Our Team
A vibrant community
As a charitable nonprofit organization, High Hopes is governed by a 21-member all-volunteer Board of Trustees, and managed by a team of 13 full-time and 13 part-time professional staff. The staff is augmented by over 652 active volunteers who further support our daily operations.
Discover Careers at High HopesDirectors
Staff
Liesl Grigerek
Barn Coordinator
860.434.1974
all appointments as of July 1, 2020
Board of Trustees
Jacqueline Kangley
Chair
Jacqueline oversees product development and online marketing and sales for Amelie Michel French Table Linens and is the owner/designer of Jacqueline Kangley Handbags. Jacqueline was introduced to therapeutic riding by her Essex Elementary School classmates’ rides at the Lower Connecticut Valley Educational Riding Association. Her first volunteer experiences were with Hawaii’s Haku Baldwin Center and upon returning to Connecticut 15 years ago, she began volunteering with High Hopes. Jacqueline currently volunteers in the therapeutic riding program and serves on the Program, Marketing Advisory, and Development Committees. She has Co-Chaired the Concert in the Barn and many Auction, Décor, and other Benefit committees. Jacqueline is the 2018 Path Intl. Region 1 Volunteer of the Year for her outstanding contribution to High Hopes. Jacqueline is an alumna of The Hotchkiss School and Dartmouth College. She lives with husband Stephen Dedman in Hadlyme.
Peter Watt
Vice Chair – Development
Peter Watt is Vice President, Consumer Marketing at Outdoor Sportsman Group, in New York, where he oversees all direct to consumer-related lines of business, including subscriptions, single copy management, and merchandise sales. Outdoor Sportsman Group, a media company that publishes 15 outdoor enthusiast magazines, also owns several cable networks including Sportsman Channel and Outdoor Channel, as well as the OTT Streaming Service, My Outdoor TV. Before working at OSG, Peter held various consumer marketing positions at Times Mirror Magazines, The Atlantic, and Audubon. He serves in a variety of capacities at his children’s schools, currently as a class representative to the Parent’s Association at The Chapin School, and chairman of the Lower School New Parents Welcoming Committee at Collegiate School. At High Hopes, he serves as Co-Chair of the Development Committee. Prior to joining the board, he was a side walker from 2008-2015. Peter and his husband, Gerard Cattie, live in New York and in Lyme. They are the parents of two children, Louisa and Alec. A Larchmont, NY native, Peter is a graduate of Middlebury College, with a B.A. in English Literature.
Affiliation: Outdoor Sportsman Group.
James Scott Douglas
Treasurer
Scott is Chairman of the Board of Dancker Sellew & Douglas, an interior solutions firm. He brings extensive volunteer experience to the Board, in particular with organizations supporting childrens’ issues. In addition to a BA degree in Botany from the University of Vermont, he has completed graduate coursework in accounting and finance. Scott and his wife Wendy reside in Old Lyme and Florida and have three children and many grandchildren.
Affiliation: Dancker Sellew & Douglas
Victoria Newton
Secretary
Vicki has spent her 25-year professional career in marketing, communications and website development for Fortune 500 Companies. She received her B.A. from the State University of New York after which she continued to study art with the Art Student’s League in NYC. Vicki has owned and worked with horses all her life and in 2000 she, her husband Matt, and son, Alex, moved to their horse farm in East Haddam. Vicki continues her work as a freelance artist specializing in portraits of animals and botanical studies.
Jane Bolles
Jane and her husband, Keith, live in Essex and own and manage Saybrook Home. They have three children Lindsey, Kara, and Keith. Jane grew up around horses most of her life and learned of High Hopes (then LCVERA) while looking for a place for her then six-year-old daughter (who is hearing impaired and intellectually challenged,) to learn to ride and be safe around horses. Now at age 33, Lindsey is still a participant in the program, is a highlight in her life! Jane has Co-Chaired Symphony in the Meadows, the Concert in The Barn and the June Gala. She Chairs the Program Committee, through which she has coordinated a variety of programs for the families and participants. Jane serves on the Human Resource Advisory Committee, and is a past Secretary and past Vice-Chair of the Executive Board. In 2016 Jane was the recipient of the Sally H. Aubrey Award. Jane is a Graduate of The University of CT.
Affiliation: Saybrook Home
Nancy Bulkeley
Nancy Bulkeley is the Senior Community Affairs Representative for Dominion Nuclear Connecticut. Nancy has been in the Nuclear Industry for 23 years, in the areas of human resources, communications and public affairs. In her current position, Nancy is responsible for representing her company and its policies and programs in the community. She is the primary interface to local governmental and community groups not only in nuclear related discussions but as a key interface for the local charities that are part of Dominion’s focus as a responsible member of the community. Nancy has served on committees and boards for several non-profit organizations in her community. She supports education programs through tours, community outreach, special events, and establishes and promotes minority outreach programs.
