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Meet the Team

Freda Cavallaro

Freda Cavallaro

Executive Director
Fundraising Chair

When I started volunteering with VEWS in 2015, my goal was to learn more about caring for horses.

Tim Bicha

Tim Bicha

Director of Operations
Board Treasurer

Tim has enjoyed a 20+ year career in the financial services industry working for banks in leadership roles managing risk and business operations.

Katie Vance

Katie Vance

Barn Manager

I have loved horses for as long as I can remember. When I was younger I took lessons for a short period but most of my time with horses was through books and TV. I decided to start volunteering at VEWS to get myself out of the house but did not expect something that would bring me so much joy.

Jeannie Arnold

Jeannie Arnold

Post-Adoption Coordinator

Jeannie is a lifelong animal lover who has been volunteering with animal welfare organizations for over 30 years.

Whitney Carswell

Whitney Carswell

Adoption Coordinator

I've been horse-crazy for as long as I can remember! I started riding around 2nd grade, which I continued for the better part of 18 years.

Kathleen Bobbio

Kathleen Bobbio

Board Director

I started riding in utero and horses carried me through my youth. I competed through Preliminary with the USEA and received my HA rating from the USPC in 1999. 

Lisa Bicha

Lisa Bicha

Equine Director
Volunteer Director
Volunteer Educator
Board President

Lisa’s love of horses began early in life and has culminated in personally adopting four horses from VEWS as well as contributing her time and energy to the organization.

Lauren Anderson

Lauren Anderson

Equine Trainer

I have been working with horses since I was 12 years old. I have a bachelors in Equine Studies from Houghton College, and have been teaching and training horses for 14 years. I moved to Virginia 9 years ago with my husband

Mikki Bicha

Mikki Bicha

Volunteer Scheduler
Volunteer Educator

Mikki joined VEWS with her family in 2018 with no background experience with horses.

Victoria Reese

Victoria Reese

Fundraising Project Manager

Since childhood I have always felt a passion for fairness and justice and as I have matured this passion has expanded to those who cannot truly speak for themselves: youth, seniors and animals.

Karin Reineccius 

Karin Reineccius 

Marketing Coordinator

I grew up as a young child around horses.  I then spent a couple sad decades without horses.  The love was reignited a few years ago thanks to a dear friend and her lovely herd.

Mary Lynn Booker

Mary Lynn Booker

Board Director

My life with horses began at age 9 with Sparky.  He was true to his name.  Riding him was the game. 

Bonnie Hoffmann

Bonnie Hoffmann

Board Vice President
Adoption Director
Marketing Director

I rescued my first pony when I was 12. Trixie was blind, had no training and had been left in a cow pasture for years. Most of my childhood memories include my adventures with Trixie as I taught her to ride and pull a cart.

Serena Preservati

Serena Preservati

Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer Events Coordinator

A native of West Virginia, I’ve lived in the Richmond area for 9 years. Although my degree is in Healthcare Management, I’ve been in the restaurant business for all my years in RVA.

Breanna Schauer

Breanna Schauer

Adoption Coordinator

I’ve been volunteering with VEWS since spring of 2022 and it is hands down my favorite part of the week!

Wendy Wilde

Wendy Wilde

Website Coordinator

I have worked in information systems and cybersecurity for over 28 years, including web design for numerous organizations. I grew up and learned about horses from my big sisters who taught me everything I know.

Lisa Poe

Lisa Poe

Grant Coordinator

Like many kids, I loved animals and horses from a young age but grew up in an Army family that moved constantly and never had a chance to take riding lessons. After retiring from a fulfilling and fun forty-one year career supporting adults with intellectual disabilities and autism, I was looking for a volunteer commitment with animals and thought about horses.

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