Pal-O-Mine Staff

Lisa A. Gatti
A former Special Education Teacher, Lisa A Gatti founded Pal-O-Mine Equestrian in 1995.  With a B.S. in Special Education and an A.S. of Business, Ms. Gatti has extensive experience, knowledge, and training of working with children and adults with disabilities and at-risk youth.  Lisa has been honored by the Theresa Foundation and The Children's Medical Fund, and CBS-TV's Early Show named her an American Hero.  A graduate of Leadership Huntington, Ms. Gatti was recognized by the Long Island Business News as one of Long Island's Rising Stars under the Age of 40 in 2004 and Pal-O-Mine Equestrian was nominated as Business of the Year by the Regional Commerce Business Partnership of Huntington.

Ms. Gatti was named one of Long Island's Top 50 Most Influential Women in Business for 2006 as well as being inducted into the 2007 Long Island Volunteer Hall of Fame for the Special Needs category.   She is also on the Board of Directors of Foundation Grow and serves as Secretary for EAGALA, the international Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association.  Most recently, Ms. Gatti was granted an Associates Degree from The Energeia Partnership-The Academy for Regional Stewardship at Molloy College in the 2011.

Rhiannon Beauregard, M.A., LMFT, EAP-A, NARHA, CPI
In 2004, Rhiannon joined Pal-O-Mine Equestrian after graduating from Boston University with a B.S. in Special Education with a specific concentration in Therapeutic Horseback Riding and a minor in Psychology.  As a NARHA Registered Instructor, Rhiannon has specific training in working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder,  emotional and behavior disorders, ADD/ADHD, and other disabilities.  She has a Master of Arts from Hofstra University in Marriage and Family Therapy and Divorce Mediation and is a New York State Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  She is also EAGALA Advanced Certified as an Equine Specialist and Equine Assisted Psychotherapist. In addition to being a therapeutic horseback riding instructor, she is also the lead coach of the Pal-O-Mine Equestrian Team. Rhiannon has training in Applied Behavioral Analysis, gang and violence prevention, hippotherapy, vaulting, child abuse prevention, working with the LGBTQ and disabilities population, transitional services, workplace socialization, domestic violence and disabilities, augmentative/alternative communication, cultural issues, crisis response and intervention, and positive youth development.  In 2008, she represented the United States in Hong Kong for the 2008 Paralympic Games as a groom for a Pal-O-Mine Equestrian rider.  

Helen Bozeat, BFA, CPI
Helen is Pal-O-Mine Equestrian’s resident creative arts teacher and artist, with a specialty in painting our therapy horses and children.  A graduate of Pratt Institute with a BFA in Fine Arts, she is a certified teacher and taught in the Smithtown School District for over 30 years as an art teacher.  She is certified in Crisis Prevention and Intervention and trained in working with children with sensory processing disorder.  She is a 3^rd level Reiki practitioner and trained in peer training and therapeutic touch.  Helen runs the art program at our annual Summer Camp and has been volunteering since 2009.

Mandi Budah, M.A.

Mandi started at Pal-O-Mine in the summer of 2011 and covers various roles; she is a therapeutic riding instructor, camp counselor, and job coach for the work study program. Currently, she is completing her Master's of Social Work, and already holds a M.A. in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College, along with her undergrad degrees, a double major in psychology and sociology. Past honors have included being voted as the President and Executive Board Member of the Master's of Social Work Graduate Student Association, being inducted into both the Phi Beta Kappa society and the Golden Key International Honour Society.  

Liz Casey, B.A., CPI
A graduate of Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA with a Bachelors of Arts in Dance, Liz has been riding with Pal-O-Mine Equestrian since 1998 and has been a volunteer since 2002.  Liz is an expert in gardening and landscaping and does 90% of Pal-O-Mine’s landscaping.  She is a member of the Hobby Greenhouse Association and the Long Island Orchid Society.  In addition to the “green” arts, also has experience in the fields of restaurant management, bookkeeping, real estate, and accounts payable and receivable.  Liz has been a job coach in Pal-O-Mine’s vocational development program since 2008 and exercises our herd of therapy horses. 

