STAFF 

Louisa Bartok, Marketing & Communications Manager
Louisa@manestreamnj.org
Louisa spearheads marketing and communication initiatives for Mane Stream, while also playing a key role in special events and fundraising efforts. With extensive experience in nonprofit administration, she specializes in marketing, development, and volunteer coordination. Having grown up on a horse farm in Hunterdon County, Louisa spent her early years riding bareback and exploring trails. While she graduated from Hollins University—renowned for its equestrian program—her time there focused on other passions. Outside of work, Louisa enjoys an active lifestyle that includes swimming laps, hiking with Luna, her Italian Spinone, and traveling the globe with her husband, Paul, to participate in curling bonspiels across Europe and North America.

Mary Blackwell, Riding Instructor
Mary@manestreamnj.org
Mary has had an affinity for horses since she was born. However, she didn't get to ride seriously until she was in college, and feels extremely privileged to have been able to make it her career. Mary graduated from Centenary University with a bachelor of science in equine studies and has been working for 30+ years in the horse industry ever since. She has enjoyed being a riding instructor, a barn manager, a trainer, and a 'r' dressage judge. She also has her USDF silver and bronze medals. Mary specializes in dressage and balanced riding and is looking forward to bringing that with her to Mane Stream. Her passion for horses, what they can teach us, and how special the energy between horses and people is has increased throughout her life and she strives to bring that to everyone she teaches. Outside of horses, Mary currently lives in Frenchtown, has two amazing daughters who are almost done with college, and enjoys spending time with them and her family and friends.

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 Riding Instructor
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 instructors. 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.

Therese D’Adezzio, MS, OTR/L
Therese@manestreamnj.org
Staff bio to come soon!

Emily De Jong, Volunteer Coordinator
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 which is a good thing considering she coordinates 6 events every year. 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!

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 Mane Stream as our part-time Volunteer, Development, and Communications Assistant. In this role, she supports the Volunteer Coordinator with hands-on training sessions, coordinating substitutes, and organizing volunteer appreciation efforts. She also assists with donor database management and the occasional social media content. Her passion for horses began as an adult, leading her to purchase BUZZ as a 5-year-old. Together, they trained and competed in the Adult Hunters. When it was time for BUZZ to enjoy a slower pace, Renae generously donated him to Mane Stream in 2016, where he continues to make a difference. In her spare time, Renae channels her creativity into baking stunning decorative cakes through her small business. She also shares a love of riding with her daughter, which inspired them to join Pony Club. Their enthusiasm for equestrian activities has grown so much that Renae now serves as Vice Regional Supervisor for the New Jersey Pony Club, supporting young riders across the state.

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.

Holland Kochanski, PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructor
Holland@manestreamnj.org
Holland has been an integral part of Mane Stream since 2009, contributing her talents across a variety of roles, including Barn Staff, Barn Manager, Riding Instructor, Camp Counselor, and Camp Director. Known for her creativity, Holland ensures her lessons are memorable and impactful for every rider. A key player in the Field Trip program, Holland helps dozens of groups each year enjoy fun, educational, and unforgettable experiences at Mane Stream. She also serves as the Event Coordinator’s right hand, managing event setup and post-event cleanup with efficiency and dedication. Born and raised in New Jersey, Holland now resides in Somerville with her husband, daughter, and their dog, Bubbles. Her passion for equine-assisted activities and her ability to wear many hats make her an indispensable member of the Mane Stream team.

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, traveling, 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 from 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
annas@manestreamnj.org
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.

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!