Our Team

Centaur Stride Board of Directors 2010

President & Co-Founder: Claudia Monroe
Physical Therapist/ American Hippotherapy Association

A resident of Westfield for the past 35 years, Claudia is a physical therapist (21 years) specializing in pediatrics and neurological disorders. Together with husband, Harry, they founded Centaur Stride Therapeutic Horseback Riding. 

With a passion for community service and the belief that all people are charged with the social responsibility of making positive contributions to society, Claudia has taken the roles of Girl Scout Leader for 6 years, Jaycee Member for 10 years (President for 2 years), Kiwanis Member for 2 years, and President of Centaur Stride for past 16 years.  Claudia is pro-active, and together with many great and creative friends, nurtures and develops ideas to address community needs and facilitate the next step... to make ideas become reality. She is the mother of Karlyn and Simon. 

Vice President: Connie Wojcinski
Office Management  

A resident of Dunkirk, Connie is office manager for her husband’s automotive business. Connie is an active Girl Scout Leader, parent of a child with a disability and very active in community service.  Connie has a special interest in optimizing opportunities and capabilities, as well as acceptance, of people with disabilities.  Connie has been a volunteer at Centaur Stride since 2003. Connie holds the position of Vice President. 

Secretary: Ann Marie Day
Teacher/Special Education  

Wife and mother of 2, Ann Marie lives outside of Chicago during the school year and spends the summer in Lakewood with her family, where she was born and raised.  Ann Marie knows the value of life in Chautauqua County and returns annually to share this experience with her children. With a BS in psychology, a masters degree in teaching in science education, Ann Marie is working toward her graduate degree in community counseling.  She is active in parent-teacher relations and School Board Administration and is a Substitute teacher for grades K-8. 

Treasurer: Rody Schoener-Zarutskie

Born in Dunkirk and a resident of Chautauqua County her entire life, she is a wife and mother of 4, grandmother of 8. Rody works in customer service for an international dental materials company.  She has been a volunteer at Centaur stride since 1995 and loves the interactions of riders, staff, horses and families.  She has witnessed the growth, joy and therapeutic benefits first hand over the years and believes the possibilities at Centaur Stride are phenomenal. Rody has accepted the position as treasurer.  

Directors:

Karlyn Monroe,
Business/Marketing, Brand Management

Originally from Westfield, NY, and moved to White Plains, NY, 12 years ago, where she currently resides. She brings over 10 years of marketing experience to the organization and holds her Bachelors in Business Management with a minor in Marketing. She grew up with horses- and is an experienced equestrian.  Karlyn currently works in NYC in the Brand Management field. She is President of The BIJOU Group, LLC. and Founder of The Chautauqua Bon Vivant- A Luxury Experience of Culinary, Wine & Spirits.

Claire Tomassini,
Office Manager

Currently resides in Jamestown, NY, with her husband Ray and two children, Megan (22) and Matthew (20). She works FT at the Arthur R. Gren Co. and has been with the company for 20 years. She has recently accepted a position to preside on Centaur Stride's Board of Directors. Claire has also served as corresponding secretary for Lincoln Elementary School PTA, a member of the JHS Girls Soccer Sports Booster Club, Co-Chaired the 2006 JHS After-Grad committee and for 11 years helped with whatever was needed for the Lakewood YMCA Gymnastics Team--including hosting Nationals in 2002 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center.   

Her son, Matthew, is a rider at Centaur Stride where he receives weekly therapy while riding and is also learning how to care for the horse (and is thoroughly enjoying himself!)

Willowe Neckers

Willowe earned her Bachelors of Science Degree in Forensic Anthropology from Mercyhurst College. A resident of Clymer since 2000, she and her husband Scott, have two daughters, Rose and Holly. Rose has spina bifida and has been a rider at Centaur Stride for the past 6 years.  Willowe is very involved with family, community and church. She has held various officer positions in community and church organizations and is active in fundraising projects. Like other parents of children with disabilities, Willowe knows what a special place Centaur Stride is to all of the riders and families and  is committed to helping the programs grow, along with the riders, to their full potential.