Alexandra Cella, MSW, EAP Part 1, CPI, CHA-IV: Alexandra graduated with a Master in Social Work from Adelphi University in 2010, and came to Pal-O-Mine as a graduate student intern. She began riding at the age of 10, and completed the Wilson Tech Equine Science program during high school, competing and placing in local and regional horse shows on the Western Suffolk Equestrian Team, and graduated as a Certified Horsemanship Association Level 4 Instructor in both English and western disciplines. She went from horses to social work, and was able to find a medium with the two when coming to Pal-O-Mine in 2009 as an intern. Alexandra completed EAGALA Part 1 training and Crisis Prevention and Intervention training. At Pal-O-Mine, she works with program evaluations and research, fundraising, grant writing, and represents Pal-O-Mine at various events.

Melvin Correas, CPI
Melvin is the Facility Manager at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian and has been with Pal-O-Mine since 2005.  Melvin is fluent in English and Spanish and is Certified in Crisis Prevention and Intervention.  He is proficient in landscaping, construction, carpentry, machinery and repair, and is an avid rider.   Melvin also assists with therapeutic riding lessons as a horse handler and groom. 

Jennie Diguardia, B.S., EAP, CPI
With 30+ years of horse experience, including ten years of owning her own horse, and a degree in Elementary Education from State University College at Oneonta, Jennie was a certified elementary school teacher for nursery school through sixth grade.  She brings a wealth of information and experience to our Equine Assisted Learning and Psychotherapy Programs and is a Pal-O-Mine Summer Camp Counselor. Extensively trained in Equine Assisted Learning Character Education and certified in the EAGALA model, Jennie has been with Pal-O-Mine Equestrian since 2004. 

Tiffany Donahue, A.S., TCI
For over 20 years, Tiffany has been riding and showing both English and Western and has owned her own horse for 18 years.  She is currently finishing a degree in Equine Studies from SUNY Cobleskill and has been combining her enjoyment of working with children and adults with disabilities and horses at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian since 2006.  Tiffany has worked for five years in a group home setting working with children, youth, and adults with psychiatric and behavior issues and is certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention.  She is a therapeutic horseback riding instructor, a group riding instructor, a summer camp counselor, and a horsemanship lesson instructor. 

Lisa Downes, CNA, A.S., EAPI, CPI
Lisa is a Certified Nursing Assistant and attended Western Connecticut State University and Midway College in Kentucky, where she was on the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Team and competed in Hunt Seat Equitation.  She has been riding since she was five and was an athlete in lacrosse, softball, and hockey.  She began working for Pal-O-Mine Equestrian in 2005.  She is EAGALA Certified as an Equine Professional and is a member of the EAGALA New York Free Spirit Metropolitan Networking Group.  Lisa is trained in working with children with autism, sensory processing disorder, and other disabilities.  Lisa has training in brain balance, life coaching, and social behavior of children and adults with autism and is certified in Crisis Prevention and Intervention. 

Carol Evers, CPI
With over forty years experience in the working world and a graduate of Mrs. Skinner’s Secretarial School in Garden City, NY, Carol spent over five years as management of Old Dominion Trucking.  As the head bookkeeper of Pal-O-Mine Equestrian and a job coach, she uses her extensive management training to assist Pal-O-Mine Equestrian and the youth and adults that participate in the vocational development and work-study programs and is a volunteer trainer.  Carol is also a Pal-O-Mine Equestrian Advisory Board Member and when she isn’t at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian and caring for the rabbits and cat, she enjoys perfecting her golf game. 

