Meet Our Team
Janet
We are so grateful for the dedication of our team members & volunteers. Learn more about our passionate and hardworking team members below.
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Board of Directors
Dave
Dave serves as the President of CVHR.
Annette
With 18 years on the board, Annette is committed to providing a safe haven for animals and people. She wears many hats at the rescue: horse trainer, riding instructor, program director and more. Annette has always had a passion for horses and feels blessed to aid in their rescue & rehabilitation - giving them a chance to heal and trust again.
Francine
A Coachella Valley native and mother of two. Employee of Riverside County Social Services and valued volunteer at the rescue. She fell in love with horses at age 5 and is living proof thtat equine therapy can make a huge impact on someone's life.
Dave DiMeno
Annette Garcia
Francine Carnick
President
Rescue Director
Equine Professional
Rebecca
Rebecca grew up on a farm in Maine. She brings a lifetime of horsemanship experience to the team as well as administrative savvy. The horse rescue has literally saved her life and she strives to give back as best she can.
Rebecca Ivie
Secretary
Analyse
Analyse, raised in rural California, is a homeschool mom to two children & a special needs advocate.
This hippie heart has a passion and calling for animals, children and teaching. With an MBA in business and marketing and being blessed by a child with a disability, she has a drive and calling to make a difference in children’s education.
Analyse Averett
Marketing Director
Youth Program Coordinator
Cherie
Born and raised in the Coachella Valley, and a local Office Manager. Cherie volunteers at the ranch in any capacity that is needed and co-sponsors one of our rescues (Clay). She is a true advocate of how the experience of unconditional love for our rescues and the dedication of our team can be life-changing!
Cherie Dunham
Vice President
Born, raised, and educated as an RN in New York, Linda is an animal lover who advocates for horse rescue. Having lived in California beach cities for years and having owned off-track Thoroughbreds, Linda is happy to live in the desert now and to use her nursing skills and horse experience to serve the Coachella Valley Horse Rescue.
Linda
Linda
Linda Dondero
Rescue Operations Specialist
Kim joins us with experience at a ranch as a teenager. Newly retired after 41 years in insurance claims, she was introduced to CVHR & fell in love immediately. Now with much more time on her hands volunteering has become a new way of life, spending time with the animals she has grown to love.
Kim Gehl
Treasurer
Advisory Council
Sean
Sean volunteers his time to mentor our veterans. He is a spokesperson and advocate for the veterans. He also assists with any videos for the veterans on the ranch. Sean served in the Army from 2001-2013. He was a Cavalry Scout who attained the rank of Staff Sergeant, and completed 4 tours of combat duty in Iraq during the Global War on Terrorism
Sean Harrington
Veterans Mentorship Program Director
Stacey
Stacy Belche'
Stacey Belche'
Volunteer Coordinator
Brian
Brian is an IT professional with over 30 years of experience who runs his own business in the Coachella Valley area.
Brian helps CVHR with computer issues and is a great networker.
Brian Rouley
IT Manager
Stevi
A registered nurse and lifelong animal lover, Stevi is a devoted ambassador of the rescue. She is devoted to bringing awareness to the community, getting people involved, and finding ways to raise money to support the ranch.
Stevi Lamey
Tour Director
Janet
Janet, a six-time Emmy award-winning TV journalist, certified nutritional consultant, and author, helps the rescue in so many ways, including volunteering, sponsoring, emceeing fundraisers, and more. With her passion for horses and her love of giving back, she finds that CVHR is one of her favorite places to be.
Janet Zappala
Television Journalist
Brenda got involved with the CV Horse Rescue to pursue her passion for horses. She volunteers her business experience to pursue new funding sources to help CV Horse Rescue thrive. Brenda spends half the year in the Coachella Valley, and the other half in Minnesota.
Brenda
Brenda Vatland
Grant Writer
Karen
In her business Vidolci, Karen creates video greeting cards that became a desire to show people they could create their own, and thereby control their own content. Karen creates beautiful videos for us that help promote awareness and funding for the rescue!
Karen Cooper
Video Creator
Paul
From IT to finance to filmmaker: Paul has transitioned from a “now what” career choice back to his first love of making videos in his business Vidolci. Paul creates beautiful videos for us that help promote awareness and funding for the rescue!
Paul Brisson
Video Creator