STAFF
Louisa Bartok, Marketing & Communications Manager
Louisa@manestreamnj.org
Louisa leads the marketing and communication efforts for the organization and assists with special events and fundraising efforts. She brings to Mane Stream extensive expertise in non-profit administration, focused mainly in the areas of marketing, development, and volunteer coordinator.
After growing up on a horse farm in Hunterdon County with many years spent riding bareback and trail riding, Louisa graduated from Hollins University but did not ride there. In her spare time, Louisa swims laps, hikes with her Italian Spinone, Luna, and spends her vacation time participating in Curling Bonspiels with her husband Paul all throughout Europe and North America.
Emily Bucher, OTR/L
Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist, Certified Self Regulation and Executive Functioning Clinical Specialist, Certified Pediatric Anxiety Clinical Specialist
EmilyBucher@manestreamnj.org
Emily is an occupational therapist, born and raised in Clinton, NJ. She is a certified clinical specialist in autism, pediatric anxiety, emotional regulation, and executive functioning. She has advanced training in neuromotor approaches for children with developmental delays and musculoskeletal disorders to promote confident movement and play skills. Emily is experienced in running social skill-building groups to build improved social engagement and peer play skills. Emily earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree from Thomas Jefferson University and has clinical experience in the neonatal intensive care unit, early intervention, school-based therapy, outpatient clinics, and equine-assisted therapy. Her number one goal is to support children and their families in building skills and confidence.
Emily first fell in love with horses while participating in summer camps as a child, and since then, has enjoyed being in the saddle to ride up a volcano and even ride in the Caribbean Sea! She is an avid yogi and road cyclist. and enjoys reading, hiking, and coaching for Girls on the Run International.
Kelly Champion Tambasco, PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructor, Horses for Healing Coordinator, Camp Activity Specialist
Kelly@manestreamnj.org
Kelly has many different and important job responsibilities at Mane Stream. She is a PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructor and during the summer also acts as one of our most engaging camp activity specialists. However, one of her most important roles at Mane Stream is coordinating our Horses for Healing programs for those living with cancer and Parkinson’s Disease. Kelly has been involved with horses for approximately 50 years and enjoys sharing her knowledge and experiences with the participants, staff, and volunteers. In her spare time, Kelly still enjoys riding and is currently competing on the hunter\jumper "A" circuit.
Emily De Jong, Volunteer Coordinator & Weekend Barn Staff
volunteer@manestreamnj.org
Emily stepped into the role of Volunteer Coordinator after several months as our crucial weekend barn assistant. Now in addition to keeping the horses healthy and the barn running smoothly, she also is responsible for the recruiting, training, scheduling, and retention of all program volunteers. It’s a hectic job but Emily’s extensive horse experience makes her perfect for the job. She has been involved with horses since attending a horseback riding summer camp in middle school and quickly fell in love with the sport. In college, she participated in the Cazenovia College IHSA team in western horsemanship and had the opportunity to become involved in reining classes as well. Emily graduated from Cazenovia College with a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Management with a specialization in Equine Business Management as well as a Certificate in Equine Reproductive Management.
In her downtime, Emily enjoys working on embroidery projects, hiking, and spending time with her cat and succulents.
Jen Dermody, Director of Program Services, Equine Manager, Event Coordinator
Jen@manestreamnj.org
Jen coordinates the adaptive riding, field trips, and therapy services programs. She is also responsible for finding and assessing potential new members of our herd. Jen is a PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructor with Advanced Standing and specializes in teaching our more advanced riders. She strives to get the most out of her riders while developing their skills. She utilizes what she learns from her own experiences and adapts that to help her riders reach their goals and become as independent as possible.
In 2015, Jen became the event coordinator for Mane Stream. She quickly discovered she had a passion for planning events. When one event ends she is immediately planning to make the next one a success.
Jen spends her free time riding her own horse, helping friends at shows and spending time with friends and family. She has had success showing in the Adult Hunters, Adult Equitation, and Amateur Owner Hunters.
Kathy Dermody, PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructor and Camp Director
kathy@manestreamnj.org
Kathy Dermody is a PATH Intl. Certified Registered Riding Instructor with over 20 years of experience teaching riders of ALL abilities and levels. After retiring from a local public school district where she was a 1:1 aide for students in special education classrooms, Kathy joined Mane Stream’s team as a riding instructor. She has also taken on the position of Camp Director where she organizes the incoming emails, phone calls, and mountains of paperwork to ensure that every camper has a wonderful camp experience.