Rosemary Ferrero-Manginelli, LCSW, CASAC, NCAC II, SAP, EAP-A
Rosemary joined Pal-O-Mine Equestrian in 1999 as a volunteer Full Charge Bookkeeper and quickly became more involved assisting with grant writing, therapeutic horseback riding lessons, supervising the Equine Assisted Psychotherapy program, and introducing the EAGALA model to Pal-O-Mine Equestrian.  Holding an Advanced Certification in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Rosemary specializes in working with clients with drug and alcohol issues, women’s issues, stress management issues, HIV/AIDS issues, and a variety of other mental health concerns and disabilities.   Rosemary is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor, a National Certified Addiction Counselor, a Certified HIV Pre/Post Test Counselor, a Substance Abuse Professional, and EMD-R trained.  Rosemary is an alumni of Molloy College with a B.S.W and C.S.W and Fordham University with a Masters of Social Work.  She currently works in New York City for the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) as a targeted investigator in the Bureau of Quality Analysis and Enforcement. 

Lori Garone, MA, PT, NARHA, HPCS
Lori has been with Pal-O-Mine Equestrian since 2008 and is a Physical Therapist.  She is a Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist, HPCS, NARHA Registered Therapist and a NARHA Registered Instructor. Lori previously served on the American Hippotherapy Association, Inc., Board of Directors for over 8 years. She is Coordinating Faculty for the AHA, Inc. and teaches and consults nationally.  Lori has a private practice in Long Island, New York, Physical Therapy In Motion, where she has incorporated hippotherapy as a part of her patient’s plan of care for over 17 years.  Recognized for her work in the field, Lori was honored as one of two therapists chosen to represent the United States at the First International Symposium of Therapists and Adaptive Riding Instructors. She is also listed in New York State Empires Who's Who for her work in Hippotherapy. Lori is a graduate of Touro College of Physical Therapy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health and a Master of Science in Physical Therapy. Lori is also a member of APTA, NDTA, and a lifetime equestrienne. She has taught able and disabled riders, as well as shown successfully in equitation and hunters as a child and as an adult at Fourth Level Dressage.

Carol Ann Guerriero, MS, CPI
Carol Ann is a NYS Certified Elementary School Teacher who has been with Pal-O-Mine Equestrian since 2000.  Carol Ann has her Associates Degree from Nassau Community College in Applied Science with a concentration in Marketing and her Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Hofstra University in Psychology and Education, respectively.  Carol Ann was a 1^st and K-1 elementary school teacher in the Garden City UFSD and a 4^th and 5^th grade teacher in the Baldwin UFSD.   She was also a home care aid for children with autism and is trained in Applied Behavioral Analysis.  A life-long rider, Carol Ann has years of experience as working as a therapeutic horse back riding instructor, barn manager, and a barrel racer.  She is trained in Crisis Prevention and Intervention and currently works as an Equine Assisted Learning teacher at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian. 

Heather Heim, A.S., CPI
Currently a nursing student at Suffolk County Community College, Heather has been with Pal-O-Mine Equestrian since 2004.   Assistant Coach of the Pal-O-Mine Equestrian Team, Heather rides English and Western, and shows Hunt Seat Equitation and participates in Hunter Paces.  Heather is also a Job Coach in our Work Study Program, a therapeutic horseback riding instructor, a Pal-O-Mine Summer Camp counselor, a group riding instructor, a volunteer trainer, and is trained in hippotherapy, vaulting, and working with children with autism and Applied Behavioral Analysis.  Heather maintains a busy schedule with riding and schooling many of the horses in Pal-O-Mine’s herd.   She also weekly trains our horses in long lining and is the head long liner in the hippotherapy program. 

Keri Hollowell, SCIP-R, C-ABA, CPI
Keri is a Certified Teacher Assistant and joined Pal-O-Mine in 2008 after working for the Development Disabilities Institute for over five years as a teacher assistant, substitute teacher, after school instructor, and crisis instructor.  She also worked as a one-to-one teacher assistant in the Miller Place School District.  With her extensive experience and training in working with children with disabilities, Keri combines this knowledge and work with her love for horses.  Keri has owned her own horse for over 18 years and has shown competitively over the years in both English and Western.  She is certified in Applied Behavioral Analysis and in Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention and trained in Crime Prevention.  Keri works as a therapeutic horseback riding instructor, an Equine Assisted Learning Teacher, a volunteer trainer, and a group riding instructor. 

