Board of Directors

Directors Duties

President

Carry out the day-to-day business in accordance with the By-Laws, and act in the best interest of the corporation by:

Oversee and delegate, along with assist and advise other Officers on the Board;
Serve as TRVEA representative at official functions attended; and
Conduct monthly BOD meetings;
Schedule and oversee two membership meetings annually; and
Attend meetings for TRVEA related issues to promote equestrian presence in the valley.

Vice-President

Carry out the day-to-day business in accordance with the By-Laws, and act in the best interest of the corporation by:

Assisting the President; and
Carrying out Presidential duties when the President is unavailable, such as conducting meetings of the Board of Directors.

Secretary

Carry out the day-to-day business in accordance with the By-Laws, and act in the best interest of the corporation by:

Prepare the BOD Meeting Agenda one week before each meeting;
Attend and take minutes at all TRVEA meetings;
Write minutes and email them to BOD within one week of each official meeting for amending or approval;
Keep current record of minutes and agendas (both hard copy and digital) to be turned over to the BOD upon leaving office; and
Mail welcome packets to new members each year.

Treasurer

Carry out the day-to-day business in accordance with the By-Laws, and act in the best interest of the corporation by:

Maintain timely financial records;
Perform banking activities;
Receive payments, donations, and assets;
Disburse invoices and payments;
Maintain & monitor operational cash activities such as cash boxes used by the Association;
Report and file tax and reporting obligations to government agencies;
Monitor and analyze the financial health of the corporation; and
Report financial activities and analysis to the Board of Directors.

EVENTS Coordinator

Carry out the day-to-day business in accordance with the By-Laws, and act in the best interest of the corporation by:

Coordinate or assist with events as needed.

MEMBERSHIP OFFICER

Carry out the day-to-day business of membership enrollment and recruitment in accordance with the By-Laws, and act in the best interest of the Association by:

Maintain current membership applications in appropriate formats;
Receive membership applications from prospective members;
Ensure new member applications are correctly completed;
Enter completed member applications into designated membership listings and insurance reporting forms in a timely manner;
Report each month new member information to appropriate insurance agencies;
Act to reasonably preserve privacy of member information; and
Give membership reports to requesting officers and report membership totals at BOD meetings.

MEMBER AT-LARGE

Carry out the day-to-day business in accordance with the By-Laws, and act in the best interest of the corporation by:

Assist Events Coordinators as needed.

2021 Directors

Mary Johnson Powell

President

I've been "horse crazy" since the age of 3 when I met the old plow horses in the tomato fields of Chula Vista. Not allowed to keep a horse in our suburban backyard, I read all the horse books I could, took riding lessons at Bradley's Bonita Valley Farms and taught myself to draw horses, a skill that helped years later when I designed the TRVEA logo and other artwork.

As a teenager, I won a Morgan horse in a 4-H essay contest. I left the horse life after college when I started an all-consuming business designing, manufacturing and selling animal hand puppets nationwide.

Finally taking a real vacation after 20 years, I found myself in a Canadian pasture with 23 mud crusted Fjord horses. As I helped to groom them, I realized how much I wanted horses back in my life! On the plane home I met a rancher from whom I subsequently bought 2 Peruvian Paso mares, 1 in foal. My life has been full of horses ever since. Now our herd of 5 elderly gaited equines live happily at Suncoast Farms. Galatea, our sentinel grey First Horse, greets our arrival each day with a long and very loud whinny. Perhaps you've heard her across the TRV?!

I am passionately devoted to cleaning up pollution in the TRV, keeping trails safe and accessible to horses. I am TRVEA’s representative to TRVRT and the IBWC Citizen’s Forum.

Vicki Krauss

VICE-PRESIDENT

Vicki has had a passion for horses even before she can remember. Her parents told her that, when on outings to the countryside from New York City, she would get very excited seeing horses even before she could talk.

From a pony ride she went on to many years of riding lessons and finally to a career as a trainer and teacher. She still takes lessons herself, working with renown masters of Classical Horsemanship from Germany and Portugal.

She also provides natural hoof care and bodywork for horses. She truly enjoys helping all kinds of people and their horses create meaningful relationships that work.

"There are only two kinds of horsemanship, sound horsemanship or poor horsemanship."

Amy Wandel

SECRETARY

I have ridden horses since I was very young. I have enjoyed riding Hunter Jumper and now enjoy western-style riding with my husband. We enjoy trail riding, cow work, ranch riding, and working on our connection with our horses. When my husband and I return to San Diego with our Tennessee Walkers, we found the Tijuana River Valley. It is a beautiful place to have a horse, and we are getting to know the trails well. I joined the Tijuana River Valley Equestrian Association two years ago because I want to preserve the natural beauty of the area. I became secretary for the board last winter and will be serving as secretary for the board again this year. I am a point of contact for the TRVEA board of directors, and with the board, I am working on maintaining our relationships with all the other organizations working in the valley. I am also passionate about keeping our River valley clean and safe for all who use the trails.

John Gabaldon

TREASURER

I fell in love with the Tijuana River Valley in 1996 when my wife returned to riding horses. And then I fell in love with horsemanship, trail riding, and the Peruvian breed.

I joined TRVEA in 2002 and became a Valley activist.

Now through horses and TRVEA, I work with terrific people throughout the horse community, and serve on TRVEA's Board of Directors and in officer positions.

Mary Christensen

EVENTS COORDINATOR

I have always loved horses and rode whenever I had the opportunity. I bought my first horse in 2002, a 2-year-old grey paint mare. I still own her and my sweet old gelding. I enjoy riding the many miles of trails in the Tijuana River Valley, riding with other equestrian groups, and camping with my horses. I have previously served on TRVEA’s BOD for over ten years, mainly organizing special events. I have helped organize Western Day for underserved children and their families. I truly enjoy teaching, learning, and getting kids connected with horses. Life is good, but better with horses!

Bequi Brown

EVENTS COORDINATOR

Bio coming soon...

Kay McCauley

MEMBER AT-LARGE

Bio coming soon...

Karen Solorzano

MEMBER AT-LARGE

Bio coming soon...

Chardae Jones Khimchenko

WebSITE ADMINISTRATOR

Inheriting the love of horses from both her mother and her aunt, Chardae joined the United States Pony Club at the age 9 and has since dabbled in a variety of disciplines; from western pleasure to team penning to foxhunting and hunter/jumper.

While attending the University of California, Davis, she participated on and served as the President of the 3-Day Event Team.

Today, she rides dressage and 3-day eventing and enjoys competing every so often. When not schooling dressage or jumping, she enjoys trail riding around the TRV with Indominus Rex, her much-beloved Holsteiner/Thoroughbred cross.

Chardae joined TRVEA in January 2019 and manages the website.