Affiliation: Dominion Power
John Catlett
John spent more than 26 years with the consulting firm Accenture before retiring as a senior partner. He holds degrees from Drew University and Lehigh University. John lives in Lyme with his wife, Athana, and three daughters, Sarah, Sabrina and Anna.
Sarah Hill Canning
Sarah lives in Stonington and has two daughters, Kate and Martha. She has volunteered at High Hopes since 2003, most recently in the carriage-driving Program. She served on the Board from 2007-16 and was scribe for several years. Sarah is a past Chair of the Volunteer Committee and has served on the Symphony, Governance and Development Committees. She was a member of her church Vestry, Director of the Altar Guild, is on the Board of Calvary Nursery School, and is a past-President of the Mystic & Noank Library, Sarah also holds a degree from Boston University.
Hannah Metcalf Childs
Since 2000, Hannah has owned her own design business, Hannah Childs Interior Design. After moving to Old Lyme on 2004, Hannah began volunteering at High Hopes by serving as the Décor Chair for several of the Concert in the Barn events, and later as the co-chair of the Motown Concert in the Barn in 2015. She is a member of RISD Museum Associates in Providence, where she was born and raised. Hannah served on the Board of the Florence Griswold Museum from 2010-2016. Hannah and her husband, Jamie, have three children, Mac (15), George (13) and Thayer (11) and lives in Lyme.
Affiliation: Hannah Childs Interior Design
Mark Fader
Since 2008, Mark Fader has been the 10th Head of The Williams School, New London, Connecticut, after previously serving as Assistant Head. He has over 25 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and coach. Before joining Williams, he was at Providence Day School in Charlotte, NC and Severn School in Severna Park, MD. A Cum Laude Graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, Mark earned his BA in History and French and holds a Masters of Arts in Education from The College of William and Mary. Mark is active in the shoreline community as a former board member at New England Science and Sailing (NESS) and as a member of the Ocean Commotion Committee at Mystic Aquarium. Mark and his wife Suki have three children, Jack, Ellie, Lucy, who all volunteer at High Hopes.
Affiliation: The Williams School
Sarah Kitchings Keenan
Sarah and her husband Christopher reside in Essex with their three children, Ryan, Maggie and Ashley. Her son, Ryan has been an active High Hopes participant for five years, both of her daughters have attended the High Hopes Summer Camp. Sarah has served as a member of the High Hopes Development Committee and is currently Treasurer of the Essex Elementary School Foundation. Sarah attended Miss. Porter’s School, followed by the University of Oregon. She received her Juris Doctor from Quinnipiac University School of Law. Sarah then practiced as an Attorney specializing in real estate law, trusts and estates. She has worked as a realtor at William Pitt Southerby International Realty and currently works for the Essex Marine Group.
Affiliation: Essex Marine Group
Todd Machnik
Todd grew up in Old Lyme and and received a C.Eng. from Vermont Technical College. Todd is owner and President of Machnik Bros., Inc., established in 1957. Todd has been a member of the Old Lyme Fire Department since 1970 and has served as an Officer for ten years. He also served on the Town of Lyme Flood & Erosion Control Board for 20 years (five years as Chair) and as a Planning Commission Alternate for five years. Todd is currently a Trustee of Essex Savings Bank, and has served on the High Hopes Building & Grounds Committee for five years, two years as Chair. Other committee positions have included the Southeastern CT Youth Hockey Board where he was President for five years and St. Bernard’s School Hockey Manager for 12 years. He married his wife, Becky Machnik, in 1978 and has three sons: Tom, Kevin, and Peter. Becky and Todd have been the Lord Creek Horse Trials course designers and builders for five years.
Affliation: Machnik Bros., Inc. and Essex Savings Bank
Mac (Margaret) Mummert
Mac and her husband, Earl, are veterinarians and have owned four small animal practices. Her special interests include internal medicine and oncology. She has served in many of the area’s civic organizations including the Lyme Garden Club, Child and Family Agency and is a Past President of the SE Connecticut Professional Women’s Network. She has served on the vestry of St. Ann’s Episcopal Church ,and was District Commissioner of the Connecticut Valley Pony Club. Mac has two children, Brian and Anya. Anya has been a participant at High Hopes since she was five and now works as a volunteer twice weekly. Mac earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1977 from Auburn University and resides in Lyme.