Meet our Centaur Stride Staff

 

Kellie Roberts: Program Director and Instructor

Kellie RobertsKellie Roberts is a native of Falconer who lived out of state for many years prior to returning to Chautauqua County late in 2009. Kellie has a liberal arts degree from SUNY Oneonta and is studying for a BS in business, with a focus on nonprofit management, at Empire State College; in addition, she holds an AA in veterinary technology from SUNY Delhi and has experience as a licensed veterinary technician in both private veterinary practice and with humane organizations.

She is currently working toward becoming a certified riding instructor through the Certified Horsemanship Association. Professionally, Kellie was employed as a proofreader and supervisor with a publishing services company for the last 10 years.

A lifetime animal lover, Kellie has volunteered with a variety of animal-related organizations, including participating in the rescue and transport of homeless animals, fostering dogs, and helping dogs find homes through the use of positive reinforcement and clicker training. Kellie is now volunteering with the Chautauqua County Humane Society, knitting snuggles for shelter animals through The Snuggles Project, and knitting and donating a variety of items to Knits for Needs. Kellie and her smooth collies, Caelan and Shae, are certified through Dogtors Animal Assisted Therapy, working mostly with at-risk and inner city kids; they were regular visitors at inner-city schools and at the county juvenile detention center in Dayton, Ohio, prior to returning to New York.

Kellie's goals are to continue to help others learn to treat our companion animals with kindness and respect and to keep exploring the wonder of the human-animal bond.


Barb Johnson: Project Horseworks Instructor

Barb was an original board member during the start-up phase of Centaur Stride in 1990.  She has been a volunteer in various capacities with the organization throughout the years and was the coordinator of the P.R.I.D.E. After School Program (Positive Reinforcements in Different Environments). Presently, Barb is the instructor of Centaur Stride's new transition program, Project Horseworks.

Stable Manager:

Jean Lozier started at Centaur Stride in May 2002 as a volunteer. She was hired in July 2003 as an assistant to the instructor and stable manager and promoted to stable Manager in July 2005. Jean received her instructor certification through CHA in May 2005.

Instructor:

Savannah Alday started as a volunteer at Centaur Stride in June 2000. She was hired as an assistant instructor in September 2003 and promoted to instructor in May 2005. She is certified by CHA.

Assistant to Stable Manager and Instructor:

Tyler Muka started at Centaur Stride as a volunteer in July 2004. He was hired as staff in May 2005. Tyler is working toward instructor certification.

Physical Therapist and Co-Founder: Claudia Monroe, PT.

Registered Therapist of the American Hippotherapy Association.

As a volunteer, Claudia teams with instructors to evaluate riders and set up riding programs that are safe and challenging.  She trains staff, parents and volunteers in handling skills and techniques to elicit desired outcomes.  Centaur Stride is designed to be an adjunct to therapy, where the rider can get “therapy beyond the home, school or clinic”, in a natural inclusive environment.  

Hippotherapy is direct handling by the therapist, who is trained in handling skills and horse movement, to elicit desired responses and inhibit undesired responses of the rider, throughout the treatment session. 

At Centaur Stride, others are instructed by the therapist in techniques to elicit a beneficial outcome, but staff, parents and volunteers do not have the extensive training to know how to change this input throughout the session to get the maximum benefit. Centaur Stride is therefore a recreational facility with therapeutic benefits.  And it’s fun! 

Grounds & Facility Maintenance Supervisor and Co-Founder:

Harry Monroe was the catalyst for founding Centaur Stride and instrumental in the building and maintenance of this facility for 16 years, on a volunteer basis.  He continues to act as a volunteer consultant in the everyday management of the facility and supervises volunteers on work days.  Harry is currently disabled and needs volunteers to help carry the load to keep this wonderful place operational. He welcomes volunteer assistance in helping him with these responsibilities.