Christine Johnson, B.S.N., EAP, CPI
A graduate of Molloy College and former nurse, Christine’s had two lifelong dreams: to be a dance teacher and a riding instructor.  Christine was the Founder and Director of Exposures in Dance, a dance company integrating physically challenged and able-bodied dancers. Christine is also skilled in Ballet, Jazz, Modern Dance, and Aerobics and teaching children with special needs.  She is the barn manager, a therapeutic horseback riding instructor, a volunteer trainer, and an EAGALA certified Equine Specialist and has been with Pal-O-Mine Equestrian since 2004.  She is trained in equine lameness, nutrition, behavior, and first aid as well as in hippotherapy, autism spectrum disorder, applied behavioral analysis, and balance and movement.  She is currently riding dressage and practicing Parelli. 

Tereso Juarez, B.S., CPI
Thereso is the Director of Operations at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian and has been with Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, Inc. since 2005.  Thereso has a degree in Information Systems and is a former Computer Technology teacher.  He was also a Lieutenant in the El Salvadorian Army.  He is bilingual in English and Spanish and is Certified in Crisis Prevention and Intervention.  A father of three girls, one who is in medical school to be a doctor, Tereso is devoted to the mission at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian. 

Sherry Kidder, B.A.
Sherry’s love for horses began as a child where she grew up in a rural area near a farm where she spent every free moment.  She worked at Belmont Race Track and other various racing facilities caring for race horses and training yearlings.  With a B.A. in history and a minor in English and Psychology from Molloy College, Sherry is a riding instructor and part-time barn manager on the weekends.  She utilizes a person-centered approach when teaching individuals and enjoys working with the large volunteer staff at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian.  In addition to exercising the various horses at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, Sherry also likes to care and exercise Jake and Annabelle, Pal-O-Mine’s two miniature donkeys. 

Ellen Lear, M.S.W., EAP

Originally an art student and former graphic designer, Ellen obtained her Master of Social Work degree and changed careers, spending 15 years in New York City doing private practice psychotherapy. Always in love with horses, she changed careers again in 2001 when she built, and co-owns, Paard Hill Farms on Shelter Island (a boarding, training and lesson facility). In 2006, Ellen founded Foundation GROW, Inc., a non-profit organization to help young equestrians in need of financial assistance. Ellen now combines her mental health expertise with her love of horses as a mental health practitioner for the Equine Assisted Learning and Psychotherapy programs at Pal-O-Mine. She also volunteers in the therapeutic riding program. 

Dora Lupo, M.S., LMHC, MAC, CASAC, EAP
A graduate of New York University with a B.S. in Marketing and Long Island University with a M.S. in Community Mental Health Counseling, Dora works in our Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Program as a licensed mental health professional.  A certified EAGALA member, she also holds certifications in motivational interviewing (MI), Ericksonian Hypnosis, Gestalt Therapy, Brief Therapy (NLP), and is a Master Addiction Counselor (MAC), a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC), and certified Reiki Level II.  Dora has been with Pal-O-Mine Equestrian since 2008.  Dora currently works full-time as the Director of the Chemical Dependency and Developmental Disabilities Services of Nassau County. 

Sheila Maher
Since 2000, Sheila has been with Pal-O-Mine Equestrian in a variety of roles.  Sheila started as a volunteer and spent her first years at Pal-O-Mine learning equine care, volunteering in lessons, and training to be a therapeutic horseback riding instructor.  Sheila then became the full-time Volunteer Coordinator for Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, and coordinated the lessons schedules, the special events, volunteer training, and supervised the volunteers.  She also fulfilled the role as the Public Relations Coordinator for Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, issuing press releases, attending networking functions, and promoted the program to the community.  Currently, Sheila is one of Pal-O-Mine Equestrian’s most seasoned therapeutic horseback riding instructors, group riding instructor, and volunteer trainer.  She has experience and training working with a variety of disabilities and ages, from young children to adults and strives for a positive and enjoyable lesson environment. 