Kathy lives in Hunterdon County, where she and her husband raised their family. She enjoys spending time riding, Leo, a horse she and her daughter, Jen share. She also has an adorable boxer named Olive and is known for making a pretty mean salad!
Melanie Dominko-Richards, MS, CCC-SLP, HPCS
Melanie@manestreamnj.org
Melanie is a New Jersey licensed speech-language pathologist with her Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She has been involved with Mane Stream for over 25 years, first as a camper, then as a volunteer, and finally as a staff member! Melanie graduated from Seton Hall University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Education and in 2013 with a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology; she plans to apply for her clinical doctorate in speech-language pathology within the next couple of years. During her graduate studies, she completed clinical internships in an elementary school a traumatic brain injury outpatient rehab, and a clinical externship at two facilities that provided therapy services utilizing equine movement as part of an integrated plan of care. In addition to working at Mane Stream, Melanie also works at Our House, Inc. as a speech-language pathologist helping to improve the functional communication skills of participants in their day program.
Melanie has attended the Hippotherapy Treatment Principles Part I and Part II courses through the American Hippotherapy Association, Inc. and has been a Board Certified Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist through the American Hippotherapy Certification Board since 2017. Melanie is also a PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructor, Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning, Registered Therapist, and Mentor as well as an EAGALA Certified Professional. Most recently, Melanie attended training through the PROMPT Institute and is a PROMPT Trained Clinician. When not at work, Melanie volunteers her time with AHA, Inc. and is currently the President of the Board of Directors as well as serving on numerous other committees.
Born and raised right here in Hunterdon County, Melanie enjoys riding horses, listening to Podcasts, reading a good book or two, and organizing whatever she can get her hands on.
Dennis Dunn, Facilities Manager
Dennis@manestreamnj.org
Dennis is a retired Vice President of Construction, who has managed 40+ years of new construction and renovation projects in NYC. A professionally trained carpenter, Dennis has extensive experience in all elements of Facility Design, Construction, and Maintenance. A self-proclaimed ‘Horse Husband’, Dennis has years of handling and caring for equines large and small. He enjoys blending his professional knowledge with his love of horses, to support all of Mane Stream’s facility requirements.
Renae Flanagan, Volunteer, Development and Communications Assistant
renae@manestreamnj.org
Renae has joined the team as our part-time Volunteer, Development and Communications Assistant. She helps the Volunteer Coordinator with hands-on training sessions and additional volunteer-related activities, as well as donor database entry and social media posts. Renae comes to us with years of varied experience after having managed a Manhattan dental office and coordinated fundraising events for her son’s Montessori school. She started riding horses as an adult and purchased BUZZ as a 5-year-old. They both trained together eventually showing in the Adult Hunters. When it was time for BUZZ to slow down, Renae donated him to Mane Stream in 2016.
In her spare time, Renae has a small business baking decorative cakes and rides her horse, Irish. She and her daughter enjoy riding together so much that they recently joined Pony Club and Renae has since accepted the position of Vice Regional Supervisor for the NJ Pony Club.
Trish Hegeman, Executive Director
Trish@manestreamnj.org
For the past 30 years Trish has worked with nonprofit organizations, both as a staff member and as a consultant, helping them secure the resources necessary to be successful. She has broad fundraising experience with a focus on individual giving, foundation and corporate relations, board development, and annual campaigns. Over her career she has worked with a wide variety of organizations including a children’s hospital, a major NYC museum, an organic farm and environmental education program, a public radio station and, locally at Far Hills Country Day School.
Trish has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Holy Cross College and a Masters of Arts in Visual Arts Administration from New York University. She has served on a number of boards of directors, including a term as President for Family Connections, which provides education services to low-income families.
She grew up on Long Island and rode horses as a teenager. She has lived in New York City, northern California and has lived in New Jersey since 2009. She spends her free time with her (mostly) grown children and traveling with friends and family.
Emily M. Istvan, MS, OTR/L, PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructor Emilyistvan@manestreamnj.org
Emily holds a master’s degree from Thomas Jefferson University Center City Campus in Philadelphia, PA. She is a licensed occupational therapist in New Jersey and is also a PATH Int'l Certified Registered Instructor. Emily has 7 years of experience as an OT, and has worked in various settings including schools, medical daycares, outpatient pediatrics, mental health centers, and adult home health. Emily has specialty training in Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (an evidence-based intervention for managing Tourette Syndrome), and advanced training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia. Emily currently works as an OT in early intervention, building relationships with families of children ages birth to three, and walking alongside them as they work together to meet their goals.
