Westfield since 1974, Claudia is a physical therapist (since 1989), specializing in pediatrics and neurological disorders. Together with husband, Harry, they founded Centaur Stride Therapeutic Horseback Riding.

With a passion for community service and the belief that all people are charged with the social responsibility of making positive contributions to society, Claudia has taken the roles of Girl Scout Leader for 6 years, Jaycee Member for 10 years (President for 2 years), Kiwanis Member for 2 years, and President of Centaur Stride since it opened (1991). Claudia is pro-active, and together with many great and creative friends, nurtures and develops ideas to address community needs and facilitate the next step... to make ideas become reality. She is the mother of Karlyn and Simon.

Vice President: Karlyn Monroe
Business/Marketing, Brand Management/Program Development

Originally from Westfield, NY, and moved to White Plains, NY in 1999, where she currently resides. She brings extensive marketing experience to the organization and holds her Bachelors in Business Management with a minor in Marketing. She grew up with horses- and is an experienced equestrian. Karlyn currently works in NYC in the Brand Management field. She is President of The BIJOU Group, LLC. and Founder of The Chautauqua Bon Vivant- A Luxury Experience of Culinary, Wine & Spirits.

Treasurer:  Claire Tomassini
Office Manager

Currently resides in Jamestown, NY, with her husband Ray and two children, Megan and Matthew. She works FT at the Arthur R. Gren Co. and has been with the company for over 20 years. Claire has also served as corresponding secretary for Lincoln Elementary School PTA, a member of the JHS Girls Soccer Sports Booster Club, Co-Chaired the 2006 JHS After-Grad committee and for 11 years helped with whatever was needed for the Lakewood YMCA Gymnastics Team--including hosting Nationals in 2002 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center.

Her son, Matthew, is a rider at Centaur Stride where he receives weekly therapy while riding and is also learning how to care for the horse (and is thoroughly enjoying himself!)

Directors:

Connie Wojcinski
Office Management  

A resident of Dunkirk, Connie is office manager for her husband’s automotive business. Connie is an active Girl Scout Leader, parent of a child with a disability and very active in community service.  Connie has a special interest in optimizing opportunities and capabilities, as well as acceptance, of people with disabilities.  Connie has been a volunteer at Centaur Stride since 2003.

Jennifer Smith
Director  

Jennifer Smith is the mother of two special needs boys. Since 2009, she has watched their joy and personal growth with each ride at Centaur Stride Therapeutic Horseback Riding. As a board member, she hopes to utilize her training in public relations and writing to raise awareness and funding to ensure that other families can benefit from Centaur Stride for years to come.

Rody Schoener-Zarutskie

Born in Dunkirk and a resident of Chautauqua County her entire life, she is a wife and mother of 4, grandmother of 8. Rody works in customer service for an international dental materials company.  She has been a volunteer at Centaur stride since 1995 and loves the interactions of riders, staff, horses and families.  She has witnessed the growth, joy and therapeutic benefits first hand over the years and believes the possibilities at Centaur Stride are phenomenal.

Willowe Neckers

Willowe earned her Bachelors of Science Degree in Forensic Anthropology from Mercyhurst College. A resident of Clymer since 2000, she and her husband Scott, have two daughters, Rose and Holly. Rose has spina bifida and has been a rider at Centaur Stride for the past 8 years. Willowe is very involved with family, community and church. She has held various officer positions in community and church organizations and is active in fundraising projects. Like other parents of children with disabilities, Willowe knows what a special place Centaur Stride is to all of the riders and families and is committed to helping the programs grow, along with the riders, to their full potential.

Meet our Centaur Stride Staff

Project Horseworks Instructor Barb Johnson was an original board member during the start-up phase of Centaur Stride in 1990.  She has been a volunteer in various capacities with the organization throughout the years and was the coordinator of the P.R.I.D.E. After School Program (Positive Reinforcements in Different Environments). Presently, Barb is the instructor of Centaur Stride's new transition program, Project Horseworks.

Stable Manager: Jean Lozier started at Centaur Stride in May 2002 as a volunteer. She was hired in July 2003 as an assistant to the instructor and stable manager and promoted to stable Manager in July 2005. Jean received her instructor certification through CHA in May 2005.

Instructor: Savannah Alday started as a volunteer at Centaur Stride in June 2000. She was hired as an assistant instructor in September 2003 and promoted to instructor in May 2005. She is certified by CHA.

Assistant to Stable Manager and Instructor: Tyler Muka started at Centaur Stride as a volunteer in July 2004. He was hired as staff in May 2005. Tyler is working toward instructor certification.

Physical Therapist and Co-Founder: Claudia Monroe, PT. Registered Therapist of the American Hippotherapy Association. As a volunteer, Claudia teams with instructors to evaluate riders and set up riding programs that are safe and challenging.  She trains staff, parents and volunteers in handling skills and techniques to elicit desired outcomes.  Centaur Stride is designed to be an adjunct to therapy, where the rider can get “therapy beyond the home, school or clinic”, in a natural inclusive environment.   Hippotherapy is direct handling by the therapist, who is trained in handling skills and horse movement, to elicit desired responses and inhibit undesired responses of the rider, throughout the treatment session.  At Centaur Stride, others are instructed by the therapist in techniques to elicit a beneficial outcome, but staff, parents and volunteers do not have the extensive training to know how to change this input throughout the session to get the maximum benefit. Centaur Stride is therefore a recreational facility with therapeutic benefits.  And it’s fun!

Grounds & Facility Maintenance Supervisor and Co-Founder: Harry Monroe was the catalyst for founding Centaur Stride and instrumental in the building and maintenance of this facility for 16 years, on a volunteer basis.  He continues to act as a volunteer consultant in the everyday management of the facility and supervises volunteers on work days.  Harry is currently disabled and needs volunteers to help carry the load to keep this wonderful place operational. He welcomes volunteer assistance in helping him with these responsibilities. Chuck Stansbury Grounds and Facility Maintenance Retired from farming and construction, Chuck joined the team in 2010 to step in to help and ensure that everything is running smoothly and ready for programs and riders.