Gallia Nitekman, M.S., ABA, CPI

Gallia obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Buffalo State College, and her Master’s in Special Education from Long Island University, C.W. Post campus, with a concentration in Autism and Special Education (C.A.S.E. Program). She worked at Nassau B.O.C.E.S. for over 10 years; first working summers as a paraprofessional, then becoming a self contained classroom teacher. She has also worked for two years as a home-based therapist for the early intervention program. In addition to her education and experience with special education, Gallia is also trained in Applied Behavioral Analysis and Crisis Prevention Intervention. 

Beth Palmer, B.A., R.N., EAP, CPI

Beth started with Pal-O-Mine Equestrian in 2007 and quickly moved to become an important staff member at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, working as a job coach, Equine Assisted Learning teacher, a Pal-O-Mine Summer Camp counselor, and a regular volunteer.  Beth is a licensed Registered Nurse and a Eucharistic Minister and has worked as a nurse in the medical/surgical adolescent unit at North Shore University Hospital and as a hospice nurse.  Beth enjoys riding on a regular basis and practicing yoga.

Bryan Pollack, B.S. 

Bryan came to Pal-O-Mine in 2011 as our event planner. He graduated from the University of Hartford, Barney School of Business, with a B.S. in Business Administration. Bryan's prior experience includes various sales, marketing and public relations roles, along with a wide range of leadership skills acquired from his many college acivities.

Patricia Price-Hennessey, EAP

Paddy’s work and knowledge of people with disabilities began as a child being a daughter of a parent that was a quadriprilegic.  Her love for horses began as a young girl for ten years and after an absence, she returned to hands on work with horses in 2006 when she joined the Pal-O-Mine community.  A former medical assistant for a general practitioner and pediatrician for seven years, Paddy has worked with children with disabilities in a variety of capacities and has been working as a full-charge bookkeeper and managing small businesses for over 23 years.  This business experience has been very helpful in Paddy’s role as a job coach in our Vocational Development and Work-Study programs and as a volunteer trainer.  Paddy is trained to work with children and adults with a variety of disabilities, including autism and mental retardation, and has training in PECS, ABA, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, and hippotherapy. 

Laurene Rose, M.S.

Laurene graduated with a double major in English and Education, with a minor in Philosophy from D’Youville College in Buffalo, and then proceeded to gain experience as a vocational evaluator of clients with psychiatric diagnosis and special needs for a decade. During that time, she also completed a master’s degree in Special Education From C.W. Post, and proceeded to teach Special Education English for grades 9-12 for 28 years. Laurene began participating in Natural Horsemanship several years ago in an effort to maintain involvement with her own horse, after he required surgery, and has continued to gain expertise and attends numerous clinics to further her certification. 

Eileen Ryan, OTR/L, SIPT
As a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist, Eileen has been with Pal-O-Mine since 2005 specializing in sensory integration.  She is certified in the administration and interpretation of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test and trained in hippotherapy, handwriting, learning and teaching children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Asperger’s Syndrome, and early intervention.  She has worked in a variety of settings, including school, hospital, home, and residential settings.  Eileen started riding while she was obtaining her Associates Degree from Suffolk Community College and rode on the Intercollegiate team at Quinnipiac College where she obtained a B.S in Occupational Therapy.  Eileen has been an Occupational Therapist for over 21 years, and has owned her own horse “Clipper” for 29 years! 

Karin Schackne
Karin has been riding since she was twelve years old as a Hunt Seat Equitation competition rider, rode and showed on the Academy of St. Joseph’s High School Equestrian Team, and quickly became interested in dressage.  With leasing many horses throughout her horse career, she has cliniced with many notable dressage trainers including Gunnar Ostergaard, Anne Gribbons and Mette Rosencrantz. 