Emily fell in love with horses at the age of 7 when her mother signed her up for a horse camp and has been finding ways to "go out to the barn" ever since. In middle school, high school, and early college, Emily competed in amateur eventing and the local jumpers circuit in Pennsylvania with her horse, Auburn, and worked her way up the ranks in the United States Pony Club, competing at the regional level and making lifelong friends. These days, Emily enjoys any opportunity to dust off her boots and get back in the saddle. Additionally, Emily enjoys hiking, running, camping, and spending time with her young daughter, husband, and rescue dog, Journey.
Toby Kelly, Barn Assistant
toby@manestreamnj.org
Toby graduated from Centenary University in 2024, with an associates in Equine Studies. They have been riding and caring for horses for more than 10 years. They have worked at a handful of barns and with a variety of horses before joining Mane Stream, they took that experience with them. You will also find Toby in the barn helping with programming on Mondays, Fridays, and during the weekend. In their free time, they can be found at the barn with their best friend and horse, Connor.
Ivy Kessler, PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructor
Ivy@manestreamnj.org
Ivy Kessler has been riding since the age of five. Growing up she also realized she had a special place in her heart for working with kids with special needs. She decided to combine the two things she loved most. After becoming a PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructor in 2013, Ivy began working at a PATH center in Delaware. In 2017, she moved to New Jersey and joined the team at Mane Stream where she then continued to get her PATH Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL) certification.
Ivy spends a lot of her time fostering and hosting events for Big Dog Rescue Project based out of Mendham New Jersey and is always out on an adventure with her pups. She also is still an avid equestrian who competes on the A circuit.
Holland Kochanski, PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructor
Holland@manestreamnj.org
Holland arrived at Mane Stream in 2009 and has held a variety of positions throughout the years (Barn Staff, Barn Manager, Riding Instructor, Camp Counselor, and Camp Director). She is creative and enjoys making her lessons a memorable experience for all her riders. Holland is also a crucial part of our Field Trip program ensuring that dozens of groups each year have the best experience possible.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Holland currently lives in Somerville with her husband, daughter, and dog, Bubbles.
Pauline Lopez, MS, CCC-SLP
Pauline@manestreamnj.org
Pauline has a master’s degree from Saint Mary’s College and is a New Jersey licensed speech-language pathologist with several years of experience working in a multidisciplinary team-based approach. This approach allows for comprehensive evaluations and treatment of a wide range of diagnoses. Pauline has worked with individuals of all ages, addressing various communication disorders such as child language disorders, speech sound disorders, voice and fluency disorders, feeding and swallowing disorders, and augmentative and alternative communication. One of Pauline’s specialized interests lies in Aural Rehabilitation. She is professionally proficient in American Sign Language (ASL) a vital tool allowing her to effectively communicate, connect, and build strong relationships with her clients. During her education, she was introduced to incorporating the horse’s movement in therapy when she volunteered at a therapeutic farm as a side walker. That experience sparked her interest in Hippotherapy and she will complete her American Hippotherapy Association’s (AHA, Inc.) Hippotherapy Treatment Principles Part 2 next month. Pauline is excited to work at Mane Stream, which allows her to combine her newly found passion for what horses can offer with her expertise in speech-language pathology.
In her free time, Pauline enjoys reading and playing tennis, which keeps her active and helps her maintain a healthy work-life balance. She also loves to travel with friends and family allowing her to explore new places, create lasting memories, and recharge for work!
Lauri Morris, Weekend Barn Assistant
Laurie is busy Mom with 4 kids & a husband who grew up riding her own horses. As a teen, she volunteered at a therapeutic riding facility and started volunteering again in 2021 in Illinois. Laurie has a BA in psychology and also assisted in a therapy program for adults and children with motor disorders. After moving to NJ in 2022, Laurie found Mane Stream and joined the weekend barn staff where she enjoys the solitude and horse time for a few hours each weekend.
When she’s not at a barn Laurie is working on her Bronze medal in dressage with her OTTB heart horse. And after that she is usually at a hockey rink watching 2 of her kids play. Laurie also loves to be outdoors as a family; hiking, travelling, and spending time on the lake at her parent’s home in Ontario, Canada when we get the chance.