Jeff Ridgway
Jeff is retired from both boatyard and building industries. He has served 21yrs on the Board of Trustees, two years as President. His many leadership roles at High Hopes include assisting with the construction of the facility in 1990 and serving as Co-Chair with his wife, Holly, of the ‘94 and ‘95 Antiques Shows. Jeff Co-Chaired the 2000 Building expansion project; was Co-Chair of the High Hopes’ Hoedown, (now the Holiday Market), and has been a member of the Building & Grounds Committee for 27 yrs. He is actively involved with many events such as the Gala, and now Chairs the Endowment Committee. He was the recipient of the NARHA (Now PATH Intl.) Region I Volunteer of the Year Award in 2009. Jeff was born in Africa, and grew up in the UK. He and his wife, Holly, reside in Chester.
Gary Rogers
Gary brings expertise in marketing, communications and business development from corporate, non-profit, and professional services firms. He is currently involved with the Regional Chamber of Commerce, attracting and cultivating members for the eastern Connecticut region. His Fortune 500 marketing accomplishments included initiatives that generated over $1 million in charitable contributions through national cause-marketing campaigns. Gary has also held senior marketing and business development positions with engineering and construction services firms in the region. Gary served as VP of the Alumni Association Board of Directors for Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY, where he focused on capital campaign strategy and branding for the President of the College and Development Office. An avid supporter of High Hopes, alongside his wife Linda, Gary leads corporate sponsorship efforts for the June Gala and Chairs the High Hopes’ Marketing Advisory Committee. Education: M.S., Leadership & Strategic Management, Manhattanville College School of Business, Purchase, NY; B.A., Biology, Colby College, Waterville, ME
Robin Schonberger
Robin is a retired, award-winning Art Director who worked for 25 years in the greater Hartford area, where she specialized in regional and national print and television marketing. She studied in Boston and received her B.F.A. from Tufts University. Robin is active in community service and has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Hartford University Art School and Real Art Ways, and is Co-Administrator of the Schonberger 9/11 Fund at the Hartford Foundation For Public Giving. Robin has been volunteering at High Hopes for ten years, most recently in the capacities of Gala Co-Chair and Auction Co-Chair, and she also serves on the Development Committee. Robin is an avid gardener, and published author and moved to Old Lyme in 2001.
Gregory Varga
Gregory is a Partner at Robinson & Cole LLP, Hartford CT, a national law firm with offices throughout New England, New York, California, and Florida. As a member of the firm’s Insurance & Reinsurance Practice, Gregory represents property and casualty insurance companies and other clients in high-exposure litigation and arbitration arising from contract disputes, claims for punitive and statutory damages, and related matters. Greg also counsels and assists clients in pre-litigation dispute resolution, and advises clients regarding open claims. Greg is the former Chair of the firm’s Insurance & Reinsurance Practice and it’s Trial Training Program for junior attorneys. He has been honored by his peers with an “AV Preeminent” ranking by Martindale Hubbell®, has been honored by Connecticut SuperLawyers® since 2011, and named to The Best Lawyers in America® in the field of insurance law since 2012. Education: Boston College Law School, Juris Doctor, 1995; Boston College, B.A. in History, magna cum laude, 1991; Fairfield College Preparatory School (1987)
Affiliation: Robinson + Cole, LLP
Deborah Welles
Debbie is a semi-retired CPA in Old Lyme, CT. Married to John, they have three children and five grandchildren. Her favorite thing to do is to spend time with her grandchildren. Debbie has been a Trustee for nine years and is currently in her second board term. She has served as Treasurer, Chair of the Audit and Finance Committees and a member of the Human Resource Advisory Committee. Debbie enjoys being a program volunteer when time allows. She was a recipient of the Sally H. Aubrey award in 2009 and the Lytt Gould Leadership award in 2017.
Affiliation: Exencial Wealth Partners.
Barbara Willkens
Barbara worked at Millstone Power Station from 1990-2018. During her career at the nuclear power plant she held senior management positions in Engineering, Construction, Supply Chain, and Organizational Effectiveness. She earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, and completed post-graduate courses at M.I.T. Before joining High Hopes, Barbara served on the Board of Directors at Big Brothers/Big Sisters and was a “big” for ten years. She is still in close contact with her “little.” Barbara has been actively involved at High Hopes for over six years as a member of the Development Committee, a Co-Chair of the June Gala and most recently as Co-Chair of the Auction Committee. Barbara is an avid knitter, gardener, and chef and with her husband Wilhelm, enjoys traveling to his native home of Austria. Barbara and Wilhelm live in Lyme with their Rhodesian Ridgeback, Jack.
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High Hopes Therapeutic Riding is located at 36 Town Woods Road, Old Lyme, CT.
Contact UsA Place to Heal, Learn & Make Friends
Equine assisted activities and therapies may be therapeutic if a participant derives benefit, shows improvement or feels better once engaged.
Our ProgramsOur History
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc., was founded in 1974 by Mary “Sis” Gould as the Lower Connecticut Valley Educational Riding Association (LCVERA).
The Story of High Hopes