She has attended the USDF Adult camp and was a part of the 1996 Paralympic training camp.  Karin joined Pal-O-Mine Equestrian in 1995 and began working with riders with disabilities in 1996.  Specializing in students with physical disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, and autism spectrum disorder, Karin has been trained in sign language and NARHA standards and practices.  Karin attended the State University of New York- Farmingdale and studied Advertising Arts and currently is in charge of all publications, print, and media for Pal-O-Mine Equestrian.  She is a therapeutic horseback riding instructor and group riding instructor. 

Dr. Tracey Smith, DPT, A.T., C., AHA, NARHA
Tracey started her horse career long before she was captain of the Hofstra University Women’s Basketball Team and a licensed physical therapist as a hunter/jumper rider when she was a child.  Tracey has a B.S. in Athletic Training and is a NATA and New York State Certified Athletic Trainer and earned B.S. in Health Science, an M.S. in Physical Therapy, and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Touro College.  Combining two of her passions, horses and physical therapy, Tracey is also an American Hippotherapy Association Certified Hippotherapist and NARHA Registered Therapist in Hippotherapy.  Dr. Smith has extensive experience working with children and adults, with and without disabilities, as a physical therapist, as a riding instructor, as a college professor, as a teaching assistant, and as a guest lecturer.  Tracey has been with Pal-O-Mine Equestrian since 2004.

Lisa Sobarzo, EAP, CPI
Lisa has been with Pal-O-Mine Equestrian since 2005 and serves as the facility manager, an EAGALA Certified Equine Specialist in the Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Program, a volunteer trainer, and a group therapeutic horseback riding instructor.  An avid horseback rider for 25 years, Lisa has accomplished a lifelong dream and now owns her own horse and rides Western seat and barrel races.  A mother of two, with her daughter having Juvenile Diabetes, she is active in the Diabetes Foundation and a member of the EAGALA New York Free Spirit Metropolitan Networking Group.  Lisa’s previous work experience includes retail service for Mattel and order billing for Estee Lauder and has over 21 years in the corporate world.  Lisa has extensive training and experience working with a variety of populations in the equine assisted activities field. 

Alix Sugarman, BA: Alix brings a unique combination of art and equine experience together at Pal-O-Mine. She is currently working towards her Masters in Art Therapy at the School of Visual Arts, and is currently an art therapy intern. In her art therapy experience, Alix has interned at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases Outpatient Pediatrics, the Kings County Hospital Center, the Coalition for Hispanic Families, the Young Women’s Christian Association, Illinois Masonic Hospital, the National Institute for People with Disabilities As an art therapy intern, Alix has led many groups for children and adolescents who have experienced trauma. In the equine world, Alix has undergone NARHA training to become a therapeutic riding instructor, and has volunteered as a side walker at various facilities. Since coming to Pal-O-Mine, Alix has allowed for a unique addition of art therapy to our EAP sessions, and these groups have helped to ensure a comprehensive healing environment. 

Lauren Wendelken, M.A.

Since 1998, Lauren has worked as a therapeutic horseback riding instructor at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian specializing in the Deaf and Deaf/Blind and hearing and visually impaired populations.  A graduate of the State University of New York- Old Westbury with a B.S. in Elementary Education from Nursery School through Sixth Grade and a M.S. in Deaf Education from Adelphi University, Lauren is a New York State Certified Deaf Educator and fluent in American Sign Language.  For over ten years, Lauren worked at various schools that specifically worked with children who are visually and/or hearing impaired, including Millneck Manor School for Deaf Children and the Helen Keller National Center, as an independent living instructor/evaluator, a communications evaluator, a job coach, and a summer school teacher.  In addition to being a therapeutic horseback riding instructor, Lauren is also an Equine Assisted Learning teacher and a private sign language tutor.