Elke Phillips, Riding Instructor
Elke@manestreamnj.org
Elke started volunteering at Mane Stream as a leader in January 2022. She has many years of horsemanship experience including horse ownership, working as a groom and working student, horseback riding camp counselor, and beginning rider instructor. Bringing the joy of horses to others in a safe manner is her priority.
With 16 years of corporate marketing experience under her belt, Elke has supported well-known consumer brands in a marketing or advertising function with much success but has always felt more at home in a barn than a boardroom. Working in marketing has helped her develop a clear, concise communication style when working with others, and she loves a good metaphor to get a point across.
Elke lives in Morristown and enjoys riding at a hunter/jumper barn, playing golf with her husband, and wrangling her labrador puppy and 5 year-old son for outdoor adventures.
Lori Rockmore, Psy.D
lori@manestreamnj.org
Dr. Lori Rockmore is a licensed psychologist who received her doctoral degree from Pace University in the area of School-Clinical Child Psychology. During her last two years of graduate school, Dr. Rockmore worked under the supervision of internationally known experts in the field of Tourette Syndrome (TS) and conducted her dissertation on the phenomena of rage reactions in children and adolescents with TS. Dr. Rockmore went on to complete her clinical internship at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and continued on at Mount Sinai for a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in child and adolescent trauma. As a part of her training, Dr. Rockmore took a special interest in working with children and adolescents suffering with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, life threatening allergies and transplant recipients.
After completing her fellowship, Dr. Rockmore acted as the training director for Mount Sinai’s Children After Trauma Care and Health Program and was the supervising psychologist at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Manhattan (now known as the New York Center for Children). Dr. Rockmore was instrumental in the development of the Tourette Syndrome Program at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University, served as the Clinical Director of the Program for eight years and continues to remain as a consultant to the program. Dr. Rockmore specializes in evidence based cognitive-behavioral treatment and how to modify what has been proven efficacious to best meet the needs of the individuals she is working with.
Jeanne Schroder, Business Manager
Jeanne@manestreamnj.org
Jeanne is responsible for the overall financial aspects of Mane Stream. She prepares financial reports, handles the annual audit, generates invoices, processes payments, and deposits donations. She also pays the bills and works on Human Resources and Insurance functions.
Jeanne grew up in Cincinnati and has lived in Chicago, as well as on both coasts. Her career track was a winding journey that started with sales and purchasing. She then earned degrees in accounting and computer programming which led to two years at Ernst & Young and a C.P.A. license. After positions doing corporate reporting and software conversions, she “took time off” to be home with her daughter.
When not being a horse-mom, a.k.a. free groom, at her daughter’s riding events, she enjoys finding destinations to photograph with her husband, and quiet moments to sew and quilt.
Anna Squindo, Camp Activity Specialist and Barn Assistant
Anna joined Mane Stream originally as a volunteer, spending several summers with our camp. In 2023, she joins camp as the Camp Activity Specialist, helping to plan all of the non-riding activities that keep our campers busy! This position is perfectly suited for an individual with a love for both organization and creativity. During the rest of the year, Anna is pursuing a Psychology major with a triple minor in Dance History and Holocaust Studies at Drew University in Madison, NJ. Her passion for animals is evident through her many pets at home, making her a natural fit for Mane Stream. Anna also fills in for the Barn Staff Team as needed throughout the year when her busy schedule permits.
Kayla Thau, PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructor, Camp Activity Specialist
Kayla@manestreamnj.org
Kayla graduated from Centenary University with a degree in Equine Studies. While there, she spent all four years working closely with their therapeutic program (Therapeutic Riding at Centenary or TRAC). She was also a member of the IHSA team, so it is pretty safe to say, Kayla spent all of her time at the barn. Before going off to college Kayla volunteered at Mane Stream. It was here that her passion for instruction became apparent and she now knew what she wanted to do “when she grew up”. Now she is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor working at Mane Stream.
Alex Willard, Barn Manager
alex@manestreamnj.org
Alex’s main job is to make sure the herd is happy, healthy, and looking good all year long. She has spent her entire life around horses learning from some of the best in the industry and takes pride in giving exceptional horse care. In 2019, she participated in the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program where she was selected as a Barn Management Alternate for the National Finals. Alex rode competitively as a junior rider, a Coastal Carolina College IHSA athlete, and soon after as a professional rider. She loves teaching in the barn and in the ring where she can share her love and passion for the animal and the sport. Alex also has professional social media experience so look out for fun shots of the herd enjoying their downtime!
Caitlin Wilson, Weekend Barn Staff
Coming Soon
